Discussion issues
- SINCE ALL US WILL BE CRITICIZED HOW CAN WE BEST ANSWER THEM?
- ANY ADVICE ON HOW BEST TO ENJOY THE HOLY DAYS !
A Podcast : 11-18-22
Understanding Resistance to the Judging of Others in Col. 2:16-17
WHAT DID PAUL REALLY MEAN WHEN HE SAID 'LET NO MAN JUDGE YOU'?
This portion of scripture is one of the most misunderstood in the Bible. We will deeply look into the realistic possibilities and come to a much clearer and greater incite into what the author of most of the New Testament meant. First we will examine the verses as preserved in the original Greek.
Colossians 2:16-17 KJV 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' added):17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body ('is' added by translator also) of Christ.
People around them were judging them regarding their religious practices. Does this scripture say that believers live in a state where nobody has any authority to tell Christians what is right or wrong? No one can tell them anything, even about which Days to observe or diet laws. Many assert this interpretation. All of Paul's letters to congregations are full of instructions and admonishments. Therefore such a view is contrary to the New Testament overall. Only the body of Christ can judge!
Colossians 2:15 KJV 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
It is clear that Paul is saying that Christ has all authority and He is the Head of the church. Therefore the body of Christ is the church. God's church makes such decisions because of Jesus's victory.
Colossians 1:15-18 KJV 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:...18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead....1Cor 12:27 ¶ Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Clearly the church is the body of Christ and Jesus makes such decisions. But what decisions had been made in the thirty years of church history prior to this letter and what did Jesus and his Apostles believe? Let us analyze all likely possibilities.
ONLY THREE POSSIBILITIES COULD HAVE EXISTED
Possibility number one is that they were keeping all the Sabbaths etc. When Paul penned his letter to this congregation he knew that they were currently keeping the weekly and annual Sabbaths and laws regarding clean meats and using the Hebrew calendar. This fits comfortably with his remarks of let no man judge you. They lived in an ascetic culture. One of the two top philosophies in Greece at this time was asceticism. It is based on abusing the body, including self flagellation and giving up the good things of life like meats and sex. Paul warns them a few lines later :
Colossians 2:20-23 KJV 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, {rudiments: or, elements} 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. {neglecting: or, punishing,..}
Note that this extreme will worship which may appear so very pious was condemned. These worldly concepts are of no use in real spiritual growth. Sabbath keepers can easily identify with Paul's words and are often judged for not eating certain things or not keeping worldly holidays or Sunday.
Possibility number two is that they were NOT keeping the Sabbaths etc. When the Apostle to the gentiles wrote this letter they were not keeping the weekly and annual Sabbaths. This would mean that the disciples of Paul who had been with him in Ephesus for over two years did NOT learn to keep all these Biblical items. REMEMBER THE OLD TESTAMENT WAS THE ONLY BIBLE AT THAT TIME. He would be saying to them do not let your neighbors judge you regarding what you are not doing.
How could your neighbors even think to judge you for what you are not doing. If they are not doing anything making THEM stand out from the world how could they be judged and on what. If this were not the case then and only then would one be criticized and their behavior noticed. This would lead one to have to accept possibility number one or why even write the letter. Note the context is clearly about resisting paganism and Greek philosophies. Also Paul states his belief in the OT see Acts 24:14. Possibility number two cannot be true except for a third option.
Colossians 2:8-9 KJV 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
The Apostle is emphatically telling them to remain different than their neighbors.
Possibility number three is that His comments were aimed at the Judaizer threat. If the believers were Not keeping the Sabbaths etc. when Paul wrote them, and the Judaizers were the major or only threat to them one has to ask why would they even care. The Judaizers goals were to add many regulations and laws to make Sabbath keeping more binding. If these Colossians were not even keeping any Sabbath why would Judaizers even bother with them? You cannot add to something they are not even doing. They would have considered them raw pagans or deceived ones to be looked down upon.
Ex 31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.
All worshipers of the true God believed that the day of worship was the sign of which God you were worshiping. If you had services on the Day of the Sun God you were considered pagan. If you kept the Sabbath you worshiped the true God; the God of creation the God who hallowed the Sabbath. The Judaizers pushed even more minor laws than extra Sabbath rules, including circumcision, taking for granted that all believer kept the Sabbath.
Acts 15:5-6 KJV 5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
If the New Testament Church had not been keeping the Sabbaths etc. years after Jesus had risen, why would they even consider talking over these lesser issues with the Judaizers? The church was balanced and not burdensome regarding Sabbath laws. Jesus DID NOT TEACH the burdensome levels of Sabbath keeping, making the people feel in bondage. His Apostle also knew this.
Matthew 11:28-30 KJV 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Paul fought a never ending battle with certain factions that kept trying behind his back, to seduce gentiles into the over regulation of much of Judaism. Obeying God's Laws in a balanced manner takes understanding. Paul, no doubt also like Christ taught it that way.
Mark 2:24-28 KJV 24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? 25 And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? 26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest,....27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
The Sabbath is a feast day and a blessing and not a prison. Jesus is also Lord of the Sabbath. He decides the rules on how to keep it. His true disciples understood all this.
THE UNDENIABLE ANSWER TO NOT BEING JUDGED COL. 2:16-17
Any influence the Judaizers would have had would be to encourage them to a more extreme level of unbalanced Sabbath keeping. Paul would also include them as a secondary group among those whose judging should be ignored. Paul is saying don't let anyone call you into question regarding obedience to God's Sabbaths etc. Also enjoy God's festivals and ignore the ascetics. He is saying remember the instructions his church, the body of Christ has given them.
Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
An even greater piece of evidence that Paul taught his gentile churches to keep the HOLY DAYS is:
1 Corinthians 5:7-8 KJV 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us KEEP THE FEAST,... with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. {the feast: or, holyday}
