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Thank you for your very detailed response.

...te mia ton sabbaton. This is literally translated the one of the Sabbaths...

It's a strange concidence, but I was recently discussing this very phrase with someone in a completely different context, regarding the day of the week that Jesus rose from the dead. When I was shown that I was taking the idiomatic English translation "first" too literally, I promtly admitted my mistake. There is no question that "mia" means "one", and I do not want to base my doctrinal beliefs on shaky proof texts. I appreciate your efforts to elucidate the meaning of "mia".

Not that it changes the substance of your argument, but as an aside I think the Greek word in this instance is 'sabbatwn', the plural of 'sabbaton". The following is an analysis of the syntax of the phrase in the context of an argument for its meaning (in conjuction with 'mia', or 'one') a special, unique calendar date in a lunar calendar. I have no idea how accurate the following analysis is, or whether the thesis is correct that there was a lunar calendar in effect at the time of the Second Temple. I will leave it to the Greek experts and historians. I post it merely to show that it's analyis of 'mia' is very similar to yours, especially with regard to its emphatic contradistinction of "one" to "first"

The Greek word: 'Sabbatwn' (a plural form) is used 12 times in New Testament passages as follows:

[From AV Text (with selected Greek word substitutions):]
[snip]

It is noteworthy that the syntax usage ('Mia') is identical in all seven of the cited passages--where the term 'ONE' of the 'Sabbatwn' is consistently used. This peculiar agreement (in all these passages) tends to point to the existence of a unique calendar date--where the repetition of the same two words: 'Mia' and 'Sabbatwn' imply a lunar-cycle term. (For additional information, refer to Appendix A).

The popular English translation of this text is: 'first day of the week', but the term 'first' in the original Greek is more properly 'proton' or 'protos'. Instead, all of the seven cited passages unilaterally use the same identical word 'Mia'. Again, this conformity of usage--in all seven instances--proves that the translation 'first' is not fully correct. Clearly and simply, the meaning of the unique date in the cited seven passages points away from the meaning of 'first day' and, instead, has a meaning akin to a singular or a 'ONE' (which would refer to either a one-stage, or a one-whole-day). Again, the consistency of this usage (in seven diverse instances) indicates that the 'ONE' of the 'Sabbatwn' refers to a formal lunar-calendar date.

The King James translators translated the original Greek word 'mia' in 79 instances--where they correctly translated this word to encompass the meaning of a singular or a 'one' in 71 of the 79 instances. It then seems to be extremely significant that in 8 other instances, the translators translated the Greek word 'mia' as first (not one), and 7 of these instances are shown in scriptural references from above. (There is no compelling reason why the 7 instances--as cited above--should be translated any differently from the other 71 instances).

In a lunar-based calendar, the rate of a special 'ONE' would have stood completely out from the standard weekly cycle of seven lunar stages, and would have been an altogether separate additional unit of time (as a renewal for the weeks).

The important nuance in the meaning of the cited date--of being a singular or a 'ONE' and not a first--is significant in recognizing that the early definition of the lunar week depended upon the rate of a unique 'ONE', a special stage which probably appeared amid 7 + 7 lunar-stages (of the Moon waxing and waning) (or the rate of one-whole-day would have been counted each 7 weeks).

In association with this very unique 'ONE' date, the 7 verses listed above consistently use the same term: 'Sabbatwn' (a plural form of 'Sabbaton').

Thus, the 7 New Testament passages--which use the expression: 'Mia Sabbatwn'--seem to reflect a unique lunar-stage interval when the 'Sabbatwn' may have included an additional 'ONE' stage (but the meaning could also be relative to a seventh-week festival).

This formal lunar-stage date is specifically used in all four accounts of the resurrection--where Jesus is indicated to have been crucified upon the day which preceded Passover (in the first lunar month). The resurrection (which occurred immediately after, or between, 'Sabbatwn') is unilaterally recorded to have occurred upon the special date 'Mia Sabbatwn'.

Matthew 28:1 On the eve of the 'Sabbatwn', toward the dawn of the ONE of the 'Sabbatwn' came Mary the Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre [paraphrased from YLT] .

Mark 16:2 And very early in the morning the ONE of the 'Sabbatwn', they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the 'Sabbatwn' Day, and stood up for to read.

Luke 24:1 Now upon the ONE of the 'Sabbatwn', very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

John 20:1 The ONE of the 'Sabbatwn' cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the ONE of the 'Sabbatwn', 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.

Acts 13:14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the 'Sabbatwn' Day, and sat down.

Acts 16:13 And on the 'Sabbatwn' Day we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

Acts 20:7 And upon the ONE of the 'Sabbatwn', when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

1 Corinthians 16:2 Upon the ONE of the 'Sabbatwn' let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the 'Sabbatwn':

This interesting usage--where the unusual Greek word 'Mia' (or one) is paired-off and exclusively used in association with the unusual word 'Sabbatwn'--rather clearly indicates the usage of a formal calendar term. (This term seems to be equivalent to the cited definition of a renewal interval in the Shabbath-Shabbathown cycle found in the Hebrew Bible).
http://www.hope-of-israel.org/crnotes.htm#apenc

Again I post the above because it contains an interesting grammatical analysis of "mia" in a different context unrelated to polygamy, for what it's worth.
I think when people are presented with strong, clear lexical evidence and still persist in misusing and twist the Greek, it becomes apparent to me that the only reason they take the position they do is that the text conflicts with their preconceived doctrinal notions, not because of any lexical evidence. When that happens, I just figure they're not ready to learn anything, and not at all interested in the truth of the matter.
Cordially,

Thanks for the excellent input. I know that Sabbaton is plural (according to my Greek word study which says Sabbaton is: Noun; Neuter; Genitive Plural and includes a short definition:

σάββατον (sabbaton 4521)
1. sabbath
Sabbath; Hebrew, שבת, rest, a lying by from labour.
* denotes that the plural is translated by the singular.
† indicates the Dative plural σάββασι (sabbasi).
‡ denotes that the Genitive of the noun is used as an adjective).

I had not seen the use of 'sabbatwn' in conjunction with the already plural 'sabbaton' but its certainly an interesting analysis. It makes sense that 'mia' may have been used in conjunction with 'sabbaton' to refer to a specific unique calendar date since we know that the resurrection was a unique and specific event.

In any case its just one more nail in the coffin of polygamist groups such as the LDS mis-using and mis-translating the word 'mia'. I also concur that those such as DU and Sevenbak who twist the Greek (either word meaning or grammatical construction) where there is clear lexicon evidence to the contrary do so to support heresy. They do not do this to support truth.

And this is a BIG, HUGE issue, because the LDS maintain they are the sole correct interpreters of Biblical Greek. The twisting of the text of course proves they are not. God we know is not the author of this sort of behavior. God would never operate outside of correct grammatical construction of any language. But Satan does, its characteristic of him, i.e., 'hath God SAID' back in Genesis. From the beginning Satan HAS twisted God's Words which is why this mangling of the Greek text by the LDS is a major issue proving them to be a cult.

Thanks again for your interesting insights. Amazing how much we can learn when we go to the original language and not self-appointed 'prophets'.