Colossians 2:17

these are only ¹  the shadow of the things to come, but the reality ²  is Christ! ³ 

These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

For these rules were only shadows of the real thing, Christ himself.

All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ.

For these are an image of the things which are to come; but the body is Christ’s.

These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

these are only ¹  the shadow of the things to come, but the reality ²  is Christ! ³ 

¹ tn The word “only,” though not in the Greek text, is supplied in the English translation to bring out the force of the Greek phrase.

² tn Grk “but the body of Christ.” The term body here, when used in contrast to shadow (σκιά, skia) indicates the opposite meaning, i.e., the reality or substance itself.

³ tn The genitive τοῦ Χριστοῦ (tou Cristou) is appositional and translated as such: “the reality is Christ.”