What is the meaning of Colossians 2:16-17?
Sabbath Keeper January 15 2011
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotations are from the King James Version.
[NOTE: It is important that Colossians 2:16-17 be examined within its context, which includes not only the surrounding verses of the second chapter, but the entire book as well.]
Colossians 2:16-17 generates far more controversy and misunderstanding than it deserves. In essence, Paul is saying in verse 16, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days” (KJV). In fact, the word “judge” is the Greek verb krino, which means to decree, judge, decide, condemn, and criticize. The Revised Standard offers the translation, “Let no one pass judgment on you.” And verse 18begins, “Let no one disqualify you.”
Before we fully identity the issue and the problem of verses 16 and 17, let’s note verses 20 and 21, for these latter verses help to make it a little clearer. In verses 20 and 21, the Colossians are warned against submitting to religious regulations related to touch, taste and handling. These regulations are based on human precepts which have “an appearance of wisdom” concerning ascetic practices (“self-abasement and severity to the body”), but in actuality “are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh” (verse 23, RSV). These regulations, which Paul advises the Colossians to let no one judge them in, are not referring to God-given commandments as found in Scripture. Rather they represent a human distortion and mixture of Judaism with pre-Gnostic elements.
As Edward Loshe in his commentary on Colossians and Philemon says:
In the context of Colossians, however, the command to keep festival, new moon and sabbath is not based on the Torah according to which Israel received the sabbath as a sign of her election from among the nations. Rather the sacred days must be kept for the sake of “the elements of the universe (2:8),” who direct the course of the stars and thus also prescribe minutely the order of the calendar.
Verse 16 now: Three basic explanations for the phrase in verse 16, “in meat, or in drink,” are usually given. They are: (1) meat and drink offerings; (2) clean and unclean meat laws; (3) ascetic, Gnostic-like practices. It is the latter of these three with which Paul is concerned.
Let’s rephrase the issue of verse 16. The brethren should not permit others to dictate to them petty rules regarding dieting and worship. Ascetic practices, such as those of the Essenes, were the focus. These ascetics practiced self-abasement, abstaining from eating and drinking on special days, such as festival sabbaths, new moon sabbaths, and even weekly sabbaths.
It isn’t meat and drink offerings that are being targeted. The word offering never appears in the text. In fact, the word for meat in the Greek is a form of brosis. Brosis denotes “eating” and is the same word used in Matthew 6:19-20 as “rust,” referring to “consuming” or “eating up.” So the issue concerns the consuming of food, in contrast to fasting as a form of self-abasement.
Some would disagree with this position, contending that the meat and drink are meat and drink offerings as part of the festival days mentioned. The text does not allow that, since literally the words are “in eating and in drinking OR in respect of a feast.” Again, keep in mind that the word “offering” does not appear, which Paul easily could have, and likely would have, included were that his intention. Meat and drink offerings were not a form of eating and drinking, but were forms of sacrificing. “Meat offerings” in actual fact were grain offerings, not animal sacrifices (see Leviticus 2).
Neither is “meat or drink” a likely reference to the issue of clean and unclean meats, because of the presence of the word, “drink.” What dietary restriction was there in the clean and unclean laws concerning drink? The obvious answer is none.
On the basis that the fullness of Christ has abolished the record of the believers’ sins (“handwriting of ordinances,” verse 14), Paul says the brethren should not allow themselves to come under the condemnation of those who would enjoin ascetic practices on the believers in terms of abstaining from eating and drinking and in relation to the ritualistic observance of festival, new moon and weekly sabbaths.
How do we know that this is what Paul is referring to in the latter part of verse 16? How can we be sure of the real issue? First, the problem Paul is concerned with is not what days are being identified here, but rather how or for what purpose they are being observed. Again, the concerns are ascetic practices and ritualistic observances which represent a distortion of true Christian worship. Paul is telling the Colossians that, if they were to practice ritualism and asceticism as essential — which was the doctrine being enjoined on them — the Colossians were missing out on the reality of Jesus Christ, who had already freed them from the necessity of human works as a means of endearing themselves to the Eternal (cf. Colossians 2:8-10).
If we take the position that it is not which days are being observed that is the issue, but how or to what end they are being observed, then it does not matter that the weekly sabbath is included here, which it in fact is. [The term “sabbath” does not refer to yearly festival sabbaths, as some propose, because the order of “holyday, new moon, and sabbath days” indicates annual, monthly and weekly observances (cf. Hoses 2:11; Ezekiel 45:17). Furthermore, Paul’s use of the term “holyday” already includes yearly ceremonial sabbaths. To have the word “sabbath” refer to annual festivals would be needless repetition.]
But what about verse 17? Is it not a disclaimer to the practice of these days altogether, since it mentions that they “are a shadow of things to[or, “which have”] come?” This is a good point. And, we need to understand what verse 17 is talking about. The “shadow of things to come” is in complete contrast to the “reality” or “substance” which is in Christ himself. The Greek word for “shadow” here is skia, which is the opposite of “substance” (soma in the Greek). The shadow is “a sketch, outline, adumbration, an image cast by an object and representing the form of that object.”
Now that we have defined the word shadow, let’s look at what Paul is declaring to be the shadow or outline. Once again, we must focus on the issue, that is, the false practices being enjoined upon the Colossians in regard to festivals, new moons and sabbath days. Those days of themselves are meaningless; without their special appointments, they simply would be another day of the week, month or year. The events and observances on those days are what gave them special significance over other days of the calendar.
Thus, the ascetic, self-abasing practices and ritualistic observances that were being enjoined on the Colossians as ways of proving themselves before God never would measure up to the reality which was in Christ himself. Those practices at best could only amount to a shadow or a sketch of the meaning of the life in Christ.
So the PRACTICE of these superstitious things (self-abasement, etc.) would not get the Colossians closer to God. Paul maintains that such observances are not salvific or meritorious. The reality is that salvation is through Christ; therefore, the observance of days (or any other rituals) cannot bring us any closer to God. Their meaning can only be found in seeing Christ as the only means to righteousness. Paul countered any practice which focused on works-righteousness, rather than on the principle of faith in Christ alone as taught in the Gospel.
How then does this interpretation affect Sabbathkeeping today? When one understands that Paul is addressing Gnostic-like perversions of the Gospel in connection with times observed in honor of angels (verse 18), then one can see that the issue of whether or not Christians should observe the seventh-day Sabbath is not even being discussed. At issue is not whether these days should be observed, but the manner and motive in which they were being observed. The validity of Sabbath observance must be determined on the basis of other texts. Colossians 2:16 alone cannot serve as a determining factor.
Paul’s condemnation of the heretical views about the Sabbath, no more condemns all Sabbathkeeping, any more than his condemnation of the heretical views about eating and drinking condemns all eating and drinking. Only when Sabbath observance is linked with man-made rules about asceticism, angel worship, works-righteousness, or perverted Judaism does it become unacceptable.
You might also like:
Shabbat - A Day for the Soul as well as for the Body
Quel est la signification de Colossiens 2:16-17?
Comment on this post
Craig Christensen
01/15/2018 23:37
Substantiating Scriptures to what I wrote...Acts 17:30, And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 3 John 1:4, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Craig Christensen
01/15/2018 23:29
I agree with this article one hundred percent. Arriving at these same conclusions coming from a religious background in my youth tied to "Sunday-keeping" so-called only validates the truth of Scriptures. When we worship the Father in Spirit and in truth as our blessed Saviour taught in John 4:21 & 23 we don't make up the rules dictating how or in what way we worship the Father. He sets forth the terms in Scripture and if we are true followers of Messiah, we yield to His will. It used to be important in Protestant groups, sola scriptura meaning only the Scriptures. It still is whether or not others cave in to man-made and dearly held traditions. Paul said, in And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: God assuredly is calling His people 1 Pet 2:9, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: As a believer, it is still important for me to put the text in context and not merely by a passing glance or surface reading. 2 Timothy 3:16, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: As believers we are to edify one another in the truth. Romans 5:2, Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 1 Corinthians 14:3, But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 2 Corinthians 10:8, For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 2 Corinthians 13:10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction. I remember a time when what mattered was are we washed in the blood of the Lamb? and were we walking in the truth? Rev 7:14, nd I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 1 John 1:7, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. The religious institutions in our land are corrupted by compromise. I'm glad for what the brother wrote. It is an encouragement to me. I pray for the day we once more assemble together in the word, taught by biblical doctrine only contrasted with assembling for assembly's sake. 2 Tim 3:16, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. A scripture much used by "Sunday observant" so-called Christians and one taken out of context. Notice where we are to assemble? Hebrews 13:13, Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Craig Christensen
01/15/2018 23:42
Keep me posted. This is all good so far. Shabbat Shalom I testify is my delight. Isaiah 58: 12, 13
paotinlal gangte
05/02/2017 04:36
Whenever the subject of putting the weekly Sabbath to its original and designated sloth of importance comes,, mainland Christians take the pleasure of shooting it down with Colossians 2:13-18, particulartly vv 16 & 17 “ So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival, or a new moon or sabbaths which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”without realizing disastrous spiritual consequences! Failure to revere it at its lawful sloth in the weekly cycle that comes once in a week on Sabbath or Saturday, equating it with the ceremonial sabbaths that come once in a year creates a huge misconception on the importance of keeping the weekly Sabbath which forms an integral part of the Ten Commandments (Exo 20:8-11). Facts to be realized may be summed up below : [1] This is the only single piece of literature that the Creator-God has written in His own finger (Deut 3:10) in the Holy Bible! As the Author of this, He alone has the authority to change it, and not by any other. Unless the Changeless One change it, to proclaim its abrogation, or substitution by another day by man is fraud with dangerous spiritual proportion! After all, our Lord Himself reaffirmed it while He was on earth saying,“ Donot think I came to destroy the law and the prophets......I say to you till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” (Matt 5:17,18). The Anti-christ is expected to “think to change times and law.” (Dan 7:25).
[2] The phrases “handwriting of requirements,” and “which was contrary to us” stand for “guilt of punishment,” and “the part we donot want for ourselves” respectively, which have been wiped out by the hanging of Christ on the cross who became our gospel. [EGW] Thus, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law for having become a curse for us.” (Gal 3:13) but not the law. Col 2:16 be read with Rom14:5 that says, “One person esteem one day above another; another esteemed every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.” Whereas it is obvious that the author is not refering to the Weekly Sabbath but that of the 7 Jewish Ceremonial sabbaths (Levi 23) and other criminal and social laws and their related cleansing ritual processes appear evident. After all if the laws themselves are hung on the cross, how can ‘sin’be defined or ideentified without the law? 1 Jn 3:4 clearly defines it as transgression of the law. If there is no law, there will be no transgression anymore; no law no sin! And no justification nor sactification! After all, “the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Rom 8:4). Therefore what has been done away with is the curse or punishment for sins as personified on the cross in the Person of the Son of God who died in our stead!
[3] God esteemed the Sabbath so much so that He commanded us to observe the same as it would continue to be observed throuugh eternity! (Isa 66:23). He also does not leave man without instructions how it is to be observed as found in the Ten Commandments. Beside asking His creation to keep the sabbath holy, He also called the Sabbath a Sign between Him and them. (Exo 31:13 and Eze 20:20). Indeed, it is to be remembereed as the “Sabbath of the LORD” and to “keep it holy”by restraining work but rest; and it is a “Sign”betweeen Him and His creation! You dare not shun your responsibility. Jesus rectified it, and restored it back to its original state of its observance while on His earthly mission.And even predicted to be careful to not let their flight on the sabbath, and during winter when destruction Jerusalem approaches and bids them to pray for it! (Matt 24:20). Let us not fiddle with His commandments lest some irreversible and lasting condemnation becomes our fate! All these ceremonial sabbaths used to pave way for a sinner to come to the Sabbath as one of the children of God to worship Him. When Jesus paved way for sinners to come to Him as He has already paid the price for it, why try to abolish the lie or sin detectors! .
Standard view
