Posted on 03/24/2007 3:10:20 PM PDT by NYer
Contrary to the teaching of Seventh Day Adventists the early Church gathered for worship on the Lord’s Day (Sunday), not Saturday, in honor of the day our Lord rose from the dead.
The Didache
But every Lord's day . . . gather yourselves together and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one that is at variance with his fellow come together with you until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned (Didache 14 [A.D. 70]).
Ignatius of Antioch
[T]hose who were brought up in the ancient order of things [i.e., Jews] have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord's day, on which also our life has sprung up again by him and by his death (Letter to the Magnesians 8 [A.D. 110]).
The Didascalia
The apostles further appointed; On the first day of the week let there be service, and the reading of the holy scriptures, and the oblation [sacrifice of the Mass], because on the first day of the week [Sunday] our Lord rose from the place of the dead, and on the first day of the week he arose upon the world, and on the first day of the week he ascended up to heaven, and on the first day of the week he will appear at last with the angels of heaven (Didascalia 2 [A.D. 225]).
Victorinus
The sixth day [Friday] is called parasceve, that is to say, the preparation of the kingdom. . . . On this day also, on account of the passion of the Lord Jesus Christ, we make either a station to God or a fast. On the seventh day he rested from all his works, and blessed it, and sanctified it. On the former day we are accustomed to fast rigorously, that on the Lord's Day we may go forth to our bread with giving of thanks. Let the parasceve become a rigorous fast, lest we should appear to observe any Sabbath with the Jews . . . which Sabbath he [Christ] in his body abolished (The Creation of the World [A.D. 300]).
Eusebius
They [the early saints of the Old Testament] did not care about circumcision of the body, neither do we [Christians]. They did not care about observing Sabbaths, nor do we. They did not avoid certain kinds of food, neither did they regard the other distinctions which Moses first delivered to their posterity to be observed as symbols; nor do Christians of the present day do such things (Church History 1:4:8 [A.D. 325]).
[T]he day of his [Christ's] light . . . was the day of his resurrection from the dead, which they say, as being the one and only truly holy day and the Lord's day, is better than any number of days as we ordinarily understand them, and better than the days set apart by the Mosaic Law for feasts, new moons, and Sabbaths, which the Apostle [Paul] teaches are the shadow of days and not days in reality (Proof of the Gospel 4:16:186 [A.D. 319]).
Athanasius
The Sabbath was the end of the first creation, the Lord's day was the beginning of the second, in which he renewed and restored the old in the same way as he prescribed that they should formerly observe the Sabbath as a memorial of the end of the first things, so we honor the Lord's day as being the memorial of the new creation (On Sabbath and Circumcision 3 [A.D. 345]).
Cyril of Jerusalem
Fall not away either into the sect of the Samaritans or into Judaism, for Jesus Christ has ransomed you. Stand aloof from all observance of Sabbaths and from calling indifferent meats common or unclean (Catechetical Lectures 4:37 [A.D. 350]).
Council of Laodicea
Christians should not Judaize and should not be idle on the Sabbath, but should work on that day; they should, however, particularly reverence the Lord's Day and, if possible, not work on it, because they were Christians (canon 29 [A.D. 360]).
John Chrysostom
When he said, "You shall not kill" . . . he did not add "because murder is a wicked thing." The reason was that conscience had taught this beforehand, and he speaks thus, as to those who know and understand the point. Wherefore when he speaks to us of another commandment, not known to us by the dictate of conscience, he not only prohibits, but adds the reason. When, for instance, he gave commandment concerning the Sabbath — "On the seventh day you shall do no work"— he subjoined also the reason for this cessation. What was this? "Because on the seventh day God rested from all his works which he had begun to make" [Ex. 20:10]. And again: "Because you were a servant in the land of Egypt" [Deut. 21:18]. For what purpose then, I ask, did he add a reason respecting the Sabbath, but did no such thing in regard to murder? Because this commandment was not one of the leading ones. It was not one of those which were accurately defined of our conscience, but a kind of partial and temporary one, and for this reason it was abolished afterward. But those which are necessary and uphold our life are the following: '"You shall not kill... You shall not commit adultery... You shall not steal." On this account he adds no reason in this case, nor enters into any instruction on the matter, but is content with the bare prohibition (Homilies on the Statues 12:9 [A.D. 387]).
You have put on Christ, you have become a member of the Lord and been enrolled in the heavenly city, and you still grovel in the Law [of Moses]? How is it possible for you to obtain the kingdom? Listen to Paul's words, that the observance of the Law overthrows the gospel, and learn, if you will, how this comes to pass, and tremble, and shun this pitfall. Why do you keep the Sabbath and fast with the Jews? (Homilies on Galatians 2:17 [A.D. 395]).
Apostolic Constitutions
And on the day of our Lord's resurrection, which is the Lord's Day, meet more diligently, sending praise to God that made the universe by Jesus, and sent him to us, and condescended to let him suffer, and raised him from the dead. Otherwise what apology will he make to God who does not assemble on that day . . . in which is performed the reading of the prophets, the preaching of the gospel, the oblation of the sacrifice, the gift of the holy food (Apostolic Constitutions 2:7:60 [A.D. 400]).
Thread opened, comments restored.
Well, if the mass were late enough it would be AFTER the sabbath.
I recommend that you read the whole chapter. YHvH is displeased with those who use ritual and tradition,This is taken totally out of context.
b'shem Yah'shua
but without love and obedience.
The next verse in Greek: [Acts 20:7] εν δε τη μια των σαββατων συνηγμενων των μαθητων του κλασαι αρτον ο παυλος διελεγετο αυτοις μελλων εξιεναι τη επαυριον παρετεινεν τε τον λογον μεχρι μεσονυκτιου
There is no Greek word for Sabbath, hence the translation from Hebrew speakers into Greek in this case is "Sabbatwn", the sixth Greek word in the above paragraph. Most English translations of [Acts 20:7] say something like this: 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. If you'll look at your Bibles you'll see that the word "day" is italicized....meaning that it is added.
The proper translation for this scripture is: And on the first of the Sabbaths...................... The first of the Sabbaths means just that...the first. What Paul is speaking of here is the first weekly Sabbath between Passover and Pentecost. The Jews numbered seven of them [Leviticus 23:15] and Paul, having just celebrated Passover (verse 6), is again meeting on the weekly Sabbath, also the first Sabbath in the count of the "Omer" to Pentecost. That's why the translation gives it a plural (Sabbatwn). It is both the weekly Sabbath and the first Sabbath between the two major Holydays which Paul and his companions obviously observe. We know this is the proper interval because in [Acts 20:16] Paul tells us he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost.
In every Greek translation dealing with the resurrection you will find this word Sabbatwn....meaning a special Sabbath between Passover and Pentecost. If the meaning were the first day of the week, the Greek "hemera"(day) would be included. Here is the literal translation from [Matthew 28:1]. Same time period, different situation...actual resurrection. And on the eve of the sabbaths, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre. You can see the plurality of the word "Sabbatwn" meaning "Sabbaths". The eve of the Sabbaths means between the evenings, and you find that terminology in [Exodus 12:6] 'And it hath become a charge to you, until the fourteenth day of this month, and the whole assembly of the company of Israel have slaughtered it between the evenings....speaking of the Passover lamb.
I have no idea how people can be so ignorant of simple Biblical truth...and then when presented with it, just cast it off like so much garbage.....as I'm sure we'll hear soon.
Just an FYI, the SDA does not deny that people met on Sunday, or that at some point people decided to swap Sunday for the Sabbath. They teach that it was an error, but to deny it happened would be silly.
LOL -my brother has been brainwashed by the SDA -I constantly tell him that a religion that justifies itself by calling others "silly" is by default a false religion...
I don't get your post. Was there a point?
A wonderful reminder of who Christians are.
thanks
Is there a verse that requires weekly church attendance by the faithful, Saturday or Sunday or any other day?
Read Colossians. If you obey the law you have to obey the whole law.
Besides, Gentiles were never required to convert or become law abiders. The 10 Commandments were definately given to Isreal and not to the Gentiles.
***Just an FYI, the SDA does not deny that people met on Sunday, or that at some point people decided to swap Sunday for the Sabbath. They teach that it was an error, but to deny it happened would be silly.****
Sunday an error? They used to preach that worshiping on sunday was the MARK OF THE BEAST, even calling it the Day of the Devil many many years ago.
For later.
I am in Seattle with my darling nieces, but will check this out when I get back to Iowa!
Yes - The Ten Commandments, specifically: Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day
The Ten Commandments are precepts bearing on the fundamental obligations of religion and morality and embodying the revealed expression of the Creator's will in relation to man's whole duty to God and to his fellow-creatures. They are found twice recorded in the Pentateuch, in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, but are given in an abridged form in the catechisms. Written by the finger of God on two tables of stone, this Divine code was received from the Almighty by Moses amid the thunders of Mount Sinai, and by him made the ground-work of the Mosaic Law. Christ resumed these Commandments in the double precept of charity--love of God and of the neighbour; He proclaimed them as binding under the New Law in Matthew 19 and in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5). He also simplified or interpreted them, e.g. by declaring unnecessary oaths equally unlawful with false, by condemning hatred and calumny as well as murder, by enjoining even love of enemies, and by condemning indulgence of evil desires as fraught with the same malice as adultery (Matthew 5). The Church, on the other hand, after changing the day of rest from the Jewish Sabbath, or seventh day of the week, to the first, made the Third Commandment refer to Sunday as the day to be kept holy as the Lord's Day. The Council of Trent (Sess. VI, can. xix) condemns those who deny that the Ten Commandments are binding on Christians.
The new covenant was also given to Israel and Judah, not the gentiles:
Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, He says, "BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH;
Heb 8:9 NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD.
Heb 8:10 "FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
Biblically the new covenant is only for the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
Would you advance the argument that gentiles aren't under the new covenant? Or do you suppose there's something that includes gentiles in the new covenant? And that somehow the ten commandments carried forth into the new covenant?
Which translation uses this terminology? The DRB says:
Exodus 20:8: Remember that thou keep holy the sabbath day.
Deuteronomy 5:14: The seventh is the day of the sabbath, that is, the rest of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not do any work therein, thou nor thy son nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant nor thy maidservant, nor thy ox, nor thy ass, nor any of thy beasts, nor the stranger that is within thy gates: that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest, even as thyself.
Right. Doesn't mention how we are to keep the day holy, does it? Doesn't say much about going to church.
In the church of the Body of Christ there is no Jew nor Gentile.
Paul established that the Gentile believers need not convert of Judaism, nor do the have to follow the customs of the Jews.
So that is right, I said that the 10 commandments are not part of Christian doctrine. They were given to Moses and the children of Isreal, not to the Church of the Body.
Obeying the law for righteousness obligates one to follow the whole law.
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