What Paul really meant by “shadow… but the substance is Christ”
Does Colossians 2:16–17 teach that Christians must keep the biblical feasts and Sabbath? Many Hebrew Roots and Torah observance teachers argue that Paul is saying the feasts still point forward and therefore remain binding. But when the Greek text, historical context, and Paul’s wider theology are examined carefully, the passage teaches the opposite: the feasts, new moons, and Sabbaths were shadows fulfilled in Christ, and believers must not be judged or pressured by the Torah calendar.
Quick Answer
Bottom Line: In Colossians 2:16–17, Paul tells believers not to let anyone judge them regarding food and drink or the Torah calendar (festivals, new moons, Sabbaths). He calls these things a shadow—real and meaningful in their time— but not binding once Christ (the reality) has come. The feasts may still teach us about God’s redemption story, but they do not bind a Christian’s conscience under the New Covenant.
Part of the series: Testing Claims: Hebrew Roots & Sacred Name Teachings Explained
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Few verses matter more in discussions about the Feasts of the LORD, the Sabbath, and whether Christians today are required to observe them than Colossians 2:16–17. If Paul teaches that these practices were shadows fulfilled in Christ, then no Christian can be judged—or obligated— for not keeping the Torah calendar. This single passage becomes foundational for understanding New Covenant freedom.
Many Hebrew Roots / Torah observance ministries (including 119 Ministries, Corner Fringe, Unlearn the Lies, TorahResource, and New2Torah)1 often argue:
“Paul isn’t saying the feasts were fulfilled in Christ—he’s saying they still point forward to events yet to come. Therefore Christians must continue to keep them.”
This interpretation is widespread online. But is it what the Greek actually says? Let’s examine the text carefully, honestly, and in context.
How to Use This Resource
- New readers: Read the Quick Answer and Simple Explanation.
- Groups & discipleship: Read the Going Deeper section and discuss the “Common Claims” box.
- Teachers & leaders: Use the Greek notes, OT triad, and context section to evaluate HRM arguments carefully.
Table of Contents
- Quick Answer
- Simple Explanation
- The Text of Colossians 2:16–17
- What “Festivals, New Moons, Sabbaths” Means
- Going Deeper
- Do the Feasts Still Have Meaning?
- Common HRM Claims vs. What Paul Says
- Summary
- FAQ
- Footnotes & Scholarly Sources
Simple Explanation
Paul’s point is straightforward: don’t let anyone judge you by a religious calendar. The feasts, new moons, and Sabbaths were like a shadow that helped God’s people see the outline of what was coming.
When Christ arrives, the shadow has done its job. You can still learn from it, but you don’t live your life under it. That’s why Paul says the substance (the reality) belongs to Christ.
The Text of Colossians 2:16–17 (Greek + Literal Translation)
Greek Text
Μὴ οὖν τις ὑμᾶς κρινέτω ἐν βρώσει καὶ ἐν πόσει ἢ ἐν μέρει ἑορτῆς ἢ νουμηνίας ἢ σαββάτων·
ἅ ἐστιν σκιά τῶν μελλόντων, τὸ δὲ σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ.
Literal Translation
“Therefore let no one judge you in food or drink, or in regard to a festival, or a new moon, or sabbaths— which are a shadow of the things that were to come, but the substance is Christ.”
What Does “Festivals, New Moons, and Sabbaths” Mean?
Paul lists what many scholars recognize as the classic Torah calendar triad:
- Festivals (ἑορτή) — annual feasts
- New moons (νουμηνία) — monthly
- Sabbaths (σαββάτων) — weekly
This is an established Old Testament formula referring to the whole sacrificial-calendar system tied to the Mosaic Law (see 1 Chr 23:31; 2 Chr 2:4; Hos 2:11). Paul addresses all of it.
Going Deeper: What Colossians 2:16–17 Actually Teaches
1) What Does “Shadow” (σκιά) Mean in Colossians 2:17?
Paul calls the feasts, new moons, and Sabbaths a σκιά—a shadow. A shadow is not false; it is real, but incomplete. It points beyond itself. In the Bible, “shadow” language consistently describes something temporary and anticipatory.
Hebrews uses the same framework: the old system is “a shadow of heavenly things” (Heb 8:5), and “the law has only a shadow of the good things to come” (Heb 10:1). Once the reality arrives, the shadow no longer functions as a binding obligation.
2) What Does “Of the Things to Come” (τῶν μελλόντων) Mean?
Some Torah observance teachers argue that “things to come” means the feasts are still pointing forward today in a way that makes them required. But the Greek phrase τῶν μελλόντων does not automatically mean “still awaiting fulfillment right now.”
The verb μέλλω can mean “to be about to,” “to be destined to,” or “to be pending.” Standard lexical discussion (e.g., BDAG) recognizes that this wording can describe a general category: these practices belonged to the “impending things” before the fulfillment arrived. Paul is describing what they were in their role—shadows pointing forward before Christ.
3) What Does “But the Body/Substance Is Christ” Mean?
Paul’s structure is straightforward: shadow (σκιά) … but (δέ) … body/substance (σῶμα). This is the classic contrast: shadow = temporary; substance = fulfillment.
If Paul intended to teach ongoing prophetic obligation tied to feast days, he had clear ways to say it (“until the time of fulfillment,” etc.). He does not. He says the substance belongs to Christ—present reality, not future delay.
4) Why the Context of Colossians 2 Makes Torah Obligation Impossible
Colossians 2:6–23 emphasizes the believer’s fullness in Christ (2:9–10), warns against being taken captive by human systems, rejects judgment from calendar-based spirituality (2:16), and condemns man-made regulations presented as wisdom (2:20–23).
Paul is not encouraging Gentile feast-keeping. He is not pointing believers back to Sinai. He is protecting believers from being judged and pressured by regulations that do not define New Covenant identity.
This is why Acts 15 is such an important companion to Colossians 2. The Jerusalem Council explicitly rejected imposing Torah observance on Gentiles. For a fuller discussion (including the often-misused Acts 15:21), see: Is the Law of Moses for Sanctification? Acts 15 Follow Up .
5) How This Fits Paul’s Broader Theology of the Law
Paul consistently treats the Mosaic covenant system as fulfilled in Christ and no longer covenant-binding for believers. This fits key themes elsewhere:
- Christ is the τέλος (goal/fulfillment) of the law (Rom 10:4).2
- Christ abolished the law of commandments in ordinances (Eph 2:14–15).3
- The old covenant is obsolete (Heb 8:13).4
- Believers died to the law through Christ (Rom 7:4–6).5
If you’re also working through Passover-related claims, this companion post pairs well with Colossians 2: Does 1 Corinthians 5:8 Mean Christians Must Keep Passover? .
Do the Feasts Still Have Meaning Today?
Yes—there can be real value in studying the feasts as biblical background and as rich illustrations of God’s redemption story. Typology often works in stages: initial fulfillment (Christ’s first coming), ongoing spiritual fulfillment (the church age), and consummate fulfillment (Christ’s return).
But Paul’s point remains clear: symbolic value is not covenant obligation. Shadows can teach. Shadows cannot define God’s people. Christ does.
Common HRM/Torah Observance Claims vs. What Paul Says
Common claims
- “Paul meant pagan judgment, not Torah judgment.”
- “Paul only condemned man-made traditions, not feasts.”
- “Paul said the feasts still point forward, so we must keep them.”
- “If the feasts are prophetic, they must still be binding.”
What Colossians 2:16–17 teaches
- Feasts, new moons, Sabbaths = the Torah calendar system
- Shadow = temporary anticipation pointing forward
- Christ = substance/reality now present
- No judging = Christians must not be condemned for not keeping the calendar
- Context = release from regulations, not a return to them
This is why many mainstream scholars (e.g., Moo, Dunn, Bruce, Carson, Schreiner, Wright) agree that Paul is not commanding Torah calendar observance for Christians here. He is declaring freedom from calendar-based judgment because Christ has fulfilled what the shadows pointed to.
Summary
Colossians 2:16–17 does not teach ongoing Torah observance for Christians. It teaches freedom from calendar-based judgment because Christ has fulfilled what the feasts anticipated. The shadow has served its purpose. The substance is Christ.
- Feasts, new moons, and Sabbaths were shadows
- Christ is the reality
- Christians cannot be judged for not observing the Torah calendar
- Learning is beneficial; binding the conscience is not
Colossians 2:16–17 is one of the clearest New Testament passages showing that Christian righteousness is not tied to calendars, shadows, or festival observance. Our identity and acceptance are grounded in Christ alone. For more on how “requirements” can drift into misplaced assurance, see: Acts 4:12 — Does Salvation Require the “Correct” Name? .
FAQ
Does Colossians 2:16–17 teach Christians must keep the feasts?
No. Paul calls the feasts, new moons, and Sabbaths a shadow and says the substance belongs to Christ. He explicitly says believers must not be judged regarding these calendar observances.
What does “shadow of things to come” mean in Colossians 2:17?
“Shadow” (σκιά) describes something temporary and anticipatory. The feasts pointed forward to Christ, but once the reality arrived, the shadow no longer functioned as a binding covenant obligation.
Footnotes & Scholarly Sources
- Hebrew Roots / Torah observance ministries rejecting a fulfillment reading of Colossians 2:16–17 include: 119 Ministries (“Should Christians Keep the Feasts?”), Corner Fringe Ministries (Daniel Joseph), Unlearn the Lies (Lex Meyer), TorahResource (Tim Hegg), and New2Torah (Zach Bauer). ↩
- Romans 10:4 — Christ is the “τέλος” (goal/fulfillment) of the law. ↩
- Ephesians 2:14–15 — Christ abolished the law of commandments in ordinances. ↩
- Hebrews 8:13 — The old covenant is obsolete. ↩
- Romans 7:4–6 — Believers died to the law through Christ. ↩
Key Academic Sources
- Douglas Moo — Colossians and Philemon
- F.F. Bruce — Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free
- James D.G. Dunn — Colossians and Philemon
- Thomas R. Schreiner — 40 Questions About Christians and the Law
- D.A. Carson (ed.) — From Sabbath to Lord’s Day
- N.T. Wright — Paul and the Faithfulness of God
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