Bible Dictionaries
Elements, Elemental Spirits

Holman Bible Dictionary

(Greek stoicheia ) The basic idea of stoichei is a member in a series. At Hebrews 5:12 the term means basic or fundamental principles of Christian belief. The meaning of the term in other New Testament contexts is disputed. In the Pauline uses ( Galatians 4:3 ,Galatians 4:3,4:9; Colossians 2:8 ,Colossians 2:8,2:20 ) English translations are divided between rudiments, that is, basic principles, (KJV, NAS, NIV) and elementary spirits (NRSV, REB, TEV). At 2Peter 3:10,2 Peter 3:12 most English translation render stoicheia as elements, that is, component parts. TEV takes the term with the preceding phrase, thus rendering it heavenly bodies.