Judging The Sabbath

PART ONE Chapter 1: Colossians 2:16 in Perspective Chapter 2: Šabbāt in the Old Testament Chapter 3: Septuagint Rendering of Šabbāt Chapter 4: "Sabbath" in New Testament Greek Chapter 5: Sabbata and Ceremonial Sabbaths Chapter 6: The Calendar Sequence Chapter 7: "Feasts" in Scripture Chapter 8: Sabbath and "Shadow" Chapter 9: Summary of Part One PART TWO Chapter 10: Use of the Old Testament in Paul's Epistles Chapter 11: The Linguistics of Hosea 2:11 Chapter 12: Literary Structures in Hosea Chapter 13: Literary Structures in Colossians 2 Chapter 14: Summary of Part Two Appendix A: Translating Greek Words for "Sabbath" Appendix B: Linguistic Markers for the Hebrew Šabbāt Appendix C: Linguistic Markers for the Greek Sabbaton and Sabbata Appendix D: Notes and References Index of Authors Index of Scripture References Index of Extrabiblical References

Sabbatarians have argued for centuries that the "sabbath" of Colossians 2:16 refers to the Jewish ceremonial sabbaths, and not the Decalogue Sabbath, based on a plain-sense reading of the context. Traditional Christian interpretation of that passage has generally bypassed the context and relied on other arguments, often unexamined by careful exegesis.

In this book, Ron du Preez examines those other arguments. In a wide-ranging engagement with Scripture, he considers relevant exegetical, linguistic, structural, syntactical, and intertextual factors that could be used to support them. In the process, he finds the evidence pointing forcefully against the traditional interpretation.

du Preez's conclusions challenge any argument that relies on Colossians 2:16 in order to deny the continuing moral imperative of the seventh-day Sabbath.