Herbert Armstrong - Does Colossians 2:17 Require Observance of Sabbaths and Festivals?
Some groups - especially those influenced by Herbert W. Armstrong -claim that Colossians 2:16–17 actually commands Christians to keep the Sabbath and festivals. Most believers simply read the passage as written and see the opposite: Paul warns against being judged over these things because they were shadows pointing to Christ. To reach the Armstrong conclusion, the text must be turned 180 degrees - and that is exactly what happens. This is an illuminating example of the danger that arises when doctrine begins to drive exegesis rather than the other way around. Once a system feels free to reshape the meaning of Scripture to protect its teachings, the authority of the text is lost. In the full analysis I’ve written elsewhere, I set out the issue in detail and show why the Armstrong interpretation lacks any textual, historical, or grammatical support. For those who want the full analysis, I’ve set out the complete argument in a detailed note available here . This is a link to my posts i...