This change could not be made -a different day, the FIRST day of the week, could not be established by New Testament BIBLE authority, except in some text or texts employing the phrase "first day of the week," or the word "Sunday."
The word "Sunday" does not appear any place in the Bible.
But the phrase "first day of the week" is found in the New Testament. It occurs in exactly EIGHT places.
So it will not take long to examine these eight texts employing this phrase.
IF the day was changed by BIBLE authority, if Christians are to find any BIBLE AUTHORITY whatsoever for observing Sunday as the "Lord's Day" today, then we must find that authority in one of these eight texts!
Let us acknowledge at the outset, since the seventh day of the week is clearly established as the Bible Sabbath up until the time of the Cross, that there can be no BIBLE AUTHORITY for Sunday observance unless we find it clearly and plainly stated in one of these eight New Testament passages.
So let us examine them carefully, honestly, prayerfully.
The Day AFTER Sabbath
(1) 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 sepulcher." This is the first place in the Bible where "the first day of the week" is mentioned. Matthew wrote these words, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, many years after the New Testament Church came into being. The text says that late on the Sabbath day it was drawing TOWARD the first day of the week. So this Scripture, we must admit, tells us plainly that three days and three nights after all that was done away had been securely "nailed to the Cross," the Sabbath was still the day BEFORE the first day of the week—still the seventh day of the
week.
One point is here plainly proved. Many tell us that the Sabbath command was merely for "one day in seven"—that it did not have to be THE seventh day of the week, but merely the seventh part of time. They argue that Sunday, being one day out of seven, fulfills the command. But here is a passage in the NEW Testament, inspired by the Holy Spirit many years after the beginning of the NEW Testament Church, stating in plain language that, three days after all abolished things had been done away, the Sabbath still existed and that it was the seventh day of THE WEEK—the day before the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK.
That much is proved, and must remain settled for all who honestly seek and accept BIBLE authority.
But,
was the day changed later?
(2) Mark 16:2: "And very early in the morning THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun." This is merely Mark's version of the sunrise visit to the tomb. It was written several years after the crucifixion. The first day of the week, also, was "AFTER the Sabbath was PAST," according to verse 1. So this text proves the same thing as the one above—that the first day of the week was not at that time (three days after the crucifixion) the Sabbath, but the day AFTER the Sabbath.
The Sabbath, then, still was the SEVENTH day of the week.
A Common Work Day
(3) 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." This text speaks of Jesus' appearance to Mary Magdalene later the same day, -the day AFTER the Sabbath.
Nothing here calls the first day of the week the Christian Sabbath, we must admit. Nothing here calls it "The Lord's Day." Nothing here hallows Sunday or says God made it holy. Nothing here commands us to observe it. Nothing here sets it apart as a memorial of the Resurrection, or for any purpose. No command
or example of REST on this day no authority for observing Sunday here.
(4) Luke 24:1: "Now UPON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing their spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them."
This text tells again the same event recorded by Matthew and Mark, and it shows that on THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK these women came to do the work of a common week-day, AFTER having rested the Sabbath day "according to the commandment." For we read, in the verse just before this, "And they
returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment."
Shall we say these women did not yet know the commandment was abolished? No, we cannot, for this statement was not made by the women, but inspired by the HOLY Spirit, who did know it was not abolished. And it was written, at least twenty five years after the establishing of the New Testament Church!
The Holy Spirit THEN inspired the direct statement that the rest of these women on the Sabbath day was according to the commandment, which statement would not be possible had the commandment been abolished.
This text, then, establishes Sunday as a common work day, three days after the crucifixion, and it further established that at that time the command to rest on the Sabbath had not been abolished.
(5) John 20:1. "THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher."
This, written many, many years after the crucifixion, is John's version, describing the same visit to the tomb. It confirms the facts above.
Was This a Religious Meeting, to Celebrate the Resurrection?
(6) 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."
Let us examine this carefully, for some claim this was a religious service called for the purpose of celebrating the Resurrection. But notice this is the same first day of the week that FOLLOWED the Sabbath.
It was Jesus' first opportunity to appear to His disciples. For three and a half years He had been constantly with them, on ALL days of the week. His meeting with them, of itself, could not establish any day as a Sabbath.
Were they assembled to celebrate the Resurrection, thus establishing Sunday as the Christian Sabbath in honor of the Resurrection? The text says they were assembled "for fear of the Jews." The Jews had just taken and crucified their Master. They were afraid. The doors were shut because of their fear— probably
bolted. Why were they assembled? "FOR FEAR OF THE JEWS" according to this text, and also because they all lived together in this upper room (Acts 1:13). They could not have assembled to celebrate the Resurrection for THEY DID NOT BELIEVE JESUS WAS RISEN (Mark 16:11; Luke 24-37, 39, 41).
Nothing in this text calls this day "Sabbath," or "Lord's Day," or any sacred title. Nothing here sets it apart, makes it holy. No authority here for changing a command of God! Lord's Supper Day -- or Work Day—WHICH?
(7) Acts 20:7: "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.
And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together." Here, at last we find a religious meeting on the first day of the week. But it was not a SUNDAY meeting!
Notice, Paul continued his speech until midnight! "And there were many LIGHTS in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together." It was AFTER SUNSET, prior to midnight, the first day of the week.
Now at that time the first day of the week did not begin at midnight, as men begin it today. It began, and the Seventh day ended, AT SUNSET! All Bible days begin and end at SUNSET.
Throughout the Roman world at that time, and for a few hundred years afterwards, days began and ended at sunset.
The practice of beginning the new day at midnight was started much later. Therefore this meeting, and Paul's preaching, took place during the hours we now call SATURDAY NIGHT—it was not a Sunday meeting at all!
WHY Paul Remained Behind
Let us, now, pick up the thread of the narrative related in this passage. Begin verse 6: "We sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them at Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. 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."
Paul and his companions had been in this town of Troas seven days. His companions had left by ship after sunset. Paul remained behind for a farewell meeting. He preached until midnight, "ready to depart on the morrow." At break of day— sunrise Sunday morning—Paul departed (verse 11).
Now notice what his companions had done. "And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot. And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in." (Verses 13-14).
Look at this on the map. Paul's companions had to sail around a peninsula—a distance of fifty or sixty miles, while Paul, afoot, walked across, a distance of 19 1/2 miles. He was able to walk this distance in shorter time than they could sail the much longer distance, which gave Paul the opportunity to remain behind
after they left, for this last farewell sermon and visit.
Now do you see what actually happened? Paul's companions were engaged in the LABOR of rowing and sailing a boat while Paul was preaching that Saturday night and early Sunday morning—on the first day of the week.
They had set sail Saturday night, AFTER THE SABBATH HAD ENDED. Paul remained
behind for one more last farewell sermon. Then, at break of day Sunday morning, Paul set out afoot, indulging in the labor of a 19 1/2 mile walk from Troas to Assos! He waited till the Sabbath was past for this long walk—a good hard day's work, if you ever tried it! He did it on the first day of the week!
Again, a common work day!
What "Break Bread" Means
But does this text not say, as many claim today, that the disciples always held communion every first day of the week! NOT AT ALL!
In the first place, it says nothing about anything being done EVERY first day of the week. It relates the events of this one particular first day of the week, ONLY. It is not speaking of any CUSTOMS, but of the events occurring as Paul and his companions concluded their seven-day visit in passing by this town.
Jesus had introduced the Lord's Supper as part of the Passover, at the beginning of the annual "days of unleavened bread." No longer could they kill lambs or eat the roasted body of Passover Lambs, after Christ, OUR Passover, had been once slain for us. yet the Passover was ordained FOREVER (Ex. 12:24).
At His last Passover supper Jesus substituted the wine as the emblem of His blood, instead of the blood of the slain lamb. He substituted the unleavened bread for the roast body of the lamb as the symbol of His body, broken for us. The disciples continued to observe Passover annually, now in the form of the Lord's
Supper using only the bread and wine, as a MEMORIAL (I Cor. 11:24) of Christ's DEATH, (I Cor.11:26), showing His death till He come again. They continued to observe the days of unleavened bread(Acts 20:6).
This year they had observed the days of unleavened bread and the Communion service at Philippi, after which they came to Troas in five days where they remained seven days.
After the Sabbath day had ended, at sunset, "upon the first day of the week, . . . the disciples came together to BREAK BREAD." People have ASSUMED this expression means the taking of Communion.
But notice! Paul preached, and continued preaching until midnight. They had no opportunity to stop and "break bread" until then. When Paul "therefore was come up again"—after restoring the one who had fallen down from the third balcony— and had broken bread, AND EATEN."
Note it! "Broken bread AND EATEN." This breaking bread was not Communion—simply eating a meal.
This expression was commonly used of old to designate a meal. It still is used in that sense in parts of even the United States.
Notice Luke 22:16, where Jesus was introducing the Lord's Supper, taking it with His disciples. He said, "I will not any more eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God." Yet, the day alter His resurrection, after walking with the two disciples to Emmaus, as "HE sat at MEAT with them He took bread and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them." (Luke 24:30). Here Jesus "brake bread" but it was not the Lord's Supper, which He said He would NOT take again. It was a meal--"He sat AT MEAT."
Notice Acts 2:46. The disciples, "continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness." Here again "breaking bread" means EATING MEAT.
Not on the first day of the week, but DAILY.
Again, when Paul was shipwrecked on the voyage to Rome, the sailors had been fasting out of fright. But "Paul besought them all to take MEAT, saying, "This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. Wherefore I pray you to take some MEAT: for this is for your health— And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all:
and when he had broken it, he began to eat." (Acts 27:33-35). Here Paul broke bread to give to unconverted sailors who were hungry.
The truth is, NOWHERE IN THE BIBLE is the expression "breaking of bread," or "to break bread," used to signify observance of the Lord's Supper. In all these texts it means, simply, eating a meal.
So, when we read in Acts 20:7, 11, "the disciples came together to break," and how Paul had "broken bread and EATEN," we know by Scripture interpretation it referred only to eating food as a meal, not to a Communion service.
What Was This COLLECTION?
We come now to the 8th and last place where the term ''first day of the week" occurs in the Bible.
(8) I Corinthians 16:2: "Upon the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK let everyone of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him."
Often we see this text printed on the little offering envelopes in the pews of popular churches, and we have been told that this text sets THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK as the time for taking up the church collection for the carrying on of God's work, paying the minister, etc.
Let us begin with the first verse and really catch the true intended meaning of this verse.
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 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 speaks of a collection—but for WHOM— for WHAT? Note it! Not for the preacher—not for evangelism— but "the collection FOR THE SAINTS." The poor saints at Jerusalem were suffering from drought and famine.
They needed, not money, but FOOD. Notice Paul had given similar instruction to
other churches. Now observe his instruction to the Romans: "But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia (where the Corinthian Church was located) to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem . . . When, therefore, I
have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain." (Rom. 15:25-28).
Ah! Did you catch it? It was not money, but FRUIT that was being sealed for shipment to the poor saints at Jerusalem!
Now turn back to I Corinthians 16. Paul is speaking concerning a collection FOR THE SAINTS. Upon the first day of the week each of them is instructed to do what? Look at it! Does it say drop a coin in the collection plate at a church service? Not at all!
It says "let everyone of you lay by him in STORE." Note it! LAY BY! STORE UP! Store up BY HIMSELF—at home! Not lay by at the church house—lay by HIM---at home.
Now WHY? "That there be no GATHERINGS when I come." Men GATHER fruit out of the orchard— they GATHER vegetables out of the ground, to be STORED UP. But putting coins in a collection plate at church, or handing in your tithe- envelope could not be called a GATHERING, but an offering or collection.
[note: tithes are collected on the Sabbath, given to our High Priest, His Body--to prosper God's work, Word, the Body of Christ and all it's members]
Notice further: "And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. And if it be meet that I go also, they (more than one) shall go with me."(verses 3-4).
Apparently it was going to require several men to carry this collection, gathered and stored up, to Jerusalem.
If it were tithe or offering for the minister or the spread of the Gospel, Paul could have carried the money alone.
So, once again, the last and final text in the Bible where we find "THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK" mentioned, it is a WORK DAY—a day for gathering fruit and food out of the orchards and the fields and gardens, and storing it up. It was to be the FIRST labor of the week, hence the first day of the week, as
soon as the Sabbath was past!
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