Colossians 2:16
Colossians 2:1616Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.
JWs apply this verse narrowly to Mosaic Law observances — sabbaths, festivals, and food laws — arguing that Christians are freed from the Mosaic code. However, the Watchtower replaces these with its own set of prohibitions (birthdays, holidays, flag salutes, toasts) that Paul's broader principle in this passage would equally forbid.
Paul writes: "let no one judge you in eating and drinking or in respect of a festival or of an observance of the new moon or of a sabbath." The principle extends beyond Mosaic specifics — Paul forbids any external authority imposing "do not handle, do not taste, do not touch" regulations (). explicitly permits day-observance "to the Lord." The Watchtower's birthday ban is built on two pagan tyrants (Pharaoh, Herod) and the incidental fallacy — two evil men at feasts proves the tyranny and the oath are evil, not the cake. , , and all presuppose birth-days are normally blessed. If Paul permits day-observance and forbids judging others on festivals, the Watchtower cannot forbid without claiming authority Paul did not have.