Twisting and distorting Colossians 2:16
Published by Rob Skiba December 24, 2013 at 11:14 PM
What is rather humorous/sad is how Christians will try to use Colossians 2:16 as a means to refute what I’ve been saying concerning pagan holidays:
Colossians 2:16 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:
The problem is their context is completely reversed. Verse 8 talks about not being spoiled by the TRADITIONS OF MEN (cough – like Christmas – cough).
Colossians 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.
Verse 15 talks about how Christ spoiled principalities and powers (who are the ones who inspired the traditions of men).
Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Now with the above in proper context, verse 16 is encouraging Believers not to let PAGANS judge them for doing the things of GOD: You know, like the true holy days [Lev. 23], new moons and Sabbaths, which you’ll note in verse 17 are all “shadows of Christ.”
Colossians 2:
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.
A shadow proceeds from and points to its subject, which in this case is the “body of Christ” casting said shadow. That is the purpose of the “holy days, new moons [which start months and feasts] and Sabbaths”.
The remaining verses pick up where verse 8 left off by stating that Believers should not let MEN beguile you and set you off to worship ANGELS. Verse 20 says that if we are in Christ, we should not partake in the “rudiments of the WORLD” nor should we subject ourselves to the “commandments and doctrines of MEN.”
Colossians 2:
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?
Most people who use Colossians 2:16 have totally twisted and distorted the entire context of verse 16 to actually justify participating in the traditions, commandments and doctrines of men at the expense of the things of God. The “spirit of the principle” is to obey God and not men! It is to do what’s right and not get involved in the things of the world. They’ve tortured the text to mean something it does not in order to hold on to the vain traditions of men.
Mark 7:
6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
– Rob Skiba
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- Keeping Passover | The Ephraim Awakening - […] is also especially helpful. And before being tempted to pull the Colossians 2:16 card, please read: Twisting and Distorting…
Rob,
Thank you for such great explanation. I wish I could convey the word as well as you. Great hope and prayer on the SEED project