1 Cor 16:2 "on One of the Sabbaths"

Since DHK recently brought this topic up again - and since at one point in history he brought it up "using Barnes" as a reference point -- might as well address the text in something other than a one-text snippet approach!

First of all many thanks to DHK for pointing us to Albert Barnes in the first place.

Summary of key points from 1Cor 16:2-4

1Cor 16 is significant in that it is the only place in all of the NT where ANYTHING is commanded regarding week-day-one.

1Cor 16 is significant in that it is "the golden opportunity" for a NT author to introduce the new importance, or the transition, or the new name of week-day-one 1 to a brand new Jewish-Christian church.

For example "Day number 7" is given "a NAME" in scripture to show its significance rather than simply assigning it "a number". No other week day has that "name assigned" in either the NT or the OT - unless you consider the "preparation day" terminology that was sometimes used for Friday.

1Cor 16 is significant in its focus of the act being commanded to be "BY ones Self" - alone - not in community.

1Cor 16 is significant in that the "giving" of the offering - received by an official church member is placed at Paul's OWN reception of the gift.

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First we note that Paul is not introducing a new day of worship or the idea of a « sanctified set-apart day for worship. Rather he is explicitly addressing the issue of “collection” of funds and how those funds are to be saved each week or set aside each week.

Here the focus of Paul is on the “individual” who sets funds aside – in store – in savings as the individual may prosper. The focus is on the act of saving and setting aside that is done by yourself – alone without being prodded into doing it a some later church service or gathering..

There is in fact no mention of a gathering of the people or of the act of corporate worship in 1Cor 16

Now let's observe how the author that DHK once selected for us to read on this subject -- deals with the devastating details of the text of 1Cor 16.

Here we find that instead of “day 1” we see the Sabbath term STILL being used “on ONE of the Sabbaths”. Far from using the NEW term “Lord’s day” and far from even the more modest term “day one” or “First day” – we have the literal term for Sabbath AGAIN brought up since all is relative to the high and holy reference point in Christ the Creator’s weekly cycle – the “Sabbath”.

You could not ask for a more devastating point against "a command to GATHER on week-day-one". The entire focus is on the SINGULAR - and even "private" act - at HOME rather than "IN COMMUNITY".

Thanks to DHK for being willing to post that!

This is not an interpretation of a greek term AS IF the Greek was shoing "Treasuring up" to mean "IN community". Indead there are a number of places in scripture where the term "treasuring up" is purely and distinctively a PRIVATE and Individual act. The author merely speculates - in a hopeful wishful fashion at this point hoping to avoid the devasting implication of the Greek when it comes to the literal and explicit "BY ONE SELF".

Not the "or perhaps maybe" style of the author in casting about him for relief from "by ONEs Self"

Now notice here - that the Author "needs" day one to be given the title "the Lord's Day" - as would be so natural IF it were true. The author STICKS IT IN for his own interpretation having failed to extract that much-needed-title from this all-important singular text dealing with an actual command for week-day-one. Literally - “on one of the Sabbaths”

It is significant that the term is so urgently "needed" by those who "need" to make that association - and yet it is conspicuously missing from the text. Far worse “Lord’s Day” is MISSING but “Sabbath is PRESENT”!! Why should every day of the week be in reference to the Sabbath? Obviously we have the literal term for Sabbath AGAIN brought up since for the saints of the NT ALL time during the week is still relative to the high and holy reference point established by Christ our Creator - His weekly cycle is still governed by – the “Sabbath” reference point!

Very instructive.

Clearly this shows the collection is made by Paul - and NOT at a weekly - "week-day-one" church meeting.

Thoughts?

In Christ,

Bob

 

But equally as devastating to the "first-day established-in-scripture" group --

The Sabbath is the ONLY day in the NT where we see "week-after-week" gathering of Gentiles along with Jews for the explicit purpose of hearing the Gospel, studying God's Word and Worship.

See Acts 13, Acts 15 and Acts 17!

By "contrast" we see that on week-day-one (on ONE of the SAbbaths) EACH one was to lay by himself in store as HE may prosper some savings anticipating the day when Paul would arrive for the collection.

It is the ONE thing WE ARE told to do on "week-day-one" by the NT authors!!

In Christ,

Bob