HOME | ARTICLES | BIBLES | LINKS | ~ the HeReTiC ~ Colossians 2:16 - 17 ~ scriptures are from the Hebraic Roots Bible, and HBR Bible Notes in italics. Col 2:16 Therefore do not let anyone† judge† among you about eating, or drinking, ~ † Referring to anyone outside the body of Messiah Col 2:17 which remain shadows of coming things†, but the body of Messiah†. ~ † The Sabbaths and Holy Days “remain shadows” and are not done away with Mainstream Christians often cite Colossians 2:16-17 in proclaiming that they should not be judged (rebuked) for consuming unclean creatures and for not observing the seventh-day Sabbath. Many Christians also state that it is legalistic for anyone to try to use YHWH’s ‘abolished’ dietary laws to restrain them from eating whatever ‘food’ they desire and that they can choose to observe the Sabbath on any day of the week of their choosing, or not at all. Modern-day mainstream Christians lack a fundamental understanding of who Paul was addressing in his Colossian epistles, the era in which he wrote them, and they believe that Paul’s writings were addressed to non-law-abiding Christians. Colossians 2:16-17, when understood from its proper historical context and perspective, has a completely different meaning than what many modern-day mainstream Christians understand it to be. Paul was addressing new Messianic (Christian) Colossian converts who lived among the heavy influence of Babylonian and Roman culture (Colossians 1:1-2). The Babylonian and Roman culture of the time, which the new Colossian converts came out of, consumed all manner of unclean creatures, celebrated pagan festivals, and observed the first-day as the Sabbath day. Paul was instructing the Colossian converts to not be concerned with those who judged (mocked / ridiculed) them in eating food and drink according to YHWH’s dietary laws (Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 14), or regarding YHWH’s festivals (Leviticus 23), or new moon celebrations (Numbers 29:6), or the seventh-day Sabbath (Exodus 31:16). Christianity later adopted Babylonian and Roman culture (including their diet and first- day Sabbath) unto itself. The Colossian believers whom Paul wrote to observed new moon celebrations in accordance with Scripture. Christians do not observe new moons, so Paul was NOT addressing modern-day mainstream Christianity in Colossians 2:16-17. Colossians 2:16-17 are applicable verses to Messianic and Christian believers who often receive judgment (mocking / ridicule) from their non-law-abiding Christian brethren for observing YHWH’s dietary commandments found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, and for observing YHWH’s seventh-day Sabbath.
The Shadow of Things to Come Yahshua had already come and gone when the Apostle Paul wrote Colossians. Colossians was not a Tanakh (Old Testament) prophecy concerning the Messiah who was still yet to come. Consuming proper food and drink, and observing YHWH’s festivals, new moons, and Sabbaths are still things that are yet to come for the majority of people living in the world. Yahshua plainly said He did not come to abolish the Torah(Matthew 5:17-19), and the Torah is proclaimed to be perpetual throughout Scripture, so Colossians 2:16-17 should be understood with the precept understanding that YHWH’s Torah is eternal. Isa 66:22-23 For as the new heavens and the new earth which I make stand before Me, declares YAHWEH, so your seed and your name shall stand. |
<º///>< Passover and unleavened bread. Exo 12:14 And the day shall be a memorial for you. And you shall celebrate it as a feast to YAHWEH, for your generations. You shall celebrate it as a law forever. Exo 13:6-10 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day keep a feast to YAHWEH. Unleavened bread shall be eaten the seven days. And leavened bread for you shall not be seen; yea, no leaven shall be seen among you in all your boundaries. And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, It is because of what YAHWEH did for me when I came out from Egypt. And it shall be for A SIGN TO YOU ON YOUR HAND, and a MEMORIAL BETWEEN YOUR EYES, so that the Torah of YAHWEH may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand YAHWEH brought you out from Egypt. And you shall keep this ordinance at its appointed time, from year to year. Weekly Shabbat Exo 31:13-17 And you speak to the sons of Israel, charging them, only My Sabbaths you shall keep; for it is a sign between Me and you for your generation; to know that I am YAHWEH your sanctifier†. And you shall keep the Sabbath, for it is holy for you; the profaners of it shall surely be executed; for everyone doing work in it, that soul shall be cut off from the midst of his people. Work may be done six days, and on the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to YAHWEH; everyone doing work on the Sabbath day surely shall be put to death. And the sons of Israel shall guard the Sabbath, to observe and do the Sabbath for their generations; it is a never ending covenant. It is a sign forever between Me and the sons of Israel; for in six days YAHWEH made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.† Statutes, Judgments, Sabbaths Eze 20:11-12, And I gave them My Statutes, and I made them know My Judgments, which if a man does them, he will even live by them†. And I ALSO gave them My Sabbaths† to be a Sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am YAHWEH who sets them apart. Eze 19-20 I am YAHWEH your Elohim, walk in My statutes, and keep My judgments, and do them. And guard My Sabbaths† to keep them holy, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am YAHWEH your Elohim†. *Sabbaths listed in Lev 23. |
