Book of Colossians - Chapter 2 - Verse 17

When Paul wrote 'Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.', he was referring to the Old Testament practices and rituals that pointed forward to the coming of Christ. The sacrifices, feasts, and ceremonies of the Jewish people were all symbolic representations of the ultimate sacrifice that Christ would make on the cross. These practices served as a foreshadowing of the future redemption and salvation that would be brought about through Jesus Christ. The body of Christ refers to the church, made up of believers who have been redeemed and saved through Christ's sacrifice. This verse emphasizes the superiority of Christ and His work over the rituals and ceremonies of the Old Testament. It shows that the ultimate fulfillment of God's plan for salvation is found in Jesus Christ, and that the Old Testament practices were simply a prelude to His coming.

When we examine the theological interpretation of the verse "Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ," we find that it emphasizes the contrast between the Old Testament practices and rituals, such as the sacrificial system and the observance of festivals, with the reality found in Christ. The phrase "shadow of things to come" suggests that these practices were only a foreshadowing of the true substance which is found in Christ. The sacrifices and ceremonies of the Old Testament pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross. In comparing the shadows to the body, which is Christ, we see that the true fulfillment and meaning of these rituals is found in Him. Christ is the reality that these Old Testament practices were ultimately pointing towards, making them obsolete in light of His perfect fulfillment. Therefore, this verse highlights the central theme of the New Testament, which is the supremacy and fulfillment of Christ over the shadows of the Old Testament.