Christian preachers always teach that the Old Testament Law, or Torah, was nailed on the cross, that we are no longer under the Law but under Grace. But is this doctrine Scriptural? What does the Bible say about it?
Colossians 2:14 is a favourite verse used to support the doctrine that “the Torah was nailed on the cross”, let’s examine it closely and let the Word address it.
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.
Colossians 2:14, King James Version
The word “ordinances” was the Greek word δόγμα [G1378] which when transliterated is “dogma”.
a law (civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical): - decree, ordinance
Strong’s Concordance
- doctrine, decree, ordinance
- of public decrees
- of the Roman Senate
- of rulers
- the rules and requirements of the law of Moses; carrying a suggestion of severity and of threatened judgment
- of certain decrees of the apostles relative to right living
Thayer’s Concordance
Since Colossians was written by an apostle, the way δόγμα (dogma) [G1378] was used was definitely not the third definition of certain decrees of the apostles relative to right living
. It can only mean the first and/or second definition. Majority understood it as the second and equated it to the Torah but was it about the Torah?
Do we, then, abolish the Law by this faith? Of course not! Instead, we uphold the Law.
Romans 3:31, International Standard Version
The “law” here was the Greek word νόμος [G3551] with a transliteration of “nomos”.
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), generally (regulation), specifically (of Moses [including the volume]; also of the Gospel): - law.
Strong’s Concordance
anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command
- of any law whatsoever
- a law or rule producing a state approved of God by the observance of which is approved of God
- a precept or injunction
- the rule of action prescribed by reason
- of the Mosaic law, and referring, acc. to the context. either to the volume of the law or to its contents
- the Christian religion: the law demanding faith, the moral instruction given by Christ, especially the precept concerning love
- the name of the more important part (the Pentateuch), is put for the entire collection of the sacred books of the OT
Thayer’s Concordance
Noticed the difference? The Greek words used were different with different meanings.
- δόγμα (dogma) [G1378]: refers to ordinances, to dogmas, decrees, of rules and requirements
- νόμος (nomos) [G3551]: is the Law, the "Mosaic law", the "Pentateuch" (in Greek) or "Torah" (in Hebrew), and is also referred to the entire TaNaKh or as commonly called in Roman-influenced translations "Old Testament"
Colossians 2:14 was not referring to the “Mosaic law” or more appropriately called the “Torah”, the prophets, nor the whole of the TaNaKh or “Old Testament”. How can it be? Remember Romans 3:31? Do we, then, abolish the Law by this faith? Of course not! Instead, we uphold the Law.
If Paul’s conviction was not enough then let’s see what our Messiah said.
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Matthew 5:17, King James Version
Can you guess which Greek word was used for the “law”? If you guessed νόμος (nomos) [G3551] then you are correct. The exact same word which means the Torah, the TaNaKh, the “Old Testament”.
If our Messiah 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤅𐤏 (Yahushua) said so, the WORD Himself, through Him our reality was Created, then there should be zero doubt the Torah, the Prophets, the TaNaKh, the “Old Testament” was never nullified, was never nailed on the cross, was never “done away with”, contrary to what tradition passed down to us.
In other words, Paul was not talking about the Torah in Colossians 2:14! What was he talking about then? Let’s go back to the second definition Thayer gave the rules and requirements of the law of Moses; carrying a suggestion of severity and of threatened judgment
.
Read it again the rules and requirements of
, carrying a suggestion of severity and of threatened judgment
. What did our Messiah save us from?
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 Peter 2:24, King James Version
There is another verse usually used to support the dogma that “the Torah has been nailed on the cross”, let’s take a look and study it too.
The Messiah hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.
Galatians 3:13, King James Version
The word “law” here used the same Greek word νόμος (nomos) [G3551] which we established earlier as referring to the Torah, the TaNaKh, the “Old Testament”. Let’s also bring in the other definition we passed earlier the Christian religion: the law demanding faith, the moral instruction given by Christ, especially the precept concerning love
.
If Galatians 3:13 was referring to the νόμος (nomos) [G3551] as a curse then it would mean the “Christian religion”, “the law demanding faith”, is a curse!
Clearly, the verse wasn’t referring to simply the νόμος (nomos) [G3551]. If we read Galatians 3:13 again, it says from the curse of
, being made a curse for us
. Read it again and again. It is not νόμος (nomos) [G3551] which is a/the curse, it is the penalty of disobedience of (nomos) [G3551] that is being made a curse for us
.
How did we know that? Let’s keep reading the same verse for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree
. This is a rule found in the Torah, recall the definition of δόγμα (dogma) [G1378]: the rules and requirements of the law of Moses; carrying a suggestion of severity and of threatened judgment
.
So what is this rule and requirement
carrying a suggestion of severity and of threatened judgment
?
And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree.
Deuteronomy 21:22, King James Version
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) is eternal life through 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤅𐤏 (Yahushua) the Messiah our Saviour.
Romans 6:23, Restored Name King James Version
anything that is not done in faith is sin.
Romans 14:23, International Standard Version
Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.
1 John 3:4, King James Version
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? By no means. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Romans 7:7, King James Version
Once again, the “law” here is the Greek word νόμος (nomos) [G3551] (Torah).
From these verses, it is crystal clear it is not the Torah which is being made a curse for us
(Galatians 3:13) but the the rules and requirements of the law of Moses; carrying a suggestion of severity and of threatened judgment
(the penalty of disobedience) (Colossians 2:14). The Torah itself is a blessing for through it we knew we have sinned (Romans 7:7) and thus learned we needed salvation through 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤅𐤏 (Yahushua) (Romans 6:23).
In short, we must obey the Torah. It still is valid to this very day. Remember, disobedience is sin.
They did not keep God’s covenant, and refused to live by his Law.
Psalms 78:10, International Standard Version
The “law” here is the Hebrew word תּורה [H8451] transliterated as “tôrâh”.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), he hath also rejected thee from being king.
1 Samuel 15:23, Restored Name King James Version
He already paid for our sins so we wouldn’t hang on a tree (Galatians 3:13; Deuteronomy 21:22). Salvation comes from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤅𐤏 (Yahushua), His Name means 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) saves. All we have to do now is to keep on living by faith for lack of thereof is sin (Romans 14:23); and to obey the Torah (instructions, law) of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) (Psalms 78:10).
Shalom!
