Apostolic Succession

 The Catholic Church claims claim their traditions came directly from the apostles and therefore they are correct. In doing this they elevate the traditions of men as the authority of what is right and righteous over the counter argument of Scripture being the ultimate authority. Now while Catholics would like to contextualize the conversation about the cannon of scripture as an appeal to their authority in tradition over the text, for the sake of this post, we're going to focus on testing the intellectual integrity of "Apostolic succession" as a concept. 
Paul was a direct founder to the church in Corinth. This is a 1:1 connection lets take a look at some points that he makes to the church that seems to have immediately lost sight of the instructions that he founded. 

1 Corinthians 3:4- 11
For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men? 5¶What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.10¶According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

The first thing that we see is that Paul uses language to take us away from the esteeming of certain veneration of Apostles and he places the focus on the relationship that one has with Christ. Paul appears to do the opposite of veneration when he states in verse 7 that the apostles aren't actually anything- but God is the one who caused the growth. In fact, he continues on to say such

1 Corinthians 3:20-21
20 and again, “The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.” 21 So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you

 I'd like to highlight this verse for many who look at a specific church denomination as being equal in authority to the established revelation of God in scripture. That the wisdom of men is USELESS, and that the individual is empowered to understanding God as each of us have a personal relationship with the Savior and Holy Spirit.  Do we have an example of men establishing their own traditions by committee rather than the Word of God? We do. 

Galatians 1:6-17
I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

 Men were being led away from the Gospel, God's Word,  by men who were teaching traditions and even going so far as insisting that their authority was equal or greater than the scriptures. Paul states that EVEN IF THE APOSTLES THEMSELVES teach something contrary than the authoritative Word of God they they are to be accursed. Paul keeps pointing people the the Word of God and God's revelation instead of the man made authority, going so far to cited that in Galatians 3:8 in reference to Abraham having the Word of God preach to him prior. Continuing on in Galatians 1

11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; 14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. 15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.

Paul is stating that authority comes from God and His revelation. He was not instructed by an established church in what constitutes the Gospel. He didn't submit to any form of Catechisms  when he had a direct encounter with the Spirit of God. Paul didn't not receive his commission from apostolic succession. He didn't consult with church authority immediately either, to those who were established before him. This is a point that gets lost in the argument of insistence of an appeal to authority to claim man's traditions as authoritative doctrine. In fact, There is a warning that there would be men in the congregation that were seeking to institute things that were not in line with following Christ, in order to deceive the disciples into following their ways and traditions. 

Acts 20:28-30
28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

The Holy Spirit appointed men, and the contrast is that men would arise FROM THEM in order to draw away the disciples.  The claim that Catholics make along with Orthodox and other churches that even disagree among themselves, is that their doctrines are correct because they can be traced always back to some apostles or the 1st century church.

Titus 1:10-14
10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. 12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

Part of the issue Paul is dealing with directly here is traditions, commandments, and myths that were infiltrating the church by people that were NOT holding to right and sound doctrine. Lets look at another example of one such man in the first century that sought to purchase the things of God with money, Simon Magus- Simon the Sorcerer. 

Acts 8:9-24

9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; 10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God.” 11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. 13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” 24 But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

Simon sought to influence the matters of God by monetary means. This tradition, though NOT from the apostles and absolutely rebuked- is found in the very essence of the Catholic Church within the selling of indulgences to buy influence with God to remove people from purgatory. 

 "During medieval times, however, they were abused and corrupted into a moneymaking enterprise. Throughout the 11th and 12th centuries, the Christian belief in purgatory – the place in between heaven and hell where souls are purified through punishment – grew and intensified. Believers wanted to avoid ending up there at any cost.The Church started granting two kinds of indulgence: ‘plenary’ (or full), which remitted all need for the punishment of sin, or ‘partial’ to deal with a part of one’s debt of sin. This was both a relief to Christians hoping to avoid purgatory, and also a way for them to be encouraged to fight in the Crusades."- History Extra

Paul even wrote a warning to Timothy about the dangers of men and their traditions being pollutant in the church 

 2 Timothy 4:3-4

3For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths

While tradition is not inherently bad in of itself on a personal level, when we see it as wielded as an authoritative means passed down in a form of succession where it contradicts scripture- it becomes something we can see directly rebuked by Christ as He affirms scriptural authority. 

Mark 7:9
7 The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, 2 and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; 4 and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.) 5 The Pharisees and the scribes *asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” 6 And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.7 ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’8 Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.” 9 He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. 

It is not in the pattern of Christ to say "The church has decreed this, therefore it as authoritative as scripture" but rather it is the very nature of the Pharisees. Their entire argument is that the matters have been an established tradition from what they esteem as the true Church. They make a claim to establish churched authority and an appeal to their church fathers as "The tradition of the elders". Christ rebukes this. Christ rebukes this because this is placing men in the position of God like Eve in the garden seeking to establish for herself what is good and evil, and ignoring the commands of God. He states that this established church traditions  passed down from their fathers/elders is vain worship. He elaborates more on this concept in Matthew 23:3-12 which mirrors Paul as cited previously. 

Matthew 23:3-12
 3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. 4 They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. 5 But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. 6 They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. 8 But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11 But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Here Christ is again telling people that these traditions and customs are burdensome and done to be noticed by men. Christ makes the note that hierarchy is not any sort of papacy- but we each are one equal footing with each other as brothers with Christ being the head. We get our example from Christ. We get our instruction from what God has defined as worship. We do not elevate men into the place of Christ as some form of supreme one. This tradition may have been existed in the 1st century, but it is Christ speaking against it and directing that the pattern and order be on God. 
As we continue to discuss traditions that came from Apostolic Succession, Let us look at the case of Nicolas. 

Acts 6:5
The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.

Nicolas is a 1st century man that is listed among the  selected by the apostles to perform ministry. He however did not remain as such. In 1 John we see this warning about such "apostles" that went out from among them

1 John 2:18-20
18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 

This means that the traditions of men who were ONCE with them, were being taught to others in the church AS authoritative. We can see the Nicolaitans who followed the Apostolic Succession of Nicolas being rebuked by none other than the Savior Himself. Note again that in this passage John affirms that the person who has a relationship with God has anointing.     

Revelation 2:1-6 
‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. 6 Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Christ calls out the Nicolaitans ALONG WITH the church at Ephesus and Pergamum. These established churches and people who claim their deeds and their order stem from men reaching back to the time of Christ- often tend to ignore the fact that Christ rebuked their deeds. 

Revelation 2: 14-16
But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 15 So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.

This apostolic succession is one Christ is commanding repentance from. Turn from the teachings of the Nicolaitans.  Justin Martyr  mentions this about those who were confessing their Christianity while walking contrary to Christ

"Many of those who say that they confess Jesus, and are called Christians, eat meats offered to idols, and declare that they are by no means injured in consequence. Confessing themselves to be Christians, and admitting the crucified Jesus to be both Lord and Christ, yet not teaching His doctrines, but those of the spirits of error. ...[They are those who] teach to blaspheme the Maker of all things, and Christ, who was foretold by Him as coming, and the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, with whom we have nothing in common, since we know them to be atheists, impious, unrighteous, and sinful, and confessors of Jesus in name only, instead of worshipers of Him. Yet they style themselves Christians, just as certain among the Gentiles inscribe the name of God upon the works of their own hands, and partake in nefarious and impious rites. Some are called Marcians, and some Valentinians, and some Basilidians, and some Saturnilians, and others by other names; each called after the originator of the individual opinion...the name of the father of the particular doctrine"- Justin Martyr Dialogue with Trypho (Chapters 31-47)

Justin Martyr shows that the same practices of the Nicolaitans were done by the Saturnalians, and that each group was calling themselves Christians in name but their actions were that which were contrary to scripture. They stated that they are Christians, but they are atheists, impious, unrighteous, and sinful. As we see in the Epistles of Paul in churches that he planted, and the writings of Peter as well, even from these apostles where the teachings they heard WERE in fact fully accurate and Spirit lead- those in the church were often not holding to them. Hence, the emphasis is not on studying sinful men prone to sin and whom false doctrines spring forth- but on the revelation of Christ. We can see that as far back as 195 A.D. in Ephesus that the customs and traditions of men were seeking to change the scriptural prescription and order as Christ commanded in the Word of God, and alter it according to men. 

The Catholic writer Eusebius recorded that Polycrates of Ephesus, around 195 A.D. wrote the following to the Roman Bishop Victor who, as the writing showed, wanted all who professed Christ to change Passover from the 14th of Nisan to Sunday:

We observe the exact day; neither adding, nor taking away. For in Asia also great lights have fallen asleep, which shall rise again on the day of the Lord’s coming, when he shall come with glory from heaven, and shall seek out all the saints. Among these are Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who fell asleep in Hierapolis; and his two aged virgin daughters, and another daughter, who lived in the Holy Spirit and now rests at Ephesus; and, moreover, John, who was both a witness and a teacher, who reclined upon the bosom of the Lord, and, being a priest, wore the sacerdotal plate. He fell asleep at Ephesus. And Polycarp in Smyrna, who was a bishop and martyr; and Thraseas, bishop and martyr from Eumenia, who fell asleep in Smyrna. Why need I mention the bishop and martyr Sagaris who fell asleep in Laodicea, or the blessed Papirius, or Melito, the Eunuch who lived altogether in the Holy Spirit, and who lies in Sardis, awaiting the episcopate from heaven, when he shall rise from the dead? All these observed the fourteenth day of the passover according to the Gospel, deviating in no respect, but following the rule of faith. And I also, Polycrates, the least of you all, do according to the tradition of my relatives, some of whom I have closely followed. For seven of my relatives were bishops; and I am the eighth. And my relatives always observed the day when the people put away the leaven. I, therefore, brethren, who have lived sixty-five years in the Lord, and have met with the brethren throughout the world, and have gone through every Holy Scripture, am not affrighted by terrifying words. For those greater than I have said ’ We ought to obey God rather than man’-(Eusebius. Church History, Book V, Chapter 24. Translated by Arthur Cushman McGiffert. Excerpted from Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series Two, Volume 1. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. American Edition, 1890. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).

Notice that Polycrates said that he and the other early church leaders (like the Apostles Philip and John, and their successors like Polycarp, Thraseas, Eumenia, Sagaris, Papirius, Melito) would not deviate from the Bible, and that they knew the Bible taught them to keep the Passover on the correct date, and not on a Sunday. Also notice that they always observed the day when the people put away the leaven.
Wanting to alter and change the day of the Passover in 195 is NOT the tradition that they learned from the Apostles. This is HISTORICAL documentation that Roman Catholic church deviated from Apostolic Succession in the changing of Passover. His conclusion is that we are to obey GOD rather than men who by numbers and church order were seeking to move away from what Scripture commands. Let us look at another set of examples. The Church of Rome made the following declarations in the city of Laodicea: Council of Laodicea in 363 A.D....

Canon 29: Christians must not judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honoring the Lord's Day [Sunday]; and, if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found judaizers, let them be anathema (detestable) from Christ.
Canon 37-39: It is not lawful to receive portions sent from the feasts of Jews or heretics, nor to feast together with them. (God’s Holy Days) It is not lawful to receive unleavened bread from the Jews, nor to be partakers of their impiety.Thou shalt not keep feasts with Hebrews or heretics, nor receive festival offerings from them. Light hath no communion with darkness. Therefore no Christian should celebrate a feast with heretics or Jews, neither should he receive anything connected with these feasts such unleavened bread and the like."

This is clear deviation from what we see in scripture about the Apostles ALL keeping the Sabbath on the 7th day at the time God ordained it. The "Apostolic Succession" that occurs in the Catholic church is in line with the Pharisaic Order that invalidates and alters the commands of God rather than teaching their obedience from faith in Christ. When the tradition of the church decreed in 363 the rejection of the Passover, they were abandoning the teachings of the Bible and invalidating it by their traditions. They were turning from what was being taught and held to by Polycrates of Ephesus who states that the 1st Century church held Passovers and feasts. These men who were seating in the places of authority contrary to what Christ warned against were teaching people that they were not of God or the church if they obeyed commands where even Paul writes us telling us to keep the Passover. 

1 Corinthians 5:8
8 Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

 

It was Paul's example to keep these feasts just as Polycrates in 195 was still doing according to the Word of God rather than men. 

Acts 20:6
6 We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days.

Acts 20:16
16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

We would be foolish to believe that everything that was done in these churches were right. Paul never taught the Corinthians to be immoral, but the men by their lusts and deeds and faultiness and traditions- did so. 

1 Corinthians 5:1-2

 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. 2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.

To make the claim as catholics do, that their worship is pure and doctrines infallible for the reason of having been passed down all the way from the 1st century - is to make the claim that men in the manner of the Pharisees who claimed to be the church are more authoritative than the written word of God. As it is written 

Romans 3:4

4 May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, 

“That You may be justified in Your words, And prevail when You are judged.”

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Heart Problems.

In Colossians 2 we see that Paul gives us this warning about men and their traditions

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

Traditions that are contrary to Christ, and are based on the world, and are empty deception. He continues to state these traditions and decrees  of empty deception based on the world INSTEAD of Christ 

Colossians 2:16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement 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 fast 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 men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

Paul is making it clear that the thing that he is speaking against is the traditions of men, not Christ, not God's commandments but commandments of men in self-made religion, not actual authentic obedience to God's word. Where do we see these descriptors that Paul is stating about being judged in what IS food contrary to what Christ states in scripture?  

Mark 7:1 The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, 2 and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; 4 and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.) 5 The Pharisees and the scribes *asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” 6 And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.7 ‘But in vain do they worship Me,Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ 8 Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.” 9 He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. 

Christ is rebuking Pharisees and scribes who were passing judgement on people for not obeying their man made religion and traditions- and Christ rebukes them for NOT obeying the commands of God. Paul is writing about these types of people.  The Pharisees were saying the things that GOD has already states are food, were not pure or clean because people did not perform the Pharisaic rituals and traditions. There is a contrast here between obedience to God in actual sincere worship, and the veneration of this man made religious tradition from elders. Paul in his letter to Titus, mentions these people who say that food that God says is clean and pure is made impure by their traditions. 

 Titus 1:15-16 15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.

This is exactly what Christ is saying to them in Mark 7. Christ continues to emphasize that the heart is what defiles a person in rejection of God's commands, not man made religious made up doctrine. 

Mark 7:14 After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. 16 [If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”]17 When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable. 18 And He *said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.) 20 And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23 All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

As Christ rebuked these unbelieving people for casting judgments on that which God has already defined as food for ignoring the commands of God, He emphasizes that the rejection of God's word comes out of the heart and lists violations of God's commands. HE makes mention of the same concept in Luke 

Luke 6:45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Obedience to God is a choice made in the heart. Disobedience is a choice made in the heart. He keeps making this point over and over again. 

Matthew 5:28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Chist didn't dismiss the prohibition against adultery, He emphasized that we're defiled by the choices that we choose in our hearts to disobey God. Paul is not advocating that Christ altered our Unchanging God's commandments and definitions regarding us eating animals that He says are abominations for us to eat which provoke him. What Paul is doing is reaffirming that these men that were Pharisees and unbelieving, which Christ rebuked for NOT obeying God's commandments- were making their OWN man made religion. We see these Pharisees try to rebuke Christ and His disciples over not adhering to THEIR traditional fasting days. 

Luke 5:33 And they said to Him, “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? 35 But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.”

Do you see how this fasting and eating and not eating are tied to these Pharisees who were also trying to judge people who were obeying the commands of God without adhering to their manmade traditions and religious order? Paul in Colossians Two mentioned do not be judged in regard to food or drink. Paul is also speaking on the matter that these man made religious Pharisees brought up when Paul writes in Romans 14

Romans 14: 1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. 2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. 3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

5 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.

Paul is making a clear distinction right at the start of Romans 14 that the matter in which he is addressing is OPINIONS, not the Commands of God. he then speaks on eating and not eating, which is literally what fasting is. He speaks on the types of fasts, such as the "Daniel fast " where you only eat vegetables. Some have personal opinions about eating meat or being vegetarians. These matters are matters of opinions when it comes to the word of God, and are by no means Commands of God which the Pharisees were rebuked by Christ for NOT obeying. 

 Romans 14:13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. 22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

Paul is addressing still that food- as GOD defines it is not unclean. This doesn't mean that dog poop is food, or human flesh, or swine, or aquarium gravel because God defines what is and isn't food. Whatever God has defined as food, is not unclean based one what others say in their man-made religion that ISNT of faith and NOT based on the word of God according to scripture.  Christ, in the same parallel of Mark 7 found in Matthew 15 gives us this essential context into Pauls Romans 14 and Colossians 2 context as it relates to the Pharisees judgements. 

Matthew 15:18 But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. 20 These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.”