Lower than Stoicheia

There has been a great deal of debate about what Paul means in his various references to ta stoicheia tou kosmou (the elementary principles of the world). Are the stoichea they teachings, practices, beings, stars?

This line of reflection might help to resolve that debate: Whatever stoicheia refers to, it is something that people are “under” (hupo, Galatians 4:3). Stoicheia establishes a hierarchy, where the stoicheia are on top and people are on bottom.

If Paul uses stoicheia to refer to beings, then he is saying that people in the old covenant were subordinated to beings. If stoicheia are teachings or practices, again it implies that people are subordinate to those teachings or practices. To say that people are “under stoicheia” is parallel to saying that they are “lower than angels,” but temporarily: “for a little while lower” (Hebrews 2:7, 9). Stoicheia are for people “under,” and when Christ takes our humanity “over” into heavenly places, stoicheic subordination must end.

This can’t be accomplished through Torah because, as Paul insists, Torah itself comes through angels. Torah is a system designed for people “under,” and thus by its very nature it cannot elevate them.