What day is the Sabbath?

Originally posted by thetruthseeker
Let's pray for our brothers and sisters who are caught in spiritual Babylon. Let's pray that they will see the light and truly put the Bible first.

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Remeber that the bible is not to be worshipped as an idol. The bible is a tool for Christians, but not the only tool...

Originally posted by geocajun
who was the man who told you scripture was the word of God? what authority told you that?
Scripture is only one of the ways in which God talks to us, he also talks to us through sacred tradition and His Church.

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Consider these texts geocajun,

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" 2 Tim 3:16

"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to THIS word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa 8:20 emphasis supplied

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1:20,21

What i ask is that u interpret these 3 texts. It seems u have a different interpretation of them and i'd want to know.

Hi again for the last time perhaps?
If you were right as far as your missive reads, (and you are void in my thinking) lets just test this by scripture.

Could any person find 'conversion' (the born again experience) by having NO SCRIPTURE as we know it? And to bring it home (lovingly) where we can KNOW TRUTH, is there any person who would allow 'others' to think as you do about any man, while being converted to Christ??
Kneel before him, kiss his ring?? Think that his 'w'ord is above Christ's WORD? (while still saying that they are Christian!!?)

Here are the folk SAVED without even knowing it! They have NEVER even heard of [the Scripture] as we know of it! (us'ins anyhow! Hosea 4:6)
Notice that it is the LAW OF GOD THAT IS IN THEIR HEARTS! Converted! Born Again! How did this happen? and beyond, the inspiration of the Master's Word??
By HIS OTHER WORD! His CREATED NATURE! See Romans 2:14-*15!! "WHICH SHOW THE WORK OF [THE LAW WRITTEN IN THEIR HEARTS], THEIR [CONSCIENCE ALSO BEARING WITNESS].." If one read and could comprehend 2 Cor. 3:3, (and it is done only by the Born Again one) they would see that the Epistle of Christ [IS] His LAW! (character-perfection) And yes, we need [His] Word, but it is, and was not only to be found in PRINT.

Then you come to me (at least) with your non/conscienceable man made talk of holding ANY man as infallible???
-------------------------------------------------P/N/B/

Pastor NB,
i'm not making fun, i really would like to know if english is your first language. Your posts don't seem to flow to well, and frankly they are hard to get what your trying to say. It reminds me of foreign folks who are just learning english, so I was wondering if this is the case with you?

Originally posted by seangoh
Consider these texts geocajun,

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" 2 Tim 3:16

"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to THIS word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa 8:20 emphasis supplied

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1:20,21

What i ask is that u interpret these 3 texts. It seems u have a different interpretation of them and i'd want to know.

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Hi Sean,

first of all, if I wrote on a peice of paper, "This text is divinely inspired" would that make it so? "The bible is inspired because it says it is" doesn't pass the critical thinking test brother".
second, the verses you gave are all referring to the OT being inspired, because the NT wasn't assembled when they were written - and the authors had no idea they would be be included as 'scripture' anyway.
so if those verses are your source for beleiving the OT is inspired, why do you think the NT is inspired?

Originally posted by Pastor N.B.
Hi again for the last time perhaps?
If you were right as far as your missive reads, (and you are void in my thinking) lets just test this by scripture.

Could any person find 'conversion' (the born again experience) by having NO SCRIPTURE as we know it? And to bring it home (lovingly) where we can KNOW TRUTH, is there any person who would allow 'others' to think as you do about any man, while being converted to Christ??
Kneel before him, kiss his ring?? Think that his 'w'ord is above Christ's WORD? (while still saying that they are Christian!!?)

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be careful, your forgetting that the bible was no assembled (canonized) until 325AD by the Catholic Church. the NT books were written over a 45 year span starting about 40 years after the death of our Lord.
Are you saying that the Christians up until the year 325AD all thought they were Christian but were not? after all, all they had was tradition through word of mouth.

geocajun,

you said;

"thats true if you disregard the following verses of Scripture and hunt and peck around scripture to find verses that mean what you want. that way you aren't bound to the whole of scripture see..
"passages of Scripture such as Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, Colossians 2:16-17, and Revelation 1:10 indicate that, even during New Testament times, the Sabbath is no longer binding and that Christians are to worship on the Lord’s day, Sunday, instead.""

Let's look at these passages that you claim hold such evidence....

Q. Is Sunday the Lord's day?



A. "the Lord's day" appears only once in the Bible in Rev.1:10. Many claim this is a reference to Sunday. There is no validity of such claims, neither is there any historical evidence to support that any Christians had begun to observe Sunday for any reason, during the first century. The context of the Bible as well as the chapter itself, also lend absolutely no support to such a claim.

Let’s use the scripture as a guide, to see what day might possibly be the “Lord’s day”. The phrases "Sabbath of the Lord", "Lord even of the Sabbath" and "Lord also of the Sabbath" do appear.

Exo. 20:10 "But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God..."

Lev.23:3 "... the seventh day...it is the sabbath of the LORD ..."

Deu.5:14 "But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God..."

Mat.12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

Mark 2:28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Luke 6:5 "... the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath."

There are still, 15 additional instances which all show clearly that the Lord calls the seventh day “my Sabbath(s)”, again laying ownership of only one special day, (Exo. 31:13, Lev. 19:3, 30, 26:2, Isa. 56:4, Eze. 20:12,13,16,20,21,24, 22:8,26, 23:38, 44:24).

This is the only day of the week which He blessed and sanctified, (Gen. 2:3). So if any day of the week should be called "the Lord's day" it is quite clear that only one day ever referred to as His, that would be the Sabbath day. 

to be continued....

Originally posted by adam332
geocajun,

you said;

"thats true if you disregard the following verses of Scripture and hunt and peck around scripture to find verses that mean what you want. that way you aren't bound to the whole of scripture see..
"passages of Scripture such as Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, Colossians 2:16-17, and Revelation 1:10 indicate that, even during New Testament times, the Sabbath is no longer binding and that Christians are to worship on the Lord’s day, Sunday, instead.""

Let's look at these passages that you claim hold such evidence....

Q. Is Sunday the Lord's day?



A. "the Lord's day" appears only once in the Bible in Rev.1:10. Many claim this is a reference to Sunday. There is no validity of such claims, neither is there any historical evidence to support that any Christians had begun to observe Sunday for any reason, during the first century. The context of the Bible as well as the chapter itself, also lend absolutely no support to such a claim.

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well please, allow me to supply you with some "historical evidence": (the year of the evidence is posted at the end of each quote)
http://www.catholic.com/library/sabbath_or_sunday.asp

I will have to post it in another post, there is too much history here to fit in this post along with my other comments see my next post for the history

Let’s use the scripture as a guide, to see what day might possibly be the “Lord’s day”. The phrases "Sabbath of the Lord", "Lord even of the Sabbath" and "Lord also of the Sabbath" do appear.

Exo. 20:10 "But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God..."

Lev.23:3 "... the seventh day...it is the sabbath of the LORD ..."

Deu.5:14 "But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God..."

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OT references do nothing for this argument...

Mat.12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

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of course, because He is God and the sabbath is dedicated to the Lord. . .

Mark 2:28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

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see comment above...

Luke 6:5 "... the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath."

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see comment above. . . also, look up the judahizers. I think you could learn a bit about the early Heresy Saint Paul was fighting.

There are still, 15 additional instances which all show clearly that the Lord calls the seventh day “my Sabbath(s)”, again laying ownership of only one special day, (Exo. 31:13, Lev. 19:3, 30, 26:2, Isa. 56:4, Eze. 20:12,13,16,20,21,24, 22:8,26, 23:38, 44:24).

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well sure, but the Jesus never says to keep the sabbath in the new covenant he established, but rather that the "Sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath"
I read this like "the law was made for man, not the man for the law" which is how Jews saw things before Jesus...

This is the only day of the week which He blessed and sanctified, (Gen. 2:3). So if any day of the week should be called "the Lord's day" it is quite clear that only one day ever referred to as His, that would be the Sabbath day.

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no it isn't clear, thats conjecture again...
the "Lords day" is called so because it is distinct from the "Sabbath day". We do not just rename stuff in scripture for no reason...

All, It has been said in this thread that there is no historical proof that Christians do not celebrate the sabbath day, but rather the Lords Day on Sunday instead.
I offer these patristic writings which are all dated from the 70AD to1 400AD.
http://www.catholic.com/library/sabbath_or_sunday.asp

The Didache

"But every Lord’s day . . . gather yourselves together and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one that is at variance with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned" (Didache 14 [A.D. 70]).



The Letter of Barnabas

"We keep the eighth day [Sunday] with joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead" (Letter of Barnabas 15:6–8 [A.D. 74]).



Ignatius of Antioch

"[T]hose who were brought up in the ancient order of things [i.e. Jews] 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" (Letter to the Magnesians 8 [A.D. 110]).



Justin Martyr

"[W]e too would observe the fleshly circumcision, and the Sabbaths, and in short all the feasts, if we did not know for what reason they were enjoined [on] you—namely, on account of your transgressions and the hardness of your heart. . . . [H]ow is it, Trypho, that we would not observe those rites which do not harm us—I speak of fleshly circumcision and Sabbaths and feasts? . . . God enjoined you to keep the Sabbath, and imposed on you other precepts for a sign, as I have already said, on account of your unrighteousness and that of your fathers . . ." (Dialogue with Trypho the Jew 18, 21 [A.D. 155]).

"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 Savior on the same day rose from the dead" (First Apology 67 [A.D. 155]).



Tertullian

"[L]et him who contends that the Sabbath is still to be observed as a balm of salvation, and circumcision on the eighth day . . . teach us that, for the time past, righteous men kept the Sabbath or practiced circumcision, and were thus rendered ‘friends of God.’ For if circumcision purges a man, since God made Adam uncircumcised, why did he not circumcise him, even after his sinning, if circumcision purges? . . . Therefore, since God originated Adam uncircumcised and unobservant of the Sabbath, consequently his offspring also, Abel, offering him sacrifices, uncircumcised and unobservant of the Sabbath, was by him [God] commended [Gen. 4:1–7, Heb. 11:4]. . . . Noah also, uncircumcised—yes, and unobservant of the Sabbath—God freed from the deluge. For Enoch too, most righteous man, uncircumcised and unobservant of the Sabbath, he translated from this world, who did not first taste death in order that, being a candidate for eternal life, he might show us that we also may, without the burden of the law of Moses, please God" (An Answer to the Jews 2 [A.D. 203]).



The Didascalia

"The apostles further appointed: On the first day of the week let there be service, and the reading of the holy scriptures, and the oblation [sacrifice of the Mass], because on the first day of the week [i.e., Sunday] our Lord rose from the place of the dead, and on the first day of the week he arose upon the world, and on the first day of the week he ascended up to heaven, and on the first day of the week he will appear at last with the angels of heaven" (Didascalia 2 [A.D. 225]).



Origen

"Hence it is not possible that the [day of] rest after the Sabbath should have come into existence from the seventh [day] of our God. On the contrary, it is our Savior who, after the pattern of his own rest, caused us to be made in the likeness of his death, and hence also of his resurrection" (Commentary on John 2:28 [A.D. 229]).



Victorinus

"The sixth day [Friday] is called parasceve, that is to say, the preparation of the kingdom. . . . On this day also, on account of the passion of the Lord Jesus Christ, we make either a station to God or a fast. On the seventh day he rested from all his works, and blessed it, and sanctified it. On the former day we are accustomed to fast rigorously, that on the Lord’s day we may go forth to our bread with giving of thanks. And let the parasceve become a rigorous fast, lest we should appear to observe any Sabbath with the Jews . . . which Sabbath he [Christ] in his body abolished" (The Creation of the World [A.D. 300]).



Eusebius of Caesarea

"They [the early saints of the Old Testament] did not care about circumcision of the body, neither do we [Christians]. They did not care about observing Sabbaths, nor do we. They did not avoid certain kinds of food, neither did they regard the other distinctions which Moses first delivered to their posterity to be observed as symbols; nor do Christians of the present day do such things" (Church History 1:4:8 [A.D. 312]).

"[T]he day of his [Christ’s] light . . . was the day of his resurrection from the dead, which they say, as being the one and only truly holy day and the Lord’s day, is better than any number of days as we ordinarily understand them, and better than the days set apart by the Mosaic law for feasts, new moons, and Sabbaths, which the apostle [Paul] teaches are the shadow of days and not days in reality" (Proof of the Gospel 4:16:186 [A.D. 319]).



Athanasius

"The Sabbath was the end of the first creation, the Lord’s day was the beginning of the second, in which he renewed and restored the old in the same way as he prescribed that they should formerly observe the Sabbath as a memorial of the end of the first things, so we honor the Lord’s day as being the memorial of the new creation" (On Sabbath and Circumcision 3 [A.D. 345]).



Cyril of Jerusalem

"Fall not away either into the sect of the Samaritans or into Judaism, for Jesus Christ has henceforth ransomed you. Stand aloof from all observance of Sabbaths and from calling any indifferent meats common or unclean" (Catechetical Lectures 4:37 [A.D. 350]).



Council of Laodicea

"Christians should not Judaize and should not be idle on the Sabbath, but should work on that day; they should, however, particularly reverence the Lord’s day and, if possible, not work on it, because they were Christians" (Canon 29 [A.D. 360]).



John Chrysostom

"[W]hen he [God] said, ‘You shall not kill’ . . . he did not add, ‘because murder is a wicked thing.’ The reason was that conscience had taught this beforehand, and he speaks thus, as to those who know and understand the point. Wherefore when he speaks to us of another commandment, not known to us by the dictate of conscience, he not only prohibits, but adds the reason. When, for instance, he gave commandment concerning the Sabbath— ‘On the seventh day you shall do no work’—he subjoined also the reason for this cessation. What was this? ‘Because on the seventh day God rested from all his works which he had begun to make’ [Ex. 20:10-11]. . . . For what purpose then, I ask, did he add a reason respecting the Sabbath, but did no such thing in regard to murder? Because this commandment was not one of the leading ones. It was not one of those which were accurately defined of our conscience, but a kind of partial and temporary one, and for this reason it was abolished afterward. But those which are necessary and uphold our life are the following: ‘You shall not kill. . . . You shall not commit adultery. . . . You shall not steal.’ On this account he adds no reason in this case, nor enters into any instruction on the matter, but is content with the bare prohibition" (Homilies on the Statutes 12:9 [A.D. 387]).

"You have put on Christ, you have become a member of the Lord and been enrolled in the heavenly city, and you still grovel in the law [of Moses]? How is it possible for you to obtain the kingdom? Listen to Paul’s words, that the observance of the law overthrows the gospel, and learn, if you will, how this comes to pass, and tremble, and shun this pitfall. Why do you keep the Sabbath and fast with the Jews?" (Homilies on Galatians 2:17 [A.D. 395]).

"The rite of circumcision was venerable in the Jews’ account, forasmuch as the law itself gave way thereto, and the Sabbath was less esteemed than circumcision. For that circumcision might be performed, the Sabbath was broken; but that the Sabbath might be kept, circumcision was never broken; and mark, I pray, the dispensation of God. This is found to be even more solemn than the Sabbath, as not being omitted at certain times. When then it is done away, much more is the Sabbath" (Homilies on Philippians 10 [A.D. 402]).



The Apostolic Constitutions

"And on the day of our Lord’s resurrection, which is the Lord’s day, meet more diligently, sending praise to God that made the universe by Jesus, and sent him to us, and condescended to let him suffer, and raised him from the dead. Otherwise what apology will he make to God who does not assemble on that day . . . in which is performed the reading of the prophets, the preaching of the gospel, the oblation of the sacrifice, the gift of the holy food" (Apostolic Constitutions 2:7:60 [A.D. 400]).



Augustine

"Well, now, I should like to be told what there is in these ten commandments, except the observance of the Sabbath, which ought not to be kept by a Christian. . . . Which of these commandments would anyone say that the Christian ought not to keep? It is possible to contend that it is not the law which was written on those two tables that the apostle [Paul] describes as ‘the letter that kills’ [2 Cor. 3:6], but the law of circumcision and the other sacred rites which are now abolished" (The Spirit and the Letter 24 [A.D. 412]).

ok,

Sabbath is from friday at twilight (when you can see three stars in the sky) to saturday at the same time. The beginning of genesis 2 (verses 1 and 2) show the proof behind this.

In the bible, a day was started from twilight the night before (this is plastered throughout the first chapter of genesis).

Originally posted by adam332

People also mention that the breaking of bread proves that a communion service was held. In Mat. 14:19 Christ broke bread to feed the multitudes, even though there is no mention of communion or Sabbath.

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"Breaking of the bread" is referring to the last supper, not the "multiplication of loaves" as you assert.
also, I am anxious to see your reseponse to all the historical references I provided proving the Church has since the beginning always, praciced Sunday (Lords Day) worship and Christians have NEVER held the sabbath.

geocajun,
please slow down and read what is actually written. This will be a huge waste of our time if we do not have the consideration to do that.

I did not say, that breaking of bread is refferring to the multiplication of loaves. What I did was give examples, that the term "breaking of bread", can and did mean many things. The Bible proves that this term was generic for simply eating and fellowship. Please read all of my post so I don't have to retype what I just wrote 20 minutes ago.

Originally posted by adam332
geocajun,
please slow down and read what is actually written. This will be a huge waste of our time if we do not have the consideration to do that.

I did not say, that breaking of bread is refferring to the multiplication of loaves. What I did was give examples, that the term "breaking of bread", can and did mean many things. The Bible proves that this term was generic for simply eating and fellowship. Please read all of my post so I don't have to retype what I just wrote 20 minutes ago.

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Adam, I have read it, but your discounting scholorly patristic understanding, in that tranditional Christianity has for all times used 'break bread' to mean 'celebreate communion' and now your trying to say "that may be so, bu t in this case it means all sorts of stuff"
We break bread for communion because Jesus told us to do this in memory of him. Since when do Christians get around and multlocate loaves?

geocajun,

like I said there is NO historical evidence that any Christians observed Sunday in the first century.

Before you go quoting from some source you think historically proves your point, you might want to know a little about it....try this....

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=341&letter=D

The date of the part of the Didache that was added, which you are quoting from, was not written in the first century.

Don't like the Jewish encyclopedia? Fine....let's look at Funk and Wagnall's New Encyclopedia, dates it as late as third century...

How about encyclopedia.com, as late as the middle of the second century....

http://www.encyclopedia.com/searchpool.asp?target=didache

How about the 1911 Encyclopedia, which agrees from a very Catholic point of view, "interspersing it with passages of Scripture, and modifying the precepts of the second part to suit a later (4th-century) stage of church development"

http://81.1911encyclopedia.org/D/DI/DIDACHE_THE.htm

Or, maybe Encyclopedia Brittanica, says it was probably written in the second century....

http://www.britannica.com/search?query=didache&ct=&fuzzy=N

Undoubtedly if you have done your research you will have realized that the first part of the Didache was probably written and referenced to in the scriptures. It was basically a Jewish handbook emphasizing the right and wrongs of behavior, to which many Catholic and Jewish sources agree. The latter part was added as late as the 4th century all the while being modified further from true apostolic teaching and more and more reflecting the man-made and pagan traditions that had been influencing the church. Other influences would include racism, greed, and politics. 

geocajun,
It was events like these which are recorded which started the tradition, not vice versa! The facts are BIBLICALLY CLEAR, breaking of bread was done "DAILY", and was NEVER exclusively referenced communion or a specific day.

Would you please read, for the third time..... I NEVER said anything about the amount of loaves or the multiplying thereof, I simply showed that breaking of bread was a BIBLICAL term that doesn't always refer to communion or a specific day. And I provided more than one passage which shows this generic phrase being used in such a way. Hence I have proof for my statments and you have no proof that this phrase was exclusively used in the manner which you are describing. But, not that it matters, because I showed plainly that this passage was not specifically referring to anyday to begin with!

geo cajun,

you said;

"...Christians have NEVER held the sabbath"

Oh really?

1st Century Sabbath Observance

JOSEPHUS

"There is not any city of the Grecians, nor any of the Barbarians, nor any nation whatsoever, whither our custom of resting on the seventh day hath not come!" M'Clatchie, "Notes and Queries on China and Japan" (edited by Dennys), Vol 4, Nos 7, 8, p.100.

PHILO

Declares the seventh day to be a festival, not of this or of that city, but of the universe. M'Clatchie, "Notes and Queries," Vol. 4, 99

2nd Century Sabbath Observance

EARLY CHRISTIANS

"The primitive Christians had a great veneration for the Sabbath, and spent the day in devotion and sermons. And it is not to be doubted but they derived this practice from the Apostles themselves, as appears by several scriptures to the purpose." "Dialogues on the Lord's Day," p. 189. London: 1701, By Dr. T.H. Morer (A Church of England divine).

EARLY CHRISTIANS

"...The Sabbath was a strong tie which united them with the life of the whole people, and in keeping the Sabbath holy they followed not only the example but also the command of Jesus." "Geschichte des Sonntags," pp.13, 14

2ND CENTURY CHRISTIANS

"The Gentile Christians observed also the Sabbath," Gieseler's "Church History," Vol.1, ch. 2, par. 30, 93.

EARLY CHRISTIANS

"The primitive Christians did keep the Sabbath of the Jews;...therefore the Christians, for a long time together, did keep their conventions upon the Sabbath, in which some portions of the law were read: and this continued till the time of the Laodicean council." "The Whole Works" of Jeremy Taylor, Vol. IX,p. 416 (R. Heber's Edition, Vol XII, p. 416).

EARLY CHURCH

"It is certain that the ancient Sabbath did remain and was observed (together with the celebration of the Lord's day) by the Christians of the East Church, above three hundred years after our Saviour's death." "A Learned Treatise of the Sabbath," p. 77

Note: By the "Lord's day" here the writer means Sunday and not the true Sabbath," which the Bible says is the Sabbath. This quotation shows Sunday coming into use in the early centuries soon after the death of the Apostles. Paul the Apostle foretold a great "falling away" from the Truth that would take place soon after his death.

2ND, 3RD, 4TH CENTURIES

"From the apostles' time until the council of Laodicea, which was about the year 364, the holy observance of the Jews' Sabbath continued, as may be proved out of many authors: yea, notwithstanding the decree of the council against it." "Sunday a Sabbath." John Ley, p.163. London: 1640.

3rd Century Sabbath Observance

EGYPT (OXYRHYNCHUS PAPYRUS) (200-250 A.D.)

"Except ye make the sabbath a real sabbath (sabbatize the Sabbath," Greek), ye shall not see the Father." "The oxyrhynchus Papyri," pt,1, p.3, Logion 2, verso 4-11 (London Offices of the Egypt Exploration Fund, 1898).

EARLY CHRISTIANS-C 3rd

"Thou shalt observe the Sabbath, on account of Him who ceased from His work of creation, but ceased not from His work of providence: it is a rest for meditation of the law, not for idleness of the hands." "The Anti-Nicene Fathers," Vol 7,p. 413. From "Constitutions of the Holy Apostles," a document of the 3rd and 4th Centuries.

AFRICA (ALEXANDRIA) ORIGEN

"After the festival of the unceasing sacrifice (the crucifixion) is put the second festival of the Sabbath, and it is fitting for whoever is righteous among the saints to keep also the festival of the Sabbath. There remaineth therefore a sabbatismus, that is, a keeping of the Sabbath, to the people of God (Hebrews 4:9)." "Homily on Numbers 23," par.4, in Migne, "Patrologia Graeca," Vol. 12,cols. 749, 750.

PALESTINE TO INDIA (CHURCH OF THE EAST)

As early as A.D. 225 there existed lallrge bishoprics or conferences of the Church of the East (Sabbath-keeping) stretching from Palestine to India. Mingana, "Early Spread of Christianity." Vol.10, p. 460.

INDIA (BUDDHIST CONTROVERSY), 220 A.D.)

The Kushan Dynasty of North India called a famous council of Buddhist priests at Vaisalia to bring uniformity among the Buddhist monks on the observance of their weekly Sabbath. Some had been so impressed by the writings of the Old Testament that they had begun to keep holy the Sabbath. Lloyd, "The Creed of Half Japan," p. 23.

EARLY CHRISTIANS

"The seventh-day Sabbath was...solemnised by Christ, the Apostles, and primitive Christians, till the Laodicean Council did in manner quite abolish the observations of it." "Dissertation on the Lord's Day," pp. 33, 34

4th Century Sabbath Observance

ITALY AND EAST-C 4th

"It was the practice generally of the Easterne Churches; and some churches of the west...For in the Church of Millaine (Milan);...it seems the Saturday was held in a farre esteeme... Not that the Easterne Churches, or any of the rest which observed that day, were inclined to Iudaisme (Judaism); but that they came together on the Sabbath day, to worship Iesus (Jesus) Christ the Lord of the Sabbath." "History of the Sabbath" (original spelling retained), Part 2, par. 5, pp.73, 74. London: 1636. Dr. Heylyn.

ORIENT AND MOST OF WORLD

"The ancient Christians were very careful in the observance of Saturday, or the seventh day...It is plain that all the Oriental churches, and the greatest part of the world, observed the Sabbath as a festival...Athanasius likewise tells us that they held religious assembles on the Sabbath, not because they were infected with Judaism, but to worship Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, Epiphanius says the same." "Antiquities of the Christian Church," Vol.II Book XX, chap. 3, sec.1, 66. 1137,1138.

ABYSSINIA

"In the last half of that century St. Ambrose of Milan stated officially that the Abyssinian bishop, Museus, had 'traveled almost everywhere in the country of the Seres' (China). For more than seventeen centuries the Abyssinian Church continued to sanctify Saturday as the holy day of the fourth commandment." Ambrose, DeMoribus, Brachmanorium Opera Ominia, 1132, found in Migne, Patrologia Latima, Vol.17, pp.1131,1132.

ARABIA, PERSIA, INDIA, CHINA

"Mingana proves that in 370 A.D. Abyssinian Christianity (a Sabbath keeping church) was so popular that its famous director, Musacus, travelled extensively in the East promoting the church in Arabia, Persia, India and China." "Truth Triumphanat,"p.308 (Footnote 27).

ITALY-MILAN

"Ambrose, the celebrated bishop of Milan, said that when he was in Milan he observed Saturday, but when in Rome observed Sunday. This gave rise to the proverb, 'When you are in Rome, do as Rome does.'" Heylyn, "The History of the Sabbath" (1612)

SPAIN-COUNCIL ELVIRA (A.D.305)

Canon 26 of the Council of Elvira reveals that the Church of Spain at that time kept Saturday, the seventh day. "As to fasting every Sabbath: Resolved, that the error be corrected of fasting every Sabbath." This resolution of the council is in direct opposition to the policy the church at Rome had inaugurated, that of commanding Sabbath as a fast day in order to humiliate it and make it repugnant to the people.

SPAIN

It is a point of further interest to note that in north-eastern Spain near the city of Barcelona is a city called Sabadell, in a district originaly inhabited. By a people called both "Valldenses" and Sabbatati."

PERSIA-A.D. 335-375 (40 YEARS PERSECUTION UNDER SHAPUR II)

The popular complaint against the Christians-"They despise our sungod, they have divine services on Saturday, they desecrate the sacred the earth by burying their dead in it." Truth Triumphant," p.170.

PERSIA-A.D.335-375

"They despise our sun-god. Did not Zorcaster, the sainted founder of our divine beliefs, institute Sunday one thousand years ago in honour of the sun and supplant the Sabbath of the Old Testament. Yet these Christians have divine services on Saturday." O'Leary, "The Syriac Church and Fathers," pp.83, 84.

COUNCIL LAODICEA-A.D.365

"Canon 16-On Saturday the Gospels and other portions of the Scripture shall be read aloud." "Canon 29-Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday, but shall work on that day; but the Lord's day they shall especially honor, and as being Christians, shall, if possible, do no work on that day." Hefele's "Councils," Vol. 2, b. 6.

5th Century Sabbath Observance

THE WORLD

"For although almost all churches throughout the world celebrated the sacred mysteries (the Lord's Supper) on the Sabbath of every week, yet the Christians of Allexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, refuse to do this." The footnote which accompanies the foregoing quotation explains the use of the word "Sabbath." It says: "That is, upon the Saturday. It should be observed, that Sunday is never called "the Sabbath' by the ancient Fathers and historians." Sacrates, "Ecclestical History," Book 5, chap. 22, p. 289.

CONSTANTINOPLE

"The people of Constantinople, and almost everywhere, assemble together on the Sabbath, as well as on the first day of the week, which custom is never observed at Rome or at Alexandria." Socrates, "Ecclesiastical History," Book 7, chap.19.

THE WORLD-AUGUSTINE, BISHOP OF HIPPO (NORTH AFRICA)

Augustine shows here that the Sabbath was observed in his day "in the greater part of the Christian world," and his testimony in this respect is all the more valuable because he himself was an earnest and consistent Sunday-keeper. See "Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers," 1st Series, Vol.1, pp. 353, 354.

POPE INNOCENT (402-417)

Pope Sylvester (314-335) was the first to order the churches to fast on Saturday, and Pope Innocent (402-417) made it a binding law in the churches that obeyed him, (In order to bring the Sabbath into disfavour.) "Innocentius did ordain the Saturday or Sabbath to be always fasted." Dr. Peter Heylyn, "History of the Sabbath, Part 2, p. 44.

5TH CENTURY CHRISTIANS

Down even to the fifth century the observance of the Jewish Sabbath was continued in the Christian church. "Ancient Christianity Exemplified," Lyman Coleman, ch. 26, sec. 2, p. 527.

In Jerome's day (420 A.D.) the devoutest Christians did ordinary work on Sunday. "Treatise of the Sabbath Day," by Dr. White, Lord Bishop of Ely, p. 219.

FRANCE

"Wherefore, except Vespers and Nocturns, there are no public services among them in the day except on Saturday (Sabbath) and Sunday." John Cassian, A French monk, "Institutes," Book 3, ch. 2.

AFRICA

"Augustine deplored the fact that in two neighbouring churches in Africa one observes the seventh-day Sabbath, another fasted on it." Dr. Peter Heylyn, "The History of the Sabbath." p. 416.

SPAIN (400 A.D.)

"Ambrose sanctified the seventh day as the Sabbath (as he himself says). Ambrose had great influence in Spain, which was also observing the Saturday Sabbath." Truth Triumphant, p. 68.

SIDONIUS (SPEAKING OF KING THEODORIC OF THE GOTHS, A.D. 454-526)

"It is a fact that it was formerly the custom in the East to keep the Sabbath in the same manner as the Lord's day and to hold sacred assemblies: while on the other hand, the people of the West, contending for the Lord's day have neglected the celebration of the Sabbath." "Apollinaries Sidonli Epistolae," lib.1, 2; Migne, 57.

CHURCH OF THE EAST

"Mingana proves that in 410 Isaac, supreme director of the Church of the East, held a world council,-stimulated, some think, by the trip of Musacus,-attended by eastern delegates from forty grand metrop olitan divisions. In 411 he appointed a metropolitan director for China. These churches were sanctifying the seventh day."

EGYPT

"There are several cities and villages in Egypt where, contrary to the usage established elsewhere, the people meet together on Sabbath evenings, and, although they have dined previously, partake of the mysteries." Sozomen. "Ecclesiastical History Book 7, ch. 119

Do you want the 5th, 6th, 7th, etc... centuries as well?????

Or how about the Bible to show you that statement is false?

Acts 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. 43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Need I keep going????