Yes, those were my words about moving on to Colossians 2:16–17.
This passage is indeed often mentioned in discussions about the Sabbath, but in the Adventist understanding it does not abolish the fourth commandment; rather, it warns against judgment and ceremonial shadows that pointed to Christ.
When I wrote, “If you want, I can go straight to Col. 2:16–17 right now,” I meant a willingness to explain one of the most important New Testament texts regarding the law, festivals, and sabbaths. This very passage is often used as proof that the seventh-day Sabbath no longer matters. However, a careful reading of the context shows a different picture.
Why Colossians 2:16–17 raises so many questions
At the center of the discussion are the apostle Paul’s words:
“Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is Christ’s.” Col. 2:16–17
At first glance, it may seem that Paul places the Sabbath among temporary regulations. But it is important to remember: in the Epistle to the Colossians, the apostle is not fighting against God’s moral law, but against false teaching that mixed human rules, asceticism, and religious formalism.
A little earlier he writes:
“Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you submit to regulations—‘Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle’—which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men?” Col. 2:20–22
So, the theme of the chapter is not the abolition of the Ten Commandments, but a warning against human systems that replace the gospel.
Which “sabbaths” are meant
In the Bible, the word “sabbaths” can refer not only to the weekly Sabbath, but also to festival or ceremonial days of rest in Israel’s yearly worship calendar. In Leviticus 23 we see a list of festivals, new moons, and special sacred days that were connected with the sacrificial system and had symbolic meaning.
About the annual festivals it says:
“These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.” Lev. 23:4
And about the seventh day separately:
“But the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.” Lev. 23:3
The Adventist interpretation notes that Paul uses the familiar Old Testament triad: “festival, new moon, sabbaths.” This order often refers to annual, monthly, and other sacred days in the worship cycle. In this context, the words “a shadow of things to come” naturally apply to ceremonial regulations that pointed forward to Christ’s ministry.
Why this is not the abolition of the fourth commandment
The seventh-day Sabbath was established at Creation, long before the ceremonies at Sinai.
“And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” Gen 2:3
In the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath is presented not as a temporary shadow, but as part of the unchanging moral law:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exod 20:8
Jesus Himself did not abolish the Sabbath, but restored its true meaning:
“And He said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.’” Mark 2:27
Therefore, when Paul speaks of “a shadow of things to come,” Adventists understand this as a reference to ceremonial regulations connected with the sacrificial system, not to the blessed day of Creation.
What does “let no one judge you” mean
The key emphasis of the text is judgment. Paul does not say, “let no one observe anything.” He says, “let no one judge you.” This is language about pressure from people who imposed special rules about food, drink, and ceremonies as a condition of spiritual completeness.
But fullness is in Christ:
“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him.” Col. 2:9–10
In other words, salvation does not come through a ritual system. It comes through Jesus. But that does not mean the moral law has lost its value. On the contrary, Christ gives obedience its proper place: not as a way to earn salvation, but as the fruit of love and faith.
Ellen White repeatedly emphasized that the ceremonial law, which pointed to Christ, completed its service at the cross, while God’s moral law remains the eternal standard of righteousness. This fits well with the distinction between shadow and reality in Colossians 2.
How to read this text from an Adventist perspective
So, the phrase about moving on to Col. 2:16–17 meant an invitation to a calm biblical study. In such a study, we see several conclusions. First, Paul writes against human judgment and ceremonial formalism. Second, “a shadow of things to come” best fits ceremonial festivals and regulations. Third, the seventh-day Sabbath is rooted in Creation and belongs to the Ten Commandments, so it should not automatically be equated with temporary shadows.
It is also important to remember that, ultimately, biblical faith is centered on Christ. He is the center of Scripture, the Lord of the Sabbath, and the One who gives true rest to the soul.
"So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God." Heb 4:9
Conclusion and practical application
Yes, those were my words, and they led to an important biblical explanation. Colossians 2:16–17 does not teach that God’s Sabbath has been abolished. Rather, Paul warns believers not to let people judge them over ceremonial matters that were only a shadow, while the reality is in Christ.
Practically, this means: hold fast to Christ as the center of salvation, distinguish the moral law from ceremonial shadows, and keep the Sabbath not as a burden but as God’s gift of peace, worship, and trust. If this passage is read carefully and within the full biblical context, it does not destroy the Sabbath but helps us see its proper place in the light of the gospel.
