What is the Meaning of Colossians 2:16-17?

What is the Meaning of Colossians 2:16-17?
by Kelly McDonald, Jr.

In Colossians 2:15-17, Paul wrote “15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 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; but the body is of Christ” (KJV).

In this excerpt from Colossians, Paul proclaims our triumph over the forces of evil through Jesus Christ. He then shifts to explain that due to Christ’s victory over the enemy, we should not let anyone judge us in food and drink. The Greek word translated as food is brosis; it refers to food defined by Leviticus 11.

Paul then takes this attitude towards food and applies it to certain days. The word “regarding” in verse 16 is translated from two Greek words: en meros. En means inside of and meros means your share or participation in something. This is why it is translated as “in respect.” The believers in Colossae were eating and drinking during three specific times: festivals, new moons, and Sabbaths.

How do we define these days? Some have used this verse to say that we can make any day a festival or Sabbath and no one can pass judgment on us. How do we go about understanding the terms festival, new moons, and Sabbath?

When we read the Bible, context is key. There are different kinds of context. One of the main forms of context is comparing all verses in the Bible on a given subject. Some people call this “using the Bible to interpret the Bible.” This type of research will generate many references and allow us to better grasp the subject.

It is imperative to understand that the entire Old Testament is the background material for the New Testament. When the apostolic authors, such as Paul, use certain terms they often are derived from their uses in the Old Testament. The completed New Testament did not exist at the time they wrote their letters. This is especially true with the subject matter we are considering. The Feast Days, New Moon Celebrations, and the Sabbath are mentioned together multiple times before Paul wrote Colossians 2. I have listed three below:

I Chronicles 23:31
“And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the Lord in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the Lord…” (KJV)

Nehemiah 10:33
“…For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God…” (KJV)

Ezekiel 45:17a
“And it shall be the prince’s part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths…” (KJV)

Thus, we can see that these three special days are used together in the Old Testament. By the time Paul used these terms in his letter to Colossae, a context of meaning already existed. This does not allow us the opportunity to twist or change the meaning of these terms based upon what we want the verse to say, but how the Bible has already defined them.

The Greek words used for each of these three celebrations bears witness to this as well. The Greek word translated as holyday or feast is heorte. It is used 27 times in the New Testament; all of them reference the feast days God discussed in Leviticus chapter 23. For instance, Paul uses the verb form of heorte in I Corinthians 5:8 to instruct the Corinthians to keep Passover and Unleavened Bread.

The Greek word translated as New Moon is noumenia; it is only used once in the New Testament. It refers to the New Moon celebrations [Numbers 28:11-15]. Finally, the Greek word translated as Sabbath is sabbaton, and it is translated as Sabbath or Sabbaths.

The Colossians were partaking in Biblically approved food and drink during the annual festivals, Sabbaths, and New Moons. Other people were judging them FOR their participation in them! This is absolute proof that the early Christians celebrated them. Another question which arises in this discussion is as follows: Why were they being judged for Biblical behavior?

Colossae was a city in Asia Minor. This area of the world had been influenced by the Greek thought for centuries before Paul lived. A common philosophy among the Greeks was called asceticism. It is the belief that spirituality could only come through abstinence from things in life that were physically enjoyable – such as certain kinds of food. Thus, these enjoyable behaviors were considered morally wrong. Some ascetics treated their bodies harshly; they viewed it as a way to subdue their carnal desires as a preparation for spiritual experiences. Some thought angels could be seen through rigorous asceticism. Unfortunately, this man-made philosophy was present among the Colossian congregation.

To confirm this detail further, we will apply another kind of Biblical context. This method involves reading the rest of the chapter, which is verses 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.” (KJV)

These verses display obvious references to asceticism. Paul references spiritual experiences, including the worship of angels. Next, he references the doctrines and commandments of men (not the doctrines and commandments of God). Lastly, he describes their neglect of the body. The human teaching of asceticism cannot truly overcome the desires of the flesh; it temporarily restrains them.

In the Bible, the Festivals of Leviticus 23 and the seventh-day Sabbath are the most joyous times of celebration and feasting. These are commandments of God, not man. The believers were eating the nicest foods and drinks available as the honored the Lord Jesus. The ascetics judged the Colossian believers for physical enjoyment during God’s appointed celebrations.

Paul concludes verses 15-17 by saying that these celebrations “…which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” These special times have past and future meaning [the shadow]. But a shadow only exists when light shines on a body. Paul explains that these days are more than just shadows; their true purpose belongs to Christ’s body. In other words, they are part of Him! In Leviticus 23:2, they are called the Feasts of the LORD.

In conclusion, Paul wrote that we should let no one judge us FOR celebrating these special times. Christ followed them on earth. If Peter’s shadow could heal a man, how much more can the shadow of Christ empower us and strengthen His body! This gives Christians yet another reason to celebrate them.

Kelly McDonald, Jr. served as BSA President from 2016-2023. He presently serves as the Pastor of David’s Tent Christian Fellowship www.davidstentjackson.com.

Article Appendix

The issue of worshiping angels in this area must have continued for centuries later because the Council of Laodicea (364) addressed the subject (Canon 35). Laodicea was close to Colossae and Paul referenced the believers in that city in his letter to the Colossians (4:13).

Bibliography

Bible. King James Version.

Encyclopedia Britannica 11^th edition: Asceticism; Colossae

Hefele, Charles Joseph. A History of the Councils of the Church, from the original documents. Vol II. Translated by Henry Nutcome Oxenham. Edinburgh, 1876. pp 295-323.