Colossians 2:16 – Evidence of an irrelevant Sabbath?

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“Do not be judged by feast days, new moons, or the Sabbath.” A statement by Paul to the Colossians, which, in its botched form in new Bibles, is misused as supposed proof of the irrelevance of the Fourth Commandment.

Colossians 2:16 – A “cotton baton”

The Sabbath no longer needs to be observed. It applies only to Jewish communities. “We,” the Christians, celebrate Sunday instead, because it is on this day that Jesus rose from the dead. After all, Paul also clearly stated that no one is bound to observe the Sabbath, the 7th day of the week. The statement in Colossians chapter 2 often serves as confirmation of this:
“So let no man judge you because of food or drink, or certain holidays, or new moons, or Sabbaths” (Colossians 2:16, German Schlachter 2000).

The use of individual verses or even verse snippets is a common habit of those who do not take the truth of the gospel very seriously and who also know that the majority of readers or listeners are very careless and do not check it for themselves, let alone read it in context in order to get the necessary overall picture.

“Modern” verse adaptations

Apparently, Bible societies are aware of the problems inherent in this verse as well. Read this verse alone, it offers considerable scope for individual interpretation, and therefore considerable effort has been put into it. While the Schlachter 2000 Bible edition is based on the majority text (textus receptus), the majority of modern Bible editions use the revised original text according to Nestle-Aland. (Info). The results concerning the verse Colossians 2:16 are also similar.

Bible “Luther 2017”:
“Therefore, let no one judge you with regard to food or drink, or to a holy day, a new moon, or a Sabbath.”

Bible “Guten Nachrichten Bibel”:
“Therefore, let no one condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not observing certain festivals, the new moon, or the Sabbath.”

Bible “Hoffnung für alle”:
“Therefore, do not let anyone dictate to you what you eat or drink, or what you observe on certain holidays, the new moon day, or what you may or may not do on the Sabbath.“

Bible “Einheitsübersetzung”:
“Therefore let no one condemn you in food or drink or in a festival, whether it be a new moon or a Sabbath.”

It is striking that the “Sabbath” in the Nestle-Aland translations is always singular, while in the Schlachter 2000, based on the textus receptus, the Sabbath is given in the plural. This is also found in the English King James Version (KJV, 1611):
“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:” – “Sabbath days!”

“Sabbaths” in Greek

What can be found in the original Greek text? (Textus Receptus, 1598, Source):

At the end of the verse you can find “σαββάτων”, i.e. “sabbatōn”, and therefore in the plural.

Writing the word “Sabbath” in the singular, contrary to the original text, is “wonderfully” suited to describing THE Sabbath, i.e., the Fourth Commandment, even though it is by no means addressed.

Here, of course, it is necessary to consider to whom and for what reasons Paul wrote the letter to the church. The next verse, which is generally not quoted in this context, would provide much more insight: verse 17:
“Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.“.

These are clearly the ceremonial laws that were dictated to Moses and written by him in a book. Not the Sabbath, which was written in stone by God Himself as part of His Ten Commandments. (Info).

Pagan Customs

After the stoning of Stephen, the gospel was also passed on directly to the Gentiles. This was also the case in the Colossian community. The Gentiles also came to the church, out of curiosity, out of genuine interest in learning the truth, or for whatever reason. The Gentiles had their own ceremonies, celebrations, and also a number of “holy days.” Be it the Ishtar Festival (Easter) – Info) or the occasion of the winter solstice (Info).

A lot of information is missing

If one reads Colossians 2:16 in isolation, without context, the question (actually) arises as to who and why they should not be judged because of certain holidays. Who says this, and who is being addressed? Are they being judged because they observe these holidays, or because they do not? These statements are not contained in this single verse at all. One would therefore have to immediately grasp the entire context. Unfortunately, the usual case is that one’s own, pleasing interpretation is added, and this is simply widely accepted..

Any Jewish person who wished to celebrate Passover as before, even though this was no longer necessary after the crucifixion of Jesus, was welcome to do so. While it is not prescribed, it is not forbidden either. Should the Gentiles who practiced their own ceremonies be met with (harsh) prohibitions, or should they be given time to discover the truth for themselves? Anyone who has recognized the gospel and thus Jesus Christ will naturally abandon their pagan practices. The same applies to those who insisted on the ceremonial festivities and then realized that these were merely a symbol of the saving work of Jesus Christ, as described in verse 17.

Against human traditions

Paul made it clear in verses 20 to 23 that this also involved the dictates of human rules and traditions:
“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, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 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 Immutable Sabbath – Commandment Four

Paul didn’t mention the Sabbath, God’s Fourth Commandment, with a single syllable. This, like all the other nine commandments, is untouched and has endured since creation, endures now, and will continue to endure in the new earth. This Sabbath applies not only to the Jewish communities, but to all people. (Info).

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