Formerly it was supposed that the adjective kuriakos (translated "the Lord's") was a purely Christian word, but recent discoveries have proved that it was in fairly common use in the Roman Empire before Christian influence had been felt. In secular use it signified "imperial," "belonging to the lord"--the emperor--and so its adoption by Christianity in the sense "belonging to the Lord"--to Christ--was perfectly easy. Indeed, there is reason to suppose that in the days of Domitian, when the issue had been sharply defined as "Who is Lord? Caesar or Christ?" the use of the adjective by the church was a part of the protest against Caesar-worship (see LORD; THE LORD ). And it is even possible that the full phrase, "the Lord's day," was coined as a contrast to the phrase, "the Augustean day" he sebaste hemera), a term that seems to have been used in some parts of the Empire to denote days especially dedicated in honor of Caesar-worship. -ISBE
1. He states that the former supposition that it was a word invented by Christians is wrong as he denies is true because of recent discoveries. It is not a purely Christian word! It was "in fairly common use in the Roman Empire BEFORE" Christian influence had been felt.
2. "It" refers to kuriakos" and it is "kuriakos" that SIGNIFIED "imperial,' belonging to the lord." He does not say "sebaste" SIGNIFIED this but "kuriakos" signified this! HE DID NOT SIGNIFY THE JEWISH SABBATH or THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT! Christians took and applied it to Sunday as you admit!
3. He does not say that the Secular use was borrowed from the Christian use but the Christian borrowed it from the secular and the secular use "signified" imperial, "belonging to the Lord." The Christians borrowed it and applied it to Christ and Sunday!
GE:
Alright, no fine, mine or further comment obviously will be superfluous. You have explained what is necessary to understand about YOUR 'understanding' of the matter inimitably.