COL 2:17 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

UST God used these things to point to what he had planned for the future, which is the coming of the Messiah himself.

BSB These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.[fn]

AICNT these are a shadow of the things to come, but the body belongs to [the][fn] Christ.

2:17, the: NA28 SBLGNT THGNT TR ‖ Absent from some manuscripts. BYZ B(03)

OEB These things are only the shadow of what is to come; the substance is in the Christ.

WEBBE which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.

WMBB which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Messiah’s.

NET these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!

LSV which are a shadow of the coming things, but the body [is] of the Christ;

FBV These are just a shadow of what was to come, for the physical reality is Christ.

TCNT These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance is Christ.

T4T Disregard such people because those regulations/rules about food and drink and festivals are only like a shadow [MET] that is cast by something that is approaching; that is, they merely represent the real spiritual blessings that Christ has given to you.

LEB which are a shadow of what is to come, but the reality is Christ.

BBE For these are an image of the things which are to come; but the body is Christ's.

Moff No Moff COL book available

Wymth These were a shadow of things that were soon to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

ASV which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.

DRA Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.

YLT which are a shadow of the coming things, and the body [is] of the Christ;

Drby which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.

RV which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.

Wbstr Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

KJB-1769 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

KJB-1611 Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.
(Same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps Which are shadowes of thynges to come: but the body (is) of Christe.
(Which are shadowes of things to come: but the body (is) of Christ.)

Gnva Which are but a shadowe of thinges to come: but the body is in Christ.
(Which are but a shadow of things to come: but the body is in Christ. )

Cvdl which are the shadowe of the thinges that were for to come: but the body selfe is in Christ.
(which are the shadow of the things that were for to come: but the body self is in Christ.)

TNT which are nothinge but shaddowes of thynges to come: but the body is in Christ.
(which are nothing but shaddowes of things to come: but the body is in Christ. )

Wycl or of sabatis, whiche ben schadewe of thingis to comynge; for the bodi is of Crist.
(or of sabbathis, which been schadewe of things to coming; for the body is of Christ.)

Luth welches ist der Schatten von dem, was zukünftig war; aber der Körper selbst ist in Christo.
(welches is the/of_the Schatten from to_him, what/which zukünftig war; but the/of_the Körper himself/itself is in Christo.)

ClVg quæ sunt umbra futurorum: corpus autem Christi.[fn]
(which are umbra futurorum: body however of_Christ. )

2.17 Quæ sunt umbra, etc. Tunc fuerunt hujusmodi præcepta, quæ non servare peccatum erat, nunc testimonia et confirmatio veritatis. Ego Scriptura quæ tunc fuit exactrix operum significantium, nunc testis est rerum significatarum: et quæ tunc observabatur ad prænuntiationem, nunc recitatur ad confirmationem. Corpus autem. Id est, veritas hujus umbræ est Christi, id est, ad Christum pertinet. Vel illa omnia sunt corpus Christi, id est significant corpus Christi, vel quod sumpsit de virgine, vel quod est Ecclesia.

2.17 Quæ are umbra, etc. Tunc fuerunt huyusmodi præcepta, which not/no servare peccatum was, now testimonia and confirmatio veritatis. I Scriptura which tunc fuit exactrix operum significantium, now testis it_is rerum significatarum: and which tunc observabatur to prænuntiationem, now recitatur to confirmationem. Corpus however. That it_is, veritas huyus umbræ it_is of_Christ, id it_is, to Christum belongs. Vel that everything are body of_Christ, id it_is significant body of_Christ, or that sumpsit about virgine, or that it_is Ecclesia.

UGNT ἅ ἐστιν σκιὰ τῶν μελλόντων, τὸ δὲ σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ.
(ha estin skia tōn mellontōn, to de sōma tou Ⱪristou.)

SBL-GNT ἅ ἐστιν σκιὰ τῶν μελλόντων, τὸ δὲ σῶμα ⸀τοῦ Χριστοῦ.
(ha estin skia tōn mellontōn, to de sōma ⸀tou Ⱪristou.)

TC-GNT ἅ ἐστι σκιὰ τῶν μελλόντων, τὸ δὲ σῶμα [fn]Χριστοῦ.
(ha esti skia tōn mellontōn, to de sōma Ⱪristou. )

2:17 χριστου ¦ του χριστου CT TR

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

Legalism

The law was of critical importance for the Jewish people, and their understanding of religion was largely centered on the observance of rules and rituals. This was natural to them because God had given his law to the Jewish people as a mark of his favor upon them and as a way for them to ratify the covenant agreement he had made with them. However, many Jews added to the laws that God had given his people, trying to develop rules for virtually every situation in which they might find themselves. Their motivation was often a positive desire not to transgress any of God’s laws. As Jesus often pointed out, however, the rules developed by religious leaders sometimes became obstacles to obeying God’s instructions (Mark 7:1-15). Furthermore, many Jews thought that following the law would automatically endear them to God.

Paul frequently confronted this kind of problematic legalism in the early churches. For example, in Colosse, false teachers, influenced by Jewish beliefs, were insisting that Christians follow certain rules as a way of expressing their faith (Colossians 2:16-23). Paul criticized this in light of faith in Christ. As the culmination of all God’s plans and purposes, Christ is the center of all true piety.

This does not mean that rules for conduct are inherently bad. Some rules, such as the prohibition on lying (Col 3:9), clearly manifest an aspect of Christ’s character. Paul also had no problem with individual Christians imposing rules on themselves that they think are conducive to their own growth in Christ (cp. Rom 14:5; 1 Cor 8). But they must not require others to obey these self-imposed rules.

Passages for Further Study

Matt 23:13-33; Mark 7:1-15; Gal 2:14-21; Col 2:16-23

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἅ ἐστιν σκιὰ τῶν μελλόντων, τὸ δὲ σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ

which is /a/_shadow ˱of˲_the_‹things› coming the but body_‹is› ˱of˲_the Messiah

A shadow shows the shape and outline of a body, but it is not the body itself. In a similar way, the things listed in the previous verse show the shape and outline of the things coming, but the body that casts this shadow is Christ. He is the substance of the things coming. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [which are a foretaste of the things coming, but the full experience is of Christ] or [which hint at the things that were to come, but Christ is the one who came]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

σκιὰ τῶν μελλόντων

/a/_shadow ˱of˲_the_‹things› coming

Paul here uses the possession form to show that the shadow is cast by the things coming. If your language would not use the possessive form to express this idea, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [a shadow cast by the things coming]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

τῶν μελλόντων

˱of˲_the_‹things› coming

The things coming primarily refers to things that will happen or be experienced in the future. They can be connected with both the first and the second coming of Christ, which is why the body is of Christ in this verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify that coming refers to what Christ has blessed believers with at his first coming and what he will bless them with at his second coming. Alternate translation: [blessings that Christ brings]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὸ & σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ

the & body_‹is› ˱of˲_the Messiah

Here Paul uses the possessive form to identify Christ as the body that casts the “shadow.” If your language would not use the possessive form to express this idea, you could express the idea with a simple “being” verb. Alternate translation: [the body is Christ]

Parallel COL 2:17