... In Col. 2:16 Paul stated that no one is to judge us in Sabbath days or meats or holy days, etc. ...
[3] What is the definition of
sin [1 John 3:4; Romans 6:23] that Paul utilizes in the very context?
Colossians 2:11 KJV - In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Colossians 2:12 KJV - Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Colossians 2:13 KJV - And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Q. Where is the word sin used here in regards to the "blotting out" in vs 14? It is not found at all in vs 14 and the "blotting out" does not reference the sins of vs 13, but is specifically identified in vs 14, the "handwriting of ordinances".
The word "sins" is found in vs 13, but it speaks only of forgiven sins, which may be demonstrated upon request is not the same thing as sins "blotted out".
Furthermore in vs 20, we see the word "ordinances" again used in connection with "worldly" human things, "the rudiments of the world" and "subject to ordinances", which are listed in vs 21-23, -- 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using; ) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
[4] Where does Paul get the words
"... against us ... contrary to us..." from, in the context of the passages he is quoting from in the Old Testament, and what does it mean there?
Deuteronomy 31:26 KJV - Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
Deuteronomy 31:28 KJV - Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.
Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV - I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Deuteronomy 8:19 KJV - And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
Leviticus 26:21 KJV - And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.
etc.
[5] In verse 16 there is a list of
"ordinances" that are found given in that order, and in other, in the Old Testament, what are they referring to there?
Colossians 2:16 KJV - Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]:
[6] Is there a significance to the specific ordering that Paul utilizes of those
"ordinances"?, In other words, is there a specific time frame involved for each item in the list [for ex. daily, seasonally, monthly, yearly [or of years, etc]]
There is. The order is given as:
[1] "daily" [in meat, or in drink [offerings]],
[2] "seasonally" [or in respect of an holyday; ie feast days of seasons, Spring, Fall]
[3] "monthly" [of the new moon]
[4] "annually, yearly, and 7th year and 50th Year" ["of the sabbath [days]"].
In Colossians 2:16 the word [days] was added as a help text by the translators since the word in the Greek for Sabbath [days] is a Noun Genitive Plural Neuter, being sabbatwn Strong's Concordance G4521 N-GPN. So the text is not speaking of a single sabbath, but many. To know which sabbaths it is speaking of we must look at the immediate context [cited above].
In the [context] we see "handwriting of ordinances". These "ordinances" are not referencing the "spiritual" Ten Commandments. Rather these "handwriting of ordinances" are in reference to the "carnal ordinances" associated with the "worldly sanctuary" given under the "levitical priesthood" for "divine service". The Ten Commandments were given before there ever was a "worldly sanctuary" or "levitical priesthood" [this is not to say that the levites did not exist, it is saying that they were not yet ordained into "levitical priesthood"]. We can see this further in Ephesians and Hebrews:
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace; Ephesians 2:15
Again, not the Ten Commandments, but rather that which was commanded "in ordinances". They which were given for "divine service" in a "worldly sanctuary" which was patterned after the Heavenly and True Tabernacle which "the Lord pitched and not man".
Then verily the first [covenant] had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. Hebrews 9:1
Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service [of God]. Hebrews 9:6
[1.] "in meat, or in drink" [offerings] [daily/continual] compare to "[Which stood] only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed [on them] until the time of reformation." Hebrews 9:10
Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are offered by the law; Hebrews 10:8
Which Law dealt with sacrifices? The "spiritual" Ten Commandments spoken from "Heaven" dealing with the "conscience of sins"? or rather "the commandments [contained] in ordinances", those "carnal ordinances" for "divine service" and a "worldy sanctuary"?
[2.] "or in respect of an holyday" holy [feast]day; based upon the seasons, "seasonal"]. The word in the Greek for "holyday" is εορτης and means "a feast or festival" [Strong's Concordance]. These were "seasonal". A list of them may be found in Leviticus 23:4 and onward [Leviticus 23:44, etc]:
Spring Feasts:
Passover: Leviticus 23:5 [Jesus dies AD 31]
Feast of Unleavened Bread: Leviticus 23:6-8 [Jesus in the Tomb]
Feast of Firstfruits [Wave Sheaf]: Leviticus 23:10-14 [Jesus resurrected]
Pentecost [Feast of Weeks]: Leviticus 23:15-22 [Jesus, pouring of the Holy Spirit]
Long Summer
Fall Feasts:
Feast Of Trumpets: Leviticus 23:24-25 [Jesus, announcing coming Judgment]
Day Of Atonement: Leviticus 23:27-32 [btw, we are Here, anti-typically, almost to the next fulfillment; Jesus in the Most Holy Place]
Feast of Booths/Tabernacles/Ingathering: Leviticus 23:34-43 [Jesus 2nd Advent; Harvest]
Yet, moreso specifically, we see that these “heorte”refers to the Three Specific feasts that were in their “seasons”, [1] the feast of Unleavened Bread, [2] the Feast of Weeks, [3] the feast of Tabernacles, wherein they had to come up to Jerusalem:
Exodus 23:14 KJV - Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.
Exodus 23:17 KJV - Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.
Deuteronomy 16:16 KJV - Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
1 Kings 9:25 KJV - And three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he built unto the LORD, and he burnt incense upon the altar that [was] before the LORD. So he finished the house.
2 Chronicles 8:13 KJV - Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, [even] in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.
[3.] "or of the new moon" [monthly, based upon phases of the moon] See also Psalms 81:3.