Colossians 2:16 and the Ordinances

Colossians 2:16 is rapidly becoming one of the most abused passages in the Word of God. Colossians 2:16 has long been one of the enemy’s favourite passages to have Christians believe that the fourth Commandment or the Ten Commandments are abolished. But it does not stop there. If our adversary can add enough confusion, then he still succeeds as Christians get to the stage where they do not know what to believe and so the truth remains elusive. Sadly, Colossians 2:16 is abused even through those that know that all Ten Commandments still stand but this deceived group manipulate the meaning of the words in Colossians 2:16 to insist that Paul is saying that Christians should still be keeping all the Holy Feast days such as Passover etc that were nailed to the cross. Here is the passage in contention.

Colossians 2:14-17 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink [offerings], 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.”

The following are the four most common misunderstandings, or to the grievousness of God, because some are not looking for truth, but instead are looking for a smooth, easy, comfortable religion that allows them to live anyway they please and still give assurance of salvation. There is indeed no true religion that can do that, and sadly, Matthew 7:21-23 describes the potential outcome for those who choose that path. It is my heartfelt prayer that they and the rest of us all seek after truth in love and humility. They say:

• 1) Colossians 2:14-16 abolishes all Ten Commandments.
• 2) Colossians 2:16 abolishes the fourth Commandment only. (A favourite among many)
• 3) Colossians 2:16 does away with the foods God called an abomination. (unclean)
• 4) Colossians 2:14-17 says we have to keep the ordinances being the sacrificial part of the Mosaic Law such as Passover and all the other Holy feast days. (ceremonial law)

The following list is the most common reasons as to how the above four misunderstandings are justified.

• 1) The word ordinances in Colossians 2:14 means the Ten Commandments.
• 2) The phrase “blotting out the handwriting” in Colossians 2:14 means the Ten Commandments because the Ten Commandments were written with God’s finger and they say you don’t get much more handwritten than God’s finger.
• 3) The phrase “sabbath days” (Plural) in Colossians 2:16 is referring to the fourth Commandment the Sabbath.
• 4) The Greek New Testament shows the declension for “sabbath” in Colossians 2:16 as N-GPN, which stands for “Noun-Genitive-Plural-Neuter,” that is, “sabbaths” or “sabbaths days.” Some say the phrase “sabbath days” in Colossians 2:16 is not plural because the KJV Bible has translated other verses in the singular where the Greek New Testament shows the declension for sabbath as N-GPN, therefore “sabbath days” must be singular, that is, “the Sabbath.”
• 5) The unclean foods are abolished in this passage because modern Bible translations say “Do not let anyone judge you in what you eat or drink.”
• 6) The word “sabbath” in Colossians 2:16 is the ceremonial sabbaths and the fourth Commandment the Sabbath because the word used in both cases in the New Testament is “Sabbaton.”
• 7) In regards to those who insist that Paul is saying that the feast holydays must still be kept, it is said that ALL commentaries that say Colossians 2:16 is referring to the ceremonial sabbaths only and that they were nailed to the cross, are commentaries belonging to a specific Church.

The Colossians 2:16 truth

So what does this entire passage from Colossians 2:16 through to Colossians 2:17 really mean? One by one we will cover all the above heresies but first let’s do some ground work. What are the Ten Commandments and what was done to make reconciliation for sin before Christ died on the cross?

The Bible speaks of two Laws of which there is much confusion but it need not be as when one breaks down the purpose of these laws it becomes very clear. Law Number 1 is called “the Ten Commandments or Two tablets of the Testimony,” the “Moral Law,” and the “Decalogue.” Law Number 2 is called the “Mosaic Law or Law of Moses,” the “Book of the Law or Book of the Covenant,” the “Ordinances” and the “Ceremonial Law.” If an Israelite sinned, he broke Law Number 1, the Ten Commandment Moral Law. He then had to bring his offering according to Law Number 2, the Sacrificial Law to receive forgiveness. This is the relationship between these two laws. Law Number 1 defines sin, as sin is the transgression of the Law (1 John 3:4) and Law Number 2 defines sacrifices, the ceremonial Law which was the remedy for sin.

So put simply, when the Israelite sinned he broke Law number 1. To make atonement for his sin he had to obey Law number 2. This Ceremonial law is easily identified in the Bible as it talks about circumcision (a religious Jewish rite), sacrifices, offerings, purifications, holydays, and other rites that were associated with the Hebrew sanctuary service. So here are two very distinct laws. Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ permanently took the place of Law Number 2 when He cried out “It is finished” and bowed His head and died. When that unseen hand tore the temple curtain from top to bottom, (Matthew 27:51) this signified that the ceremonial law was once and for all permanently nailed to the cross.

So what is sin and why did Jesus die on the cross for us? If I were to commit adultery, would that be sin? Of course! What about murder or stealing? Would that be sin? How about worshipping idols or taking the Lord’s name in vein? These of course would all be sin and it is because of this sin that Jesus died on the cross for us. Having already identified what sin is, let’s see if the Bible agrees with us.

1 John 3:4 “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”
Romans 4:15 “Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.”

Romans 4:15 corroborates 1 John 3:4 and shows that if there was no law then there would be no transgression of the law, which is sin. Hence, if we have sin then we have a law. If there is no sin then there is no law. It does not get more simple than that. It is no different is secular society. If there was no law, then people could murder, steal and do what ever they wanted as there would be no law and so there would be no transgression of mans law and society would be dreadful, fearful and chaotic and every would have to fight for their lives. Today we have murder, suicide, rape, adultery, fornication, thefts, muggings, idolatry, pornography, child abuse and classmates shooting classmates. There are even elderly men and woman being beaten in their homes for a few dollars. You can understand those belonging to this world not wanting any law to follow, but what sort of message does it send to secular society when Christians start teaching that these Ten great Laws of love, the Ten Commandments are abolished? Is any one of us without sin? There was of course only ONE who was perfect and without sin.

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

What does the Bible say the consequences for sin are? Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” However, 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

So did Jesus die to redeem us from consequences of sin and hence pay the penalty for our sin, or so we could continue living in sin? The following passage is the easiest and clearest way to answer this question.

Hebrews 10:26-29 “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, … 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

Since sin is transgression of the law and Hebrews 10:26 says that there is NO SACRIFICE that will cover wilful sin, than it becomes perfectly clear that Jesus did not die so we could continue living in sin. We are told that to continue in sin (breaking God’s Commandments) is to tread the Son of God under our feet. Does anyone desire to tread Jesus under foot in thanks for His sacrifice and love? We are also informed it is to count the blood of the New Covenant as an UNHOLY thing despite being under God’s Grace. Having covered the groundwork, let’s look at the most common excuses used with the Colossians 2:16 passage.

Colossians 2:16 Explanation number 1

Explanation number 1 was that the ordinances are the Ten Commandments. I don’t believe one can come to this conclusion without being intentionally mislead. Let’s look at the meaning of the Greek word for “ordinances” used in Colossians 2:14 as well as for the Greek words for “Law” and “Commandments.”

Colossians 2:14-17 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances [dogmah].”

Strong’s Definition: G1378 dogma, pronounced dog'-mah.
From the base of G1380; a law (civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical): - decree, ordinance.

The Strong’s dictionary states that it can be a type of law but what type? Does it say that it is the Ten Commandment law or God’s law? No it does not. It says that it can be a “civil law,” “ceremonial law” or “ecclesiastical law” and a decree or ordinance.

When ones studies the context of Colossians 2:14-16, it becomes clear that it is the “ordinances” which is also known as the ceremonial law (a phrase used by many famous theologians but does not occur in scripture) being the sacrificial part of the “Law of Moses” which is also known as the “Mosaic Law.”

For further clarity, what is the basic definition from the Thayer dictionary?

Thayer Definition: G1378 dogma
1) Doctrine, decree, ordinance
2) The rules and requirements of the Law of Moses; carrying a suggestion of severity and of threatened judgment
3) Of certain decrees of the apostles relative to right living

As one would expect, the Thayer dictionary supports the Strong’s dictionary but also gives further clarity by stating directly the “Law of Moses” although only the sacrificial part of it. So how do people get the Ten Commandments from the Greek word “dogmah”? You obviously cannot. It is just one of many lies from the enemy to convince Christians that they no longer need be obedient to God in love or one of many excuses from those who simply do not want truth. This is not loving God with all ones heart, might and soul and can only end with one conclusion, and no one should desire to go down that path.

Let’s look at what Greek words would have been used in order for the Ten Commandments to have been referred to even though the context of the passage would still be totally incorrect. The Greek word for “Commandments” that is used consistently all through the New Testament when referring to the Ten Commandments according to the Strong’s dictionary is:

Strong’s Definition: G1785 entole, pronounced en-tol-ay' From G1781; injunction, that is, an authoritative prescription: - commandment, precept.

The following verse is before the cross where the Ten Commandments and the sacrificial ordinances were both still relevant. Here we find the use of the word Commandments, (entole) that is, the Ten Commandments, and the word ordinances referring to the Hebrew sacrificial sanctuary system. Are the “Ten Commandments” and the “Ordinances” the same thing? It should now be starting to come clear that they definitely are not.

Luke 1:6 “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments AND ordinances of the Lord blameless.”

Below a few more examples of verses using the Greek word “entole” used for the Ten Commandments.

Luke 23:56 “And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.”
John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commandments.”
Romans 13:9 “For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbour as thyself.”
1 Corinthians 7:19 “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.”
1 John 2:3-4 “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
1 John 5:2-3 “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”
Revelation 12:17 “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 14:12 “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

Why didn’t Paul use this Greek word if he was referring to the Ten Commandments? Because Paul is speaking of the ordinances of the ceremonial law, which we will also soon see from the passage context.

The other word that could have been used if Paul was referring to the Ten Commandment law would be to actually use the word “Law.” In more than 99% of the uses of the word “Law” in the New Testament, the word “Law” is either referring to the “Law of Moses” or the “Law of God” being the Ten Commandments. The Greek word for “Law” is “nomos” and the Strong’s definition is below.

Strong’s: G3551 nomos, pronounced nom'-os. From a primary word nemo (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), generally (regulation), specifically (of Moses [including the volume]; also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle): - law.

So again, why didn’t Paul use the word “nomos” if he was referring to the Ten Commandments or for that matter, the entire “Law of Moses?” Paul did not use the word “nomos” either because he is referring ONLY to the sacrificial part of the “Law of Moses” which is called the ceremonial law or to use the Biblical term, the “ordinances” as very accurately translated by the King James Bible.

The argument that the Greek word “dogmah,” which is most accurately translated to ordinances, is referring to the Ten Commandments is total ignorance or an absolutely sorrowful attempt by those who do not want to acknowledge God’s Commandments. Satan is always busy looking for anyone he can manipulate into spreading false doctrine to keep as many as possible from the kingdom. Sadly, he has had no trouble in finding many people in the last few decades and the amount of heretical teaching is on the rapid increase as we drawer nearer to Earths final days. This is something we should of course expect.

Colossians 2:16 Explanation number 2

The phrase “blotting out the handwriting” in Colossians 2:14 means the Ten Commandments because the Ten Commandments were written with God’s finger and they say you don’t get much more handwritten than God’s finger.

How God must grieve when he hears reasons like this one given in avoiding loving obedience to Him. The ordinances which were part of the “Law of Moses” were handwritten while the Ten Commandments were written by God’s finger. Is a child painting with their finger called finger painting or hand painting? Did God ever write any ordinances with His hand? He did NOT in fact. It is slowly going to become clearer and clearer that this passage is and can only be referring to the sacrificial part of the “Law of Moses,” which was written by the hand of Moses. So is the following hand writing or finger writing by God?

Exodus 31:18 “And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.”

Now note in the following verse that the “ordinances” were by the “hand of Moses” and that the “ordinances” are SEPARATE from the “Whole Law” and the “Statutes.” The Ten Commandments are indeed separate from the “ordinances,” which was also demonstrated well in Luke 1:6 shown previously.

2 Chronicles 33:8 “Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law AND the statutes AND the ordinances by the hand of Moses.”

Colossians 2:16 Explanation or Reason number 3

The phrase “sabbath days” (Plural) in Colossians 2:16 is referring to the fourth Commandment the Sabbath.

I call this an explanation or reason as many do legitimately misunderstand this. The word “sabbaths” or phrase “sabbath days” is the correct translation as the Greek is plural here as these were ceremonial sabbaths that were part of the ordinances. It is now time to establish a clearer meaning of this whole passage to understand this. Do you remember from earlier that the sacrificial law, which was also called the “ordinances” was to make reconciliation for sin? If we look closely now at the context of Colossians 2:14, we will note that Paul is saying that these ordinances were “against us” AND “contrary to us.” Why?

Colossians 2:14 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”

Here Paul pushes the point very hard that these ordinances were bondage but even more significantly, Paul says they were taken out of the way and nailed to the cross. To establish what was nailed to the cross, all we have to do is ask ourselves what was it that Jesus Christ died on the cross for. He was nailed the cross to redeem us from the consequences of our sin. And what was it that was practiced to make reconciliation for our sin before the cross? The sacrificial law! It was the ordinances that were nailed to the cross as Jesus brought an end to the whole sacrificial system by becoming that ONE and final perfect sacrifice, which was also signified by the unseen hand tearing the temple curtain from top to bottom.

Matthew 27:51 NIV “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.”

This Colossians 2:16 passage and its context is really so simple and clear but let’s look at a passage in the Old Testament that you will note speaks of some of what the “ordinances” entailed and that is was to make reconciliation for sin and included the Holy Feast days such as Passover. Note especially verse 17 which is the perfect parallel to Colossians 2:16. So what is it that is being referred to in this passage?

Ezekiel 45:13-25 KJV “This is the oblation [offering] that you shall offer; the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of wheat, and you shall give the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of barley: 14 Concerning the ordinance of oil, the bath of oil, you shall offer the tenth part of a bath out of the cor, which is an homer of ten baths; for ten baths are an homer: 15 And one lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel; for a meat offering, and for a burnt offering, and for peace offerings, to make reconciliation for them, saith the Lord GOD. 16 All the people of the land shall give this oblation for the prince in Israel. 17 And it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts [holy day], and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel. 18 Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the first month, in the first day of the month, you shall take a young bullock without blemish, and cleanse the sanctuary: 19 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering, and put it upon the posts of the house, and upon the four corners of the settle of the altar, and upon the posts of the gate of the inner court. 20 And so you shall do the seventh day of the month for every one that erreth, and for him that is simple: so shall you reconcile the house. 21 In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, you shall have the Passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten. 22 And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin offering. 23 And seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt offering to the LORD, seven bullocks and seven rams without blemish daily the seven days; and a kid of the goats daily for a sin offering. 24 And he shall prepare a meat offering of an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and an hin of oil for an ephah. 25 In the seventh month, in the fifteenth day of the month, shall he do the like in the feast of the seven days, according to the sin offering, according to the burnt offering, and according to the meat offering, and according to the oil.” Parenthesis are added.

The “ordinances” were what was practiced to make reconciliation for the sin of the people. It involved meat offerings and drink offerings, Holy day festivals [feasts] in the monthly new moons and on the various ceremonial sabbaths, such as Passover and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) for instance, which were all yearly ceremonial sabbaths.

Most modern Bible translations have mistranslated meat and drink offerings to “what you eat or drink” as in unclean foods. This is incorrect as unclean foods are not part of the “ordinances” of the sacrificial system in any way whatsoever. Not only did they mistranslate this, but if the translators had of stopped and thought about it, they would have realized that there is NO such thing as unclean drinks. Unclean drinks are not found anywhere in the Word of God as they do NOT exist. It is therefore impossible for unclean drinks to be referred to here since there is NO such thing and unclean foods are not part of the ordinances and so do not fit the context in the slightest. Meat and drink offerings on the other hand fit the context perfectly and ARE part of the ordinances as we also saw in Ezekiel 45:17.

The original Greek text often has words left out were the translators have to work out what word is missing and add it in. See also False Teachers and Teachings. When the translators of the KJV and NKJV Bible add a word in, it is added in italics to show that it did not exist in the original Greek text. The translators of the KJV Bible have done the most accurate job at translating this particular passage, but in Colossians 2:16, even they apparently did not realize that the word “offerings” was missing and so we ended up with “meat, or in drink” instead of “meat, or in drink offerings,” which is exactly what was in the ordinances. Observe Colossians 2:16 below that has had the missing word added and compare it with Ezekiel 45:17.

Colossians 2:16 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink [offerings], or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:” Parenthesis are added.

It is a perfect parallel as you would expect since Ezekiel 45 is referring to the ordinances that was to make reconciliation for sin which is exactly what Jesus brought to an end when He died on the cross. Jesus became our Passover Lamb and even died on Passover at exactly the same time the Passover Lamb was about to be sacrificed in the temple. This is what is known as type and antitype. For every feast there is an antitype. To fully comprehend the purpose of the ceremonial ordinances, one must understand the principle of type and antitype. The sequence of days observed for the feasts as shown in scripture is the “type.” This sequence of days is symbolic of what was to come in the future and for its fulfilment which is the “antitype.” The type and antitype MUST and WILL match precisely. Feast of weeks for instance is the type and Pentecost is the antitype and its fulfilment. This is what is meant by shadows in Colossians 2:17.

Colossians 2:17 “Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”

All the various feast holydays of the ceremonial ordinances were a “shadow” of something to come. What were they a shadow of? Passover was the type and shadow of the death of Jesus on the cross who became our Passover Lamb. When Jesus was crucified, Passover and the antitype was fulfilled and the shadow disappeared, that is, it was nailed to the cross and ended for ever. Leviticus 23:5 says, “In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S Passover.” And the feast the day after was a shadow of the time Jesus spent in the grave. Leviticus 23:6 “And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days you must eat unleavened bread.” The Feast of weeks, which occurred fifty days after Passover, was a shadow of Pentecost, which of course was fifty days after Jesus was crucified. It also coincided with the giving of the Ten Commandments. Leviticus 23:15-16 “And you shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall you number fifty days; and you shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.” The fourth Commandment the Sabbath on the other hand is not and cannot be a type of anything as it was established before the fall, and so has no shadow and is eternal as are all Ten Commandments.

Note that the word “holyday” in Colossians 2:16 is synonymous with a feast day as feast days are festivals and holydays. Note the Strong’s dictionary definition.

Strong’s: G1859 heorte, pronounced heh-or-tay'. Of uncertain affinity; a festival: - feast, holyday.

For instance, “Alexander Campbell’s” Living Oracles uses the word festival which means feast day, in place of Holyday that is used in the KJV Bible and is an exact parallel of Ezekiel 45:17.

Colossians 2:16 KJV “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink [offerings], or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:”
Colossians 2:16 LONT “Let no one, therefore, judge you in meat, or in drink [offerings], or in respect of a festival, or of a new moon, or of sabbaths;”

The ordinances had seven ceremonial sabbaths such as Passover, which you would have observed in Ezekiel 45:21 previously. The table below gives an overview of the various feast Holydays that were part of the ordinances, which is also referred to as the ceremonial law. The phrase “ceremonial law” does not occur in scripture but is used by many famous theologians and Bible commentaries as it is a law and it involves various ceremonies. This law was written in a book by Moses (hence two of its names, Book of the Law and Mosaic Law) and you will note that this law had several ceremonial sabbaths that so often get confused with the fourth Commandment (written in stone by God) of the Ten Commandments which is the Sabbath of the Lord and is eternal for everyone as are the other nine Commandments. The ceremonial sabbaths on the other hand were temporary and for literal Israel only, and WERE nailed to the cross.

2 Chronicles 8:13 “Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.”.

Spring Festivals					Autumn Festivals
Passover	Unleavened Bread			Pentecost	Trumpets	Atonement	Tabernacles
Leviticus 23:4-5	Leviticus 23:6-8			Leviticus 23:15-21	Leviticus 23:23-25	Leviticus 23:26-32	Leviticus 23:33-44
		Leviticus 23:9-14
14th Day 1st Month (Nisan)	A Week Long Festival 15th to 21st Day 1st Month (Nisan)			50 days from 15 Nisan (6 Sivan)	1st day 7th Month (Tishri)	10th Day 7th Month (Tishri)	An Eight Day Festival 15th to 22nd Day 7th Month (Tishri)
Erev Pesah	Pesah 1st Day of Festival	Omer Firstfruits	Yom Tov 7th Day of Festival	Shavuot Feast of Weeks or Firstfruits	Rosh Ha-shanah	Yom Kippur	Sukkoth 1st Day of Festival	Shemini Atzeret 8th Day of Festival
	15th Day 1st Month (Nisan)	16th Day 1st Month (Nisan)	21st Day 1st Month (Nisan)				15th Day 7th Month (Tishri)	22nd Day 7th Month (Tishri)
	A Sabbath	Not a Sabbath	A Sabbath	A Sabbath	A Sabbath	A Sabbath	A Sabbath	A Sabbath
Crucifixion		Resurrection		Holy Spirit	Warning	Judgment	Ingathering
	In Jerusalem			In Jerusalem			In Jerusalem
	Barley Harvest			Wheat Harvest			Fruit Harvest
	Latter Rains						Early Rains

Colossians 2:16 Explanation number 4

The Greek New Testament shows the declension for “sabbath” in Colossians 2:16 as N-GPN, which stands for “Noun-Genitive-Plural-Neuter,” that is, “sabbaths” or “sabbaths days.” Some say the phrase “sabbath days” in Colossians 2:16 is not plural because the KJV Bible has translated other verses in the singular where the Greek New Testament shows the declension for sabbath as N-GPN, therefore “sabbath days” must be singular, that is, “the Sabbath.”

The declension given is accurate in the Greek New Testament and sometimes different translations have translated elsewhere in the singular where it should have been plural but this is the mistake of the translators and does not change the fact that plural is correct in the KJV Bible and the majority of others that got this right, and as we have seen, this fits the context of the passage perfectly where one of the Ten Commandments can not possibly be referred to as the Ten Commandments are not the ordinances and did not end at the cross. Why should they? Did love end at the cross? I have devoted a whole web site to this one topic so if you would like to look at this more in depth then select Colossians 2:16.

Colossians 2:16 Explanation number 5

The unclean foods are abolished in this passage because modern Bible translations say “Do not let anyone judge you in what you eat or drink.”

This was previously explained in Colossians 2:16, explanation number 3.

Colossians 2:16 truth - Page 2.