I will now address the context of Colossians, starting with this portion from Bob:
============ A popular story--
But one popular 'story' in modern times is that Christians were not meeting on Sabbath, but were meeting in their own group on week-day-1 - as Christians... a primarily gentile church in the case of asian/greek cities mentioned above.
We see from Acts that gentiles and Jews were often meeting in synagogues on Sabbath, where the Scriptures were read. Paul would begin his ministry in these locations, when available.
This allowed Paul to both reach out to Jewish attendees who would be familiar with Scripture, and to speak to God fearing gentiles who would also have some background already. When the gospel was rejected they would at times have to leave the synagogue and move to another venue:
For instance, in Corinth:
Acts 18:5 When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews
that Jesus
is the Christ. 6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook
his garments and said to them, “Your blood
be upon your
own heads; I
am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain
man named Justus,
one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.
In Ephesus:
Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
In the case of Philippi there was no synagogue so Paul went to a place of prayer on the Sabbath.
Acts 16:12 and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met
there.
The bretheren are indicated as gathered at the house of Lydia:
16:40 So they went out of the prison and entered
the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.
We see reference in Troas to meeting on the first day of the week. This may well have been using Jewish reckoning where the first day of the week begins at sundown on our Saturday. So they may have been meeting Saturday night. It is also mentioned that Paul is leaving the next day so he goes later than usual, dialoguing.
Some point out the "on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread" sounds like a liturgical formula, suggesting a regular practice. This may have been the case. We don't know from Acts whether there was a synagogue present. If so they may have met in the synagogue for hearing the word And they may have followed that with a time for distinctive Christian teaching on Saturday after Sabbath, the early part of the first day by Jewish reckoning. Some ancient churches still have Saturday evening services which may hearken back to such a practice.
This particular meeting was a session with the apostle to convey specifically Christian teaching and answer their questions prior to leaving, which makes it harder to tell if this is indicating a regular practice, or a one-time special meeting.
Acts 20:7 Now on the first
day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
In any case churches did not only meet during the regular synagogue meetings as there had to be some time for Christian teaching apart from the main synagogue service, though that need not be limited to the first day.
In the case of Corinth, where there was a synagogue, but they eventually had to leave, we see references to the church in Corinth coming together in one place.
1 Cointhians 11:18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of
others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise
you.
and:
23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in
those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on
his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. 26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue,
let there be two or at the most three,
each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if
anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not
the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
Practice of Christian spiritual gifts, including toungues, prophecy, interpreting of prophecy, the Lord's supper, reciting teachings, etc. would be in a place where the church was all gathered, but not during the regular synagogue service. The synagogue service was a place where they could hear the Scriptures, reach out to to others for Christ, etc. So there was no reason to leave in those locales where they were not forced to by rejection.
We also know that some churches were meeting in houses, because letters mention it:
Romans 16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise
greet the church that is in their house.
Colossians 4:15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that
is in his house.
Philemon 1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy
our brother, To Philemon our beloved
friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house.
The churches meeting in homes become important to the thread topic. Philemon 1 tells us that a church met in the home of Philemon. The letter of Philemon appeals to Philemon to forgive, and release the slave Onesimus so that he may minister for the gospel.
And the epistle to the Colossians tells us that Onesimus, who was Philemon's slave, was one of the Colossians.
Colossians 4:7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which
are happening here.
Acchipus who is also a recipient of the letter of Philemon, along with the church, is also mentioned in Colossians:
16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the
epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”
Laodicea and Colossae were near, and had relations between one another. This text could mean that Archippus is ministering in Laodicea, or it could be a somewhat separate thought and he is in Colossae. We already saw that there was a house church meeting in Laodicea, but it was in the house of Nymphas. Philemon also has a church meeting in his home, and some think it was in Colossae.
Either way, house churches appear to be common in the area.
We don't see Colossae addressed in Paul's travels in Acts becuase at the time he writes the letter to the Coloassians he had never met them face to face. He has heard about the faith of the church in Colossae, and the related churches in Laodicea and Hierapolis
Colossians 1:5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as
it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as
it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is
one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.
Colossians 2:2 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and
for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh
So we don't have as much detail about the situation as we do some of the churches described in Acts. But we do know they had some home churches. It is unclear whether there were synagogues that they had departed from, etc.
So what is going on in Col 2:16-17 ? Do we have one or two Jewish Christians meeting on week-day-1 with a bunch of gentile Christians - and these Jewish Christians are upset that week-day-1 for them is not the 7th day of the week. Why are the Jewish Christians choosing to worship on week-day-1 instead of the Sabbath - then supposedly slamming gentile Christians for being in church then instead of Sabbath? Why wouldn't Jewish Christians continue to meet on the Sabbath hearing the gospel preached "every Sabbath" as we see for both gentiles and Jews in Acts 18:4 - were that popular story true?
============ story ends
Whether they were meeting in the synagogue or only in homes they would need to have times of distinctly Christian worship and teaching, such as were described in Corinth, despite their being a synagogue in town.
Those judging the Colossian believers could be Jewish people in the town, but could also be Judaizers, who thought that gentiles had to be circumcised and keep the whole law, which we see referenced in a number of places.
Given the reference to home churches in the region it is not certain that they were meeting in synagogues. But it wouldn't make much difference to the reading if they were.
But as Col 2:17-22 point out the problem is not "judging in regard to scripture" but is primarily about "
making stuff up".
16 Therefore, no one is to act as your judge in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Take care that no one keeps defrauding you of your prize by delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding firmly to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.
20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of man? 23 These are matters which do have the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
Paul lists a number of things that could cause the new church to be distracted from Christ:
Colossians 2:4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your
good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Human philosophy:
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Worship of angels
18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in
false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase
that is from God.
Aestheticism
20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as
though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion,
false humility, and neglect of the body,
but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
But in the middle of that list he includes discussion of circumcision, feasts, new moons and sabbaths. They are in the same category of things that they need not be distracted by.
They were circumcised in Christ, not with hands:
Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with
Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses
Christ is the body and the feasts, new moons and sabbaths are the shadows.
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.
So whether it is local Jewish critics, or Judaizers who traveled about, they didn't need to worry about the judgments of those groups. Jesus is what they need, and they should not be concerned about these distractions.
The Jewish believers in the diaspora would be likely to keep the feasts, etc. in any case, and Paul affirms in Acts 21 he was not turning Jewish believers in the diaspora from circumcision, etc.
The gentiles were not required to be circumcised and keep the whole law of Moses. They didn't have to be Jews to be Christians.
