The Sabbath and Colossians 2

Chagall - The Praying Jew

Last night at our bible study we were discussing how Colossians 2.16-17 was used to justify why Christians shouldn't observe the Sabbath or any other festival for that matter. During the discussion the following points were made:

• The statement "let no one judge you..." could equally be applied in the positive, that is, to support those who wish to observe the Sabbath as those who do not.
  
• Many translations insert the word "but" or "only" in verse 17 which unfortunately belittles the references to kosher eating, festival observance and the Sabbath.

A second reading of the passage suggests that, if there is a warning, it is against overly oppressive Oral regulations (Colossians 2.20-23) not the written Torah. B H Young in his book "Paul the Jewish Theologian" also points out that the shadow imagery in no way diminishes the value of these festivals. The purpose of using the shadow imagery is to point out that they point to the one who makes the shadow, that is, Jesus.