New King James Version
Colossians 2:17
17which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Colossians 2:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
- New International Version (NIV)These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
- English Standard Version (ESV)These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
- New Living Translation (NLT)For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
Context of Colossians 2:17
15Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 16So 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 substance is of Christ. 18Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
Read all of Colossians 2Colossians 2:17 word by word
ἅ ἐστιν σκιὰ τῶν μελλόντων, τὸ δὲ σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Colossians 2:17
- John 1:17For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
- Hebrews 8:5who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
- Hebrews 9:9It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—
- Hebrews 10:1For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
- Matthew 11:28Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
- Hebrews 4:1Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
Commentaries on Colossians 2:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Which 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 , shadow, is often used to express any thing imperfect or unsubstantial; while the term , body, was used in the opposite sense, and expressed any thing substantial…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Which 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…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-17Verses 8-17 There is a philosophy which rightly exercises our reasonable faculties; a study of the works of God, which leads us to the knowledge of God, and confirms our faith in him. But there is a philosophy which is vain and deceitful; and while it pleases men's fancies, hinders their faith: such are curious speculations about things above us, or no concern to us. Those who walk in the way of the world, are turned from following Christ. We have in Him…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17The Old Testament ceremonies anticipated the coming of Christ, which Paul refers to as shadows (see also Hebrews 10:1).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. 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 (Ep 2:7). He 2:5, "the world to come." the body is of Christ--The real substance (of the blessings typified by the law) belongs to Christ (He 8:5; 10:1).Read the comment
Topics related to Colossians 2:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Colossians 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries