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Blog post at: Why Some Early Christians Did Not Keep Sunday because of Pagan or Sun Worship would love to hear your thoughts.
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Why Some Early Christians Did Not Keep Sunday because of Pagan or Sun Worship
- Thread starter Christ is Lord
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Your link says this as if SDAs are claiming it.
"All Christians kept Saturday between the resurrection of Christ to the time of Constantine in the fourth-century (300s A.D).
- After Constantine’s conversion to Christianity, he changed the Christian day of worship from Saturday to Sunday because it was more convenient and help convert pagan Romans (who already worshipped the sun god on Sunday).
- He was also urged by Christian bishops who had a thirst for power and believed that it will make it easier to convert pagan Romans."
See Samuel Bacchioccho's book "from Sabbath to Sunday" pg186 a 2nd century account of at least some Christians denegrading the Bible Sabbath and honoring Sunday as a day of worship.
See the Catholic Historian - Bokenkotter's book "A Concise History of the Catholic Church" for the fact that pagan practices were incorporated into the Catholic church at the time of Constantine
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That conclusion came as a result of from the first quote Mrs. White:
"The spirit of concession to paganism opened the way for a still further disregard of Heaven’s authority. Satan, working through unconsecrated leaders of the church, tampered with the fourth commandment also, and essayed to set aside the ancient Sabbath, the day which God had blessed and sanctified (Genesis 2:2, 3), and in its stead to exalt the festival observed by the heathen as “the venerable day of the sun.” This change was not at first attempted openly. In the first centuries the true Sabbath had been kept by all Christians. They were jealous for the honor of God, and, believing that His law is immutable, they zealously guarded the sacredness of its precepts. But with great subtlety Satan worked through his agents to bring about his object. That the attention of the people might be called to the Sunday, it was made a festival in honor of the resurrection of Christ. Religious services were held upon it; yet it was regarded as a day of recreation, the Sabbath being still sacredly observed."
And while it is true not all Adventists have been taught the same thing. I am certainly one of those that have been taught similar to what Mrs. White states.
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- Nov 21, 2008
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Yes I corrected my post to say that my quote of you is what you conclude the teaching of SDAs is on this topic on a given point.
you give this quote -
"The spirit of concession to paganism opened the way for a still further disregard of Heaven’s authority. Satan, working through unconsecrated leaders of the church, tampered with the fourth commandment also, and essayed to set aside the ancient Sabbath, the day which God had blessed and sanctified (Genesis 2:2, 3), and in its stead to exalt the festival observed by the heathen as “the venerable day of the sun.”
http://www.end-times-prophecy.org/GreatControversy.pdf
That book describes a gradual compromise over time with paganism and says nothing about all Christian remaining true to the Bible Sabbath until the 4th century.
Notice -- starting at page 49 - Ellen White states error was coming into the church as early as the writing of the book of 2 Thessalonians.
"Page 49 3. An Era of Spiritual Darkness The apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Thessalonians, foretold the great apostasy which would result in the establishment of the papal power. He declared that the day of Christ should not come, "except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." And furthermore, the apostle warns his brethren that "the mystery of iniquity doth already work." 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 7. Even at that early date he saw, creeping into the church, errors that would prepare the way for the development of the papacy. Little by little, at first in stealth and silence, and then more openly as it increased in strength and gained control of the minds of men, "the mystery of iniquity" carried forward its deceptive and blasphemous work. Almost imperceptibly the customs of heathenism found their way into the Christian church. The spirit of compromise and conformity was restrained for a time by the fierce persecutions which the church endured under paganism."
So she describes error coming in very early and continuing until wide spread persecuting put the advance of inclusion of heathen customs on hold/on-pause ... until that persecution was lifted
Then we have this ..
"But as persecution ceased, and Christianity entered the courts and palaces of kings, she laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ and His apostles for the pomp and pride of pagan priests and rulers; and in place of the requirements of God, she substituted human theories and traditions. The nominal conversion of Constantine, Page 50 in the early part of the fourth century, caused great rejoicing; and the world, cloaked with a form of righteousness, walked into the church. GC 49-50
That singular point is also admitted by the RCC's own historians - such as Thomas Bokenkotter in his book.
GC 50
Now the work of corruption rapidly progressed. Paganism, while appearing to be vanquished, became the conqueror. Her spirit controlled the church. Her doctrines, ceremonies, and superstitions were incorporated into the faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ. This compromise between paganism and Christianity...
GC 52
The spirit of concession to paganism opened the way for a still further disregard of Heaven's authority. Satan, working through unconsecrated leaders of the church, tampered with the fourth commandment also, and essayed to set aside the ancient Sabbath, the day which God had blessed and sanctified (Genesis 2:2, 3), and in its stead to exalt the festival observed by the heathen as "the venerable day of the sun."
That is a singular event that took place in the 4th century and is not an event claimed to have taken place any sooner -- with Christian trying to incorporate "the venerable day of the sun" as we see in the 4th century.
"This change was not at first attempted openly." -- so it was gradual over time..
"In the first centuries the true Sabbath had been kept by all Christians. They were jealous for the honor of God, and, believing that His law is immutable, they zealously guarded the sacredness of its precepts. But with great subtlety Satan worked through his agents to bring about his object."
So we would expect to see in the first and second centuries , Christians keeping the Bible Sabbath. But at no point does that text claim that no error came in during the first or second centuries.
As Bacchiocchi pointed out -- you can find instances of the errors in the earlier days including some groups of Christians denegrading Sabbath and uplifting week-day-1. Not that they had no observance on Saturday but they tended in some extreme cases to make it a day of fasting and drudgery while making week-day-1 a day of joy and celebration.
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- Aug 14, 2019
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There is total confusion about this subject, none of it necessary. The reality is, every day is the Lord's day. In the book of Acts, the early Church met daily. Our small fellowship does the same. The sabbath was made for man as a day of rest. It was not made for God. He'd already rested! Obeying the sabbath regulations was an act of obedience and faith for Israel. Christians no longer are tied to the OT law.
The argument is that Sunday refers to the sun god. Ok, so worship Saturn instead? Or how about being innovative and worshipping on Mondays? Oh - the moon. Everyone needs a day of rest. Once a week is minimum. It's convenient to have a day that most people can meet on. Sunday does just fine.
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StephenDiscipleofYHWH
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Hebrews 4:
1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
The seventh day Sabbath still remains, along with the rest of God's moral Law written on Stone. The Apostles Kept the Sabbath day Holy and taught that we must keep it. Nowhere is it written that it was finished/done away with.
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In a pragmatic way considering the politics of that time. The Roman Empires' experience with Judea/Jews wasn't positive.
Why would early Christianity not want to be identified with Jews? Why doesn't anyone of us want to be identified with Usama bin Ladin?
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- Jan 12, 2014
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Those Sabbatarians that claim that Constantine ushered in Sunday worship have no idea what they are talking about, and are only repeating claims made by others who have no idea what they are talking about. Constantine made a legal edict out of a day that had been the majority practice from about 150AD. Before then, the majority practice was Saturday. Only Hellenistic (Greek) Jewish Christians observed Sunday having spiritualized the day the tomb was found empty. The bible doesn't move the Sabbath day. I don't care what day you set apart, that is between you and God. But there is no verse that moves the day of rest and I (and many others) have offered $1000 to anyone who can prove otherwise. There is no commandment that changes what was set apart during Creation Week.
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- Jun 13, 2015
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The writer is correct in saying that each position cherry picks what supports their position.
However, the Early Church did not observe the Sabbath at all. Every day is the Sabbath, because Jesus is our rest. However, we had messianic Jews who continued to gather on Saturdays as a matter of habit. And Greek believers who saw Sunday as the beginning of the week as a better time to gather. And, I have heard, they wanted to separate themselves from the messianic Jews.
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Interesting suggestion. Wouldn't it be great if that statement was a Bible text?
But in Acts 18:4 they met "every Sabbath" for gospel preaching both jews and gentiles.
The Sabbath commandment is not about "not meeting", or "not praying" or "not reading your Bible on tuesday.
"Our small fellowship does the same" - and we also have small fellowship groups meeting all during the week..
"the seventh day is THE Sabbath of the LORD (YHWH)" Ex 20:10
and For gentiles Isaiah 56:6
For all mankind Isaiah 66:23 for all eternity after the cross in the New Earth.
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- Nov 21, 2008
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Except "every Sabbath" both Jews and gentiles met for Gospel preaching including believers.
Wouldn't it be great if that was an actual Bible text?
"the seventh day is THE SABBATH of the LORD YHWH" Ex 20:10
Interesting suggestions - but in Acts 13 it is the gentiles - not the Jews asking for "more Gospel preaching" on "the NEXT Sabbath"
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but it is great to have nonmembers willing to look at what the Bible says with an open mind willing to take what scripture teaches... no matter what.
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Up until when? And you don't know that for certain. How are you so sure there weren't churches that kept Sunday during the early church (not saying it correct). For example, there is the Epistle to the Laodiceans. We don't know the contents of that entire document. Paul could have easily addressed the Sabbath keeping question, similar to how they spoke to members in Corinth about eating meat. Again, this is mere speculation on my part. But to make a statement that all both Jews and Gentiles kept Saturday in the early church can't be proven either way
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I am not sure I understand. Ellen White clear states:
"In the first centuries the true Sabbath had been kept by all Christians. They were jealous for the honor of God, and, believing that His law is immutable, they zealously guarded the sacredness of its precepts." — The Great Controversy
That would mean for at least two centuries we know that at least some Christians are having cooperate worship on Sunday. Again, this isn't to advocate Sunday keeping.
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It was the majority practice through the time of the bar Khokba Revolt (134AD). After that times, the Jews in Judea were scattered and the majority of Christians, at that time, were the Greeks. Thus the face of Christianity change from being Jewish to being Greek... and Sunday began to be kept by the majority around that time. Before then, for the 100 YEARS before then, Saturday was the majority practice. In fact, we have Christian decrees from 300AD (ish) that tell Christians they are not to keep the Jewish Sabbath. There would be no reason to pass such a decree if Christians weren't still keeping it.Up until when?
Just look at it this way... God sets the 7th day apart during creation, before there were Jews, before there was anyone other than Adam. He calls it many times, "everlasting." Yeshua comes to reverse what Adam did... he didn't come to reverse what God thinks is righteous or what God thinks isn't. With that as a fact, and with the fact that no bible verse move the Sabbath to Sunday... then, it hasn't moved. Whatever you or anyone else does with that is, again, between you and God. But the Sabbath is the 7th day and it continues to prophetically point to something that hasn't happened yet.
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StephenDiscipleofYHWH
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Crazy how the book of hebrews and the words of Paul are religious Garbage, I had thought his words were the inspired word of God(1 Cor 14:37).
Galatians speaks of the Law of Moses, not the eternal Moral law. There is a huge distinction between the Two brother.
The Book of the Covenant(Exodus 34:27; Exodus 24:7; 2 Kings 23:21; 2 Kings 23:2) was only for a time, that is why he said there was going to be a new covenant(Jeremiah 31:31-34, Isaiah 28:10,13-19, Ezekiel 36:23-27,29-31). That is why the book of law, written by the hand of Moses(Exodus 34:27; Nehemiah 9:13,14) was not placed inside the ark of the Covenant with the ten commandments that were written in stone by the finger of God Twice (Deuteronomy 10:2-5;Exodus 25:16,21; Exodus 31:16-18; Exodus 34:1,4,28; Exodus 40:20), but were instead placed by the side of the ark( Deut 31:26) signifying that the book of law(the book of the covenant) was only for a time.
Hope this helps brother
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It's the misinterpretation that is the issue, not God's word. I am led by the Spirit, so I am not under the Law. Putting people back under the law is to deny the finished work of Christ on the cross of calvary, who suffered and died to deliver us from sin Satan, self and the world system. The first several years of my Christian life I spent in the military. The "Sabbath" was whatever time I could get away from the ship to meet with other Christians. By your reckoning, I should have been executed. The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. Love, joy, peace - against such things there is no law. The law was put in charge of us to lead us to Christ. Christians are no longer under law. The Law was written on stone. That Law was broken even before it was read to Israel. You can't have fellowship with stone. If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. If you are not led by the Spirit, you are not born again. Those who seek to live by the law and impose it on others are teaching what is false. It is also futile. There is nothing in the flesh of man that is able to keep God's law. If it were possible to keep God's law then Jesus would not have needed to die and shed His blood for us. We would not have needed new life. Law demands that we do something to please God. Grace is God doing for us, in us and through us what pleases God. Grace and truth are found in Christ, not the law. I hope this helps.
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Actually it isn't Pete. Go look at the Greek for the word 'rest' in verse 9. The verse should be rendered, "there remains a Sabbath keeping for the people of God." That isn't religious garbage, that is literally what the text states.
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