Colossians 2:14-17

“The legal charges against us are marked paid, with a nail driven through them”

(Col 2:14 KJVA) 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;

(Col 2:15 KJVA) And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

(Col 2:16 KJVA) 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:

(Col 2:17 KJVA) Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Is Paul the lawless one? the Antichrist?

Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High … and think to change times and laws:
2Th 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
2Th 2:9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders
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A better translation:

(Col 2:14 KJVA) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances (record of our sins) that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

(Col 2:16 KJVA) 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:

(Col 2:17 KJVA) Which are a shadow of things to come; (except) the body of Christ.
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“Let no man judge you…but the body of Christ” (see this principle in Matthew 18:15-17 and also 1 Corinthians 5:11-13)

Mistranslation of Col 2:17:

KJV “17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body (is) of Christ.” (‘is’ in grey, added – literally “Body Christos” or “bodyG4983 is of Christ.G5547”)
NKJV “17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”
YLT “17 which are a shadow of the coming things, and the body [is] of the Christ;”
ASV “17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.”
NLT “17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.”
ESV “17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”
NIV “17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
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The church is the G4983 Soma “Body” of G5547 Christos “Christ”

Strong’s Research on “Body of Christ” as used by Paul:

Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the bodyG4983 of Christ;G5547; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

1Co 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the bodyG4983 of Christ?G5547?
1Co 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

1Co 12:27 Now ye are the bodyG4983 of Christ,G5547, and members in particular.

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the bodyG4983 of Christ:G5547

Colossians 1:18 He is the head of the body; the church.

Colossians 1:24 For His body’s sake, which is the church.

Colossians 3:15 Ye are called in one body.

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Context: Troublemakers in the Colossians Church are repeatedly referred to as “any man” or “no man” and the ordinances they are teaching is Greek asceticism.

(Col 2:4 KJVA) And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

(Col 2:8 KJVA) 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.

(Col 2:18 KJVA) 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,

(Col 2:20 KJVA) 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,

(Col 2:21 KJVA) (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

(Col 2:22 KJVA) Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

(Col 2:23 KJVA) 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.
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Paul frequently used many colorful figures of speech:

Circumcision without hands (verse 11) “painful cutting out of bad habits”

Putting off the body of flesh (verse 11) “removing sinful desires”

Buried with Him in baptism (verse 12) “Christ is involved in your baptism”

Handwritten ordinances nailed to the cross (verse 14)
Handwritten ordinances = only found in this one place in the entire Bible, never used in reference to law or commands of Moses.

“Handwritten ordinances” are better translated as “the legal charges against us” – legal charges can be dropped, the law is usually not dropped. The law is not against us, legal charges are against us.

(Col 2:14 NASB) having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

“nailed to the cross” ancient debts were canceled by having nails driven through them. Nailing a debt means that the debt had been paid in full. This does not cancel or change any law, only saying that the charges are paid.

“Nomos” is the greek word for law. Used 197 times but not in Colossians at all.

“Dogma” is the word used here instead.