TRV
Translation
King James Version
¶ 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:
Complete Jewish Bible
So don’t let anyone pass judgment on you in connection with eating and drinking, or in regard to a Jewish festival or Rosh-Hodesh or Shabbat.
Berean Standard Bible
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.
American Standard Version
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day:
World English Bible Messianic
Let no one therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
Geneva Bible (1599)
Let no man therefore condemne you in meate and drinke, or in respect of an holy day, or of the newe moone, or of the Sabbath dayes,
Young's Literal Translation
Let no one, then, judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a feast, or of a new moon, or of sabbaths,
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In the KJVVerse 29,511 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Colossians 2 verses 16–23
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.
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.
The apostle concludes the chapter with exhortations to proper duty, which he infers from the foregoing discourse.
I. Here is a caution to take heed of judaizing teachers, or those who would impose upon Christians the yoke of the ceremonial law: Let no man therefore judge you in meat nor drink, etc., Col 2:16. Much of the ceremonies of the law of Moses consisted in the distinction of meats and days. It appears by Rom. 14 that there were those who were for keeping up those distinctions: but here the apostle shows that since Christ has come, and has cancelled the ceremonial law, we ought not to keep it up. "Let no man impose those things upon you, for God has not imposed them: if God has made you free, be not you again entangled in that yoke of bondage." And this the rather because these things were shadows of things to come (Col 2:17), intimating that they had no intrinsic worth in them and that they are now done away. But the body is of Christ: the body, of which they were shadows, has come; and to continue the ceremonial observances, which were only types and shadows of Christ and the gospel, carries an intimation that Christ has not yet come and the gospel state has not yet commenced. Observe the advantages we have under the gospel, above what they had under the law: they had the shadows, we have the substance.
II. He cautions them to take heed of those who would introduce the worship of angels as mediators between God and them, as the Gentile philosophers did: Let no man beguile you of your reward, in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, Col 2:18. It looked like a piece of modesty to make use of the mediation of angels, as conscious to ourselves of our unworthiness to speak immediately to God; but, though it has a show of humility, it is a voluntary, not a commanded humility; and therefore it is not acceptable, yea, it is not warrantable: it is taking that honour which is due to Christ only and giving it to a creature. Besides, the notions upon which this practice was grounded were merely the inventions of men and not by divine revelation, - the proud conceits of human reason, which make a man presume to dive into things, and determine them, without sufficient knowledge and warrant: Intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind - pretending to describe the order of angels, and their respective ministries, which God has hidden from us; and therefore, though there was a show of humility in the practice, there was a real pride in the principle. They advanced those notions to gratify their own carnal fancy, and were fond of being thought wiser than other people. Pride is at the bottom of a great many errors and corruptions, and even of many evil practices, which have great show and appearance of humility. Those who do so do not hold the head, Col 2:19. They do in effect disclaim Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man. It is the highest disparagement to Christ, who is the head of the church, for any of the members of it to make use of any intercessors with God but him. When men let go their hold of Christ, they catch at that which is next them and will stand them in no stead. - From which all the body, by joints and bands, having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Observe, 1. Jesus Christ is not only a head of government over the church, but a head of vital influence to it. They are knit to him by joints and bands, as the several members of the body are united to the head, and receive life and nourishment from him. 2. The body of Christ is a growing body: it increaseth with the increase of God. The new man is increasing, and the nature of grace is to grow, where there is not an accidental hindrance. - With the increase of God, with an increase of grace which is from God as its author; or, in a usual Hebraism, with a large and abundant increase. - That you may be filled with all the fulness of God, Eph 3:19. See a parallel expression, Which is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, fitly joined together, maketh increase of the body, Eph 4:15, Eph 4:16.
III. He takes occasion hence to warn them again: "Wherefore, if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances? Col 2:20. If as Christians you are dead to the observances of the ceremonial law, why are you subject to them? Such observances as, Touch not, taste not, handle not," Col 2:21, Col 2:22. Under the law there was a ceremonial pollution contracted by touching a dead body, or any thing offered to an idol; or by tasting any forbidden meats, etc., which all are to perish with the using, having no intrinsic worth in themselves to support them, and those who used them saw them perishing and passing away; or, which tend to corrupt the Christian faith, having no other authority than the traditions and injunctions of men. - Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship and humility. They thought themselves wiser than their neighbours, in observing the law of Moses together with the gospel of Christ, that they might be sure in the one, at least, to be in the right; but, alas! it was but a show of wisdom, a mere invention and pretence. So they seem to neglect the body, by abstaining from such and such meats, and mortifying their bodily pleasures and appetites; but there is nothing of true devotion in these things, for the gospel teaches us to worship God in spirit and truth and not by ritual observances, and through the mediation of Christ alone and not of any angels. Observe, 1. Christians are freed by Christ from the ritual observances of Moses's law, and delivered from that yoke of bondage which God himself had laid upon them. 2. Subjection to ordinances, or human appointments in the worship of God, is highly blamable, and contrary to the freedom and liberty of the gospel. The apostle requires Christians to stand fast in the liberty with which Christ hath made them free, and not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage, Gal 5:1. And the imposition of them is invading the authority of Christ, the head of the church, and introducing another law of commandments contained in ordinances, when Christ has abolished the old one, Eph 2:15. 3. Such things have only a show of wisdom, but are really folly. It is true wisdom to keep close to the appointments of the gospel, and an entire subjection to Christ, the only head of the church.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 16–23. Public domain.
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IrenaeusAD 202
Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenaeus
The apostles ordained, that "we should not judge any one in respect to meat or drink, or in regard to a feast day, or the new moons, or the sabbaths." Whence then these contentions? whence these schisms? We keep the feast, but in the leaven of malice and wickedness, cutting in pieces the Church of God; and we preserve what belongs to its exterior, that we may cast away these better things, faith and love. We have heard from the prophetic words that these feasts and fasts are displeasing to the Lord.
TertullianAD 220
Against Marcion Book V
Now tell me, Marcion, what is your opinion of the apostle's language, when he says, "Let no man judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath, which is a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ? " We do not now treat of the law, further than (to remark) that the apostle here teaches clearly how it has been abolished, even by passing from shadow to substance-that is, from figurative types to the reality, which is Christ.
Eusebius of CaesareaAD 339
“Let no man, therefore, judge you regarding food or drink, or with respect to a holy day, or the new moon, or sabbath days, which are a shadow of things to come.” For if the laws relating to the difference of foods, and the holy days and the sabbath, like shadowy things, preserved a copy of other things that were mystically true, you will not say without reason that the high priest also represented the symbol of another High Priest, and that he was called Christ, as the pattern of that other, the only real Christ.
Basil of CaesareaAD 379
There is, however, a certain other life, to which these words call us; and, although at present our days are evil, yet some others are good, which night does not interrupt; for God will be their everlasting light, shining upon them with the light of his glory. Consequently, when you hear of the good days, do not think that it is your life here that is set forth in the promises. In fact, these present days are the destructible days, which the sensible sun produces; but nothing destructible could suitably be a gift for the indestructible. “This world as we see it is passing away.” Therefore, since the law has some shadow of the good things to come, consider I pray, present sabbaths to be pleasant and holy, as they have been brought from the eternal days, and new moons, and festivals. But look upon them, I pray you, in a manner proper to the spiritual law.
Ambrose of MilanAD 397
On the Decease of His Brother Satyrus, Book 2
What then? shall we esteem festival days by eating and drinking? But let no man judge us in respect of eating; "for we know that the Law is spiritual." "Let no man therefore judge us in any meats or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or new moons, or a sabbath day, which are a shadow of the things to come, but the body is of Christ." Let us, then, seek the body of Christ which the voice of the Father, from heaven, as it were the last trumpet, has shown to you at the time when the Jews said that it thundered; the body of Christ, which again the last trump shall reveal; for "the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven at the voice of the Archangel, and at the trump of God, and they that are dead in Christ shall rise again;" for "where the body is, there too are the eagles," where the body of Christ is, there is the truth.
John ChrysostomAD 407
Homily on Colossians 7
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day, or a new moon, or a sabbath day." Seest thou how he depreciates them? If ye have obtained such things, he saith, why make yourselves accountable for these petty matters? And he makes light of them, saying, "or in the part of a feast day," for in truth they did not retain the whole of the former rule, "or a new moon, or a sabbath day." He said not, "Do not then observe them," but, "let no man judge you." He showed that they were transgressing, and undoing, but he brought his charge against others. Endure not those that judge you, he saith, nay, not so much as this either, but he argues with those persons, almost stopping their mouths, and saying, Ye ought not to judge. But he would not have reflected on these. He said not "in clean and unclean," nor yet "in feasts of Tabernacles, and unleavened bread, and Pentecost," but "in part of a feast": for they ventured not to keep the whole; and if they did observe it, yet not so as to celebrate the feast. "In part," he saith, showing that the greater part is done away. For even if they did keep sabbath, they did not do so with precision.
Severian of GabalaAD 425
Paul teaches that the law is abolished, Christ having passed over the “bond” against us. He teaches that the evil one has fallen, Christ having exposed and made a parade of the evil powers. Thus, we are no longer to obey what has been abolished, and we are to reject Jews who would urge us to keep the law…. This law was the mere shadow of Christ, lacking the substance. Further, we are not to obey Greeks who would encourage us to worship angels or worldly elements. .
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Whoever seeks to be a stranger to that carnal … Judaism which is justly repudiated and condemned must first consider as alien to himself those ancient observances which have clearly ceased to be necessary. This is so because the New Testament has been revealed, and the things which were prefigured by those others have come to pass. A person is not to be judged “in meat or drink or in respect of a festival day, or of the new moon or of the sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come.” On the other hand, he must receive, embrace and observe, without any reserve, those commandments in the law which help to form the character of the faithful … [and] whatever progress he makes in them he must not attribute to himself but to “the grace of God by Jesus Christ our Lord.” .
CS LewisAD 1963
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON CHRISTIANITY, from God in the Dock
As to the fabulous element in the Old Testament, I very much doubt if you would be wise to chuck it out. What you get is something coming gradually into focus. First you get, scattered through the heathen religions all over the world— but still quite vague and mythical—the idea of a god who is killed and broken and then comes to life again. No one knows where he is supposed to have lived and died; he's not historical. Then you get the Old Testament. Religious ideas get a bit more focused. Everything is now connected with a particular nation. And it comes still more into focus as it goes on. Jonah and the Whale, Noah and his Ark, are fabulous; but the court history of King David is probably as reliable as the court history of Louis XIV. Then, in the New Testament the thing really happens. The dying god really appears—as an historical person, living in a definite place and time. It we could sort out all the fabulous elements in the earlier stages and separate them from the historical ones, I think we might lose an essential part of the whole process.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Colossians 2:16 serves as a foundational declaration of Christian liberty, asserting that believers are not to be subjected to human judgment concerning ceremonial observances like dietary restrictions, specific festivals, new moon celebrations, or Sabbath keeping. This verse underscores the complete sufficiency of Christ's work on the cross, which renders the Old Covenant shadows obsolete and liberates believers from legalistic burdens, enabling them to live in the freedom and fullness found in Him alone.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Paul employs several significant literary devices in Colossians 2:16. The most prominent is Enumeration, where he lists specific categories of Old Covenant observances ("meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days"). This detailed list serves to comprehensively cover the ceremonial law, ensuring that his audience understands the breadth of the freedom Christ has secured. By explicitly mentioning these, Paul leaves no room for ambiguity regarding the areas where believers are not to be judged. Furthermore, there is a powerful element of Antithesis when this verse is read in conjunction with Colossians 2:17. The ceremonial practices listed in Colossians 2:16 are presented as "shadows," directly contrasted with Christ, who is the "body" or "reality." This stark contrast highlights the temporary and preparatory nature of the Old Covenant rituals versus the ultimate and complete fulfillment found in Christ. Finally, the strong imperative "Let no man therefore judge you" functions as a Command or Exhortation, directly empowering the Colossian believers to resist the pressures of legalism and embrace their freedom in Christ.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Colossians 2:16 is a pivotal text for understanding the relationship between the Old and New Covenants, asserting that the ceremonial aspects of the Mosaic Law, which served as shadows and types, found their ultimate fulfillment and reality in Jesus Christ. The freedom declared here is not a license for lawlessness but a profound liberation from the burden of earning righteousness through external observances. It underscores that justification and sanctification are solely by grace through faith in Christ, not by adherence to human-made rules or even divinely instituted Old Covenant rituals that have now been superseded. This theological truth liberates believers to worship God in spirit and truth, with hearts transformed by the gospel, rather than being bound by outward forms that no longer convey the substance of God's redemptive plan.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Colossians 2:16 powerfully calls believers to embrace the radical freedom found in Christ, reminding us that our standing before God is not contingent upon external observances or adherence to human-imposed rules. In a world still prone to legalism, whether from traditional religious structures or self-righteous tendencies, this verse serves as a crucial safeguard against adding burdens to the gospel. It challenges us to examine our own hearts: do we subtly judge others based on their practices (or lack thereof) regarding diet, entertainment, or specific days of worship? Do we, perhaps unintentionally, create extra-biblical requirements for "true" spirituality? This passage encourages a focus on the internal transformation wrought by the Holy Spirit, fostering a love for God and neighbor that flows from gratitude for Christ's finished work, rather than from a desire to earn favor or avoid condemnation. It champions a vibrant, Christ-centered faith that is lived out in liberty, guided by biblical principles and the Spirit, not by the dictates of human tradition or the shadows of a former covenant.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does Colossians 2:16 mean Christians can disregard all moral laws, including the Ten Commandments?
Answer: No, Colossians 2:16 specifically addresses the ceremonial aspects of the Old Testament Law, which were "a shadow of things to come" (Colossians 2:17). These included dietary restrictions, specific feast days, new moon observances, and the weekly Sabbath as part of the Mosaic Covenant's ritual system. It does not negate the moral law, which reflects God's unchanging character and is reaffirmed throughout the New Testament. For example, commandments against murder, theft, and adultery are upheld by Jesus and the apostles (Romans 13:8-10). Christian liberty means freedom from the burden of earning salvation through works of the law, not freedom to sin. Believers are called to live holy lives, empowered by the Spirit, reflecting the righteousness of Christ (Galatians 5:13).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Colossians 2:16 finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the very substance and reality to which all Old Covenant shadows pointed. The dietary laws, annual festivals, new moon celebrations, and Sabbath days were not ends in themselves but served as prophetic types, foreshadowing the coming Messiah and His redemptive work. Christ is the true "meat" and "drink" of eternal life (John 6:53-58), the ultimate Passover Lamb whose sacrifice inaugurated the new covenant (1 Corinthians 5:7), and the One who brings the true spiritual rest that the Sabbath symbolized (Matthew 11:28-30). In Him, the old covenant's demands are fulfilled, and its ceremonial practices are rendered obsolete as means of righteousness or access to God. Believers are no longer under the "yoke of bondage" of the law but are made "complete in Him" (Colossians 2:10), living in the glorious freedom purchased by His blood. This freedom is not lawlessness, but a Spirit-empowered life of love and obedience that flows from union with Christ, who is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Romans 10:4).