Sabbath

laws, Sabbaths and festivals? The word translated “elements” here is the Greek word stoicheia, the same word
translated “elements” earlier in verse 3. There Paul described his readers as having been “in bondage under the
elements of the world.” For this to refer to Yahweh’s law in verse 9, it would also have to refer to His law in
verse 3, since the same word is used.
To say that verse 3 refers to biblical law is insupportable, because “in this case there are two further
difficulties: (1) It does not seem to apply to the gentiles, for the difficulty of the gentiles, is not that they were
under the law in the past…and (2) it does not explain why or how Paul could add the phrase ‘of the world’ to
the term stoicheia. All Jewish thought would emphasize the other-worldly character of the law resulting from
its divine origin” (Boice, p. 472).
“It would seem that in Paul’s time this exceedingly early and primitive view had been expanded to the point at
which the stoicheia also referred to the sun, moon, stars, and planets---all of them associated with gods or
goddesses and, because they regulated the progression of the calendar, also associated with the great pagan
festivals honoring the gods. In Paul’s view these gods were demons. Hence, he would be thinking of a
demonic bondage in which the Galatians had indeed been held prior to the proclamation of the gospel.
“…In the verses that follow, Paul goes on to speak of these three crucial subjects in quick succession: (1)
‘those who by nature are not gods,’ presumably false gods or demons; (2) ‘those weak and miserable
principles,’ again stoicheia; and (3) ‘days and months and seasons and years’ (vv 9,10). No doubt Paul goes on
to speak of these demons in ways entirely different from the former thinking of the Galatians…Thus, this whole
issue takes on a cosmic and spiritual significance. The ultimate contrast to freedom in Messiah is bondage to
Satan and the evil spirits” (Boice, p. 472).
Superstitious observance of days and times
It is in this context that the Galatians were observing special “days and months and seasons and years.” The
word translated here as “observe” or “observing” is the Greek word paratereo, meaning “to watch closely, [or]
observe narrowly” (W.E. Vine, Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words,
1985, “Observation, Observe”).
This word “seems to have the sense of ‘anxious, scrupulous, well-informed observance in one’s interest,’
which…fit[s] regard for points or spans of time which are evaluated positively or negatively from the standpoint
of the calendar or astrology” (Gerhard Kettil, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, 1995, Vol. 8, p.
148).
Whatever “days and months and seasons and years” the Galatians were observing, they were apparently
observing them in a superstitious manner, as they had observed days and times before their conversion.
From the context, we see it is simply not logical to conclude that Paul was criticizing the observance of the
biblical Sabbath and festivals, since they were not even mentioned. Instead, he was attacking misguided efforts
to attain salvation through unnecessary superstitious observances.
Is the Sabbath obsolete? Colossians 2:16-17
A third passage from Paul’s writings, Colossians 2:16-17, is also used to support the claim that observance of
the Sabbath is no longer necessary. “Then do not let anyone judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of
a feast, or the new moon or of Sabbaths, which are a shadow of coming things; but the body is of Messiah,” he
wrote.
Again, let’s examine these verses’ context and historic setting to see if they support that view.
Did Paul intend to say that Sabbath-keeping is abolished? If so, we encounter some immediate problems with
this interpretation. To accept this position, it is difficult to explain how Paul could leave the issue so muddled
by not stating that these practices were unnecessary, when these verses indicate that the Colossians were, in
fact, observing them. After all, the Colossian church was primarily gentile (Colossians 1:27; 2:13), so Paul
could have used this epistle to make it plain that these practices were not binding on gentile or other Christians.
However, Paul nowhere said that. Regarding the practices of festivals, new moons and Sabbaths, he said only
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