Change of the Sabbath day from Seventh to First day

Brad · #1 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 11:48 AM

Now that the forum permissions have been improved, and Rich has clarified the purpose of same, perhaps I may ask a few more questions pertinent to the issue.

I am praying and studying in hopes of landing on a more scripturally firm place, and this thread has been very helpful. Still digesting some of the responses, and studying against scripture, but one thing I keep hanging up on that was only addressed in one post of a conversation between a Pastor and an SDA guy, and it didn't go into much detail.

That is the issue of a change in the Sabbath from 7th to 1st day of the week. I had an SDA employee some years back (excellent employee) with whom I had many discussions about this, and that's when I came to conclude that, yes, the Sabbath was the 7th day, but that the new day for worship for christians was the Lord's Day, the 1st. The reason I came to that, despite reading some defenses of 1st day Sabbath, was that all those defenses implied that the change happened either at the ressurection, ascension, or pentecost. If that were true, then why in the Acts, the first day is never called the Sabbath, but the 7th day is referred to as such throughout? If the change had occured anytime prior to the close of the book of Acts, why didn't the Holy Spirit call it such?

Here's every occasion of the word Sabbath in Acts:

Quote:

Act 13:14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

Act 13:27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

Act 13:42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

Act 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Act 16:13 And on the sabbath 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.

Act 17:1-3 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: (2) And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, (3) Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

Act 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

In those seven occasions, all but one refer to unconverted Jews as being a part of the audience, mostly in the synagogue, which of necessity infers the 7th day. Why did the HS not in some way call attention to the change of the Sabbath day in these references? I doubt anyone would say the change occured after the end of the history recorded in the book (at least I've never heard that). Any explanations from scripture alone?

***Semper Fidelis*** · #2 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 12:45 PM

I think Bruce gives an excellent answer to this. I'm not sure how to find it again but he makes a good point that I hope he re-pastes here.

A few arguments for the Lord's Day being on the first day (one historical others Scriptural and redemptive historical):

Worship is spoken of as occurring on the Lord's Day in the Scriptures (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 16:2, Rev 1:10)
Even when Peter and the Apostles went to the Temple in Acts 4, it was after the sacrifice so they even demonstrate a change in what they did. I believe they went to the time of prayer regularly for evangelical purposes as much as anything.
The Didache (believed to be catechetical instruction for new converts) speaks of Lord's Day worship on the first day.
Christ worked for our redemption on the old Sabbath and was resurrected on the Lord's Day. He inaugurated a new creation.
The Sabbath prior to Christ followed a pattern of work then rest. In the New Creation, it is rest, then work. In other words, there is something "Gospel" in the fact that we work after (or on the basis that) we've rested in the Lord.
The Christian Sabbath is, in effect, a rest from the yoke of sin and the receipt of Christ's yoke. The form of rest before work is a token of our freedom.

-----Added 2/6/2009 at 12:45:19 EST-----

Here's that post:

Why do christians today reject the sabbath?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Contra_Mundum

Here's how I'd sum up my argument:

i) God set aside one day in seven for calling his people to worship.

ii) We have ZERO ways of knowing if our, say Tuesday happens to be a +7 multiple of the 3rd Day of Creation. In fact, its demonstrable from Scripture that it has only a 1/7 chance of being so. That is, God himself has prevented us from knowing that datum.

iii) If he has prevented it, then it isn't important that the original Sabbath (OT) was kept on a multiple of the first 7th Day. It was sufficient that the ISRAELITES kept the final day of their week holy to the Lord.

iv) The Israelites, after Sinai until the Exile, kept two "8th Day" Sabbaths per year. The way they did this was they had 48 hours of Sabbath on those occasions. And the NEXT day was ... (wait for it) ... the First (not the Second) Day of the week.

I agree with commentators who believe that Israel left Egypt with Egypt's solar calendar, and adapted for their own use. With the necessary adjustments, the regular year always began on a Sabbath; the 7th month also was supposed to begin with a Sabbath.

Just another way they were "peculiar" and always different from the rest of the nations around them. If you weren't inside the nation year round or understood their religion, you would never know which day of the week it was in Israel!

Coming back from Babylon Israel had borrowed another calendar, which they then seem to have adapted for their own use in the Return. Some form of this calendar was probably in use during Jesus' earthly days.

v) The 8th Day, then prior to the Resurrection, already had special periodic status in Israelite religion. But more importantly, if the days were "pushed off" once and again every single year in Israelite history, then no one will ever know by a calendric study which day is an exact multiple of the original "7th". Therefore, it doesn't matter to know it.

vi) Then, it could only be significant to have a week of seven days, based on God's creation week. And to keep the last day as the regular Holy Day, that too being designated.

vii) God alone regulates his worship, always. He calls the meeting; we respond to his summons. The ONLY way that we can change our meeting day is if HE changes it.

viii) Jesus is God. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus has a "Day" called the Lord's Day.

ix) Did Jesus change the Day that, as God, he calls his regular meeting with his people? The only thing we have to go by is the testimony of the NT witness. Jesus keeps meeting with the gathered saints on the First Day from Resurrection to Pentecost. And then whenever we note the day after that when the church answers the call to worship, it is the First Day.

x) The NT seems quite clear to me. Jesus/God now calls his people to worship on the day of their Savior's triumph. This shift parallels both the periodic extended Sabbaths of the OT, and the second of the twin grounds set for keeping the OT Sabbath, Dt.5:15, which was the accomplishment of Israel's salvation.

Brad · #3 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 01:37 PM

OK... so maybe I'm getting caught up on the idea of the word Sabbath as a title rather than it's Hebrew meaning. When I look it up in my Strong's, it says:

Quote:

שׁבת - shâbath shaw-bath' - A primitive root; to repose, that is, desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causatively, figuratively or specifically): - (cause to, let, make to) cease, celebrate, cause (make) to fail, keep (sabbath), suffer to be lacking, leave, put away (down), (make to) rest, rid, still, take away.

If the meaning of the word is to rest, or day of rest, as in christian Sabbath meaning christian rest from work, then I can accept that, as in the creation ordinance of resting in one of seven days, the christian day for that is the first. It would seem a stretch to say that christians ought to rest on the seventh, then have another day set aside for corporate worship, especially since the Jews used the seventh for synagogue worship and study.

So how far am I off the (confessional) reservation in saying that the christian sabbath (lower-case, meaning day of rest and worship) is the first day of the week, also called the Lord's Day?

Jimmy the Greek · #4 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 02:06 PM

Hmmm. Where does one go to see "back channel chatter"?

***Joshua*** · #5 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gomarus

Hmmm. Where does one go to see "back channel chatter"?

Good question, cuz I'm in the "back channel" and haven't seen any moderation other than making sure the wading pool question threads don't get bogged down in debates that don't help those who have originally asked the questions. And since Brad was one of the original questioners, I'm not sure why he thinks said moderations were targeting him?

***Semper Fidelis*** · #6 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad

OK... so maybe I'm getting caught up on the idea of the word Sabbath as a title rather than it's Hebrew meaning. When I look it up in my Strong's, it says:

Quote:

שׁבת - shâbath shaw-bath' - A primitive root; to repose, that is, desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causatively, figuratively or specifically): - (cause to, let, make to) cease, celebrate, cause (make) to fail, keep (sabbath), suffer to be lacking, leave, put away (down), (make to) rest, rid, still, take away.

If the meaning of the word is to rest, or day of rest, as in christian Sabbath meaning christian rest from work, then I can accept that, as in the creation ordinance of resting in one of seven days, the christian day for that is the first. It would seem a stretch to say that christians ought to rest on the seventh, then have another day set aside for corporate worship, especially since the Jews used the seventh for synagogue worship and study.

So how far am I off the (confessional) reservation in saying that the christian sabbath (lower-case, meaning day of rest and worship) is the first day of the week, also called the Lord's Day?

-----Added 2/6/2009 at 01:37:01 EST-----

I have to say the the back-channel chatter and moderation of these threads has been offensive and give rise to doubts about the ability of some to explain their position rather than squelch inquiry into the matter.

I was sincerely trying to get a handle on it, but instead it appears my attempt to do so has sparked the ire of some, bored others to tears, and moved some to relegate me to the shallow end of the pool, despite the fact that I confessed adherence to the Westminster Standards while some of them were still following Jack Hayford.

I suppose sometimes it is easier to denigrate and hobble honest inquiry rather than address it from scripture. If you're bored with it, why not just stay out of it and let those who are willing to help take the reins?

I'm done. Delete the threads. I suppose that was the aim to begin with anyway. And I don't need this kind of intentional stumbling - my present spiritual condition is not such that I should engage in things that might move me to sinning in my anger.

Huh? I honestly don't know what back-channel chatter and moderation you're referring to. I see the back channel and have participated in some Sabbath threads but was trying to answer this question.

I thought the answer above was a pretty good attempt at answering your question.

Ivan · #7 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 02:26 PM

Is there something in the Puritan Board water?

***Semper Fidelis*** · #8 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 02:32 PM

I don't know.

Brad,

I think you may have misinterpreted what happened. An Admin split this thread off so that your new question could be adequately addressed. You "shifted trails" in the discussion and posed a new query as to why the day changed from the 7th to the 1st day. I answered the question and then thought I had lost my mind because I couldn't find your question after my answer appeared in your post.

I then realized your question had been split off and moved to another thread so it could receive proper attention. I simply moved my answer to the right thread after I figured out where your question went. The move was to ensure your question was answered and not ignored.

Brad · #9 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 03:25 PM

My apologies brethren. I am not doing a great job at being anxious over nothing. Too many other things happening, probably ought not engage right now. Attitudes try my patience, as I'm sure mine, and my stupidity, do for others.

Forgiveness sought from and offered to all.

***Semper Fidelis*** · #10 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad

OK... so maybe I'm getting caught up on the idea of the word Sabbath as a title rather than it's Hebrew meaning. When I look it up in my Strong's, it says:

Quote:

שׁבת - shâbath shaw-bath' - A primitive root; to repose, that is, desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causatively, figuratively or specifically): - (cause to, let, make to) cease, celebrate, cause (make) to fail, keep (sabbath), suffer to be lacking, leave, put away (down), (make to) rest, rid, still, take away.

If the meaning of the word is to rest, or day of rest, as in christian Sabbath meaning christian rest from work, then I can accept that, as in the creation ordinance of resting in one of seven days, the christian day for that is the first. It would seem a stretch to say that christians ought to rest on the seventh, then have another day set aside for corporate worship, especially since the Jews used the seventh for synagogue worship and study.

So how far am I off the (confessional) reservation in saying that the christian sabbath (lower-case, meaning day of rest and worship) is the first day of the week, also called the Lord's Day?

Getting back to this question (and I don't think you're stupid), I think we can get some use out of Strong's but the idea of the Sabbath is very rich in the Scriptures that we need not simply refer to the definition we find. Remember that revelation is also tied into events in redemptive history that reveal the character of God in them.

One thing you notice, as you study the Festivals of the OT ceremonial system, is that the feasts are re-enactments of Israel's Covenant History. Over and over, in the Law and in the Prophets, there is this "calling to mind" of what God has done for His people. The feasts were meant to help the Israelites never forget what had happened.

In a shorter period, the week provides a regular cycle of rest and worship - work, rest and worship - work, etc. Our Sacraments are not as physical as they once were but they certainly involve elements that direct, through our senses, a remembrance of the salvation of the Lord. I believe, then, that the Lord's day occurring on the first day of the week provides a Gospel focused cycle that we need as creatures to keep us grounded in the Gospel in a way that "all of life is worshp" tends to make nothing cyclical/repetitive. The Sabbath was created for man - that is to say that we need that cycle to keep us grounded in what we are and Who we worship.