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Monday, July 28th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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New Life Version

Colossians 2:17

These things are a picture of what is coming. The important thing is Christ Himself.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Law;   Philosophy;   Types;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Type;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Type, typology;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Corinthians, First and Second, Theology of;   Magic;   Myth;   Sanctification;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Shadow;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Colosse;   Laodicea;   Sabbath;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Body of Christ;   Colossians;   Festivals;   Guilt;   Sabbath;   Shadow;   Worship;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Gnosticism;   Knowledge;   Law;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Colossians, Epistle to the;   Commandment;   Judaizing;   Mortify;   Moses;   Philosophy;   Presence (2);   Sacraments;   Shadow ;   Timothy and Titus Epistles to;   Type;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Colossians, Epistle to the;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Aaron;   Shadow;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Philosophy;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Christ;   Day;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Peculiarities of the Law of Moses;   Law of Moses, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Body;   Jude, the Epistle of;   Shade;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is Christ.
King James Version (1611)
Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.
King James Version
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
English Standard Version
These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
New American Standard Bible
things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
New Century Version
These things were like a shadow of what was to come. But what is true and real has come and is found in Christ.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
Legacy Standard Bible
things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
Berean Standard Bible
These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.
Contemporary English Version
These things are only a shadow of what was to come. But Christ is real!
Complete Jewish Bible
These are a shadow of things that are coming, but the body is of the Messiah.
Darby Translation
which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.
Easy-to-Read Version
In the past these things were like a shadow that showed what was coming. But the new things that were coming are found in Christ.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Which are but a shadowe of thinges to come: but the body is in Christ.
George Lamsa Translation
These are shadows of things to come; but the main objective is Christ.
Good News Translation
All such things are only a shadow of things in the future; the reality is Christ.
Lexham English Bible
which are a shadow of what is to come, but the reality is Christ.
Literal Translation
which are a shadow of coming things, but the body is of Christ.
Amplified Bible
Such things are only a shadow of what is to come and they have only symbolic value; but the substance [the reality of what is foreshadowed] belongs to Christ.
American Standard Version
which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's.
Bible in Basic English
For these are an image of the things which are to come; but the body is Christ's.
Hebrew Names Version
which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Messiah's.
International Standard Version
These are a shadow of the things to come, but the realitysubstance
">[fn] belongs to Christ.Hebrews 8:5; 9:9; 10:1;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
which are shadows of those to come, but the body is the Meshiha.
Murdock Translation
which were shadows of the things then future; but the body is the Messiah.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Which are shadowes of thynges to come: but the body (is) of Christe.
English Revised Version
which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's.
World English Bible
which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
but the body is of Christ.
Weymouth's New Testament
These were a shadow of things that were soon to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
or of sabatis, whiche ben schadewe of thingis to comynge; for the bodi is of Crist.
Update Bible Version
which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's.
Webster's Bible Translation
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.
New English Translation
these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!
New King James Version
which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
New Living Translation
For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
New Revised Standard
These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Which are a shadow of the things to come, whereas, the body, is of the Christ.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Which are a shadow of things to come: but the body is of Christ.
Revised Standard Version
These are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
which are nothinge but shaddowes of thynges to come: but the body is in Christ.
Young's Literal Translation
which are a shadow of the coming things, and the body [is] of the Christ;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
which are the shadowe of the thinges that were for to come: but the body selfe is in Christ.
Mace New Testament (1729)
for these were only the shadows of future things, prefiguring Christ, who is the substance.
Simplified Cowboy Version
These things weren't a way to live, but a shadow of the life to come that is through Jesus.

Contextual Overview

16 Do not let anyone tell you what you should or should not eat or drink. They have no right to say if it is right or wrong to eat certain foods or if you are to go to religious suppers. They have no right to say what you are to do at the time of the new moon or on the Day of Rest. 17 These things are a picture of what is coming. The important thing is Christ Himself. 18 Do not let anyone rob you of your crown. They will try to get you to bow down in worship of angels. They think this shows you are not proud. They say they were told to do this in a dream. These people are proud because of their sinful minds. 19 Such people are not a part of Christ. Christ is the Head. We Christians make up His body. We are joined together as a body is held together. Our strength to grow comes from Christ. 20 You have died with Christ and become dead to those old ways. Then why do you follow the old ways of worship? Why do you obey man-made rules? 21 These rules say, "You must not put your hand on this." "Do not put this into your mouth." "You must not put your finger on that." 22 All these things come to an end when they are used. You are following only man-made rules. 23 It looks as if it is wise to follow these rules in an act of worship, because they are hard on the body. It looks as if they are done without pride, but they are worth nothing. They do not take away a man's desire to sin.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a shadow: John 1:17, Hebrews 8:5, Hebrews 9:9, Hebrews 10:1

the body: Matthew 11:28, Matthew 11:29, Hebrews 4:1-11

Reciprocal: Leviticus 11:24 - General 2 Chronicles 31:3 - for the new moons Song of Solomon 2:9 - he standeth Isaiah 66:23 - that from Matthew 5:17 - but John 14:6 - the truth Romans 10:4 - Christ Romans 14:3 - judge Romans 14:5 - esteemeth Romans 14:17 - is 1 Corinthians 10:4 - that Rock 2 Corinthians 3:13 - to the Galatians 3:24 - the law Galatians 4:10 - General Hebrews 9:23 - the patterns

Cross-References

Genesis 2:1
So the heavens and the earth were completed, and all that is in them.
Genesis 2:4
This is the story of the heavens and the earth when they were made, in the day the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.
Genesis 2:6
But a fog came from the earth and watered the whole top of the ground.
Genesis 2:9
And the Lord God made to grow out of the ground every tree that is pleasing to the eyes and good for food. And He made the tree of life grow in the center of the garden, and the tree of learning of good and bad.
Genesis 2:10
Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden. And from there it divided and became four rivers.
Genesis 2:12
The gold of that land is good. Bdellium and onyx stone are there.
Genesis 2:13
The name of the second river is Gihon. It flows around the whole land of Cush.
Genesis 2:18
Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper that is right for him."
Genesis 2:20
Adam gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field. But there was no helper found that was right for Adam.
Genesis 2:21
So the Lord God put the man to sleep as if he were dead. And while he was sleeping, He took one of the bones from his side and closed up the place with flesh.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Which are a shadow of things to come,.... 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; and likewise the clean meat was a shadow of Christ himself, whose flesh is meat indeed, and whose blood is drink indeed. The "holy days", or "feasts" of the Jews, the feasts of tabernacles, of the passover and Pentecost, were types of Christ; the feast of tabernacles, though it was in remembrance of the Israelites dwelling in tents and booths when they came out of Egypt, yet was also a representation of the people of God dwelling in the earthly houses of their tabernacles here on earth; and particularly of Christ's dwelling, or tabernacling in human nature, and who likewise was born at the time of this feast; :-. The passover, as it was a commemoration of the deliverance of the Israelites out of Egypt, and of God's passing over their houses when he smote the firstborn of the Egyptians, so it was a type of Christ our passover sacrificed for us, and was kept by Moses in the faith of him, Hebrews 11:28; there is a very great resemblance, in many particulars, between Christ and the paschal lamb; Hebrews 11:28- :. The feast of Pentecost, or the feast of harvest and firstfruits, was a shadow of the firstfruits of the Spirit, which Christ having received, gave to his disciples on that day; and of the harvest of souls to be gathered under the Gospel dispensation, of which the conversion of the three thousand on the day of Pentecost was an earnest and pledge. The "new moon" was typical of the church, which is fair as the moon, and receives all her light from Christ the sun of righteousness; and of the renewed state of the church under the Gospel dispensation, when the old things of the law are passed away, and all things relating to church order, ordinances, and discipline, are become new. The "sabbaths" were also shadows of future things; the grand sabbatical year, or the fiftieth year sabbath, or jubilee, in which liberty was proclaimed throughout the land, a general release of debts, and restoration of inheritances, prefigured the liberty we have by Christ from sin, Satan, and the law, the payment of all our debts by Christ, and the right we have through him to the heavenly and incorruptible inheritance. The seventh year sabbath, in which there was no tilling of the land, no ploughing, sowing, nor reaping, was an emblem of salvation through Christ by free grace, and not by the works of men; and the seventh day sabbath was a type of that spiritual rest we have in Christ now, and of that eternal rest we shall have with him in heaven hereafter: now these were but shadows, not real things; or did not contain the truth and substance of the things themselves, of which they were shadows; and though they were representations of divine and spiritual things, yet dark ones, they had not so much as the very image of the things; they were but shadows, and like them fleeting and passing away, and now are gone:

but the body [is] of Christ: or, as the Syriac version reads it, "the body is Christ"; that is, the body, or sum and substance of these shadows, is Christ; he gave rise unto them, he existed before them, as the body is before the shadow; not only as God, as the Son of God, but as Mediator, whom these shadows regarded as such, and as such he cast them; and he is the end of them, the fulfilling end of them; they have all their accomplishment in him: and he is the body of spiritual and heavenly things; the substantial things and doctrines of the Gospel are all of Christ, they all come by him; all the truths, blessings, and promises of grace; are from him and by him, and he himself the sum of them all. The allusion seems to be to a way of speaking among the Jews, who were wont to call the root, foundation, substance, and essence of a thing, גופא, "the body of it" n: so they say o,

"the constitutions concerning the sanctification of the offerings and the tithes, are, both the one and the other,

גופי תורה, "the bodies", or substantial parts of the law:''

and again p, that

"the constitutions or rules about the sabbath, the festivals and prevarications, they are as mountains that hang by an hair; for the Scripture is small, and the constitutions are many; the judgments and the services, the purifications and uncleannesses, and the incests, they have, upon which they can support themselves, and these, and these, are גופי תורה, "the bodies of the law":''

they say q of a small section, or paragraph, that all the bodies of the law depend upon it: once more r,

"the sabbaths, and the good days (the feasts or holy days) are גופן, "the bodies" of the sign;''

which the phylacteries or frontlets were for; but our apostle says, that Christ is the body and substance of all these shadows, in opposition to these sayings and notions of the Jews: some connect this last clause with the former part of the following verse, rendering it as the Arabic version thus, "because of the communion of the body of Christ, let no man condemn you"; and the Ethiopic version thus, "and let no man account you fools, because of the body of Christ", but there is nothing in the text to support these versions.

n Vid. Misn. Abot, c. 3. sect. 18. & Bartenora in ib. & Halicot Olam, par. 2. c. 1. p. 48. o T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 32. 1. p Misn. Chagiga, c. 1. sect. 8. T. Bab. Chagiga, fol. 11. 2. q T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 63. 1. r T. Bab. Menachot, fol. 36. 2. Vid. T. Bab. Ceritot, fol. 5. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 17. Which are a shadow — All these things were types, and must continue in force till the Christ, whom they represented, came; the apostle therefore says that the body - the substance or design of them was of Christ - pointed him out, and the excellent blessings which he has procured. The word σκια, shadow, is often used to express any thing imperfect or unsubstantial; while the term σωμα, body, was used in the opposite sense, and expressed any thing substantial, solid, and firm. The law was but the shadow or representation of good things to come; none should rest in it; all that it pointed out is to be sought and obtained in Christ.


 
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