In the last three editorials, we have studied Colossians 2:14–17. Last month we learned that theology has been used numberless times to gain control of other people’s minds and finally to control them entirely. There are still people today with the same Gnostic attitude attempting to gain control of the church of God by dictating various practices for believers to follow in regard to eating, drinking, working, dressing, feast days, methods of Sabbath observance, ad nauseum.
Concerning this, Paul said, “Let nobody give judgment of you, wishing in humility of mind and worship of angels, which he has seen [some Greek manuscripts read ‘which he has not seen’; we will not discuss this difference here], pushing into without cause, being puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding onto the Head, out of whom all the body, through the joints and ligaments, having been supplied and having been joined together, will grow with the growth of God. If you have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as living in the world, are you subject to ordinances [or decrees; the same root as in verse 14]—‘Do not touch, do not taste, do not finger,’ which things are all unto perishing in the process of being used— according to the commandments and teachings of men [Gnostics]? Which things have a reputation for wisdom in self-imposed worship [the word for worship could also be translated ‘man-made religion’] and humility of mind and severe treatment of the body, not in any honor for the indulgence of the flesh.” Colossians 2:18–23. The last clause of verse 23 shows us clearly that this man-made religion has no value in controlling physical passions.
Previously, in stating that these religious observances were shadows of things to come, if we allow the Bible to interpret itself, the fact that these religious observances were shadows of things to come would have to refer to the Jewish ceremonial system with its animal sacrifices and yearly sabbaths and feast days (see Leviticus 23) and monthly feast days (see Hebrews 8:1–5; 10:1–4).
Many people have not noticed, when reading Colossians 2:17, that the verb, “is,” has been added. It is very common in both Hebrew and Greek texts for the translator to feel forced to add a form of the verb “to be” (such as “is,” “was,” “will be,” “are,” or “were”) to aid the English reader in understanding what is being read. The problem comes when, in order to aid readability, the meaning of the text is changed, which is what perhaps has been done in Colossians 2:17. If we did not add any words and gave the text a free translation to aid readability, it would read approximately as follows, beginning with verse 16: “Therefore do not let anybody judge you in eating or drinking or in respect of a feast or a new moon or of Sabbaths, (which are a shadow of things coming), except the body of Christ.” Or, if we were to paraphrase the text to simplify its meaning, so that all could immediately understand, the paraphrase would read approximately as follows: “Do not let anybody but the body of Christ judge you concerning your religious practices, which are symbols of the future.”
The believers are not to allow individuals (Gnostics) to usurp the teaching authority of the church—the body of Christ—itself. They are not to allow the practices of the old covenant or any type of man-made religion (human rules which had never been agreed to by the apostles and the elders of the church) to usurp the authority of the church—the body of Christ—which was instructed by the apostles themselves and which, as a body, had authority, as long is it abided by the foundational teachings of the prophets, apostles, and Jesus Christ, the chief Cornerstone.