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Could you tell me why the Sunday-Law of Constantine is ignored as if Sunday is mentioned in the Greek Scriptures. Is this not a turning point of the history of the apostasy of the church as prophesied in 2nd Thessalonians 2?February 2010
I assume that you are referring to the law Constantine passed in 321 AD that closed all courts of law on Sunday and placed restrictions on the use of slave labor except for certain farming activities. He also changed the market day for farmers to Sunday, encouraging Romans not to work everyday of the week. These two changes pushed the culture into observing some kind of "sabbath" day of rest. This was not an enforced law, but a way to encourage Sunday as a day for worship. When he passed these laws he recognized them as "the day of the sun," and was not forcing anyone to attend Christian church. It could be that Constantine recognized the sun to keep from putting pressure on Romans to embrace Christianity. Like his father, Constantine exhibited moderation with respect to Christianity. [Kind of like having a Christian President who does not want to force Christianity on all Americans - and most Christians would NOT want this either.]
I realize that many will contest what I have just written, but there are numerous examples from church fathers in the first and second centuries which make it clear that Gentile Christians met on the eighth day to commemorate the resurrection day of Jesus. There was a clear anti-Jewish strain in the early Gentile church - I am not saying this is good, but it is historically true.
Finally He says to them; "Your new moons and your Sabbaths I cannot endure."
You can perceive His meaning: it is not your present Sabbaths that are acceptable, but the Sabbath which I have made...when I have set all things at rest, I will make the beginning of the eighth day which is the beginning of another world. Therefore, we keep the eighth day for rejoicing, in which
Jesus rose from the dead, and having been manifested ascended into the heavens. Moreover I will tell you likewise concerning the temple, how these wretched men, being led astray, set their hope on the building, and not on their God that made them, as being a house of God. - Barnabas 15:8-16:1
You can see the promotion of Sunday AND the anti-Jewish sentiment in this text.
If, therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things 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 - whom some deny, by which mystery we have obtained faith....Let us not, therefore, be insensible to His kindness...Therefore, having become His disciples, let us learn to live according to the principles of Christianity. For whosoever is called by any other name besides this, is not of God. Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the sour leaven....It is absurd to profess Christ Jesus, and to Judaize. For Christianity did not embrace Judaism, but Judaism Christianity... Ignatius - To the Magnesians 9-10
Sent by a reader, June 14, 2013
I'd like to add what Justin Martyr said in his 1st Apology: CHAPTER LXVII -- WEEKLY WORSHIP OF THE CHRISTIANS And we afterwards continually remind each other of these things. And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost. And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration.
Greetings ! Thank you for your kind reply and I need to listen to you fully when you can fully explain Scripturally, in due course. Thanking you, Yours in His service,
10-23-2010
From: Paul The early church met on Sundays. This can be traced as far back as the Day of Pentecost: every time Christ appeared to the 11 it was on the first day of the week which is Sunday. The apostle paul spoke about sabbaths and new moons. He said do not hold it against any christian for observing or not observing any day. He even spoke on eating certain food or eating foods sacrificed to idols saying "let no man judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of a holy day or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days". So it is clear to me that these things do not affect a believer's salvation. See Colossians 2:13-16
I get many comments regarding this issue from both sides, arguing whether keeping the Sabbath is a New Testament requirement or not. I have noticed those who write me in favor of keeping the Sabbath are very dogmatic. It reminds me of the Judaizers in their opposition to the Apostle Paul and his outreach to Gentiles - they demanded that the Gentile believers be circumcised and obey the Laws of Moses. Paul would not "give in to them for a moment" (Gal 2:5).
2013-06-14
Amazingly, I am now getting e-mail from those who do not think Paul was a legitimate apostle. Douglas Del Tondo and I have exchanged several e-mails on this topic: Was Paul a Heretic?.
For Those Who Send Me E-mail Arguing that Gentiles Must Observe the Sabbath
Note from Reader (12-31-2012)
As far as the Jerusalem council in Acts 15,yes, they did give four gentile requirements, but too many people "stop" reading there. James is speaking and he goes on to say in v21, "for Moses has in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogue every sabbath day." This infers: Let's require the gentiles to these four, BUT they will continue to learn about the Torah, and God of Israel (whom they are now worshipping) as they attend synagogue on the sabbath. A specific "sunday worship" would not be anything special because in Acts 2 we read that their routine was to meet daily in the temple, and break bread from house to house (while most certainly recognizing a saturday sabbath, but NOW realizing Jesus is the true fulfillment of that rest, our Prince of peace.)
This argument completely fails. ![]() Al Baker, CH101 I welcome your Questions, Comments or Criticisms:
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