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Colossians 2:17

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Colossians 2:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ`s.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ`s.
Colossians 2:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Colossians 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out that way, nailing it to the cross;
15having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16Let 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:
17which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ`s.
18Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increasing with the increase of God.
20If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,
← Colossians 2:16Colossians 2:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Which are a shadow of things to come, etc.] By Christ, and under the Gospel dispensation; that is, they were types, figures, and representations of spiritual and evangelical things: the different “meats and drinks”, clean and unclean, allowed or forbidden by the law, were emblems of the two people, the Jews and Gentiles, the one clean, the other unclean; but since these are become one in Christ, the distinction of meats is ceased, these shadows are gone; and also of the different food of regenerate and unregenerate souls, the latter feeding on impure food, the ashes and husks of sensual lusts, or their own works, the former on the milk and meat in the Gospel, the wholesome words of Christ;…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“things to come--the blessings of the Christian covenant, the substance of which Jewish ordinances were but the type. Compare "ages to come," that is, the Gospel dispensation (Eph 2:7). Heb 2:5, "the world to come." the body is of Christ--The real substance (of the blessings typified by the law) belongs to Christ (Heb 8:5; Heb 10:1).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Which are a shadow of things to come - See the notes at Hebrews 8:5; Hebrews 10:1, note. They were only a dim outline of future things, not the reality. But the body is of Christ - The reality, the substance. All that they signified is of or in Christ. Between those things themselves which are in Christ, and those which only represented or prefigured them, there is as much difference as there is between a body and a shadow; a solid substance and a mere outline. Having now, therefore, the thing itself the shadow can be to us of no value; and that having come which was prefigured, that which was designed merely to represent it, is no longer binding. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Which are but a lifeless shadow; but the body, the substance, is of Christ. Colossians 2:18”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“2:17 The reality of Christ was anticipated by the Old Testament rituals, which Paul calls shadows (see also Heb 10:1).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“a shadow: Joh 1:17; Heb 8:5, Heb 9:9, Heb 10:1 the body: Mat 11:28, Mat 11:29; Heb 4:1-11 Colossians 2:18”
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Related study paths

Read Colossians 2 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification