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1
Shadow vs. Substance
Commentators unanimously explain that the Old Testament ceremonial laws—like dietary rules, festivals, and special days—were merely a "shadow" pointing to a future reality. Christ is the "substance" or "body" that cast that shadow. As one scholar noted, clinging to the old rituals now that Christ has come is like studying a person's shadow while they are standing right in front of you. The reality has arrived, making the shadow obsolete.
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Book Overview
Colossians
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Commentaries
13
Albert Barnes
On Colossians 2:17
18th Century
Theologian
Which are a shadow of things to come. (See the notes on Hebrews 8:5 and Hebrews 10:1).
They were only a dim outline of future thing…
AT Robertson
On Colossians 2:17
A shadow (σκια). Old word, opposed to substance (σωμα, body). In Heb 10:1 σκια is distinguished from εικων (picture), but here fro…
Charles Ellicott
On Colossians 2:17
19th Century
Bishop
Which are a shadow . . . but the body (the substance) is of Christ. The spirit…
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Charles Spurgeon
On Colossians 2:16–18
19th Century
Preacher
Richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lo…
Expositor's Bible Commentary
On Colossians 2:17
All such OT legal stipulations were but “a shadow [i.e., an anticipation] of the things that were to come.” Therefore to cling to the prophetic sha…
John Calvin
On Colossians 2:17
16th Century
Theologian
Which are a shadow of things to come. The reason why He frees Christians from observing them is that they were shadows at a time …
John Gill
On Colossians 2:17
17th Century
Pastor
Which are a shadow of things to come
By Christ, and under the Gospel dispensation; that is, they were types, figures…
Matthew Henry
On Colossians 2:8–17
17th Century
Minister
There is a philosophy that rightly exercises our reasonable faculties: a study of the works of God, which leads us to the knowledge of God and conf…