What does EGW write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "What were the manuscripts that were erased? Colossians 2"
Answer
The “manuscript” mentioned in Colossians 2 that was erased and nailed to the cross refers to the ceremonial law, not the moral law of the Ten Commandments. This law consisted of regulations concerning offerings, food and drink sacrifices, as well as annual feast Sabbaths, which pointed as shadows to the sacrifice of Christ. With the death of Jesus on the cross, this system lost its validity, while the fundamental moral law of God remains eternal.
Distinction between Moral and Ceremonial Law
»The Bible mentions two laws. First, there is the great moral law of the Ten Commandments, engraved on stone tablets by the finger of God... Second, there is the ceremonial law, written by Moses on parchment and given to the Israelites for a time. It consisted of regulations concerning the offering of sacrifices... It is this ceremonial law that was nailed to the cross.«
The Nature of the Erased Statutes
»The erasing of the manuscript of statutes that were against us... and removed them from the way by nailing them to his cross... The things contained therein were foods, drinks, festivals [Greek eorhtes, a feast day], new moons and Sabbaths. The whole is explained as a shadow of things to come; and the body that casts this shadow is Christ.«
No Reference to the Moral Law
»With the “manuscript of statutes” it is most obviously the ceremonial law that is meant – not the Decalogue or the moral law. This is never characterized as a “manuscript of statutes.” Therefore, the “erasing,” “removing,” and “nailing to the cross” spoken of have no reference to this law, but to the Mosaic ritual.«
The Ceremonial Law as a Shadow Image
»There is a law that was abolished, which Christ “removed from the way by nailing it to His cross.” Paul calls it the “law of commandments that are contained in statutes.” This ceremonial law, given by God through Moses, with its sacrifices and statutes, was to be binding for the Hebrews until the pattern met its antitype in the death of Christ.«
The Unchangeability of the Ten Commandments
»It would be absurd to speak of STONE tablets as being nailed to the cross or to speak of erasing what was ENGRAVED in stone. It would mean portraying the Son of God as if he enlarged his blood to erase what the finger of his Father had written.«
- Ceremonial law Colossians 2
- Manuscript of statutes meaning
- Difference moral law and ceremonial law
Original Sources (English)
