is Sunday morning church attendance a requirement for Christians?

[rkl1963]

This was shared with me
The Didache

The Didache has been cited as the earliest non-scriptural "proof" of Sunday worship by those who profess Christ [4], although it does not ever use the word Sunday nor the expression 'first day of the week.'

However, verse 14.1 is often cited as proof of Sunday observance by promoters of Sunday observance.

The Greek expression in verse 14.1 in the Didache, is:

Κατα κυριακὴν δε κυριου [5].

(Note: Some Greek accent marks are missing throughout this paper as the html program being used here does not recognize certain of them. e.g. Kata should have a certain accent mark over its last letter.)

Here is something from a Catholic priest and scholar on the meaning of kuriaki/kyriake:

... the Greek kyriake, meaning “belonging to the Lord (kyrios),” from which the English word “church” is derived. [6]

Basically kuriaki means the Lord's way.

I believe I have translated verse 14.1 in the Didache, properly below (with two options):

According to the Lord's way, even the Lord's.

or

According to the Lordly {way}, even the Lord's.

However, it has normally been incorrectly translated by many Protestant scholars. Here are two examples:

"On the Lord's day of the Lord," by Kirsopp Lake [7].

"But every Lord's day," by Hall and Napier [8].

There are at least two reasons that the above by Lake, as well as Hall & Napier, can be shown to be mistranslated.

The first is that the translators should have realized that the Greek term for "day" (ἡμέρᾳ) is missing in verse 14.1 [9] and is not required by the context.

The second is how each of them began the translation of this particular verse. The beginning in both translations is in error and is inconsistent with the translators other translations in this letter.

The Greek word translated in verse 14.1 as "On the" by Kirsopp Lake and "But every" by Hall and Napier (Κατα) truly does mean "According to" as I have translated it. Κατα should not be translated as "On the" or "But every."

The Greek word Κατα is translated as "according to" by Kirsopp Lake five times (1.5, 11.3, 12.4, 13.5, and 13.7 [10]) and "with respect" one time (4.10). The other times Lake used the term "on" (verses 1.4, 7.3, 8.1a, 8.1b, 11.12, 16.8 [11]), it was NOT a translation from the Greek term Κατα.

Also the one time the Didache uses "on" with a day (which is in the translations of both Lake and Hall/Napier), it does not use Κατα, but it does include the Greek term for day (verse 8.1b) [12].

It may be of interest to note that in the KJV New Testament, Κατα is translated as "according to" approximately 110 times, and the only time (Acts 8:36) it is inaccurately translated as "on" it is not translated as "on" in the NKJV or NIV.

Hall and Napier translated Κατα as "according to" the six other times it is translated that SAME letter (see verses 1.5, 4.10, 11.3, 12.4, 13.5, and 13.7 [13]) and never translated it as "But every." The one other time Hall and Napier used the term "But every" (verse 13.1) while translating the Didache it is not translated from the term Κατα [14]. Also, it may be of interest to note that the KJV never translated Κατα as "but every."

Hence it appears that several translators intentionally exercised bias when translating verse 14.1.

The context of this portion of the Didache suggests that it may be referring to the Christian Passover (compare with I Corinthians 22:23-29) or some other gathering (compare with Acts 2:42), but only a forced and inaccurate translation would suggest Sunday (which is what many Sunday advocates suggest). The belief that this refers to Passover is centuries old as F. Coneybeare reported it was a belief of the Paulini:

But the Paulini also keep the feast of the Pascha on the same day (as the Jews), whatever be the day of the full moon, they call it Kuriaki, as the Jews call it Sabbath, even though it be not a Sabbath. [15]

Since the Protestant translating scholars of the Didache did not observe an annual Christian Passover and tended to be Sunday observers, this may explain why they did not translate it literally.

 

[rkl1963]

In Ignatius’ Letter to the Magnesians, like in the Didache, κυριακὴν would be better translated as “Lord’s way” or combined with the Greek word that follows it , ζωντες [25] , “Lord’s way of life” or “Lord’s living.” This is also consistent with what Paul wrote:

When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4, NKJV throughout unless otherwise noted).

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).

It was the custom of Jesus (e.g. Luke 4:16) and Paul to regularly keep the Sabbath (Acts 17:2). The Sabbath was part of the Lord's way of life, and Paul imitated Christ that way. Understanding Jesus' life is critical to understanding Ignatius.

Furthermore, to better understand Ignatius' letter, we should look at more of the context and not just verse 9.1. out-of-context, as some Sunday advocates have.

A more literal (though not grammatical) translation of the relevant portion from Ignatius’ letter appears to be,

8.1 Be not seduced by strange doctrines nor by antiquated fables, which are profitless.
8.2 For if even unto this day we live according to the manner of Judaic concepts, we admit that we have not received grace: for the godly prophets lived after Christ Jesus. For this cause also they were persecuted, being inspired by His grace to the end that they which are disobedient might be fully persuaded that there is one God who manifested Himself through Jesus Christ His Son, who is His Word that proceeded from silence, who in all things was well-pleasing unto Him that sent Him.
9.1 If then those who had walked in ancient practices attained unto newness of hope, no longer keeping sabbaths contrariwise according to the Lord's way of life, on which our life also arose through Him and through His death which some men deny – a mystery whereby we attained unto belief, and for this cause we endure patiently, that we may be found disciples of Jesus Christ our only teacher –
9.2 if this be so, how shall we be able to live apart from Him? Seeing that even the prophets, being His disciples, were expecting Him as their teacher through the Spirit. And for this cause He whom they rightly awaited, when He came, raised them from the dead.

According to a scholar of koine Greek who I consulted with (a non-Sabbathkeeper), the first portion of 9.1 would grammatically be better translated as:

“If then those who had walked in ancient practices attained unto newness of hope, no longer {Judaically} keeping sabbaths but according to the Lord's way of life…” [26]

This is because she insisted that the term ‘but’ (or ‘contrariwise’ as translated earlier above) had to refer to the "Lord’s way" instead of the Sabbath.

There are at least two reasons for this. The first is that the godly prophets had been keeping the seventh day Sabbath. And the second is since the portion of the Greek term translated as the first part of “no longer” is a ‘qualified negative’ [27] the context supports that the ‘Judaic concepts’ (verse 8.2) are part of the qualification. It may be of interest to note that the terms first, day, or Sun are not in the above passages.

She confirmed with me that this section is certainly speaking about the same ancient prophets throughout, hence since they actually kept the Sabbath (and not Sunday), she felt that the idea of Judaically would have had to been in Ignatius’ mind. And that this type of reference was required in English to properly understand what Ignatius was writing (and I also had this confirmed by others with a working knowledge of koine Greek).

 

[rkl1963]

This assessment is also consistent with later testimony from Jerome who mentioned that the Sabbath-keeping Christians he ran into did not adhere to the Jewish traditions--in other words, although they kept the Sabbath, the Nazarenes did not keep the Sabbath Judaically:

Jerome declares:

"On Isaiah 9:1-4

"The Nazarenes, whose opinion I have set forth above, try to explain this passage in the following way: When Christ came and his preaching shone out, the land of Zebulon and Naphtali [the region of Galilee] first of all were freed from the errors of the Scribes and Pharisees and he shook off their shoulders the very heavy yoke of the JEWISH TRADITIONS. Later, however, the preaching became more dominant, that means the preaching was multiplied, through the gospel of the apostle Paul who was the last of all the apostles. And the gospel of Christ shone to the most distant tribes and the way of the whole sea. Finally the whole world, which earlier walked or sat in darkness and was imprisoned in the bonds of idolatry and death, has seen the clear light of the gospel" (p.64).

In this passage, we find that the Nazarene Christians -- like Yeshua the Messiah, Peter, James, John and especially Paul -- rejected Jewish traditionalism, invention, and additions to the Torah or Old Testament. They referred to them as the "very heavy yoke of the Jewish traditions." [28].

Thus, instead of proving Sunday and disproving the Sabbath, Ignatius (and indirectly even Jerome) seems to be warning against incorrectly observing the Sabbath as certain Pharisaical Jews insisted, with their antiquated fables. Or in other words, Ignatius was condemning the observance of traditions of men over the Bible. (Ignatius also held views on the godhead that appear to differ from mainstream "Christianity," please see the article Binitarian View).

Alfred Edersheim, a 19th century scholar, observed:

“In not less that twenty-four chapters [of the Mishna], matters are seriously discussed [regarding Sabbath observance] as of vital religious importance, which one would scarcely imagine a sane intellect would serious entertain” [29].

Note that these are mainly restrictions that are not found in the Bible (I have read many of these restrictions in the Mishna and they do seem to be absurd). Jesus also taught that Pharisaical Jews had improper concepts about the Sabbath (e.g. Luke 13:10-17).

Dr. Noel Rude, a self-described “grammar-freak” and linguist, felt that perhaps the following would be even more grammatically correct for the first part of verse 9.1:

"If then those who had walked in ancient practices attained unto newness of hope, no longer (Judaically) keeping sabbaths but living according to the lordly way..."[30]

And that seems to be consistent with how I feel this verse should be translated.

Ignatius was teaching that the godly prophets, who lived in ancient times, lived in accordance to the ways of Jesus Christ, and not after improper Judaic concepts.

There is no doubt that the ancient prophets (such as Isaiah) kept the Sabbath on the day now known as Saturday.

The Bible records that these prophets knew how to keep the Sabbath (and not Barnabas’ eighth day) properly, as a delight for them to be in the LORD (e.g. Isaiah 58:13-14). Since the ancient prophets did that, Ignatius may be saying that Christians need to keep the Sabbath in accordance with Jesus’ example of doing good on the Sabbath and not be unduly focused on non-biblical restrictions—for, Ignatius says, we are to not live apart from Jesus. Jesus, of course kept the Sabbath, as part of His way of life.

It is also possible that all Ignatius was doing was the same type of thing that Paul warned about in Colossians 2:16—he was telling Christians to let the “body of Christ” and not others (like those advocating extra-biblical Jewish practices) tell them how to keep the Sabbath. He may have simply written this section to help differentiate Christians from Jews in the eyes of both the Christians and the Gentile governments that they tended to be under (distancing Christians from Jews would have been physically advantageous for many Christians at that time). But regardless of the intended point, Ignatius' Letter to the Magnesians does not advocate doing away with the biblical Sabbath, nor does it show that the Sabbath was being replaced by Sunday prior to the time of the Smyrna church era's prominence.

It may also be of interest to note how the less-accepted “longer” version of Ignatius’ letter was translated in the Ante-Nicene Fathers as follows:

Let us therefore no longer keep the Sabbath after the Jewish manner...[31]

The text here seems less ambigious, hence a more accurate transation is essentially forced.

Furthermore, the above version adds:

But let every one of you keep the Sabbath after a spiritual manner, rejoicing in meditation on the law, not in relaxation of the body, admiring the workmanship of God, and not eating things prepared the day before, nor using lukewarm drinks, and walking within a prescribed space, nor finding delight in dancing and plaudits which have no sense in them. [32]

Ignatius was not teaching that the Sabbath was done away and replaced by Sunday. The above version seems to be more consistent with the meaning than how most others have translated the more “accepted” version.

It should be understood that Ignatius' other writings show that he did not try to do away with the sabbath commandment. Notice what else he wrote in his Letter to the Magnesians:

It is fitting, then, not only to be called Christians, but to be so in reality: as some indeed give one the title of bishop, but do all things without him. Now such persons seem to me to be not possessed of a good conscience, seeing they are not stedfastly gathered together according to the commandment. [33]

The commandment that involves meeting together is the fourth commandment. It is the commandment that says to:

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (Exodus 20:8).

Part of the way the Sabbath day is kept holy is by meeting together for church services (referred to as "an holy convocation" in Leviticus 23:1-3). There is no direct statement anywhere in the Bible requiring a weekly convocation on Sunday.

While some Sabbatarians, and others, have questioned the authenticity of Ignatius writing the subject letter, any who have truly looked into this matter can affirm that the word ‘day,’ as in the expression “Lord’s day,” is missing from the Greek there and in the Didache [34] --I have both documents in Greek and can also do so.

 

[Alawishis]

Jesus gave only three commandments: Love the Lord with all your heart, Love your neighbor as you love yourself, preach the Gospel to every creature and make disciples of all nations. The OP asked whether Sunday worship was a requirement. In this context, I would assume that the term requirement refers to gaining or maintaining salvation. In this case; the answer is "no," as it is for any form of Sabbath-keeping. This is amply dealt with in both the Gospel accounts and the Epistles. Paul recognized that we are not always obedient (see Romans 7), as did John (1 John 1:8-10) - hence the need for Christ's righteousness to cover our own unrighteousness. Christ taught that those who pointed to their deeds (read "kingdom service") as justification for entry into Heaven would be told "I never knew you." (Matthew 7:21-23). On the other hand, the marks of a maturing believer are the fruits of the Spirit, which collectively boil down to love (Galatians 5:16-26) and would naturally result in us looking more like "doers of the Law" (though not judges under the Law).

Don't be confused these aren't new commandments that replaced the ten. Jesus was quoting the OT .
Deuteronomy 6:5
and
Leviticus 19:18
These are a perfect summary of the ten commandments, 1-4 Love God , 6-10 Love your neighbour. The ten commandments, among other things, are to teach us how to love. Christ in fact spent a lot of time teaching about the ten commandments, and the Sabbath was one he probably spent the most time teaching how it should be kept. I believe that is because this was the one commandment that his people had the most trouble with.

 

[LeoS]

not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching Heb.10;25
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, Acts. 2:46

1 Corinthians 14:23
Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?
Acts 2:1
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.

Acts 20:7: "Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight."
I Corinthians 16:2: "On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper that there be no collections when I come."

Those that believe are the church. None of these scriptures you've quoted require meeting in a synagogue of sin that require you to get right with the laws of flesh, where people hold on to human traditions, and subscribe to Judaism and throw the name Jesus on top like it's some kind of cherry, and call it "Christianity".

 

[ccmission]

We as believers of Christ we should not walk with the carnal way of following any thing but by the Spirit of the Lord we must move and obey His word which is most important to bring into our life.

 

[xoSawah]

I work sundays soooo church is basically off the radar for me. I also dont have a set work shift sooo i cant really plan anything either in advance regarding bible studies or whatnot... can't I just read my bible by myself?

 

[LeoS]

We as believers of Christ we should not walk with the carnal way of following any thing but by the Spirit of the Lord we must move and obey His word which is most important to bring into our life.

If you're under law you are living according to the flesh/carnal way. Doesn't matter which way you run with that law, you are always a sinner under it. You can try to keep it, but you can't keep it. If you kept it you never would have or will have a sin to confess. Sinners need a set of commandments in order to try and prevent themselves from sinning, and of course because sinners are sinners, sinners fail to keep the commandments. Then sinners of course have sins to confess. Then sinners have to ask forgiveness for their sins, because sinners have sins to be forgiven.

Galatians 3
"23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian."

1 John 4
"17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world." (Jesus is not a sinner with sins to confess).

If you're trying to keep those commandments (by your own dirty rags, which you are trying to add on to His cross for your own glory, or trying to buy and earn your way into Heaven) and holding on to Jewish traditions, you are not walking according to the Spirit, but according to the flesh. You are trying to justify your own flesh, and make your own flesh perfect all in order to save yourself, be your own Messiah, your own Jesus, your own Christ, your own God.

"Thou shalt not have no other God's before me." You are guilty of one fraction of the law your are guilty of it all, because all that follows after that first commandment you are doing to Him 24/7. You think you can be like God? Adam and Eve thought so too.

 

[Truly1999]

Let's say someone, in order to make ends meet financially, had to work on Saturday and Sunday mornings. However they were still able to listen to the services via podcast or attend a midweek evening service in place of it. Would God consider that a deviation from His plan for the Church and therefore a sin?

http://bible.com/111/gen.2.2-3.niv By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

God blessed the SEVENTH day and made it holy. Christians deemed that Sunday was to be the seventh day.

I agrre with employers that in the global economy of today, it is not possible to keep Sunday holy. Instead, employment contracts and law usually ensure that at least one day each week is set aside for rest from work.

The Church should adapt and have at least two main meetings a week.

 

[rkl1963]

If you're under law you are living according to the flesh/carnal way.

First you must understand just what the cultural context was in the first century. If the first century church was told not to be adulterers, murderers ,so on then there is a law they are under. Paul regave many commandments and made statements that anyone who keeps doing them will not enter the age to come.
You flat out can not claim you are not led by the laws repeated over and over again in the NT which all were given to the children of Israel to set them apart from the other nations.
You should research 2nd temple judaism which created and added laws which even as late as Jerome people knew the difference between the jews law and God's law

 

[Raeneske]

There are no requirements. Christians are free.

Quite a fearful deception, to claim to be Christians, yet free from the requirements of God's law. He that loves God keeps His commandments. He that saith He knows God, and keepeth not His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

1 John 5:1-3 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

If keeping them is a grief unto us, then we love Him not. It is a joy to keep His commandments. Christ Jesus exists in our heart. And it's a joy for Him to obey. If we enjoy it not, what are we? None of His.

Romans 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

Romans 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.