Posted on 02/14/2005 6:28:48 PM PST by DouglasKC
The apostle Paul wrote to the Colossian Christians, a gentile congregation: "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: which are a shadow of things to come ..." (Colossians 2:16-17, King James Version).
This passage, probably more than any other in the Bible, is interpreted by those who reject God's festivals as confirmation that the biblical feast days are unnecessary observances. Regrettably, such reasoning is based on poor scholarship and misleading translations from the original wording of Paul's instructions.
From the context we see that Paul, in this passage, is countering a local heresy. In doing so he actually confirms and explains the value of God's days to Christians. He explains that they foreshadow "things to come."
In other words, the focus of God's festivals is on the future, relating God's plan directly to the commission Christ gave His Church. So let's examine what Paul actually says about Sabbaths, new moons and "holydays" in this verse.
First we need to understand that Paul was confronting a heresy. False teachers had infiltrated the congregation in Colosse. These deceivers had influenced the Colossian Christians by introducing their own religious philosophy. This prompted Paul to warn the Colossians, "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit according to the tradition of men" (Colossians 2:8). Humanly devised tradition—not the revealed instructions of God's Word in the Bible—was the problem Paul was countering. Earlier Jesus had taken the Pharisees to task over the same kind of problem. They also had elevated their traditions to greater importance than God's commandments (Mark 7:8-9, 13).
Paul tried to keep the Colossians focused on Christ as the head of the Church (Colossians 1:18; 2:10, 19). But these false teachers were trying to persuade them to direct their worship toward angels (Colossians 2:18) and neglect their own bodies (verse 23). No such distorted ideas are taught anywhere in the Scriptures.
Paul characterized the Colossian heresy as "empty deceit" and "the basic principles of the world" (verse 8). The deceivers were persuading the Colossians to ignore plain biblical instruction in favor of "traditions of men."
What type of deceitful regulations did Paul combat? "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle ... according to the commandments and doctrines of men" (verses 21-22). The heretics advocated man-made regulations concerning physical things that "perish with the using" (verse 22).
Why is this important? The deceivers were probably forerunners of a major religious movement, gnosticism, that flourished in the second century. They did not represent the mainstream Jewish thinking of that day, nor were they faithful to the Scriptures.
They believed salvation could be obtained through constant contemplation of what is "spiritual"—to, as Paul explained, the "neglect" of the physical body (verse 23). It appears they believed in various orders of angels and in direct human interaction with angels.
Paul indicates they regarded all physical things, including the human body, as decadent. He explicitly states that the heresies he was countering "concern things which perish with the using [physical things] according to the commandments and doctrines of men" (verse 22). Paul tells us he was countering human commandments and doctrines—not the commandments of God.
The Colossian heretics had introduced various man-made prohibitions—such as "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle" (verse 21)—against the enjoyment of physical things. They especially objected to the pleasurable aspects of God's festivals—the eating and drinking aspects—that are commanded in the Scriptures (Deuteronomy 12:17-18).
When Paul wrote, "... Let no one judge you in food . . ." (verse 16), he wasn't discussing what types of foods they should or should not eat. The Greek word brosis, translated "food," refers not to the kinds of foods one should or should not eat, but to "the act of eating" (Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1985, "Food"). The point is that the deceivers disdained feasting—any type of eating and drinking for enjoyment.
Paul instructed the Colossian Christians not to be influenced by these false teachers' objections to eating, drinking and rejoicing on Sabbaths, feast days and new moons.
Perhaps we should, at this point, mention the relationship between new moons and God's festivals. The dates for observing God's festivals are determined by a lunar calendar. Therefore new moons—which mark the beginning of the months—are important for establishing correct festival dates. Unlike God's Holy Days, however, new moons are not commanded observances in the Scriptures. In the Millennium the custom of making the arrival of each new moon a special occasion will again be restored (Isaiah 66:23), but no biblical command exists now that requires their observance.
Now back to Paul's main point: The Colossian deceivers had no authority to judge or determine how the Colossians were to observe God's festivals. That is why Paul said, "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 ..." (verses 16-17, King James Version).
Notice that Paul tells them to reject false human judgment, not the judgment of God found in the Scriptures.
At this point we should note another grammatical matter. The words "respect of" are translated from the Greek noun meros, which denotes a part of something. Therefore a more accurate rendering of what Paul wrote would be "Let no man therefore judge you ... in any part of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days ..."
Paul is simply being consistent. Eating or drinking is an appropriate part of Sabbath and feast-day observance according to the Scriptures. Therefore Paul uses meros ("part") to cover all parts or aspects of God's Holy Days that these heretics might condemn or criticize. Nothing in this passage even suggests that God abolished His Sabbaths or Holy Days, nor authorized Paul to do so. Succumbing to the judgmental influence of those early gnostic heretics is what Paul condemns, not the observance of Sabbaths and feast days.
God's festivals are times for joy and celebration. He commands us to attend them and rejoice with our children—our entire family (Deuteronomy 12:5, 7; 14:26). He wants us to delight in them. No wonder Paul condemns the misguided ascetic philosophy of the Colossian heretics with such vigor. Paul was defending the Christians' right to enjoy feasting at God's holy festivals.
"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: which are a shadow of things to come. . ." wrote the apostle Paul in Colossians 2:1617 (KJV). This passage is often misinterpreted. What does it really say?
Paul was combating a local heresy. False teachers had introduced their own religious philosophy, which was a blend of Jewish and gentile concepts. Their distorted ideas were founded on human "tradition" and "principles of the world," not on the Word of God. Paul warned the Colossians to "beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ" (verse 8).
These false teachers introduced their own rules and regulations for their idea of proper conduct (verses 20-22). The content of Paul's warning to the Colossian church strongly indicates that these heretics were the forerunners of a major heresy that developed into gnosticism, which is a belief system that holds that secret knowledge (gnosis is Greek for "knowledge," hence the term gnosticism) can enhance one's religion. Gnostics claimed to be so spiritual that they disdained virtually everything physical, regarding it as beneath them.
The false teachers in Colossae rejected the physical-the perishable things that could be touched, tasted or handled (verses 21-22)-particularly when it related to worship. Their philosophy encouraged neglect of the physical needs of the body to attain heightened spirituality. In reality, however, their self-imposed religion did nothing of the sort and accomplished nothing in combating human nature. As Paul wrote, it was of "no value against the indulgence of the flesh" (verse 23).
The Christians in Colossae obeyed God. They kept His Sabbath and Holy Days, and they rejoiced on them, following biblical instruction (Deuteronomy 16:10-11,13-14).
The heretics condemned the Colossian church for the manner in which the Colossians observed the Holy Days. Notice that they didn't challenge the days themselves. It was the physical enjoyment of themrejoicing and feasting-that provoked the objections of these false teachers.
Notice Paul's words again: "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding [Greek meros, meaning 'part,' or 'regarding any portion of] a festival or a new moon or sabbath" (Colossians 2:16).
Paul was telling the Colossians to ignore these heretics' judgments and criticisms about their enjoyment of the eating and drinking aspects of God's festivals.
Rather than showing disregard for the days God established as holy, Paul's comments in this passage confirm that the Colossian Christians-who were primarily gentiles (Colossians 2:13)were observing the weekly Sabbath and Holy Days of God more than 30 years after Jesus Christ's death and resurrection.
Had they not been observing these days, the heretics would have had no basis for their objections to the eating and drinking aspects-the feasting portion-of the Sabbath and the Holy Days.
THE TRUTH ABOUT COLOSSIANS 2:16-17
http://www.newswatchmagazine.org/restknowledge/col216.htm
There are those who feel that the Holy Days of God, commanded by Jesus Christ for His people, are all done away by one Scripture in Col. 2:16-17. It is time we asked ourselves a simple question. What do these two verses really say? "Let no man judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body (is) of Christ."
First of all it says? 'let no man judge you.' That is certainly clear. Don't let any man upset you, pointing a finger at you, judging you and saying you are in error. What was it that no man was to be allowed to judge you about? 'In meat or in drink'?the margin shows the meaning of the Greek to be 'in eating and drinking.' Thus the judging against you had to do with something you would be doing. It would be 'eating and drinking.' But was it to be the normal daily eating and drinking? Let us take care to notice it was 'in respect of' particular days. These days elsewhere in the Bible are identified as 'feast' days. See Lev. 23:1-2. The margin shows that phrase 'in respect of' means 'part' or in other words don't let any man judge you for that part of the Holy Day festivities regarding eating and drinking.
So far that doesn't sound as if those Holy Days listed are 'done away.' On the contrary, Christians were eating and drinking as God intended should be done when observing His feast days.
Why were Christians told to not be troubled while they observed the loving festivities of a feast of Jesus Christ? Troubled by those who would point a finger at the manner in which those days were being observed. Carefully note why. Those days 'which are shadows of things to come.' These Holy Days were NOT memorials of past events, but shadows looking FORWARD to the future, things to come.
How is a shadow formed? There has to be a source of light, an object that is real upon which that light shines, and the result is a shadow opposite the source of light. The shadow being opposite leads toward the reality and toward the light, both of which have caused the shadow to be produced.
The feast days of Christ outline His plan of salvation for all mankind. Christ is the source of LIGHT. His Spirit enlightens the mind of the true Christian to the future reality which each Holy Day pictures. The shadow always points toward the reality and the light source.
Sabbath keepers know these Scriptures do not do away with the weekly seventh day Sabbath even though the Sabbath is specifically mentioned. God has revealed to all the Sabbath keepers this writer knows that the weekly Sabbath rest FORESHADOWS the reality of the 1000 year millennial rest this earth will enjoy when our Savior, the source of LIGHT, returns. Likewise, the annual Holy Days FORESHADOW the whole of God's plan of salvation, step by step, event by event. It is so clear that these Scriptures uphold the observance of these days; they do not do away with them.
What about 'the body (is) of Christ?' If you will notice, the word 'is' is in italics. That means it was added by the translators to try to clarify the passage of Scripture. Yet the phrase is strikingly clear without it. "But the body of Christ." The body of Christ is the Church of God. Read Col. 1:18 and Eph. 1:22-23.
Christians are not to allow any man to judge them in how they observe the festivities of God's Holy Days, but are to let the Church of God - the body of Christ - teach them how to properly observe them to the glory of Christ, the very Head of the Body, the Church.
Let us rejoice at the precious TRUTH of God's Holy Days revealed by the very Spirit of God to His people as He promised to those who would turn to Him. Those promises are found in I Cor. 2:10 and II Cor. 3:14 and 16.
As promised, enjoy.
So many questions, so little time!
Romans 14: 5One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. (NIV)
Hi Texan75010. Romans 14, in context, is talking specifically about certain days in which fasting and/or vegetarianism is an issue.
For example:
Rom 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Rom 14:3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
The chapter ends on this note:
Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Therefore the days being discussed are days that are related to fasting or other eating practices. The verse does not mention God's holy days or sabbaths, which are referred to with specific greek terminology not present here.
I feel culturally challenged. I had never heard of "Day of the Dead" and had to look it up.
I think, since at Colossae there was a mixture of Christians, Jews as well as pagans that Paul is addressing the festival rather than the food.
16 Therefore don't let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is the Messiah. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm and inflated without cause by his fleshly mind. 19 He doesn't hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, develops with growth from God. 20 If you died with Christ to the elemental forces of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: 21 "Don't handle, don't taste, don't touch"? 22 All these regulations refer to what is destroyed by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. 23 Although these have a reputation of wisdom by promoting ascetic practices, humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value against fleshly indulgence.
Sorry, Doug, but the words are relatively simple.
I don't let you judge the days I keep or don't keep; I don't let you (or anyone) judge the way I handle food or don't handle it.
1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4 Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; F67 and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
Excellent, Tex.
Verse 6 shows that your take on verse 5 was right on target.
Obviously these are things that are not biblically based. The scripture you cited proves as much:
Why do you submit to regulations: 21 "Don't handle, don't taste, don't touch"? 22 All these regulations refer to what is destroyed by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines.
So it's certainly not the celebration of God's holy days or the sabbath that's being referred to. After all, they are biblical, given by God, and not "human commands and doctrines."
Nope, the Romans 14 passage shows that days devoted to the Lord are not to be judged. One does one day, and another does a different day.
No big deal.
Romans 14 and Colossians 2 are different issues. Colossians, as Paul tells us twice, concerns humanly devised rules and regulations:
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Col 2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Again, God's holy days and sabbath are given by God and are not human traditions in and by themselves. So Colossians 2:16,17 can not be calling for a wholesale scrapping of God's holy days and sabbath, which is my point.
Romans 14 doesn't mention holy days (heorte) or the sabbath (sabbaton). The chapter concerns food and drink and the judgment of whether or not it's okay to fast on certain days or be a vegetarian.
The gist of the article is that the people who were celebrating God's feasts were being criticized for celebrating it too...jubilantly? The point is that they *were* celebrating God's holy days and being criticized for how they were celebrating.
Good Post. Probably good idea to keep this article handy. You'll have a lot more use for it, I'm sure. YHWH BLESS.
When Rabbi Sha’ul (a second generation Pharisee) talks about ‘Holy Days’ he’s referring to Leviticus 23:1-24:4 (Chapter 24, Shadow of Chanukah).
17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Messiah.
Shadows… Yeshua was crucified on Passover and rose on First Fruits. You ever notice that shepherds don’t watch over their flocks by night during winter? The sheep are in the barn and the shepherds are home with their wives.
So why December 25? Bait and switch. Chanukah starts on 25 Kislev and lasts for eight days, the first and last are ‘Holy Days’. Christmas is on Dec. 25th and New Years is eight days later. The birth took place during Tabernacles (when the shepherds are in the fields at night) and wind the (lunar) clock back 9 months and you fall into Chanukah.
Now that wasn’t to difficult was it? The Christmas tree crowd is now directed to Jeremiah 10 (the customs of these people are worthless).
Thank you for posting this.
The Colossians were gentile pagans prior to their conversion. If it were not necessary to observe these things why would Paul bother to mention it in the first place.
They were completely ignorant of these things before!
Mark 7:7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.
The Festivals and Sabbaths were instituted by God to last forever. Leviticus ....chapter 23
Good point!
Your opening post is marvelous, and I definitely agree with 99% of it.
I find that if one is not cognizant of the history, culture and the 1st century human traditions, then their exegesis of such verses is usually confused or wrong. Of course, many read into a verse/verses what they WANT such to say, not what it truly says in context. If a Believer cannot see through the eyes of the first century Believer, then most often, such a person is doomed to misunderstanding/or miss applying much of scripture.
At the moment my husband who is both a Master Webmaster and a computer Tech, is working on my computer, and I on his, so my input at this moment will be limited. However, I will respond more, when I am at my own computer - my husband's set up is so different from mine that it is a hassle for me to try to write much using it.
I just wanted to give you a MAJOR THUMBS UP, on your insight on these verses.
I have hear this area of scripture so often misquoted, and most of the time misunderstood, that it was a "breath of fresh air," to read your post!
I did not know this forum or board even existed, and because we are self employed full time in e-commerce, it is amazing I had not encountered this site before. I had just done a search for a subject on Google, and was taken to your opening thread. PTL, as your post was excellent, plus it introduced me to this forum.
I was so glad to find this forum, where there doesn't appear to be incessant arguments, and name calling - something which regularly occurs on the one forum I have been active on for about 4 years.
THANKS!
Battzion
"So why December 25?"
Date of the 'conception'! The Spirit of Christ came for a walk in flesh.
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