The Meaning of Colossians 2:17 Explained

Colossians 2:17

KJV: 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;

Darby: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Colossians 2:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Colossians 2:13-23 - Avoiding Errors
The reiteration of the prepositions in and with emphasizes our close identification with our Savior. Such we are in the purpose of God, and so we should be in daily experience. In union with Him we have once and forever put away the sins of the flesh, have lain in His grave, have passed to the heavenside of death, and are living under the blue sky of acceptance with God. Our Master's victory is potentially ours. He won it, but we may share its fruits. Yet faith must apprehend and affirm these blessings. The land of Canaan is ours by right, but every inch has to be claimed by faith. "Faith is an affirmation and act that bids eternal truth be fact."
We must not allow our religious life to become a piece of outward ritual, Colossians 2:16-17; nor permit the supposed mediation of angels to obscure the supreme majesty of our Lord, Colossians 2:18-19. We who have died with Christ must not be always regulating ourselves by the don'ts of the Law. Let us enter Christ's more intimate fellowship and live on the positive side. Ours should be the freedom of a full life, and the ampler vision of the mountains. Nothing else really avails against the indulgence of the flesh. [source]

Chapter Summary: Colossians 2

1  Paul still exhorts them to be constant in Christ;
8  to beware of philosophy, and vain traditions;
18  worshipping of angels;
20  and legal ceremonies, which are ended in Christ

Greek Commentary for Colossians 2:17

A shadow [σκια]
Old word, opposed to substance In Hebrews 10:1 σκια — skia is distinguished from εικων — eikōn (picture), but here from σωμα — sōma (body, substance). The σωμα — sōma (body) casts the σκια — skia (shadow) and so belongs to Christ (Χριστου — Christou genitive case). [source]
Which are []
Explanatory. Seeing they are. Referring to all the particulars of Colossians 2:16. [source]
Shadow of things to come []
Shadow, not sketch or outline, as is shown by body following. The Mosaic ritual system was to the great verities of the Gospel what the shadow is to the man, a mere general type or resemblance. [source]
The body is Christ's []
The substance belongs to the Christian economy. It is derived from Christ, and can be realized only through union with Him. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Colossians 2:17

Hebrews 10:1 Shadow [σκιαν]
The contrast here between σκια — skia (shadow, shade caused by interruption of light as by trees, Mark 4:32) and εικων — eikōn (image or picture) is striking. Christ is the εικων — eikōn of God (2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15). In Colossians 2:17 Paul draws a distinction between σκια — skia for the Jewish rites and ceremonies and σωμα — sōma for the reality in Christ. Children are fond of shadow pictures. The law gives only a dim outline of the good things to come (Hebrews 9:11). Continually See this phrase also in Hebrews 7:3; Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:14. Nowhere else in N.T. From διηνεγκα — diēnegka This reading leaves ο νομος — ho nomos a nominativus pendens (an anacoluthon). But many MSS. read δυναται — dunatai (it - the law - can). For the idea and use of τελειωσαι — teleiōsai see Hebrews 9:9. [source]
Hebrews 8:5 Serve [λατρευουσιν]
Present active indicative of λατρευω — latreuō for which verb see note on Matthew 4:10. A copy Dative case after λατρευουσιν — latreuousin See note on John 13:15 and note on Hebrews 4:11 for this interesting word. Shadow Dative case. Old word for which see note on Matthew 4:16; note on Mark 4:32; and note on Colossians 2:17. See same idea in Hebrews 9:23. For difference between σκια — skia and εικων — eikōn see Hebrews 10:1. Here “copy and shadow” form a practical hendiadys for “a shadowy outline” (Moffatt). Is warned of God Perfect passive indicative of χρηματιζω — chrēmatizō old verb (from χρημα — chrēma business) for which see note on Matthew 2:12, note on Matthew 2:22, and note on Luke 2:26. The word “God” is not used, but it is implied as in Acts 10:22; Hebrews 12:25. So in lxx, Josephus, and the papyri. For saith he Argument from God‘s command (Exodus 25:40). See that thou make Common Greek idiom with present active imperative of οραω — horaō and the volitive future of ποιεω — poieō without ινα — hina (asyndeton, Robertson, Grammar, p. 949). The pattern The very word used in Exodus 25:40 and quoted also by Stephen in Acts 7:44. For τυπος — tupos see note on John 20:25; note on Romans 6:17, and etc. The tabernacle was to be patterned after the heavenly model. [source]

What do the individual words in Colossians 2:17 mean?

which are a shadow the things coming the however body [is] - of Christ
ἐστιν σκιὰ τῶν μελλόντων τὸ δὲ σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ

σκιὰ  a  shadow 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: σκιά  
Sense: shadow.
τῶν  the  things 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
μελλόντων  coming 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: μέλλω  
Sense: to be about.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
σῶμα  body  [is] 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: σῶμα  
Sense: the body both of men or animals.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Χριστοῦ  of  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.