Opponents of the Holy Days invariably justify their position by citing Colossians 2:16-17, which states, “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; but the body (is) of Christ.” [NOTE: the word 'is' in verse 17 is NOT in the original Scriptures but was "added" by translaters for 'clarity'....though it causes more confusion]
Does this state that no one can tell Christians whether they are right or wrong regarding clean and unclean meats, Holy Day observance, Sabbath-keeping, etc.? This scripture is quoted by nearly all “churchianity” in an attempt to prove this.
But the real meaning of these verses is that Christians should not let people arbitrarily judge their conduct. Only the Church (Col. 1:18)—“the body of Christ” (2:17)—can do this. Notice that the word “is” is italicized. This means that it was not in the original Greek text. By adding it, translators blurred the true meaning of this passage.
The phrase “in meat, or in drink” (vs. 16), translated from the Greek phrase en broosei ay en posei, meaning “in eating or in drinking.” Some ascetics in Colosse were teaching that self-denial and will-worship (vs. 20-22) were God’s Way. (See Galatians 4:9-10 inset.)
Notice that the first phrase in verse 17 uses the present tense in reference to the Sabbath, Holy Days, etc. It says, in effect, “these days are [not were] a [fore]shadow of things to come.” Christians know that the Sabbath and Holy Days picture the Plan of God, which certainly involves many “things to come.” Verse 18 is a final warning to Christians not to let anyone trick them about these important issues—because it is only the Church that was to judge them (vs. 17, end).
Like the Galatians, the Colossians were Gentiles. They had never known God’s Way, and had not previously kept His Holy Days or Sabbath.
In no way do these scriptures do away with God’s laws, Sabbaths or Holy Days! In fact, the Colossians were being criticized by unconverted Gentiles because they were keeping His laws—because they were observing God’s Sabbath and Holy Days!
Does this state that no one can tell Christians whether they are right or wrong regarding clean and unclean meats, Holy Day observance, Sabbath-keeping, etc.? This scripture is quoted by nearly all “churchianity” in an attempt to prove this.
But the real meaning of these verses is that Christians should not let people arbitrarily judge their conduct. Only the Church (Col. 1:18)—“the body of Christ” (2:17)—can do this. Notice that the word “is” is italicized. This means that it was not in the original Greek text. By adding it, translators blurred the true meaning of this passage.
The phrase “in meat, or in drink” (vs. 16), translated from the Greek phrase en broosei ay en posei, meaning “in eating or in drinking.” Some ascetics in Colosse were teaching that self-denial and will-worship (vs. 20-22) were God’s Way. (See Galatians 4:9-10 inset.)
Notice that the first phrase in verse 17 uses the present tense in reference to the Sabbath, Holy Days, etc. It says, in effect, “these days are [not were] a [fore]shadow of things to come.” Christians know that the Sabbath and Holy Days picture the Plan of God, which certainly involves many “things to come.” Verse 18 is a final warning to Christians not to let anyone trick them about these important issues—because it is only the Church that was to judge them (vs. 17, end).
Like the Galatians, the Colossians were Gentiles. They had never known God’s Way, and had not previously kept His Holy Days or Sabbath.
In no way do these scriptures do away with God’s laws, Sabbaths or Holy Days! In fact, the Colossians were being criticized by unconverted Gentiles because they were keeping His laws—because they were observing God’s Sabbath and Holy Days!
http://truheat.blogspot.com/2010/09/gods-word-misunderstood-and-mistaught.html
ReplyDeleteThe "you" in this verse is referring to gentile converts in the gentile pagan city of Colossi that Paul had taught the way. The way included doing all these things, this verse is written as encouragement to continue do these things, to live the way Paul taught them, in the face of opposition and persecution from the outside world. Who was the outside world in their case? It was the pagan gentiles who were upset that these folks no longer lived the way they used to, but followed the way set by the Almighty God in His Torah.
ReplyDeleteInterpreting this verse to say that the Sabbath and Festivals and clean and unclean meats are not required of followers of Messiah Y'shua, is just plain deception.
The Bible as a whole, and especially the New Testament, is written for folks who had been converted and were learning to follow the Way. It's meaning is hidden WITHOUT GOD'S REVELATION!!
ESTEEMING SPECIAL DAYS
ReplyDeleteNow let's consider Romans 14:5-6 (NKJ)
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; 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.
This chapter is introduced as pertaining to doubtful things and is predominantly about food matters. (Food matters are expressly mentioned in nine verses out of twenty three.) There is no direct reference to the Sabbath here. In fact a discussion of a matter as important as the Sabbath in vv 5 & 6a would seem somewhat out of place in this chapter as a change in the observance of the day of worship would hardly be an individual matter. It would be an issue seriously affecting the whole church.
The discussion of the significance of certain days can be understood as part of the discussion of food matters rather than as a digression. The observance of "days" would best fit the immediate context if the particular days being discussed concerned fasting. It is conceivable that the problem being addressed was a dispute over the appropriate days for fasting.
There was a tradition among the Pharisees that they should fast twice a week, on Monday and Thursday. This tradition was followed by the early Christian Church.
As the fasting mentioned here is a voluntary practice, Paul's exhortation, "Let each be fully convinced in his own mind" is an appropriate response to the situation.
If Paul was referring to the Sabbath it is strange that he didn't just write, "He who observes the Sabbath etc". The fact that Paul did not specify an actual day could suggest that Paul was referring to a number of different days that had significance for Jews but not for Gentiles [OUTSIDE OF THE WEEKLY AND ANNUAL SABBATHS OF THE LORD GIVEN AS AN EVERLASTING STANDARD]
Although this verse has been used to infer that the Sabbath has been discarded, there is nothing to suggest this in the wording of the verse. Are the Colossians being criticised for the manner in which they were eating, drinking, and keeping feasts, new moon celebrations and Sabbaths or were they being criticised for their abandonment of food and drink restrictions, festivals, and Sabbaths? A clue is given in the identity of their accusers whose traits were: false humility, worship of angels, preoccupation with the supernatural world, holding man-made commandments and doctrines, false wisdom, self-imposed religion, false humility, neglect of the body. It would appear that these critics were not "Judaizers" but Ascetics who were trying to impose their oppressive rules upon the worshippers of God in the Church of God at Colosse.
ReplyDeleteColossians 2:14 says:
ReplyDeleteBlotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Christians take this verse and apply it to the Ten Commandment Law, they use it to say that the Law of God was nailed to the cross and we are no longer obligated to keep the Sabbath… the rest of the Ten Commandment Law is assumed by these same Christians (atleast most of them) to still be binding, but the Sabbath according to them is done away with. That is called "selective reading", if this verse is indeed saying that the Ten Commandment Law of God was done away with than it is now okay to murder, steal, commit adultery or lie. For if the Sabbath is no longer binding because of this verse then neither are the rest of the commandments… how far do you take it?
Thus says the Lord: "Keep justice, and DO RIGHTEOUSNESS, For MY SALVATION IS ABOUT TO COME, And MY RIGHTEOUSNESS TO BE REVEALED. BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO DOES THIS, And the son of man who lays hold on it; WHO KEEPS FROM DEFILING THE SABBATH, And keeps his hand from doing any evil." Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the Lord Speak, saying, "The Lord has utterly 'separated me' from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree." For thus says the Lord: "To the eunuchs WHO KEEP MY SABBATHS, And CHOOSE WHAT PLEASES ME, And HOLD FAST MY COVENANT, EVEN TO THEM I will give in MY HOUSE And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them AN EVERLASTING NAME THAT SHALL NOT BE CUT OFF. (Isa 56: 1-5)
ReplyDeleteCol 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect or of the sabbath days?:
ReplyDeleteWho exactly is the YOU, that Paul and Timotheus is speaking directly too?? the answer is found one chapter back in Col. 1:2.
Col 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse:
Knowing this how is it possible that preachers of today use this verse to do away with the seventh day sabbath??
Clearly Paul was encouraging the Saints, who were surrounded by pagan gentiles, telling the Saints, don't let these gentiles judge you in keeping Gods days, don't be discouraged, don't give up and have hurt feelings.
He was lifting the Saints up.
Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Col 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
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 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward:
This whole chapter, in fact this whole book is about encouraging the Saints.
For preachers to show Col.2:16, saying this says we don't have to keep the sabbath day, IS completely wrong, IF anything it is encouraging us TO keep the sabbath day.
Why do we continue to allow preachers to deceive us?
Is it because we are to lazy to read the context of scripture?
Is it because that is where our friends are, so we just tag along?
My wonderful brothers and sisters who keep sunday for the sabbath, wont you please come out , and re-consider what you have been told?
Wont you read your own bibles to come to understanding?
come out of her I say, wont you come out of her?
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Colossians 2:20-22 (King James Version)
ReplyDelete20Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21(Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Verse 21 may offer a clue: “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” To some commentators this suggests that the heretics are either trying to impose a strict ascetic lifestyle—not characteristic of Judaism—or they are pushing pagan dietary prohibitions that may have their source in the concept of transmigration of the soul.
2 This is the pagan concept that when a body dies the soul departs to enter another body—and not necessarily a human body. To eat meat would be to risk eating ones ancestors.
The key to understanding Colossians 2:16 is found two verses earlier in Colossians 2:14. The keywords are, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances.” The Greek word for blotting is “exaleipho”, pronounced “ex-al-i'-fo”. Strong's dictionary gives the definition; “to smear out, that is, obliterate (erase tears, figuratively pardon sin): - blot out, wipe away.” The next keyword in this verse is “handwriting” and the Greek word is “cheirographon”, pronounced “khi-rog'-raf-on” and the definition is, “something handwritten (”chirograph”), that is, a manuscript (specifically a legal document or bond (figuratively)): - handwriting.” And the last and final very important word we need to look at is “ordinances”, Greek word is “dogma”, pronounced “dog'-mah” and the Strong's definition is “a law (civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical): - decree, ordinance.”
ReplyDeleteDid you note the last one? It means “a law”, but what type of law? The two words we should be very familiar with now are “ceremonial” i.e., “ceremonial law” and “ordinances” which comprised the things contained in the ceremonial law.
THE LORD REWARDED ME ACCORDING TO MY RIGHTEOUSNESS; ACCORDING TO THE CLEANNESS OF MY HANDS HE HAS RECOMPENSED ME. (PSALMS 18:20 NKJ)
OH, THAT YOU HAD HEEDED MY COMMANDMENTS! THEN YOUR PEACE WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE A RIVER, AND YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE THE WAVES OF THE SEA. (ISAIAH 48:18 NKJ)
"LISTEN TO ME, YOU WHO KNOW RIGHTEOUSNESS, YOU PEOPLE IN WHOSE HEART IS MY LAW: DO NOT FEAR THE REPROACH OF MEN, NOR BE AFRAID OF THEIR INSULTS. (ISAIAH 51:7 NKJ)
THUS SAYS THE LORD: "KEEP JUSTICE, AND DO RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR MY SALVATION IS ABOUT TO COME, AND MY RIGHTEOUSNESS TO BE REVEALED. (ISAIAH 56:1 NKJ)
YET THEY SEEK ME DAILY, AND DELIGHT TO KNOW MY WAYS, AS A NATION THAT DID RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND DID NOT FORSAKE THE ORDINANCE OF THEIR GOD. THEY ASK OF ME THE ORDINANCES OF JUSTICE; THEY TAKE DELIGHT IN APPROACHING GOD. (ISAIAH 58:2 NKJ)
I WILL BRING THEM BACK, AND THEY SHALL DWELL IN THE MIDST OF JERUSALEM. THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, IN TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.' (ZECHARIAH 8:8 NKJ)