Observing the Sabbath
Paul plainly declared that no Christian should be “judged” (i.e., condemned) for failing to observe the Sabbath (Col. 2:16) — a statement that never would have been made if the law of Moses had been binding when the apostle penned his letter.
I can see how you've concluded this. It makes perfect sense the way it's currently rendered in modern versions, but this is one of those passages that was terribly translated in error...then taken out of context from the rest of the letter...and then rewritten over and over for later bible versions with its error firmly baked in.
1. If we start from the beginning of the letter Paul establishes the context:
Colossians 1:25-29
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
So Paul is establishing that he - as one of the ministers
in the body of Christ - was to *
warn* and *
teach* every man (
in the body of Christ) in order that they are presented as "perfect" in Christ.
2. So here we see ministers in the body of Christ
teach and
warn the body of Christ...but against what?
Colossians 2:8
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.
So the body of Christ is warned *against* following the traditions of men after the "ways" of the world, instead of following after Christ. Paul says "beware" of anyone's philosophy that convinces you to follow the way the world worships. Again, this is in contrast to following "after Christ" and his way.
3. Paul continues, explaining why Christians are not to follow the ways of the world...
Colossians 2:9-15
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting 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;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
So Paul says Christians are not to follow the ways of the world because they, through Christ, have overcome the world. In overcoming, the *specific* ordinances that were contrary to believers were tossed out...but which specific ordinances were against them exactly (...this is answered in point
5)?
4. "Therefore..."
Colossians 2:16-17
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:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; De [but] Soma [body] Tou [(of) the] Christou [Christ].
From the start of the letter Paul establishes that he, and by implication other ministers
in the body, are warning and teaching the body to stay away from the ways of the world with regard to worship. He says to beware of being talked into following the traditions of men and not following after Christ, because Christians have overcome the world with Christ. Therefore, let no one judge the Christian in what they eat or drink or holidays and Sabbath days they observe BUT Christians themselves; but the body of Christ. Jewish folks can't, secular folks can't, folks of other religions can't.
Who better to judge a Christian's walk than another mature Christian (like Paul did in
all of his letters; he judged the Christian's walk)? Also, notice that Paul says the Sabbath days
ARE a shadow of good things
(still) to come. He did not say the Sabbath days
WERE a shadow of good things that "
have come" or that
"(already) came". From all that was revealed to Paul, he understood the future prophetic fulfillment of the Sabbath day (and remaining High Sabbath feast days) better than anyone.
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Aside:
King James' translators were commanded to
italicize any words they *added* to the translation that did not exist in the original text...and the word "
is" does not exist in the original passage of Colossians 2:17. So the true phrase is "
de soma tou Christou". I encourage you to research 'king James version and italicized words' to confirm what I'm saying.
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5. Paul continues his warning...
Colossians 2:18-23
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore 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;
22 Which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
"
Why are you subject to the ordinances after the commandments and doctrines of men as if you're still of the world?" Paul is warning Christians against following the religious traditions of men in contrast to following the ways of God after Christ, which is the same exact thing Christ was arguing about during his ministry.
Mark 7:3
The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.
Mark 7:13
Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Matthew 15:7-9
7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you:
8‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the commandments of men.
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So I guess the question is this: Is observing the Sabbath a tradition created by man...or is it the word of God?