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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Colossians 2:17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/colossians/2-17.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/51_Col_02_17.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Colossians 2:17 - Alive in Christ" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/colossians/2-17.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/colossians/2-17.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/colossians/">Colossians</a> > <a href="/colossians/2.htm">Chapter 2</a> > Verse 17</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad17.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/colossians/2-16.htm" title="Colossians 2:16">◄</a> Colossians 2:17 <a href="/colossians/2-18.htm" title="Colossians 2:18">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/colossians/2.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/colossians/2.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/colossians/2.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/colossians/2.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/colossians/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/colossians/2.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />which are a shadow the things coming. But the body <i>is</i> of Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/colossians/2.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body <i>is</i> of Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/colossians/2.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/colossians/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />things which are <i>only</i> a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/colossians/2.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/colossians/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />things which are a <i>mere</i> shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/colossians/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />things which are <i>only</i> a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/colossians/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Such things are only a shadow of what is to come <i>and</i> they have only symbolic value; but the substance [the reality of what is foreshadowed] belongs to Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/colossians/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/colossians/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is the Messiah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/colossians/2.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/colossians/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />These things are only a shadow of what was to come. But Christ is real! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/colossians/2.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/colossians/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body [that casts the shadow] belongs to Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/colossians/2.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />All such things are only a shadow of things in the future; the reality is Christ. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/colossians/2.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />These are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to the Messiah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/colossians/2.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/colossians/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/colossians/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/colossians/2.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />These were a shadow of things that were soon to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/colossians/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/colossians/2.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/colossians/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />which are a shadow of the coming things, but the body [is] of the Christ;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/colossians/2.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />which are a shadow the things coming. But the body <i>is</i> of Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/colossians/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> which are a shadow of the coming things, and the body is of the Christ;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/colossians/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Which are a shadow of things about to be; and the body of Christ.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/colossians/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/colossians/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />For these are a shadow of the future, but the body is of Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/colossians/2.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />These are shadows of things to come; the reality belongs to Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/colossians/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/colossians/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />These are shadows of things to come; but the main objective is Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/colossians/2.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />Because these things are shadows of those things that were future, but The Messiah is the body.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/colossians/2.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />which things are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is in Christ,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/colossians/2.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />which things are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is of Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/colossians/2.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />which are <i>merely</i> shadows of things to come: but the body is Christ?s.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/colossians/2.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />for these were only the shadows of future things, prefiguring Christ, who is the substance.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/colossians/2.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />These were a shadow of things that were soon to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/colossians/2.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is Christ's.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/colossians/2.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />which are a shadow of <i>good</i> things to come, but the body <i>is</i> of Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/colossians/2-17.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7q-K-qsfihQ?start=431" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/colossians/2.htm">Alive in Christ</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">16</span>Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. <span class="reftext">17</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: ha (RelPro-NNP) -- Who, which, what, that. ">These</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: estin (V-PIA-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">are</a> <a href="/greek/4639.htm" title="4639: skia (N-NFS) -- Apparently a primary word; shade or a shadow (darkness of error or an adumbration).">a shadow</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tōn (Art-GNP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">of the things</a> <a href="/greek/3195.htm" title="3195: mellontōn (V-PPA-GNP) -- A strengthened form of melo; to intend, i.e. Be about to be, do, or suffer something.">to come,</a> <a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">but</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-NNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/4983.htm" title="4983: sōma (N-NNS) -- Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.">body that casts it</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">belongs to</a> <a href="/greek/5547.htm" title="5547: Christou (N-GMS) -- Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.">Christ.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">18</span>Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/10-1.htm">Hebrews 10:1</a></span><br />For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/8-5.htm">Hebrews 8:5</a></span><br />The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/3-24.htm">Galatians 3:24-25</a></span><br />So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. / Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/14-17.htm">Romans 14:17</a></span><br />For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/9-9.htm">Hebrews 9:9-10</a></span><br />It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper. / They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-17.htm">Matthew 5:17</a></span><br />Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-17.htm">John 1:17</a></span><br />For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/2-15.htm">Ephesians 2:15</a></span><br />by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/10-4.htm">Romans 10:4</a></span><br />For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-11.htm">1 Corinthians 10:11</a></span><br />Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/9-23.htm">Hebrews 9:23</a></span><br />So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/4-9.htm">Galatians 4:9-10</a></span><br />But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? / You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/6-14.htm">Romans 6:14</a></span><br />For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/3-14.htm">2 Corinthians 3:14</a></span><br />But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/7-18.htm">Hebrews 7:18-19</a></span><br />So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless / (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2"> Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.</p><p class="hdg">a shadow.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/1-17.htm">John 1:17</a></b></br> For the law was given by Moses, <i>but</i> grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hebrews/8-5.htm">Hebrews 8:5</a></b></br> Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, <i>that</i> thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hebrews/9-9.htm">Hebrews 9:9</a></b></br> Which <i>was</i> a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;</p><p class="hdg">the body.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/11-28.htm">Matthew 11:28,29</a></b></br> Come unto me, all <i>ye</i> that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hebrews/4-1.htm">Hebrews 4:1-11</a></b></br> Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left <i>us</i> of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ephesians/4-13.htm">Belongs</a> <a href="/colossians/2-11.htm">Body</a> <a href="/colossians/2-13.htm">Christ</a> <a href="/colossians/1-24.htm">Christ's</a> <a href="/philippians/3-9.htm">Found</a> <a href="/philippians/4-14.htm">However</a> <a href="/colossians/1-15.htm">Image</a> <a href="/philippians/3-8.htm">Mere</a> <a href="/galatians/4-8.htm">Reality</a> <a href="/acts/5-15.htm">Shadow</a> <a href="/philippians/2-24.htm">Soon</a> <a href="/luke/15-30.htm">Substance</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/colossians/3-5.htm">Belongs</a> <a href="/colossians/2-19.htm">Body</a> <a href="/colossians/2-20.htm">Christ</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/2-6.htm">Christ's</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/2-1.htm">Found</a> <a href="/colossians/3-1.htm">However</a> <a href="/colossians/3-10.htm">Image</a> <a href="/colossians/2-22.htm">Mere</a> <a href="/hebrews/9-24.htm">Reality</a> <a href="/hebrews/8-5.htm">Shadow</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/3-4.htm">Soon</a> <a href="/1_timothy/6-18.htm">Substance</a><div class="vheading2">Colossians 2</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/2-1.htm">Paul still exhorts them to be constant in Christ;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/2-8.htm">to beware of philosophy, and vain traditions;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/2-18.htm">worshipping of angels;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/2-20.htm">and legal ceremonies, which are ended in Christ.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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In the context of Colossians, Paul addresses the Colossian church, which was being influenced by false teachings that emphasized adherence to these Jewish customs. The term "shadow" suggests that these practices were not the ultimate reality but rather a foreshadowing of something greater. This concept is echoed in <a href="/hebrews/10.htm">Hebrews 10:1</a>, where the law is described as a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. The "things to come" point to the fulfillment of these shadows in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who embodies the substance and reality of what the Old Testament anticipated.<p><b>but the body that casts it belongs to Christ</b><br>The "body" here signifies the substance or reality, contrasting with the "shadow." In this context, the body is Christ Himself, who fulfills the law and the prophets (<a href="/matthew/5-17.htm">Matthew 5:17</a>). The imagery of a shadow and body illustrates that while the Old Testament laws were important, they were not the end goal; rather, they pointed to Christ, who is the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative where Christ is seen as the culmination of God's promises, as seen in passages like <a href="/john/1-14.htm">John 1:14</a>, where the Word became flesh. The phrase underscores the sufficiency of Christ, emphasizing that believers are complete in Him (<a href="/colossians/2-10.htm">Colossians 2:10</a>), and do not need to adhere to the old ceremonial laws to achieve righteousness. This teaching was crucial for the early church, which was navigating the transition from the old covenant to the new covenant established through Jesus.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/paul_the_apostle.htm">Paul the Apostle</a></b><br>The author of the letter to the Colossians, addressing the church in Colossae.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/c/colossae.htm">Colossae</a></b><br>An ancient city in Phrygia, Asia Minor, where the early Christian church was established.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/c/christ.htm">Christ</a></b><br>Central figure in Christianity, whose life and teachings are the foundation of the faith.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jewish_traditions.htm">Jewish Traditions</a></b><br>The context of the "shadow" refers to Jewish laws and customs, such as dietary laws and festivals.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_church.htm">The Church</a></b><br>The body of believers in Christ, who are the recipients of Paul's teachings.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_the_shadow.htm">Understanding the Shadow</a></b><br>The Old Testament laws and rituals were a shadow, a foreshadowing of the reality found in Christ. They were not the end but pointed to something greater.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/christ_as_the_fulfillment.htm">Christ as the Fulfillment</a></b><br>Jesus is the substance, the reality that fulfills the shadows of the Old Covenant. Our focus should be on Him rather than on the rituals that pointed to Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/freedom_in_christ.htm">Freedom in Christ</a></b><br>Believers are no longer bound by the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament. Our relationship with God is based on faith in Christ, not adherence to the law.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/living_in_the_reality.htm">Living in the Reality</a></b><br>As Christians, we are called to live in the reality of Christ's finished work, embracing the freedom and fullness found in Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/u/unity_in_the_body.htm">Unity in the Body</a></b><br>Recognizing that the body belongs to Christ encourages unity among believers, as we are all part of His body, the church.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_colossians_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Colossians 2</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_death_for_blasphemy,_not_forgiveness.htm">Why does the Bible prescribe death for blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16) when Jesus taught forgiveness?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_colossian_heresy.htm">What is the Colossian Heresy?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_sacrifices_fade_by_new_testament.htm">If God is unchanging, why did these explicit sacrificial commands lose prominence by New Testament times (cf. Hebrews 10:1–10)? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_new_moon.htm">What does the Bible say about the New Moon?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/colossians/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(17) <span class= "bld">Which are a shadow . . . but the body</span> (<span class= "ital">the substance</span>) <span class= "bld">is of</span> <span class= "bld">Christ.</span>--The spirit of the passage is precisely that of the argument which runs through the Epistle to the Hebrews. "The Law had a shadow of good things to come, not the very image (or, <span class= "ital">substance</span>) of the things" (<a href="/hebrews/10-1.htm" title="For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.">Hebrews 10:1</a>). When St. Paul deals with the legal and coercive aspect of the Law, he calls it "the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ." (See <a href="/galatians/3-24.htm" title="Why the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.">Galatians 3:24</a>, and Note there.) When he turns to its ritual aspect, he describes it as simply foreshadowing or typifying the substance; and therefore useful before the revelation of the substance, useless or (if trusted in) worse than useless, after it. In every way "Christ is the end of the Law" (<a href="/romans/10-4.htm" title="For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes.">Romans 10:4</a>).<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/colossians/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 17.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Which are a shadow of the things to come, but the body is of Christ</span> (<a href="/galatians/3-23.htm">Galatians 3:23-25</a>; <a href="/galatians/4-4.htm">Galatians 4:4</a>; <a href="/2_corinthians/3-11.htm">2 Corinthians 3:11, 13</a>; <a href="/hebrews/7-18.htm">Hebrews 7:18, 19</a>; <a href="/hebrews/9-11.htm">Hebrews 9:11-14</a>; <a href="/hebrews/10-1.htm">Hebrews 10:1-4</a>). The apostle's opponents, we imagine, taught in Platonic fashion that these things were shadows of <span class="accented">ideal truth</span> and of <span class="accented">the invisible world</span> (comp. <a href="/hebrews/8-5.htm">Hebrews 8:5</a>), forms necessary to our apprehension of spiritual things. With St. Paul, they shadow forth prophetically <span class="accented">the concrete facts of the Christian revelation</span>, and therefore are displaced by its advent. The singular verb (literally, <span class="accented">is</span>) quite grammatically combines the particulars of ver. 16 under their common idea of a foreshadowing of the things of Christ; and the present tense affirms here a general truth, not a mere historical fact. How this was true of the "sabbath," e.g., appears in <a href="/hebrews/4-1.htm">Hebrews 4:1-11</a>; comp. <a href="/1_corinthians/5-6.htm">1 Corinthians 5:6-8</a>; <a href="/john/19-36.htm">John 19:36</a>, for the Christian import of the Passover feast. The figurative antithesis of "shadow" and "body" is sufficiently obvious; it occurs in Philo and in Josephus: to refer to ver. 19 and <a href="/colossians/1-18.htm">Colossians 1:18</a> for the sense of <span class="accented">body</span>, is misleading. For "the things to come" (the things of Christ and of the new, Christian era, now commencing), comp. <a href="/romans/4-24.htm">Romans 4:24</a>; <a href="/romans/5-14.htm">Romans 5:14</a>; <a href="/galatians/3-23.htm">Galatians 3:23</a>; <a href="/hebrews/2-5.htm">Hebrews 2:5</a>; <a href="/hebrews/10-1.htm">Hebrews 10:1</a>. This substance of the new, abiding revelation (<a href="/2_corinthians/3-11.htm">2 Corinthians 3:11</a>) is "Christ's," inasmuch as it centres in and is pervaded and governed by Christ (<a href="/colossians/1-18.htm">Colossians 1:18</a>; <a href="/colossians/3-11.htm">Colossians 3:11</a>; <a href="/romans/10-4.htm">Romans 10:4</a>; <a href="/2_corinthians/3-14.htm">2 Corinthians 3:14</a>). Nothing is said here to discountenance positive Christian institutions, or the observance of the Lord's day in particular, unless enforced in a Judaistic spirit. The apostle is protecting Gentile Christians from the re-imposition of Jewish institutions as such, as impairing their faith in Christ (comp. <a href="/galatians/5-2.htm">Galatians 5:2-9</a>), and as, in the case of the Colossians, involving a deference to the authority of angels which limited his sovereignty and sufficiency (vers. 8-10, 18, 19). This verse contains in germ much of the thought of the Epistle to the Hebrews. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/colossians/2-17.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">These</span><br /><span class="grk">ἅ</span> <span class="translit">(ha)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3739.htm">Strong's 3739: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">are</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐστιν</span> <span class="translit">(estin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> </span><span class="str2">I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a shadow</span><br /><span class="grk">σκιὰ</span> <span class="translit">(skia)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4639.htm">Strong's 4639: </a> </span><span class="str2">Apparently a primary word; 'shade' or a shadow (darkness of error or an adumbration).</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the things</span><br /><span class="grk">τῶν</span> <span class="translit">(tōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Genitive Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to come,</span><br /><span class="grk">μελλόντων</span> <span class="translit">(mellontōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3195.htm">Strong's 3195: </a> </span><span class="str2">A strengthened form of melo; to intend, i.e. Be about to be, do, or suffer something.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but</span><br /><span class="grk">δὲ</span> <span class="translit">(de)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary particle; but, and, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[the] body [ that casts it ]</span><br /><span class="grk">σῶμα</span> <span class="translit">(sōma)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4983.htm">Strong's 4983: </a> </span><span class="str2">Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">belongs to</span><br /><span class="grk">τοῦ</span> <span class="translit">(tou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Genitive Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Christ.</span><br /><span class="grk">Χριστοῦ</span> <span class="translit">(Christou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5547.htm">Strong's 5547: </a> </span><span class="str2">Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/colossians/2-17.htm">Colossians 2:17 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/colossians/2-17.htm">Colossians 2:17 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/colossians/2-17.htm">Colossians 2:17 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/colossians/2-17.htm">Colossians 2:17 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/colossians/2-17.htm">Colossians 2:17 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/colossians/2-17.htm">Colossians 2:17 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/colossians/2-17.htm">Colossians 2:17 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/colossians/2-17.htm">Colossians 2:17 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/colossians/2-17.htm">Colossians 2:17 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/colossians/2-17.htm">Colossians 2:17 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/colossians/2-17.htm">NT Letters: Colossians 2:17 Which are a shadow of the things (Coloss. Col Co) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/colossians/2-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Colossians 2:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Colossians 2:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/colossians/2-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Colossians 2:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Colossians 2:18" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>