Seven reasons given for Sunday worship examined.
Jesus said: "And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath." Mark 2:27,28
Jesus also said: ".... It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4
The Word says: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates: For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." Exodus 20:8-11
Papal Rome freely admits to changing the Lord's day, the Sabbath, from Saturday the seventh day of the week to Sunday the first day of the week. In reply to a letter of Oct. 2, 1895, asking if the Catholic Church claims that the change of the Sabbath to the first day is her mark, the following was received: “Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act, and the act is a MARK of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters.” Signed A.F. Thomas, Chancellor for the Cardinal.
“Sunday is our MARK of authority...The church is above the Bible and this transference of sabbath observance from Saturday to Sunday is proof of the fact.” Catholic record of London, Ontario, Canada, Sept. 1, 1928.
As proof that it has authority the Papal Church states that she, “substituted the observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.” A Doctrinal Catechism, S. Keenan, p 174.
"Is not every Christian obliged to sanctify Sunday to abstain on that day from unnecessary servile work? Is not the observance of this law Among the most prominent of our sacred duties? But you may read the bible from genesis to revelation, and you will not find a single line here authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify.” Faith of our Fathers, by Cardinal Gibbons p.86
“The Catholic Church for over one thousand years before the existence of a protestant, by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday.” The Catholic Mirror, Sept 23 1893.
The Protestant churches were founded on Sola Scriptura (the Bible alone) as the basis for faith. They never really moved far enough from Rome especially in the doctrine of Sunday worship. They stayed with the mother church and in doing so have no basis or claim that their faith is based on what the scripture says because nowhere in scripture is Sunday worship commanded by God or Jesus or the disciples. The following are some reasons given for Sunday keeping.
Seven reasons given for Sunday worship examined.
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2Tim.3:16,17.
IN this text we are assured that every word of the sacred Scriptures was given by the Holy Spirit; that every doctrine which men should believe is therein revealed; that every fault is therein reproved; that every error is corrected by its words of truth; and that perfect instruction in all righteousness is therein given. The design of its Author in providing such a book was, that the man of God might thereby be made perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. This is the treasure which God has given to his church. Nor is this all that he has done. To those who are willing to obey the teachings of his word he has promised the Spirit to guide them into all truth.
To men thus situated, Jehovah thus speaks: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." 1Thess.5:21. That is, bring every part of your faith and practice to the test of God's sure word; ask the Holy Spirit's aid, that your mind may be delivered from prejudice, and your understanding enlightened in the word of truth. Then, what you find revealed in that word, hold fast; it is of priceless value; but relinquish at once every precept or doctrine not therein recorded, lest you make the doctrines of men of equal weight with the commandments of God. "What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord."
As the first day of the week is now almost universally observed in the place of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, we design in this tract to examine the grounds on which this observance rests. Those who are willing to submit their opinion to the test of Scripture and of reason are invited to unite with us in the examination of this subject. For what reason do men prefer the first day of the week to the ancient Sabbath of the Lord? On what authority do men continually violate the day which God sanctified, and commanded mankind to keep holy? Come, now, and let us reason together. Here is the commandment which it is said has been changed:-
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Ex.20:8-11.
That this commandment requires men to remember and to keep holy the rest-day of the Creator, which he hallowed at the close of the first week of time, none can deny. We now ask for the authority for the change of this commandment.
Papists believe that their church had power to change the fourth commandment; and, on that authority alone, they are perfectly satisfied in observing the first day of the week.
Protestants deny the authority of the church or Rome, and attempt to vindicate the change of the Sabbath by an appeal to the Bible. This is what we wish them to do. We ask them, therefore, to present a single text in which it is said that God has changed his Sabbath to the first day of the week. The advocates of the change have none to offer. If they cannot present such a text, will they give us one which testifies that God ever blessed and sanctified the first day of the week? Its observers admit that they have none to present. But will they not give us one text in which men are required to keep the first day holy, as a Sabbath unto the Lord? They acknowledge that they have none. How, then, do they dare to exalt the first day of the week above the Sabbath of the Lord, which the commandment requires us to remember, and keep holy?
The Bible thoroughly furnishes the man of God unto all good works. Can Sunday-keeping be a very good work when the Bible has never said anything in its favor? Or, if it is a good work, can men be very thoroughly furnished in its defense when God has said nothing in its favor? Instead of being a good work, must it not be a fearful sin against God to thus pervert the fourth commandment, when once the mind has been enlightened on the subject?
But there are several reasons urged for the observance of the first day of the week, which we will here notice.
FIRST REASON. Redemption is greater than creation; therefore we ought to keep the day of Christ's resurrection, instead of the ancient Sabbath of the Lord.
Where has God said this? Sunday-keepers are compelled to admit that he never did say it. What right, then, has any man to make such an assertion, and then to base the change of the Sabbath upon it? But suppose that redemption is greater than creation who knows that we ought to keep the first day of the week on that account? God never required men to keep any day as a memorial of redemption. But if it were a duty to observe one day of the week for this reason, most certainly the crucifixion day presents the strongest claims. It is not said that we have redemption through Christ's resurrection; but it is said that we have redemption through the shedding of his blood. "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." Rev.5:9. "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." Eph.1:7; Col.1:14; Heb.9:12,15.
Then redemption is through the death of the Lord Jesus; consequently the day on which he shed his precious blood to redeem us, and said, "It is finished," John 19:30, is the day that should be kept as a memorial of redemption, if any should be observed for that purpose. Nor can it be urged that the resurrection day is the most remarkable day in the history of redemption. It needs but a word to prove that, in this respect, it is far exceeded by the day of the crucifixion. Which is the more remarkable event, the act of Jehovah in giving his beloved and only Son to die for a race of rebels, or the act of the Father in raising that beloved Son from the dead? There is only one answer that can be given: It was not remarkable that God should raise his Son from the dead; but the act of the Father in giving his Son to die for sinners was a spectacle of redeeming love on which the universe might gaze, and adore the wondrous love of God to all eternity. Who can wonder that the sun was vailed in darkness, and that all nature trembled at the sight! The crucifixion day, therefore, has far greater claims than the day of the resurrection. God has not enjoined the observance of either; and is it not a fearful act to make void the commandments of God by that wisdom which is folly in his sight? 1Cor.1:19,20.
But if we would commemorate redemption, there is no necessity of robbing the Lord's rest day of its holiness in order to do it. When truth takes from us our errors, it always has something better to take their place. So the false memorial of redemption being taken out of the way, the word presents in its stead those which are true. God has provided us with memorials, bearing his own signature; and these we may observe with the blessing of Heaven. Would you commemorate the death of our Lord? You need not keep the day of his crucifixion. The Bible tells you how to do it. "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come." Would you commemorate the burial and resurrection of the Saviour? You need not keep the first day of the week. The Lord ordained a very different and far more appropriate memorial. "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection." Rom.6:3-5. "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." Col.2:12.
It is true that the professed church have changed this ordinance to sprinkling, so that this divine memorial of the Lord's resurrection is destroyed. And that they may add sin to sin, they lay hold of the Lord's Sabbath and change it to the first day of the week, thus destroying the sacred memorial of the Creator's rest, that they may have a memorial of Christ's resurrection! "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant." When will the professed church cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? Not until the "inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left." Isa.24:5,6.
SECOND REASON. The disciples met on the day of our Lord's resurrection to commemorate that event, and the Saviour sanctioned this meeting by uniting with them. John 20:19.
If every word of this were truth, it would not prove that the Sabbath of the Lord has been changed. But to show the utter absurdity of this inference, listen to a few facts. The disciples did not then believe that their Lord had been raised from the dead, but were assembled for the purpose of eating a common meal, and to seclude themselves from the Jews. The words of Mark and of John make this clear: "He appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue; neither believed they them. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen." Mark 16:12-14. John says: "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you." John 20:19. It is a fact, therefore, that the disciples were not commemorating the resurrection of the Saviour; it is equally evident that they had not the slightest idea of a change of the Sabbath. At the burial of the Saviour, the women who had followed him to the tomb returned and prepared spices and ointments to embalm him; the Sabbath drew on; they rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment; and when the Sabbath was past, they came to the sepulcher upon the first day of the week to embalm their Lord. Luke 23:55,56; 24:1. They kept the Sabbath, according to the commandment, and resumed their labor on the first day of the week.
THIRD REASON. After eight days, Jesus met with his disciples again. John 20:26. This must have been the first day of the week, which is thereby proved to be the Christian Sabbath.
Were it certain that this occurred on the first day of the week, it would not furnish a single particle of proof that that day had become the Sabbath of the Lord. But who can be certain that "after eight days" means just a week? It would be nearer a literal construction of the language to conclude that this was upon the ninth day. As an illustration, read Matt.17:1: "And after six days, Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John," etc. Now turn to Luke 9:28: "And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter, and John, and James," etc. Then, "after six days" is about eight days in this instance. But if "after eight days" means just a week, how does this prove that Sunday has taken the place of the Lord's Sabbath? Rather, how does it prove that Sunday has become the Christian Sabbath, when there is not a particle of evidence that either Christ or his apostles ever rested on that day? There is no such term as Christian Sabbath found in the Bible. The only weekly Sabbath named in the Bible is called the Sabbath of the Lord.
Was the act of Christ in appearing to his disciples sufficient to constitute the day on which it occurred the Sabbath? If so, why did he next select a fishing day as the time to manifest himself to them? John 21. If it is not sufficient, then the Sunday on which he was first seen of them, the fishing day on which they next saw him, and the Thursday on which he was last seen of them, may not be Sabbaths. It was not very remarkable that Christ should find his disciples together, inasmuch as they had one common abode. Acts 1:13.
FOURTH REASON. The Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost, which was the first day of the week. Therefore, the first day of the week should be observed instead of the Sabbath of the Lord. Acts 2:1,2.
Admitting that the day of Pentecost occurred upon the first day of the week, it remains to be proved that that day thereby became the Sabbath. But that it was the feast of Pentecost, and not the first day of the week, that God designed to honor, the following facts demonstrate:-
1. While the day of Pentecost is distinctly named, the day of the week on which it occurred is passed in silence.
2. The disciples had been engaged in earnest prayer for the space of ten days; for the day of Pentecost was fifty days from the resurrection of Christ, and forty of those days he spent with his disciples. Acts 1. Forty days from his resurrection would expire on Thursday, the day of his ascension. A period of ten days after his ascension on Thursday would include two first-days, the last of which would be the day of Pentecost. If the design of God had been to honor the first day of the week, why did not the Holy Ghost descend on the first of those first-days? Why must the day of Pentecost come before the Holy Ghost could descend? This answer is obvious: It was not the design of Heaven to honor the first day of the week, but to mark the antitype of the feast of Pentecost. Hence the first day of the week is passed in silence.
The slaying of the paschal lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month had met its antitype in the death of the Lamb of God on that day. Ex.12; John 19; 1Cor.5:7. The offering of the first-fruits on the sixteenth day of the first month had met its antitype in the resurrection of our Lord on that day, the first-fruits of them that slept. Lev.23; 1Cor.15:20-23. It remained that the day of Pentecost, fifty days later, should also meet its antitype. Lev.23:15-21. The fulfillment of that type is what the pen of inspiration has recorded in Acts 2:1,2. God has spoken nothing in this place respecting a change of his Sabbath. Yet grave men, calling themselves Doctors of Divinity, consider this text one of their strongest testimonies for their so-called Christian Sabbath. They might be profited by this advice of the wise man: "Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." Prov.30:6.
FIFTH REASON. Paul once broke bread upon the first day of the week at Troas. Hence this day was observed as the Christian Sabbath. Acts 20:7.
We answer that at one period the apostolic church at Jerusalem broke bread every day. Acts 2:42-46. If a single instance of breaking bread at Troas upon the first day of the week was quite sufficient to constitute it the Sabbath, would not the continued practice of the apostolic church at Jerusalem in breaking bread every day be amply sufficient to make every day a Sabbath? Moreover, as the act of the great Head of the church in breaking bread must be quite as important as that of his servant Paul, must not the day of the crucifixion be pre-eminently the Christian Sabbath, as Christ instituted and performed this ordinance on the evening with which that day commenced? 1Cor.11:23-26.
But on what day of the week did this act of Paul's occur? For, if it is of sufficient importance to make the day of its occurrence the future Sabbath of the church, the day is worth determining. The act of breaking bread was after midnight; for Paul preached to the disciples until midnight, then healed Eutychus, and after this attended to breaking bread. Acts 20:7-11. If, as time is reckoned at the present day, the first day of the week terminated at midnight, then Paul's act of breaking bread was performed upon the second day of the week, or Monday, which should henceforth be regarded as the Christian Sabbath, if breaking bread on a day makes it a Sabbath. But, if the Bible method of commencing the day, viz., from sunset, was followed, it would appear that the disciples came together at the close of the Sabbath for an evening meeting, as the apostle was to depart in the morning. If it was not an evening meeting, why did they have many lights there? Paul preached unto them until midnight, and then broke bread with the disciples early in the morning of the first day of the week. Did this act constitute that day the Sabbath? If so, then why did Paul, as soon as it was light, start on his long journey to Jerusalem?
If Paul believed that Sunday was the Christian Sabbath, why did he thus openly violate it? If he did not believe it had become the Sabbath, why should you? And why do you grasp, as evidence that the Sabbath has been changed, a single instance in which an evening meeting was held on Sunday, while you overlook the fact that it was the custom of this same apostle to preach every Sabbath, not only to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles? Acts 13:14,42,44; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4.
Paul broke bread on the first day of the week, and then immediately started on his long journey to Jerusalem. So that this, the strongest argument for the first day of the week, furnishes direct proof that Sunday is not the Sabbath.
SIXTH REASON. Paul commanded the church at Corinth to take up a public collection on the first day of the week; therefore it follows that this must have been a day of public worship, and consequently is the Christian Sabbath. 1Cor.16:2.
We answer, It is a remarkable fact that Paul enjoins exactly the reverse of a public collection. He does not say, Place your alms in the public treasury on the first day of the week; but he says, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store."
J. W. Morton, in his "Vindication of the True Sabbath," pp.51,52, says:- "The apostle simply orders that each one of the Corinthian brethren should lay up at home some portion of his weekly gains on the first day of the week. The whole question turns upon the meaning of the expression, 'by him;' and I marvel greatly how you can imagine that it means 'in the collection-box of the congregation.' Greenfield, in his Lexicon, translates the Greek term, 'by one's self, i.e., at home.' Two Latin versions, the Vulgate and that of Castellio, render it, 'apud se,' with one's self, at home. Three French translations, those of Martin, Osterwald, and De Sacy, 'chez soi,' at his own house, at home. The German of Luther, 'bei sich selbst,' by himself, at home. The Dutch, 'by hemselven,' same as the German. The Italian of Diodati, 'appresso di se,' in his own presence, at home. The Spanish of Felipe Scio, 'en su casa,' in his own house. The Portuguese of Ferreira, 'para isso,' with himself. The Swedish, 'noer sig self,' near himself. I know not how much this list of authorities might be swelled; for I have not examined one translation that differs from those quoted above."
The text, therefore, does not prove that the Corinthian church was assembled for public worship on that day; but, on the contrary, it does prove that each must be at his own home where he could examine his worldly affairs, and lay by himself in store as God had prospered him. If each one should thus, from week to week, collect his earnings, when the apostle should come their bounty would be ready, and each would be able to present to him what he had gathered. So that, if the first-day Sabbath has no better foundation than the inference drawn from this text, it truly rests upon sliding sand.
SEVENTH REASON. John was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, which was the first day of the week. Rev.1:10.
This is the kind of reasoning which the advocates of Sunday are invariably obliged to adopt. But we ask, What right have they to assume the very point which they ought to prove? This text, it is true, furnishes direct proof that there is a day in the gospel dispensation which the Lord claims as his; but is there one text in the Bible which testifies that the first day of the week is the Lord's day? There is not one. Has God ever claimed that day as his? Never. Has God ever claimed any day as his, and reserved it to himself? He has. "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." Gen.2:3. "To-morrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord." Ex.16:23. "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Ex.20:10. "If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day," etc. Isa.58:13. "Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath." Mark 2:28.
Then the seventh day is the day which God reserved to himself when he gave to man the other six; and this day he calls his holy day. This is the day which the New Testament declares the Son of man to be Lord of.
Is there one testimony in the Scriptures that the Lord of the Sabbath has put away his holy day and chosen another? Not one. Then that day which the Bible designates as the Lord's day is none other than the Sabbath of the fourth commandment.
John Nevins Andrews
And the Lord has said: "...It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4
SCRIPTURES WHICH SPEAK OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK
1. Genesis 1:5 "And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day." The First day is a work day.
2. Matthew 28:1 "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first [day] of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre." The first day - Sunday, is shown to come AFTER the Sabbath day.
3. Mark 16:2 "And very early in the morning the first [day] of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun." The first day - Sunday, is shown to come AFTER the Sabbath. Sunday is seen to be an appropriate day to do work which the disciples postponed over the holy Sabbath.
4. Mark 16:9 "Now when [Jesus] was risen early the first [day] of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils." After resting in the grave over the Sabbath Christ appeared to Mary Magdelene on the first day of the week.
5. Luke 23:56 to 24:1 "Now upon the first [day] of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain [others] with them." These verses in Luke pin point what day the Sabbath falls. Christ died on Friday, the Preparation day. He rested in the tomb on Saturday, the Sabbath Day and rose on Sunday, the first day of the week. The first day of the week, Sunday, is shown to come AFTER the Sabbath. Sunday is seen to be an appropriate day to do work which the disciples postponed over the holy Sabbath. Note the women saw where his body was laid and went to prepare spices etc and rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. They came back to the tomb on Sunday, the first day of the week, to anoint his body but found he had risen as foretold.
6. John 20:1 "The first [day] of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre." Mary Magdelene went to the sepulchre on the first day of the week expecting to find Jesus dead, not risen.
7. John 20:19 "Then the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you." The disciples were assembled on the first day of the week - Sunday, NOT to celebrate Christʼs resurrection but “for fear of the Jews.” John 20:19. At that time they did not even know that Jesus would rise! See John 20:9.
No command is given by Jesus to observe Sunday in place of the seventh day Sabbath. In fact Christ said this: "And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath." Mark 2:27,28
You couldn't get any more definitive than that. Jesus knew which day was the Sabbath because he made it. The disciples knew which day was the Sabbath. Years later when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, Christ followers knew which day was the Sabbath because they were warned not to flee on that day. Matthew 24:20
8. Acts 20:7,8 "And upon the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight."
This was a farewell meeting at which time they “broke bread” (had a meal). (a) Breaking bread does not show the day to be holy as they broke bread “daily.” (Acts 2:46). (b) No command is given in the verse to observe the first day of the week in place of the seventh day Sabbath. (c) This was not a regular meeting but extraordinary. It was a farewell meeting which explains why Paul preached till midnight (Acts 20:7) and left the believers the following morning on a long journey. (c) As Biblical days begin at sunset (Gen 1:5; Lev 23:32) this meeting on the evening of the first day of the week was what we call “Saturday night.” (See the New English Bible). When Sunday morning arrived Paul departed on his 19 mile journey to catch a ship at Assos. (Acts 20:11).
9. 1Corinthians 16:2 "Upon the first [day] of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as [God] hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."
This was instruction to put offering money aside at home on the first day. (a) There is no reference here to a public meeting. (b) The offerings were to be stored up “at home.” Many translations say “at home.”
(c) Storing up offerings at home on a day does not make that day a Sabbath. (d) As in all scripture, the first day of the week is given no special title. It is simply called the first day. (e) No command is given to observe the first day in place of the seventh day Sabbath.
Conclusion
Having looked at EVERY verse in the Bible which mentions the first day of the week we must conclude that the Catholic Church is correct when she states that the Bible nowhere commands us to observe Sunday in place of the 7th day Sabbath! The Bible contains all thing God expects of us (2Tim 3:16) and Christians who wish to follow Christʼs example, and do as the Bible teaches, should keep holy the Lordʼs Sabbath day (Mark 2:27-28; 1Pet 2:21-22).
When people resort to the teachings of uninspired men or church leaders to support their doctrine we may know that they are not following the Bible. While Sabbath keeping does not save us, wilfully breaking it, when we know God commands it, is sin and “the wages of sin is death.” Rom 6:23.
Summary of the above
- A day begins with the evening or the dark portion which commences at sunset. - Genesis 1
- In 2-6 the verses deal with the women returning to Jesus' tomb to anoint his body.
- In 7, Jesus appears to his disciples who were hiding for fear of the Jews.
- In 8, Paul preached to the brethren on the first day of the week, i.e. after sunset.
- In 9, Paul advised everyone to have offerings ready for when he comes.
- There is no command in the above verses to CHANGE the Sabbath from the 7th day, Saturday to Sunday, the first day of the week.
THE RISE OF SUNDAY
As the Bible nowhere commands anyone to observe Sunday how did it start? Non-biblical evidence for Sunday observance appears soon after ~ AD100. However this does not mean that Sabbath- keeping changed abruptly.
For centuries most of the church continued to observe the Sabbath: “Although almost all the churches throughout the world celebrate the sacred mysteries on the sabbath of every week, yet the Christians of Alexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, have ceased to do this.” Socrates, Ecclesiastical History, book 5, chap. 22, trans. in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2nd series (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979), Vol. 2, p. 132.
“The people of Constantinople, and almost everywhere, assemble together on the Sabbath, as well as on the first day of the week, which custom is never observed at Rome or at Alexandria.” Sozomen, Ecclesiastical History, book 7, chap. 19, trans. in Nicene and Post- Nicene Fathers, 2nd series, Vol. 2, p. 390.
By the 4th century most Christians had begun to observe both Sabbath and Sunday: Three factors led to Sunday observance: 1. Anti-Judaism 2. Sun worship 3. The church of Rome
1. Anti-Judaism A Jewish revolt in AD135, led to the Roman Emperor Hadrian outlawing Judaism throughout the Roman Empire. This caused Christian leaders to distance themselves from the Jews to avoid persecution.
2. Sun worship In the early part of the second century the Sun worship cult, Sol Invictus (the Invincible Sun) became dominant in Rome. Sun-worship influenced Christian thought as is seen in art and literature, the birthday of the Sun became Christmas, and churches were orientated toward the sunrise in the East. In view of Sundayʼs popularity among pagan Sun worshipers, and the esteem with which many Christians regarded Sunday, the Roman emperor Constantine issued the first civil Sunday law on March 7, AD321. Constantine hoped that, by making Sunday a holiday, he would ensure the support of both groups.
“On the venerable day of the Sun [venerabili die Solis] let the magistrates and people residing in the cities rest, and let all work- shops be closed. In the country, however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits.” Codex Justinianus, book 3, title 12, 3, trans. in Schaff, History of the Christian Church 5th ed. (New York: Charles Scribner, 1902), Vol. 3, p. 380, note 1.
3. The church at Rome The church at Rome was the most powerful in the world and was comprised primarily of Gentiles which contributed to the differentiation from the Jews. In the late second century Sunday was established as the day to celebrate Jesusʼ death & resurrection rather than on the Jewish Passover (14th of the Jewish month Nisan). This added to Sundayʼs significance and further distanced the church from its Jewish roots. Several decades after Constantineʼs civil law the church of Rome at the Council of Laodicea (c. AD364), issued the first ecclesiastical Sunday law stipulating that Christians should honour Sunday, and, “...if possible, do no work on that day.” It also denounced the practice of resting on the Sabbath, instructing that Christians should “not Judaize and be idle on Saturday [Gr. sabbaton, “the Sabbath”], but shall work on that day.” Council of Laodicea, Canon 29, in C. J. Hefele, A His- tory of the Christian Councils, trans. and ed. by Henry N. Oxenham (Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark, 1896), p. 316.
In AD538, the year which marked the beginning of the Papacyʼs 1260 year reign (See on Daniel 7:25), the Roman Catholic Third Council of Orleans issued a law against even agricultural labour on Sundays. Canon 28 of that council states:
“...agricultural labor ought to be laid aside, in order that the people may not be pre- vented from attending church.” Giovanni Do- menico Mansi, ed., Sacrorum Conciliorum, Vol. 9, col. 919, as quoted by Maxwell, God Cares, Vol. 1, p. 129.
Though Constantine had issued Sunday laws (AD321) it was Roman Catholicism which eventually claimed to have transferred the Sabbath to Sunday as evidence of her authority.
Catholic Catechisms (Official books of Roman Catholic doctrine) state: “Q. Have you any other way of proving that the Church [Catholic] has power to institute festivals of precept? A. Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her;- she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.” S. Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism, (3rd American ed., rev.; New York: T. W. Strong, late Edward Dunigan & Bro., 1876), p 174.
Lutheran “The observance of the Lordʼs day [he means Sunday] is founded not on any command of God, but on the authority of the church.” Augsburg Confession of Faith, (Lutheran), quoted in Catholic Sabbath Manual, part 2. chap. 1, sec. 10.
Congregationalist “It is quite clear that, however rigidly or devoutly we may spend Sunday, we are not keeping the Sabbath...The Sabbath was founded on a specific command. We can plead no such command for the observance of Sunday...There is not a single sentence in the New Testament to suggest that we incur any penalty for violating the supposed sanctity of Sunday.” R. W. Dale, D.D., (Congregationalist) The Ten Com- mandments. pp. 106, 107.
Anglican (Church of England) “Where are we told in the Scripture that we are to keep the first day at all? We are commanded to keep the seventh; but we are nowhere commanded to keep the first day.” Isaac Williams, B.D. (Church of England), Plain Sermons on the Catechism, Vol. 1, pp. 334-336.
The choice for Christians today is between being Biblically-based and obeying God or keeping the unbiblical tradition and commandments of the Roman Church. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve...” Josh 24:15.
The Seventh Day, Saturday, is the Sabbath worship day of the Lord thy God. The Jews know it and the serious ones keep it to this day. Jesus said he was Lord of the Sabbath Day NOT Sunday:
"For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day." Matthew 12:1-8
"And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath." Mark 2:27,28
Jesus said: "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Matthew 4:10
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates: For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." Exodus 20:8-11
Take care and keep safe.
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