Col.2{16}

[DHK]

In addition to deny the first day of the week Sabbath application is to reject the greatest Baptist confessions of faith in history (1689 London, Philadelphia Baptist Confession; The New Hampshire Confession). These three confessions represent the vast majority of Baptist congregations in England and America from 1600 to 1900's.

Brother, my final and only authority does not lay in "Baptist Confessions."
I really don't have much use for them.
Far more important to me is the Word of God itself. That is my final authority in all matters of faith and doctrine.

Here is what I see in the Word of God.
--The early church did not differentiate between any day. They met on every day of the week, that is daily.

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (Acts 2:46)

Paul went to the Jew first. He went into their synagogues. The people usually gathered in the synagogues on the Sabbath Day. That is an argument for the SDA's, but he did preach on Saturdays some of the time.

He went into the market square, and disputed with the Greeks. He would preach there any day of the week. The day didn't matter to him.

We find him preaching on Sunday in Acts 20:7 which is the first day of the week. 1Cor. 16:2,3 is also evidence that they gathered on the first day of the week which is Sunday.

In fact he tells us plainly that it doesn't matter which day we may gather:

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. (Romans 14:5)
--Be fully persuaded in your own mind. You may have your own convictions, but it seems to me that if you push this matter on others, than that falls under the same category as doctrines of demons. It is the same type of thing: Abstaining from certain foods, forbidding to marry certain people, commanding to meet only on a certain day. When the church does this it falls under the category of a doctrine of demons, just like the other things mentioned in Romans 14.

Some people have no choice. In some Islamic lands the only day Christians can meet is on Friday, the Muslim holy day. Why? Because they are forced to work a six day work week and Friday is the only day that they have free to worship. Would you have God condemn them because they cannot worship on a Sunday (or Sabbatarians condemn them because they cannot worship on a Sunday)? A bit extreme isn't it? You are reverting back to the law, and not to grace.

 

[Dr. Walter]

Brother, my final and only authority does not lay in "Baptist Confessions."
I really don't have much use for them.
Far more important to me is the Word of God itself. That is my final authority in all matters of faith and doctrine.

Of course I agree with you here. However, my point was that these confessions demonstrate the majority opinion among Baptist congregations for several hundred years on this point. Hence, my position is not an isolated or minority position but in keeping with some of the greatest Baptist minds of the past.

Here is what I see in the Word of God.
--The early church did not differentiate between any day. They met on every day of the week, that is daily.

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (Acts 2:46)

I believe there is much more in view here. As you know, this was one of the Jewish feast that required all males (Jews and proselytes) from all over the world to attend the temple in Jerusalem. As such, these men had limited time before they would have to return home to their vocations and families and absolute necessity required an every day assembly during this period of time. I personally believe this is the period where those who formed the congregation in Rome were trained, ordained and sent forth back as missionaries to their home.

Paul went to the Jew first. He went into their synagogues. The people usually gathered in the synagogues on the Sabbath Day. That is an argument for the SDA's, but he did preach on Saturdays some of the time.

However, we cannot find any congregation formed by Paul that met on the Jewish Sabbath for worship. If troas is a model of Pauline teaching then the congregations he formed met regularly on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7) and these seems to be the model when you consider 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.

He went into the market square, and disputed with the Greeks. He would preach there any day of the week. The day didn't matter to him.

I agree, missionary work is not limited to any day of the week. However, we are not talking about missionary endeavors but rather the appointed time for the congregation to assembly for worship.

In fact he tells us plainly that it doesn't matter which day we may gather:

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. (Romans 14:5)
--Be fully persuaded in your own mind. You may have your own convictions, but it seems to me that if you push this matter on others, than that falls under the same category as doctrines of demons. It is the same type of thing: Abstaining from certain foods, forbidding to marry certain people, commanding to meet only on a certain day. When the church does this it falls under the category of a doctrine of demons, just like the other things mentioned in Romans 14.

I believe the context is dealing with things less than principle or commandment not the fourth commandment or any other of the nine commandments. He is specifically referring to those ceremonial days and ascetic practices that are less than principle.

Some people have no choice. In some Islamic lands the only day Christians can meet is on Friday, the Muslim holy day. Why? Because they are forced to work a six day work week and Friday is the only day that they have free to worship. Would you have God condemn them because they cannot worship on a Sunday (or Sabbatarians condemn them because they cannot worship on a Sunday)? A bit extreme isn't it? You are reverting back to the law, and not to grace.

God does not hold us accountable for what we cannot do or what we are forced to do against our will. The Sabbath was not made to be burden but a delight (Isa. 58:12-13). However, where we have the ability to obey God's Word we should do so, both in regard to its command and to its example.

The entire Old Testament ceremonial laws in regard to the Sabbath have been abolished (Col. 2:16). The Jewish interpretations and applications of the Sabbath were incorrect and Christ corrected them (Mk. 2). The day does not forbid all work but just all manner of work that is for selfish ends (Isa. 58:13) as Jesus asserts that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.

However, the fact still remains that the Sabbath was "made for man" not merely for the Jew. The fact still remains that it is one of the ten commandments and is as valid as any of the rest. The fact is still there "remaineth a rest (sabbatimos) for the people of God" (Heb. 4:9). The fact still remains that 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 is not an option but an apostlic command. The fact still remains there is a day identified as "the Lord's day" and the Greek term translated "Lord's" is kuriakos and conveys the proper observance unto the true God/man - not Ceasar but the Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:10).

 

[Dr. Walter]

The fact that the Apostle John designates one day in the week as "the Lord's day" demonstrates that all days are not alike and that the Lord has separated a day that is set apart unto him above all other days of the week.

This is not the escatalogical day of the Lord as the Greek for that day is entirely different than what is used in Revelation 1:10.

Christians in the first century were well away what the term "kuriakos" conveyed when attached to a certain day of the week! It was the designated day for Ceasar Worship where each man would come before the altar errected unto Ceasar and offer a pinch of incense and say "Ceasar is Lord."

John refused to do that, and was exiled for his testimony that Jesus is Lord and like Paul refused to allow the term "kuriakos" to be identifed with Ceasar but rather adopted that term for Jesus Christ and those things that to be observed that proclaimed his Lordship (1 Cor. 11:20; Rev. 1:10).

Of course I agree with you here. However, my point was that these confessions demonstrate the majority opinion among Baptist congregations for several hundred years on this point. Hence, my position is not an isolated or minority position but in keeping with some of the greatest Baptist minds of the past.



I believe there is much more in view here. As you know, this was one of the Jewish feast that required all males (Jews and proselytes) from all over the world to attend the temple in Jerusalem. As such, these men had limited time before they would have to return home to their vocations and families and absolute necessity required an every day assembly during this period of time. I personally believe this is the period where those who formed the congregation in Rome were trained, ordained and sent forth back as missionaries to their home.



However, we cannot find any congregation formed by Paul that met on the Jewish Sabbath for worship. If troas is a model of Pauline teaching then the congregations he formed met regularly on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7) and these seems to be the model when you consider 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.



I agree, missionary work is not limited to any day of the week. However, we are not talking about missionary endeavors but rather the appointed time for the congregation to assembly for worship.



I believe the context is dealing with things less than principle or commandment not the fourth commandment or any other of the nine commandments. He is specifically referring to those ceremonial days and ascetic practices that are less than principle.



God does not hold us accountable for what we cannot do or what we are forced to do against our will. The Sabbath was not made to be burden but a delight (Isa. 58:12-13). However, where we have the ability to obey God's Word we should do so, both in regard to its command and to its example.

The entire Old Testament ceremonial laws in regard to the Sabbath have been abolished (Col. 2:16). The Jewish interpretations and applications of the Sabbath were incorrect and Christ corrected them (Mk. 2). The day does not forbid all work but just all manner of work that is for selfish ends (Isa. 58:13) as Jesus asserts that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.

However, the fact still remains that the Sabbath was "made for man" not merely for the Jew. The fact still remains that it is one of the ten commandments and is as valid as any of the rest. The fact is still there "remaineth a rest (sabbatimos) for the people of God" (Heb. 4:9). The fact still remains that 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 is not an option but an apostlic command. The fact still remains there is a day identified as "the Lord's day" and the Greek term translated "Lord's" is kuriakos and conveys the proper observance unto the true God/man - not Ceasar but the Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:10).

 

[DHK]

However, the fact still remains that the Sabbath was "made for man" not merely for the Jew.

No, the Sabbath was made as a sign of the covenant between Jehovah and Israel and their generations forever. The Bible does not contradict itself. In your statement above Christ was speaking to Jewish people. It always will remain a sign of the covenant to the Jews, and it always will remain on Saturday, the last day of the week. Nothing can change that. If you say that someone changed the Sabbath to the first day of the week, that doesn't make it so. The Sabbath is still on Saturday whether or not you proclaim it to be on Tuesday, Thursday or any other day of the week. Your proclamation doesn't change facts. The Sabbath always has been and always will be on the seventh day of the week--Saturday!

The fact still remains that it is one of the ten commandments and is as valid as any of the rest.

It is not part of the moral law that is referred to in Romans 2:14,15.
It is not part of that law that is written on the hearts of all men.
It is not commanded to be kept by any Gentile Christian, no where in the Bible.

The fact is still there "remaineth a rest (sabbatimos) for the people of God" (Heb. 4:9).

Christ is our Sabbath. We are to enter into His rest.

And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. (Hebrews 4:5)
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (Hebrews 4:9)
--The "rest" is Christ, and none other. You won't find rest on a day. You will only find "rest" in Christ.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

The fact still remains that 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 is not an option but an apostlic command.

There was no command there. Did you read it?
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
--The context is Paul coming and gathering an offering that he may take back to the poor in Jerusalem. They were to store up that which they had saved every first day of the week. Perhaps that speaks more to the Lord receiving the first-fruits. It does not command them to meet on that day for service. It does not command them to meet on any day for service, at least not in that passage. Here is the passage you must more accurately consider, (not a passage on giving).

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)
--If the manner of the church at Ephesus was to meet on Wednesday instead of Sunday, then no one could speak against it. They were to assemble whenever the church assembled, as the manner of that church assembled.

What you fail to see is that the churches at that time were very much like the churches in China, Russia, and in many Islamic nations of today. They meet underground. They meet where they can, when they can. Sundays aren't always important. What is important is the freedom simply to meet and share the Word of God. If it is possible to meet on a Monday but not on a Sunday then that is what they will do. They must avoid detection, persecution, unjust imprisonment (which still happens today). To say that meeting on one certain day is a command of Scripture is wrong. And I will say it again: I believe it falls into the category of "doctrines of demons."

Paul specifically said: One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. (Romans 14:5)
--Now you can rationalize that verse away if you like, but he was speaking to believers not to Jews.

The fact still remains there is a day identified as "the Lord's day" and the Greek term translated "Lord's" is kuriakos and conveys the proper observance unto the true God/man - not Ceasar but the Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:10).

And it doesn't command us to keep it.
There is no command to keep the Sabbath, anywhere in Scripture.
Christ is our Sabbath, and we are to enter into his rest.

 

[Dr. Walter]

No, the Sabbath was made as a sign of the covenant between Jehovah and Israel and their generations forever. The Bible does not contradict itself. In your statement above Christ was speaking to Jewish people.

Just because a statement is made toward a certain ethnic group, or a certain congregation, or a certain class of people, that does not mean that statement is limited to that ethnic group, congregation or class. Jesus did not say the Sabbath was "made for the Jew" but for "the man" (literally). His next statement is a declaration to be the Creator and thus the rightful intepreter of the Sabbath (v. 28). He is speaking about Genesis 2:2-3 not Exodus 20. Exodus 20 points to Genesis 2:2-3 which was PRE-Jewish.

Where can you find in scripture any passage that says the sabbath was "made" a sign to the Jews? Mark 2:27 says nothing in respect of the Sabbath being "made" a sign to the Jews but rather refers to when the sabbath was made and who it was "made" for - "the man."

It always will remain a sign of the covenant to the Jews, and it always will remain on Saturday, the last day of the week. Nothing can change that. If you say that someone changed the Sabbath to the first day of the week, that doesn't make it so. The Sabbath is still on Saturday whether or not you proclaim it to be on Tuesday, Thursday or any other day of the week. Your proclamation doesn't change facts. The Sabbath always has been and always will be on the seventh day of the week--Saturday!

Please provide one explicit scripture that states that the Sabbath is either the seventh day "OF THE WEEK" or the Sabbath must occur on Saturday????

It is not part of the moral law that is referred to in Romans 2:14,15.
It is not part of that law that is written on the hearts of all men.
It is not commanded to be kept by any Gentile Christian, no where in the Bible.

Jesus gave more attention and explanation to the fourth commandment than any other of the ten commandments and yet even before the cross he did not list the fourth commandment when he listed the ten commandments (Mt. 19:18-19).

How do you explain that in nearly all ancient cultures there is a sabbath day? The Egyptians and Babylonians had their Sabbaths? Where did they get that idea if not written upon their own conscience?

Christ is our Sabbath. We are to enter into His rest.

And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. (Hebrews 4:5)
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (Hebrews 4:9)
--The "rest" is Christ, and none other. You won't find rest on a day. You will only find "rest" in Christ.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

As I pointed out, Hebrews 4:2-3 demand that saints prior to the cross entered into that same spiritual rest by faith BUT YET still observed a sabbath day observance. Joshua observed it. David observed it! Hence, faith in the gospel does not invalidate the fourth commandment, neither does it fulfil it! The only thing that will fulfill the fourth commandment is a NEW heaven and earth that is in harmony with God and that rest is still future (Heb. 4:11) and only because of the greater work of Christ (Heb. 4:10) as our High Preist do we have that hope to enter into that future rest (Heb. 4:14).

There was no command there. Did you read it?
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
--The context is Paul coming and gathering an offering that he may take back to the poor in Jerusalem. They were to store up that which they had saved every first day of the week. Perhaps that speaks more to the Lord receiving the first-fruits. It does not command them to meet on that day for service. It does not command them to meet on any day for service, at least not in that passage. Here is the passage you must more accurately consider, (not a passage on giving).

What you are failing to see is that the New Testament does recognize a day of the week separated specifically from the rest unto the Lord by the designation "the Lord's day" (Rev. 1:10). That is an oxymoron IF every day was to be esteemed alike. The command above is inclusive of the day being set apart to collect offerings. The very term used in 1 Cor. 16:1-2 ("store") is the very say Greek term used in the Septuigent in Malichi 3:10 when the Jews brought their tithes and offerings to the house of God on the Sabbath.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)

Any Jew reading Hebrews 10:25-27 would automatically associate this passage with Numbers 15:32-38 where a man was caught intentionally violating the Sabbath and receiving the death penalty under Moses. That man forsook the public assemblying for worship on the Sabbath and in full sight of God and all Israel went out and demonstrated the very first example of PRESUMPTUOUS SIN ("if we sin willfully after receiving") in regard to public worship. The Sabbath has its fulfillment, not in entering Palestine under Joshua, not in the victories that brought peace under David, not in the cross of Christ, but in the New heavens and new earth where we will enter into PERFECT and COMPLETE rest spirit soul and body. Hebrews 10:25 has that perfect rest in view when Paul says, "as you see THE DAY approaching..."

What you fail to see is that the churches at that time were very much like the churches in China, Russia, and in many Islamic nations of today. They meet underground. They meet where they can, when they can.

I am certainly not taking a position that Sunday is the only day the congregations can assemble. They can assemble seven days a week if they so choose. I am taking the position that only one day out of seven can be Biblical designated and called "the Lord's day."

To say that meeting on one certain day is a command of Scripture is wrong. And I will say it again: I believe it falls into the category of "doctrines of demons."

I appreciate your position on many things. However, you are just wrong here. Again, it is an oxymoron to claim that one day is as good as another day when the Bible designates one singular day as "the Lord's day." If your position were true then no day could be called "the Lord's day" or every day would be called "the Lord's day" which is equally oxmoronic.

You have no Biblical right to say that designating the first day of the week as the "Lord's day" or the day of public worship falls into the category of "doctrines of demons" for many reasons.

1. 1 Timothy 4:1-5 does not specific such.

2. There is sufficient New Testament record that the first day of the week was specifically set apart as the day of worship (John 20:1; Acts 2:1; 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2).

3. The scripture expressly designates one singular day as "the Lord's day".

4. The Old Testament anticipates the first day of the week as a Sabbath (Lev. 23).

5. The Old Testament predicts a new Sabbath as well as the nature of its observance (Psa. 118:24; Acts 4:10-11).

6. Mark 16:9 uses particular and explicit language for the first day of the week that is routinely used for the Sabbath and the term "proto" as the first in a new series of Sabbaths.

7. Hebrew 4:9 cannot possibly be interpreted by context to be fulfilled in a spiritual rest found in the gospel but uses a particular Greek noun "sabbatismos" that reinforces a continuing Sabbath observance by the people of God.

Paul specifically said: One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. (Romans 14:5)
--Now you can rationalize that verse away if you like, but he was speaking to believers not to Jews.

I do not have to rationalize it away. The context is very clear that Paul is dealing with cultural issues that are neither right nor wrong in and of themelves that exist between Jews and Gentiles rather than principles or commandments of God. The very fact that he explicitly states that such things fall into a category of neither right nor wrong in and of themsevles proves your intepretation of the Sabbath to be incorrect. Your interpretation would necessary demand that Sabbath keeping is wrong for both Jews and Gentiles since you believe the fourth commandment has been abolished. Isn't that how you interpret Colossians 2:16??? Therefore, according to your interpretation of Colossians 2:16 it would be wrong to observe the fourth commandment or teach that others should observe it regardless if they are Jews or Gentiles. However, Romans 14-15 does not deal with principles and moral commandments negatively or positively because what Paul deals with in Romans 14-15 are things neither right or WRONG in and of themselves.

And it doesn't command us to keep it.
There is no command to keep the Sabbath, anywhere in Scripture.
Christ is our Sabbath, and we are to enter into his rest.

Hebrews 4:9 commands it and it is impossible to be honest with the context and restrict that to spiritual rest obtained by faith in the gospel. If that were true then no believers in the gospel between Genesis and Matthew would be obligated to observe the fourth commandment and yet they did!

 

[DHK]

Just because a statement is made toward a certain ethnic group, or a certain congregation, or a certain class of people, that does not mean that statement is limited to that ethnic group, congregation or class. Jesus did not say the Sabbath was "made for the Jew" but for "the man" (literally). His next statement is a declaration to be the Creator and thus the rightful intepreter of the Sabbath (v. 28). He is speaking about Genesis 2:2-3 not Exodus 20. Exodus 20 points to Genesis 2:2-3 which was PRE-Jewish.

Where did rightly dividing the word of truth go?
First, in Genesis 2:2,3 there is no command to keep the Sabbath. So why are you referencing that passage.
Second, when Jesus healed on the Sabbath, it was the Pharisees (and other Jews) that were upset because they thought that he was violating the Sabbath. Thus his remarks were directed at the Jews, who were accusing him.
Third, you still have no command for any Gentile believer to keep the Sabbath day.

Where can you find in scripture any passage that says the sabbath was "made" a sign to the Jews? Mark 2:27 says nothing in respect of the Sabbath being "made" a sign to the Jews but rather refers to when the sabbath was made and who it was "made" for - "the man."

13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.
14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:13-17)

There is no clearer statement of the purpose of the Sabbath Day then what is stated right here. It is a sign of the covenant made between Jehovah and Israel and their generations forever. It will always be that way, as it always has been that way. It is on the seventh day--Saturday, which also is made very clear here. Does God lie? If this passage is not true and accepted at face value then do we consider God a liar? His promises to the nation of Israel are true, perpetual, forever, and never-ending concerning the Sabbath. Man has no right to try and change the Sabbath, when God has not given him any authority to do so.

Please provide one explicit scripture that states that the Sabbath is either the seventh day "OF THE WEEK" or the Sabbath must occur on Saturday????

I just did, and there are many more. Even in creation, God rested the seventh day. The seventh day, Saturday, is the Sabbath Day, in as much as the first day, Sunday, is the day that Christ rose from the dead. You know this. This is elementary Christian discipleship 101.

Jesus gave more attention and explanation to the fourth commandment than any other of the ten commandments and yet even before the cross he did not list the fourth commandment when he listed the ten commandments (Mt. 19:18-19).

The NT does not command the Gentile believer to keep the Sabbath, and in the reference you give Jesus does not command him to keep the Sabbath either. Good reference!

How do you explain that in nearly all ancient cultures there is a sabbath day? The Egyptians and Babylonians had their Sabbaths? Where did they get that idea if not written upon their own conscience?

I don't explain what other cultures do, and don't care much. Perhaps they followed Israel. The Bible is my authority. I have mentioned that once already.

As I pointed out, Hebrews 4:2-3 demand that saints prior to the cross entered into that same spiritual rest by faith BUT YET still observed a sabbath day observance. Joshua observed it. David observed it!

They were commanded by the Law to observe it. If they didn't, the Law required that they be put to death. Would you recommend that I be put to death if I don't observe the death. We are not under the law, but under grace.

Hence, faith in the gospel does not invalidate the fourth commandment, neither does it fulfil it!

The Sabbath was for the Jews, and the Jews alone. I don't know of even one person that keeps the Sabbath as the Jews were commanded to keep it. Do you prepare all your food, even your coffee and tea the day before "your Sabbath," as well as all your sermon preparation, or whatever work you may have to do on "your sabbath." There must not be any kind of work whatsover done on the Sabbath. Neither can you travel over 5/8ths of a mile during that day (a Sabbath's day journey.) Do you really keep the Sabbath? I can go on and list many more restrictions. But I don't believe that you keep the Sabbath.

The only thing that will fulfill the fourth commandment is a NEW heaven and earth that is in harmony with God and that rest is still future (Heb. 4:11) and only because of the greater work of Christ (Heb. 4:10) as our High Preist do we have that hope to enter into that future rest (Heb. 4:14).

So why insist on trying to keep it now?

What you are failing to see is that the New Testament does recognize a day of the week separated specifically from the rest unto the Lord by the designation "the Lord's day" (Rev. 1:10).

Did you expect John to say "Sunday" What was he supposed to say to designate that day from others? It was a designation of the day that a certain event in history occurred. If it happened on a Saturday he would have said "sabbath." There is no relevance here except to designate the day. There is no command to worship on that day.

That is an oxymoron IF every day was to be esteemed alike.

Is it? Then why does Paul say it? Paul was not speaking in an oxymoron. You have a problem understanding him here. The early church worshipped every day. They did not value one day above another. Every day was just as holy as the next. That is no oxymoron. All days were esteemed alike. That is how many viewed life.

I have a ministry among older retired people, many of whom are not saved. They say basically the same thing, but not spiritually. For them one day runs into another. All days are the same. Every day is alike. They easily lose track of what day it is. They are retired and every day is routine. They "regard every day alike." There is no oxymoron there.

Paul was saying the same thing about some believers. All days are put on the same plane--holy unto the Lord. There is no difference between the Sabbath or Sunday or any other day. They all should be considered holy as unto the Lord.

The command above is inclusive of the day being set apart to collect offerings. The very term used in 1 Cor. 16:1-2 ("store") is the very say Greek term used in the Septuigent in Malichi 3:10 when the Jews brought their tithes and offerings to the house of God on the Sabbath.

And so???
It is not a command to Gentile believers to gather and worship on the Sabbath. It is not there.

 

[DHK]

Any Jew reading Hebrews 10:25-27 would automatically associate this passage with Numbers 15:32-38 where a man was caught intentionally violating the Sabbath and receiving the death penalty under Moses.

That begs the question. Who was the author of Hebrews writing to and why? You talk of Jews and then bring up Num.15:32-38. I believe that is irrelevant. The NT was written to believers, not to Jews.

That man forsook the public assemblying for worship on the Sabbath and in full sight of God and all Israel went out and demonstrated the very first example of PRESUMPTUOUS SIN ("if we sin willfully after receiving") in regard to public worship.

as the manner of some is. The book is not written to the Jews. It is written to believers. It has nothing to do with the Sabbath. Why do you wrongfully infer that the Sabbath is being spoken of here?

The Sabbath has its fulfillment, not in entering Palestine under Joshua, not in the victories that brought peace under David, not in the cross of Christ, but in the New heavens and new earth where we will enter into PERFECT and COMPLETE rest spirit soul and body. Hebrews 10:25 has that perfect rest in view when Paul says, "as you see THE DAY approaching..."

There is no Sabbath here. We are to assemble ourselves together (on any day we wish to) and so much the more, as we see the Day (the Second Coming of Christ) approaching. There is nothing in here about the Sabbath. Stop reading into Scripture things that are not there.

I am certainly not taking a position that Sunday is the only day the congregations can assemble. They can assemble seven days a week if they so choose. I am taking the position that only one day out of seven can be Biblical designated and called "the Lord's day."

The only principle given in Genesis 2, is that God rested on one day out of seven. That is all. Keeping the Sabbath (as the Jews did) is another ball game that no one, not even the SDA's are capable of doing. We all fail under the law. All of us work on the Sabbath, and all of us work on Sunday, especially those of us who are pastors or are in the ministry. So it is not a day of "rest". There is a principle of rest in that man should not "work" seven days a week, but that is all.

I appreciate your position on many things. However, you are just wrong here. Again, it is an oxymoron to claim that one day is as good as another day when the Bible designates one singular day as "the Lord's day."

Why should it be an oxymoron. You don't make sense. That makes as much sense as "it is an oxymoron to claim that one day is as good as another day when Thursday is a day set aside to worship Thor." Your presupposition is clouding your thinking. We have no command to worship on any specific day.

If your position were true then no day could be called "the Lord's day" or every day would be called "the Lord's day" which is equally oxmoronic.

That is not true. It was called the "Lord's Day" because the Lord rose from the dead on the first day of the week. In honor of that event it was called the Lord's Day. However every single day, like today, is March 12, 2011, A.D. (Anno Domini Nostri Iesu (Jesu) Christi ("In the Year of Our Lord Jesus Christ"). Every day is a day to recognize Jesus Christ; every time we look at the date, record the date, etc., we are reminded of the birth and death of Christ--far more than Sunday indicates (the day to worship the Sun).

You have no Biblical right to say that designating the first day of the week as the "Lord's day" or the day of public worship falls into the category of "doctrines of demons" for many reasons.

1. 1 Timothy 4:1-5 does not specific such.

It doesn't have to. That passage gave only two examples. Do honestly think that there are only 2 doctrines that are doctrines of demons? Demons have just those two doctrines and no more? Come now, you are smarter than that. The doctrines indicate those doctrines that church authorities imposed upon their membership that went against the Word of God, and limited the soul liberty of the believer.

2. There is sufficient New Testament record that the first day of the week was specifically set apart as the day of worship (John 20:1; Acts 2:1; 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2).

Not one of those verses indicate a command to keep the Sabbath.

3. The scripture expressly designates one singular day as "the Lord's day".

And so???? There are many days designated in the Bible, such as "The Day of Pentecost." It was the designation of a day. It doesn't say we have to worship on that day.

4. The Old Testament anticipates the first day of the week as a Sabbath (Lev. 23).

There is no anticipation. There is a command, the penalty for disobeying it was death. Do you wish to impose it in your church?

5. The Old Testament predicts a new Sabbath as well as the nature of its observance (Psa. 118:24; Acts 4:10-11).

The only prediction will have its fulfillment in the Millennial Kingdom which has not come yet. In this age there is no command for the Gentile believer to keep the Sabbath, and you have been unable to show me one.

6. Mark 16:9 uses particular and explicit language for the first day of the week that is routinely used for the Sabbath and the term "proto" as the first in a new series of Sabbaths.

So? This is the day that he rose from the dead. What has that got to do with weekly worship? There is no command here.

7. Hebrew 4:9 cannot possibly be interpreted by context to be fulfilled in a spiritual rest found in the gospel but uses a particular Greek noun "sabbatismos" that reinforces a continuing Sabbath observance by the people of God.

No, the context speaks of Christ. We are to continue resting in Christ. There is no possible way that it speaks of a day. That is not in the chapter at all. I have already shown you that. Why do you take Scripture out of context?

I do not have to rationalize it away. The context is very clear that Paul is dealing with cultural issues that are neither right nor wrong in and of themelves that exist between Jews and Gentiles rather than principles or commandments of God.

Not cultural issues, but moral issues. "let every man be persuaded in his own mind is not being persuaded of his own culture.

The very fact that he explicitly states that such things fall into a category of neither right nor wrong in and of themsevles proves your intepretation of the Sabbath to be incorrect. Your interpretation would necessary demand that Sabbath keeping is wrong for both Jews and Gentiles since you believe the fourth commandment has been abolished.

Paul is saying to keep the law is wrong. Having a church service on Saturday is not wrong; nor on Sunday; nor on Monday; nor on any other day of the week. Don't judge your brother. Who are you to judge your brother? Sabbath keeping of any kind is wrong. It is the law and we are not under the law.

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (Romans 14:10)

Isn't that how you interpret Colossians 2:16??? Therefore, according to your interpretation of Colossians 2:16 it would be wrong to observe the fourth commandment or teach that others should observe it regardless if they are Jews or Gentiles.

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (Colossians 2:16)
--Judge them because they no longer kept them. They, like the Galatians were plagued with the false teachers--the Judaizers who believed that the keeping of the law and circumcision were necessary for salvation. But these believers were taught rightly by Paul that they were not necessary. Paul reminds them to stand strong and not allow these false teachers to sway them back to Jewish beliefs of keeping the sabbath(s).

However, Romans 14-15 does not deal with principles and moral commandments negatively or positively because what Paul deals with in Romans 14-15 are things neither right or WRONG in and of themselves.

I would say this is a moral statement:

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. (Romans 14:23)
--Sin has to do with morals.
Things that are neither right or wrong in themselves.
Things like worshiping on Sunday or Saturday?
Neither one is right or wrong in itself.
One may worship on any day he wishes because the Bible doesn't specify any specific day on which he is required to worship. We live in a day and age of grace, no longer under the law.

Hebrews 4:9 commands it and it is impossible to be honest with the context and restrict that to spiritual rest obtained by faith in the gospel. If that were true then no believers in the gospel between Genesis and Matthew would be obligated to observe the fourth commandment and yet they did!

You are not being honest with the text. It does not speak of a day, but of a person, that being Christ. There is no other interpretation.

And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. (Hebrews 4:5)
--MY REST can be no other than the REST that is of Christ, not a day.

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (Hebrews 4:9)
--That rest is Christ, and none other.

 

[Dr. Walter]

Where did rightly dividing the word of truth go?
First, in Genesis 2:2,3 there is no command to keep the Sabbath. So why are you referencing that passage.

The Sabbath was not "made" in Exodus 20 as even Exodus 20 demonstrates as it references Genesis 2 for remembrance as the time the Sabbath was "made" or set apart ("sanctified") or came into existence by God. The Sabbath was "made" by God in Gensis 2. Again, Jesus could have said, "the Sabbath was made for Israel" or "for the Jews" but he did not. He said it was made for "the man" and he is referring to Genesis 2 when the Sabbath was "made."

This is a PRE-Jewish reference for the making of the Sabbath! Therefore it is impossible that it was "made" for the Jew as no Jews existed when it was "made." This totally destroys your whole position that it must be restricted to Israel as Israel did not exist when the sabbath was "made." It was made for Gentiles as well as for Jews or "mankind" as that is what Jesus means by "the man."

So don't respond that the Sabbath was not made for Gentiles as no Jew existed when the Sabbath was "made" by God.

Second, when Jesus healed on the Sabbath, it was the Pharisees (and other Jews) that were upset because they thought that he was violating the Sabbath. Thus his remarks were directed at the Jews, who were accusing him.

Agreed. They "thought" he was violating the sabbath and if he had he would have been guilty of sin. However, he did not violate the Sabbath but interpreted it correctly as the Sabbath law did not forbid every kind of work. He was violating the traditions of the elders.

Third, you still have no command for any Gentile believer to keep the Sabbath day.

"The Sabbath was made for THE MAN" - Mark 2:27 - can't refer to Jews as no Jews existed when it was "made" for "THE MAN." It was made for Adam and all mankind that existed in Adam. If it was "made for the man" then it was made to be observed by "the man" or it is senseless to say it was "made for the man." Made to be observed by the man. His point is that it was made for the good of mankind.

13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.
14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:13-17)

There is no clearer statement of the purpose of the Sabbath Day then what is stated right here. It is a sign of the covenant made between Jehovah and Israel and their generations forever.

The creation sabbath that was made for "the man" is the same sabbath that is referred to in the fourth commandment. What were the Jews to remember? They were to remember the creation Sabbath. It is the creation sabbath that was "made for the man" that is the basis of the fourth commandment. However, the fourth commandment was added unto and additionally specialized for Israel through the ceremonial and civil laws. By the ceremonial laws the whole sabbatical system was introduced only to Israel. By the civil laws there was attached special regulations and penalizations for Israel as part of the covenant between God and Israel. It is this entire Old Covenant moral, ceremonial and civil Sabbatical regulations that acted as a "sign" between God and Israel alone. However, the Sabbath existed previous to Israel. In Genesis 4 the offerings by Cain and abel were offered up "at the end of days" (literally - or the last day of counting of days). Noah sent out birds on every seventh day. Israel was ordered to observe the Sabbath prior to Exodus 20 (Ex. 16).

It will always be that way, as it always has been that way. It is on the seventh day--Saturday, which also is made very clear here.

Never in Scripture is the seventh day called Saturday. The fourth commandment does not desginate Saturday as the Sabbath. The fourth commandment offers nothing more than the principle of one day in seven to be observed as the Sabbath and never says "of the week."

Certainly, there must be some application of that principle. How that was applied prior to Exodus 20 is unknown. With the Jewish calendar it was applied according to a seven day week and thus on the seventh day of the week. However, God applied the Sabbath law to the first day of the month, the seventh, eighth, fourteenths, fifteenth, twenty-first, twenty second, twenty eighth, fifitieth day. He applied the Sabbath law to the seventh month, the seventh year but to the fiftieth year as well.

The principle is one out of seven, the application by God Himself varies from the first, seventh, etc. The application by man can vary just as much. For the Jews the application was the seventh day of the week. For the Christians the application is the first day of the week.

They were commanded by the Law to observe it. If they didn't, the Law required that they be put to death. Would you recommend that I be put to death if I don't observe the death. We are not under the law, but under grace.

The death penalty was equally applied to violation of many other of the ten commandments. Would you recommend you should not be put to death for violating "thou shalt not kill"? You answer that and I will answer your question.

The Sabbath was for the Jews, and the Jews alone. I don't know of even one person that keeps the Sabbath as the Jews were commanded to keep it. Do you prepare all your food, even your coffee and tea the day before "your Sabbath," as well as all your sermon preparation, or whatever work you may have to do on "your sabbath." There must not be any kind of work whatsover done on the Sabbath. Neither can you travel over 5/8ths of a mile during that day (a Sabbath's day journey.) Do you really keep the Sabbath? I can go on and list many more restrictions. But I don't believe that you keep the Sabbath.

Your mixing apples with oranges. Some of the commands you give are not even in the Bible but were the traditions of the elders (5/8th of a mile, etc.).

You fail to see the difference between the fourth commandment as a moral law versus the special ceremonial and civil laws that were added and restricted to Israel alone in the Old Covenant. The sabbath as interpreted by the Old Covenant (inclusive of ceremonial and civil regulations) was the "sign" between Israel and God.

However, the fourth commandment as a moral law was not a sign between Israel and God any more than the other nine were restricted to Israel and God.

Did you expect John to say "Sunday" What was he supposed to say to designate that day from others? It was a designation of the day that a certain event in history occurred. If it happened on a Saturday he would have said "sabbath." There is no relevance here except to designate the day. There is no command to worship on that day.

The Jews did not refer to the days of the week by the pagan names but always referred to them numerically. For that very reason the words "the Lord's day" cannot refer to just any day of the week. John would have never used the pagan name "Sunday" but would have referred to it as "the first day of the week" if it were just an ordinary day like any other day. However, when designating it "the Lord's day" and using the special term "Kuriakos" he separated it from all other days as a day set apart to be observed unto the Lord. You can rationalize, deny, or ignore this fact if you so choose, but it does not change it at all. The very meaning of the term "kuriakos" when used as an adjective to modify "day" was well known all over the Roman Empire to be the day set apart for divine worship unto what the Empire recognized to be the ''Lord" or the god/man.

All days were esteemed alike. That is how many viewed life.

Again, you are completely ignoring the context of Romans 14-15. He is speaking of cultural differnces that are neither right or wrong in and of themselves. He is not speaking of principles or commandments, especially he is not speaking of the ten commandments, not one of them.

I have a ministry among older retired people, many of whom are not saved. They say basically the same thing, but not spiritually. For them one day runs into another. All days are the same. Every day is alike. They easily lose track of what day it is. They are retired and every day is routine. They "regard every day alike." There is no oxymoron there.

Ignorance or willful disobedience does not change any commandment or principle. There is such a day to be recognized as "the Lord's day" and it is not every day any more than any other day. The fact that the New Testament identifies a certain day as "the Lord's Day" completely denies your whole position.

 

[Dr. Walter]

That begs the question. Who was the author of Hebrews writing to and why? You talk of Jews and then bring up Num.15:32-38. I believe that is irrelevant.

What is the very name of the book? "Hebrews"? He is not writing to Gentile Christians but to HEBREW Christians. It does not beg the question at all but is very relevant to the question. Again, no hebrew Christian could possibly read hebrews 10:25-28 without being reminded of Numbers 15:32-38 and the presumptious sin of Sabbath breaking. Again, the COMPLETE fulfilment of the Sabbath is not palestine, not peace under David in palestine, not the cross, not faith in Christ but in the new heaven and earth which is a rest yet to come. We have not entered that rest and will not enter that rest until we are sinless in spirit, soul and body in a new heaven and earth. Hebrews 10:25 and "the day" refers to the type - the Lord's day -and what it fulfils it as the antitype - the eternal rest with God in a new heaven and earth.

The only principle given in Genesis 2, is that God rested on one day out of seven. That is all.

Wrong! Genesis 2 explicitly states that God "sanctified" it! That means he SET IT APART from other days. He not merely rested from the work of creation but he SET IT APART from other days.

Again, the fourth commandment does not require observing it as the Jews did. It is the ADDITIONAL regulations found in the Old Covenant, and in particular, found in the ceremonial and civil laws given only to the Jews and the Old Covenant Sabbath has been abolished but not the moral fourth commandment any more than any of the other nine commandments have been abolished. The other nine are for Gentiles and so is the fourth as they are INSEPARABLE FROM EACH OTHER (James 2:10-11).

We all fail under the law. All of us work on the Sabbath, and all of us work on Sunday, especially those of us who are pastors or are in the ministry. So it is not a day of "rest".

We are not under the law but under grace but grace does not do away with the ten commandments as a standard of righteousness!! The fourth commandment does not prohibit all works. It is a "rest" from all self-centered works. Jesus said the Father worketh hither to and so did Christ! Jesus said "IT IS LAWFUL to do good" on the Sabbath. Isaiah 58:12 gives the proper interpetation of prohibition of works on the fourth commandment Sabbath.

There is a principle of rest in that man should not "work" seven days a week, but that is all.

Thank you! Confession is good for your soul (grin)! You finally admit what the true intent of the fourth commandment really is. I agree with you. You are simply confusing the moral sabbath with the Jewish covenantal sabbath that involves additional ceremonial and civil regulations. You are confusing the simple moral sabbath with the additional traditions of the elders.

Why should it be an oxymoron......Your presupposition is clouding your thinking. We have no command to worship on any specific day.

It is oxymoronic to say the New Testament does not distinguish one day from another when it clearly calls one day "the Lord's day" not "the Lord's DAYS" - PLURAL!!!! The New Testament designates and separates this day from all other days as peculiar unto the Lord.

That is not true. It was called the "Lord's Day" because the Lord rose from the dead on the first day of the week. In honor of that event it was called the Lord's Day.

That is not factually true and anyone who has studied the usage of "kuriakos" in the first century knows it had nothing to do with the resurrection but was universally recognized as the day set apart for worship to Ceasar as the god/man who claimed to be "Lord" and every citizen had to come before his altar of worship and offer up incense and procliam on that day "Ceasar is Lord." John was exiled for his testimony that Jesus is Lord! Like Paul, he robbed this term from Ceasar and attributed it to Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 11:20; Rev. 1:10). Like it or lump it that is fact.


It doesn't have to. That passage gave only two examples. Do honestly think that there are only 2 doctrines that are doctrines of demons? Demons have just those two doctrines and no more? Come now, you are smarter than that. The doctrines indicate those doctrines that church authorities imposed upon their membership that went against the Word of God, and limited the soul liberty of the believer.[/QUOTE]

Of course "doctrines of demons" goes beyond the two examples given. However, it is placed in direct opposition to "the faith" that was once delivered. This phrase "the faith" has reference to the essentials of apostolic doctrine just previously defined in 1 Timothy 3:15-16. It contextually has reference to doctrines that oppose Jesus Christ; His congregation, His person and work of redemption (see 1 Tim. 3:15-16 and read it without pausing into 1 Timothy 4:1-6).

And so???? There are many days designated in the Bible, such as "The Day of Pentecost." It was the designation of a day.

The "day of Pentecost" separates it from all other days just as "the Lord's day" separates it from all other days. The very term "kuriakos" by usage and universal recognition in the first century when used as an adjective with "day" was recognized as demanding it to be set apart from all other days to worship a person recognized as the "Lord." The adjective "kuriakos" when used with the Supper in 1 Cor. 11:20 implied that this Supper was to be observed according to the Lord's command.

There is no anticipation. There is a command,

The feasts of Leviticus 23 ceremonially convey the New Covenant provision in Christ and it is the first day of the week as a designated Sabbath observance that dominates these feasts. The New is hidden in the Old and the Old is revealed in the New. The first day Sabbath is anticipated in these ceremonial types of the new covenant.

the penalty for disobeying it was death. Do you wish to impose it in your church?

Again, it is the New Covenant that is anticipated in the ceremonial feast types and there is no death penalty under the new covenant even for violating any of the ten commandments as no civil regulations are authorized under the New Covenant.

The only prediction will have its fulfillment in the Millennial Kingdom which has not come yet. In this age there is no command for the Gentile believer to keep the Sabbath, and you have been unable to show me one.

I have proven that Mark 2:27-28 demonstrates that the original Sabbath that God separated from the other days of creation was "made for the man" and that is inclusive of Gentiles as NO JEWS EXISTED when the sabbath was first "made" by Christ in Genesis 2. I have shown that Hebrews 9 commands Sabbath observance in spite of the fact that all Old Testament saints entered into spiritual rest by faith in the gospel (Heb. 4:2-3; 9). I have shown that "kuriakos" by its very recognized usage demands Sunday be set apart as a day of worship unto the Lord.

No, the context speaks of Christ. We are to continue resting in Christ.

You have not shown that at all! Hebrews 4:1-3 repudiates your exposition altogether. Faith in the gospel, faith in Christ did not relieve them of honoring the Sabbath. Arrival in the land of Palestine did not alleviate them from observing the Sabbath. Peace in Palestine did not fulfill the Sabbath for believers in the gospel. The "he" in Hebrew 4:9 is our High Preist in Hebrews 4:14 who alone has performed a work comparable to God's work of Creation and thus demands a Sabbath day observance that commemorates that work just as the seventh day Sabbath commemorated the work of creation. That work performed by Christ has not yet come to fruition and therefore there remaineth a SABBATH DAY OBSERVANCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD until they enter into that promised future "rest" (Heb. 4:11).

Not cultural issues, but moral issues. "let every man be persuaded in his own mind is not being persuaded of his own culture.

The reason every man is free to be persuaded in his OWN MIND is because nothing under consideration is either right or wrong in and of itself! Paul is not considering the ten commandments or any other commandment of God. Paul is not considering moral principles or commands. He is talking about cultural issues that the Scriptures do not address as right or wrong.

John defines one day of the week as "the Lord's Day" and Paul is not telling them they have the right to repudiate John's designation. Paul is referring to cultural taboos, foods, days that have nothing to do with Biblical precepts, commands or principles.

For you to apply this to "the Lord's day" or any of the ten commandments is just eisgesis not exegesis.

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (Colossians 2:16)

Paul is by context referring to the Old Covenant that was peculiar to Israel with its ceremonial and civil regulations added to the moral ten commandments. He is not repudiating any of the ten commandments except as they are in connection with the OLD COVENANT. In connection with the Old Covenant he is repudiating all ten commandments as the Old Covenant places the ten commandments in a do and live or fail and die contract.

 

[Dr. Walter]

Paul reminds them to stand strong and not allow these false teachers to sway them back to Jewish beliefs of keeping the sabbath(s).
I would say this is a moral statement:

The plural "sabbaths" demonstrates that he is repudiating the whole ten commandments in connection with the Old Covenant where additional ceremonial and civil regulations are involved. However, he is not repudiating any of the ten commandments as moral law in keeping with the purpose of defining the nature of sin.

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. (Romans 14:23)
--Sin has to do with morals.

You are confusing the cultural distinctions with moral distinctions. The cultural distinctions are neither right or wrong in themselves. However, when a person responds to cultural taboos or cultural mandates out of conscience or violation of conscience he leaves the amoral realm and enters into a moral realm. Now, it is no longer amoral external things but now he is dealing with acts against his own conscience that is morally wrong.

 

[DHK]

The Sabbath was not "made" in Exodus 20 as even Exodus 20 demonstrates as it references Genesis 2 for remembrance as the time the Sabbath was "made" or set apart ("sanctified") or came into existence by God. The Sabbath was "made" by God in Gensis 2. Again, Jesus could have said, "the Sabbath was made for Israel" or "for the Jews" but he did not. He said it was made for "the man" and he is referring to Genesis 2 when the Sabbath was "made."

Your point is moot. In Genesis 2, there is no command to keep the Sabbath. In Genesis 1, God created man, and all other things as well. There is no command to set aside any special days to celebrate his creation either unless you take the word "Sunday" literally--worship the sun. There is no command given to worship on the Sabbath.

This is a PRE-Jewish reference for the making of the Sabbath!

The point is irrelevant. There is no command to worship on that day; no command to keep the day holy; no command to observe it in any way!

Therefore it is impossible that it was "made" for the Jew as no Jews existed when it was "made."

It wasn't made "for anyone" at that time. God rested on the Sabbath, and sanctified it. You are reading into the Scriptures something that isn't there. God only speaks of Himself, and His work in that verse.

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. (Genesis 2:2-3)
--No mention of man or man's duty is made here.

This totally destroys your whole position that it must be restricted to Israel as Israel did not exist when the sabbath was "made." It was made for Gentiles as well as for Jews or "mankind" as that is what Jesus means by "the man."

--You are wrong again. The only commands in relation to keeping the Sabbath are given to the Jews. There are no commands given in Scripture to the Gentiles concerning keeping the Sabbath. It is a command given to the nation of Israel and their generations forever.

Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:16-17)

So don't respond that the Sabbath was not made for Gentiles as no Jew existed when the Sabbath was "made" by God.

Don't worry, I won't. I will allow the Scriptures to answer for me.

"The Sabbath was made for THE MAN" - Mark 2:27 - can't refer to Jews as no Jews existed when it was "made" for "THE MAN." It was made for Adam and all mankind that existed in Adam. If it was "made for the man" then it was made to be observed by "the man" or it is senseless to say it was "made for the man." Made to be observed by the man. His point is that it was made for the good of mankind.

You are taking Scripture out of context. Christ was speaking to Jews when he said that. And the only commands given to observe the Sabbath day are given to Jews, the ones that he was correcting.

The creation sabbath that was made for "the man" is the same sabbath that is referred to in the fourth commandment. What were the Jews to remember? They were to remember the creation Sabbath. It is the creation sabbath that was "made for the man" that is the basis of the fourth commandment. However, the fourth commandment was added unto and additionally specialized for Israel through the ceremonial and civil laws. By the ceremonial laws the whole sabbatical system was introduced only to Israel.

There is only one Sabbath. There is only one nation that was commanded to KEEP the Sabbath. Only the nation of Israel was commanded to keep the Sabbath. What evidence do you have that Abraham, Noah, and all those before Moses kept the Sabbath? None. There was no command to keep the Sabbath except for the Jews.

By the civil laws there was attached special regulations and penalizations for Israel as part of the covenant between God and Israel. It is this entire Old Covenant moral, ceremonial and civil Sabbatical regulations that acted as a "sign" between God and Israel alone.

And that is the way it has always been, and still is.

However, the Sabbath existed previous to Israel. In Genesis 4 the offerings by Cain and abel were offered up "at the end of days" (literally - or the last day of counting of days). Noah sent out birds on every seventh day. Israel was ordered to observe the Sabbath prior to Exodus 20 (Ex. 16).

The Ten Commandments were given in Exodus 20.
There is no evidence anywhere that Cain and Abel offered anything on the Sabbath. We don't have the days recorded on which they offered their sacrifices. Your argument is purely speculative.

Never in Scripture is the seventh day called Saturday.

A moot point. Never in Scripture is "The Lord's Day" called Sunday either, and yet that is the day you worship. I would say you are being hypocritical or at the very least using semantics to make a redundant point.

The fourth commandment does not desginate Saturday as the Sabbath. The fourth commandment offers nothing more than the principle of one day in seven to be observed as the Sabbath and never says "of the week."

It designates the seventh day as the Sabbath, and the seventh day is Saturday. Anyone who denies this denies all of history for the last six to ten thousand years. When it says that God rested on the seventh day, it means that he rested on Saturday, the seventh day. You may want to consult with some Jewish people about this, or start attending a synagogue.

Certainly, there must be some application of that principle. How that was applied prior to Exodus 20 is unknown.

It wasn't, and no argument from silence can be made. The only people ordered to keep the Sabbath are the Jews.

With the Jewish calendar it was applied according to a seven day week and thus on the seventh day of the week. However, God applied the Sabbath law to the first day of the month, the seventh, eighth, fourteenths, fifteenth, twenty-first, twenty second, twenty eighth, fifitieth day. He applied the Sabbath law to the seventh month, the seventh year but to the fiftieth year as well.

That is right, and that is why it says:

Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. (Exodus 31:13)
It says "my sabbaths." There was more than one that the Jews had.
But in the Ten Commandments there was just one that was being spoken of:

Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. (Exodus 31:15)
--The seventh day was the day of rest, and whoever did not keep it would be put to death. It would be observed by Israel and only by Israel.

The principle is one out of seven, the application by God Himself varies from the first, seventh, etc. The application by man can vary just as much. For the Jews the application was the seventh day of the week. For the Christians the application is the first day of the week.

No it isn't. You want to make it that way only because of your tradition. And by doing this you come very close to making it into a doctrine of demons. The Bible does not command us to worship on any certain day, nor does it. Never does the Bible change the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. Sabbath is always Saturday; is always for Israel. That will never change.

 

[DHK]

The death penalty was equally applied to violation of many other of the ten commandments. Would you recommend you should not be put to death for violating "thou shalt not kill"? You answer that and I will answer your question.

If it has the same moral value as the rest of the government then you should start petitioning your government for the death penalty or at least a life sentence to all those who are Sabbath breakers. It is the government who executes sentences against those who commit murder, and thus it should be the government who should execute punishment against those who are sabbath breakers. I suggest if you believe in what you are preaching that you petition your government to change its laws.

Your mixing apples with oranges. Some of the commands you give are not even in the Bible but were the traditions of the elders (5/8th of a mile, etc.).

There was such a thing as a "sabbath day's journey:

Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. (Acts 1:12)
--The rest I gave you was straight from the Bible as well.
--There was even a man stoned simply for picking up sticks on the Sabbath. I believe that you "work" too hard at trying to "rest" on the Sabbath Day, that it wouldn't be a day of rest at all but a day of work. You don't seem to know what all is entailed in observing the Sabbath Day. Remember you would have to have all of your food (including tea and coffee) made the day before. The turning on of a switch or anything electrical would be considered "work."

You fail to see the difference between the fourth commandment as a moral law versus the special ceremonial and civil laws that were added and restricted to Israel alone in the Old Covenant. The sabbath as interpreted by the Old Covenant (inclusive of ceremonial and civil regulations) was the "sign" between Israel and God.

There is no difference. There is only ONE Sabbath, given to ONE nation, to be observed by one nation on ONE day. The Sabbath has never changed, as God has never changed. Why infer that God has lied??

However, the fourth commandment as a moral law was not a sign between Israel and God any more than the other nine were restricted to Israel and God.

Are you telling me that God lied? I will believe the Bible over you, and Exodus 31 tells me differently than what you are saying. The Ten Commandments were given to the Jews first. There was one command on there that was applicable to the Jews only, as we learned in Exodus 31.

The Jews did not refer to the days of the week by the pagan names but always referred to them numerically.

We refer to them by their pagan names but not etymologically, else we would be worshiping the sun on sunday and Thor on Thursday. So the concept is the same.

For that very reason the words "the Lord's day" cannot refer to just any day of the week.

I never said otherwise. But there is no command in the Bible to observe it.

John would have never used the pagan name "Sunday" but would have referred to it as "the first day of the week" if it were just an ordinary day like any other day. However, when designating it "the Lord's day" and using the special term "Kuriakos" he separated it from all other days as a day set apart to be observed unto the Lord.

The last statement is a false statement. "As a day to be observed..."
Nowhere does it say it is to be observed. Nowhere does it say any day must be observed by Christians. You are adding to the Word of God, or at least reading into it things that are not there.

You can rationalize, deny, or ignore this fact if you so choose, but it does not change it at all. The very meaning of the term "kuriakos" when used as an adjective to modify "day" was well known all over the Roman Empire to be the day set apart for divine worship unto what the Empire recognized to be the ''Lord" or the god/man.

There is no command to observe any certain day above another. You haven't shown me one yet.

Again, you are completely ignoring the context of Romans 14-15. He is speaking of cultural differnces that are neither right or wrong in and of themselves. He is not speaking of principles or commandments, especially he is not speaking of the ten commandments, not one of them.

You seem to have a problem with the English language here.
When it says that some place all days alike then it means that some place each and every day with equal value and that there is no one day that is holier than any other. Only your bias gets in your way of understanding this passage.

Ignorance or willful disobedience does not change any commandment or principle. There is such a day to be recognized as "the Lord's day" and it is not every day any more than any other day. The fact that the New Testament identifies a certain day as "the Lord's Day" completely denies your whole position.

It is not my ignorance at stake here.
You fail to understand what is "the sabbath day."
You fail to demonstrate that the Christian needs to observe the Sabbath day.
You fail to demonstrate that the Christian must observe any day.
You suggest that the Christian is still under the law and not under grace by presenting the arguments that you have stated.

 

[Dr. Walter]

Your point is moot. In Genesis 2, there is no command to keep the Sabbath.

If that were true then Christ's point is equally moot for saying the Sabbath was made for man not man for the sabbath if the making of the sabbath had really no design for man as you claim! Genesis 2 explicitly says that God blessed it and santified it (set it apart) and Jesus inteprets this to be for "man" not for the Jew. If it had no application to "man" then Jesus is guilty of making a moot saying!

Hence, you are fundementally wrong in your interpretation of Mark 2:27-28 as well as Genesis 2 as your interpretation makes a fool out of Christ for saying that God "made" the Sabbath "FOR MAN" when you say he made it only for himself and there is no application "FOR MAN" in the making of the Sabbath!

 

[Dr. Walter]

It wasn't made "for anyone" at that time. God rested on the Sabbath, and sanctified it. You are reading into the Scriptures something that isn't there. God only speaks of Himself, and His work in that verse.

Your accusation is against Christ as it is Christ who said it was "made FOR MAN" and not man for the Sabbath. The Sabbath was not "made" in Exodus 20but only "REMEMBERED" in Exodus 20.

 

[Dr. Walter]

Your accusation is against Christ as it is Christ who said it was "made FOR MAN" and not man for the Sabbath. The Sabbath was not "made" in Exodus 20but only "REMEMBERED" in Exodus 20.

I appreciate many things you stand for and we agree on more things than we disagree. I have read your responses and honestly I don't think there is any foundation between us where we can come to any agreement. It is futile to continue this argument. I will repeat what Christ said not what you intepret him to mean, and he said that the Sabbath "was made for man" and the sabbath was not made in Exodus 20 but only REMEMBERED. We are not going to get past that point and so I will bow out of this argument as I don't see any way we can come to agreement but both of us will just repeat our points.

I don't believe in keeping any commandments to be saved but purely out of Love for the Savior.

 

[Steadfast Fred]

BUT IT DOES NOT JUSTIFY SUNDAY IDOLATRY WITH ALL ITS ACCOMPANYING SINS OF LYING AND CHEATING AND CORRUPTING THE SCRIPTURES!

I guess someone should have told Brother Paul he was being idolatrous when he preached on the first day of the week, eh?

Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

The fact is, after the Church was empowered by the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, Scripture reveals that the early Christians met in the Temple on the first day of the week.... that would be Sunday just in case you didn't realize it.

Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Daily would include Sunday, by the way. Sunday is a day from what I remember being taught as a child.


I reckon that someone should have even told the Lord Jesus Christ Himself that to worship on a Sunday was idolatrous so He could have rebuked the women who worshiped Him after His resurrection.

Matthew 28:9-10 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Jesus missed a perfect opportunity to rebuke those women and set them straight for their idolatrous worship, eh.

Truth is, the Lord God accepts true worship no matter what day it is, GE. I think you need to rethink your theology in light of clear evidence that even the Lord Jesus Christ Himself accepted worship on the first day of the week.

 

[DHK]

I appreciate many things you stand for and we agree on more things than we disagree. I have read your responses and honestly I don't think there is any foundation between us where we can come to any agreement. It is futile to continue this argument. I will repeat what Christ said not what you intepret him to mean, and he said that the Sabbath "was made for man" and the sabbath was not made in Exodus 20 but only REMEMBERED. We are not going to get past that point and so I will bow out of this argument as I don't see any way we can come to agreement but both of us will just repeat our points.

I don't believe in keeping any commandments to be saved but purely out of Love for the Savior.

Your accusation is against Christ as it is Christ who said it was "made FOR MAN" and not man for the Sabbath. The Sabbath was not "made" in Exodus 20but only "REMEMBERED" in Exodus 20.

First let's look at this a bit closer.

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. (Psalms 8:1)
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? (Psalms 8:4)
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: (Psalms 8:6)

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb producing seed that is on the whole earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree producing seed: it shall be food for you; (Genesis 1:29)

In the above verses we see that all creation was made FOR man. Man was to have dominion over God's creation. From the beginning of creation, before man became a meat-eater, all the herbs and fruits of the trees was given to man FOR food.
When the Pharisees complained about Christ violating the Sabbath, He replied that the Sabbath was FOR man. This was not unusual, for all things that God created were FOR man. Christ was using this statement in opposition to what the Pharisees had created in their man-made traditions that man had become a slave to the Sabbath. No, the Sabbath was made FOR man, just as every day had been made FOR man, and every part of creation had been made FOR man. Man did not have to be enslaved by a day. That is what Christ was pointing out. And his words were directed straight at the Jewish Pharisees and have no bearing on the Gentiles whatsoever. Exegete the passage and you have no trouble with the meaning. Yes, the Sabbath, and every other day of the year was made FOR man. We are not to be a slave to any day. We are to have dominion over each and every day.

Remember the Sabbath Day. Pre-Mosaic time--I remember that God created all things. That is how we remember it. And that is all.

From Exodus 19 and onward Moses took 10 nomadic tribes that had been suffering in Egypt, led them out of the land of Egypt to Mount Sinai. There, under the direction of Jehovah, he amalgamated these tribes into one mighty nation, a theocracy led by God himself. Thus, in Exodus 20 we have the Ten Commandments given to the nation of Israel. Remember that we often say that our nation was built on a "Judeo-Christian" ethic; that our civil law had its roots in the civil law of the OT. The Ten Commandments came from the Jews. They are not Christian; they are from the OT, from the nation of Israel. One of them was to the nation of Israel in specific and would only be to them, and to them forever, and that would be "remembering the Sabbath Day." The significance of this would be explained later in Exodus 31. The other nine would be well known as "God's moral law", and written on the hearts of all mankind. (Rom.2:14,15).

In way of illustration I have worked in a Muslim nation and learned many things by doing so. One thing the Muslim says is that the Bible has been changed, so corrupted that it is not recognizable any more.
I challenge them with that accusation: When? Where? And by whom?
With 3 groups of people: Jews, Protestants, and Catholics, when and where would the Catholics and Protestants allow the Jews to change the Bible; or the Jews and the Catholics allow the Protestants to change the Bible or Protestants and Jews allow the Catholics to change the Bible. What was the date? Where was the place? When did this take place. Give me historical evidence. Of course there is none. No such event took place.

Concerning the Sabbath. When in history did God change the Jewish Sabbath to the "Christian Sabbath"? Who changed it? When did it happen? What was the time and place, and who all got together and agreed on this change in Scripture? Can you give me the details of this.

I ask you this because sabbath has only one meaning. It is the seventh day, the day God rested (Saturday), and it is specifically given to the Jews and for them to observe. If they do not observe it in the manner dictated in the OT, the penalty is death.

Thus, as far as the "sabbath" is concerned there is no commandment to keep the sabbath, anywhere in the Bible that is directed to Christians.

You might have some very weak and tenuous arguments to give for observance of "The Lord's Day," but nowhere in Scripture is the "Lord's Day" equated to the Sabbath. The two are different and cannot be substituted one from another. The Jews celebrate the Sabbath; not Christians. Christians may choose to worship on the Lord's Day, but it is not commanded. It must be by choice. If it is by command, (command of man) it becomes in the same category of doctrines of demons. Those who worshiped on the "Lord's Day" did so out of celebration of the resurrection of Christ, as it was so named, not because it was a requirement.

Our nation has been free of persecution. In the time of Peter and Paul there was great persecution. Today in Russia, China, and virtually every Islamic nation there is great persecution. Christians do not always have the freedom to meet on Sundays. In fact, to avoid detection or persecution they often meet on other days. They don't have a choice. You are allowing your culture to interpret the Bible instead of the Bible to interpret the Bible. You say that in these many nations where churches face such harsh persecution and cannot worship on Sunday that they are in sin. But you have freedom. Because your culture has given you such freedom you are in the place to say others sin when they are unable to meet on Sundays. That is why it is a doctrine of demons, and that is why it is wrong. It doesn't matter to God what day one worships on. Here is what God said:

They that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
The day doesn't matter to God.
The fact that He is worshiped does matter.

 

[Dr. Walter]

Look, there is no reason to continue this discussion. I am not going to change your mind and your arguments certainly are not going to change mine. I will spend my energy with more important issues. Thanks for the exchange.

First let's look at this a bit closer.

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. (Psalms 8:1)
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? (Psalms 8:4)
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: (Psalms 8:6)

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb producing seed that is on the whole earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree producing seed: it shall be food for you; (Genesis 1:29)

In the above verses we see that all creation was made FOR man. Man was to have dominion over God's creation. From the beginning of creation, before man became a meat-eater, all the herbs and fruits of the trees was given to man FOR food.
When the Pharisees complained about Christ violating the Sabbath, He replied that the Sabbath was FOR man. This was not unusual, for all things that God created were FOR man. Christ was using this statement in opposition to what the Pharisees had created in their man-made traditions that man had become a slave to the Sabbath. No, the Sabbath was made FOR man, just as every day had been made FOR man, and every part of creation had been made FOR man. Man did not have to be enslaved by a day. That is what Christ was pointing out. And his words were directed straight at the Jewish Pharisees and have no bearing on the Gentiles whatsoever. Exegete the passage and you have no trouble with the meaning. Yes, the Sabbath, and every other day of the year was made FOR man. We are not to be a slave to any day. We are to have dominion over each and every day.

Remember the Sabbath Day. Pre-Mosaic time--I remember that God created all things. That is how we remember it. And that is all.

From Exodus 19 and onward Moses took 10 nomadic tribes that had been suffering in Egypt, led them out of the land of Egypt to Mount Sinai. There, under the direction of Jehovah, he amalgamated these tribes into one mighty nation, a theocracy led by God himself. Thus, in Exodus 20 we have the Ten Commandments given to the nation of Israel. Remember that we often say that our nation was built on a "Judeo-Christian" ethic; that our civil law had its roots in the civil law of the OT. The Ten Commandments came from the Jews. They are not Christian; they are from the OT, from the nation of Israel. One of them was to the nation of Israel in specific and would only be to them, and to them forever, and that would be "remembering the Sabbath Day." The significance of this would be explained later in Exodus 31. The other nine would be well known as "God's moral law", and written on the hearts of all mankind. (Rom.2:14,15).

In way of illustration I have worked in a Muslim nation and learned many things by doing so. One thing the Muslim says is that the Bible has been changed, so corrupted that it is not recognizable any more.
I challenge them with that accusation: When? Where? And by whom?
With 3 groups of people: Jews, Protestants, and Catholics, when and where would the Catholics and Protestants allow the Jews to change the Bible; or the Jews and the Catholics allow the Protestants to change the Bible or Protestants and Jews allow the Catholics to change the Bible. What was the date? Where was the place? When did this take place. Give me historical evidence. Of course there is none. No such event took place.

Concerning the Sabbath. When in history did God change the Jewish Sabbath to the "Christian Sabbath"? Who changed it? When did it happen? What was the time and place, and who all got together and agreed on this change in Scripture? Can you give me the details of this.

I ask you this because sabbath has only one meaning. It is the seventh day, the day God rested (Saturday), and it is specifically given to the Jews and for them to observe. If they do not observe it in the manner dictated in the OT, the penalty is death.

Thus, as far as the "sabbath" is concerned there is no commandment to keep the sabbath, anywhere in the Bible that is directed to Christians.

You might have some very weak and tenuous arguments to give for observance of "The Lord's Day," but nowhere in Scripture is the "Lord's Day" equated to the Sabbath. The two are different and cannot be substituted one from another. The Jews celebrate the Sabbath; not Christians. Christians may choose to worship on the Lord's Day, but it is not commanded. It must be by choice. If it is by command, (command of man) it becomes in the same category of doctrines of demons. Those who worshiped on the "Lord's Day" did so out of celebration of the resurrection of Christ, as it was so named, not because it was a requirement.

Our nation has been free of persecution. In the time of Peter and Paul there was great persecution. Today in Russia, China, and virtually every Islamic nation there is great persecution. Christians do not always have the freedom to meet on Sundays. In fact, to avoid detection or persecution they often meet on other days. They don't have a choice. You are allowing your culture to interpret the Bible instead of the Bible to interpret the Bible. You say that in these many nations where churches face such harsh persecution and cannot worship on Sunday that they are in sin. But you have freedom. Because your culture has given you such freedom you are in the place to say others sin when they are unable to meet on Sundays. That is why it is a doctrine of demons, and that is why it is wrong. It doesn't matter to God what day one worships on. Here is what God said:

They that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
The day doesn't matter to God.
The fact that He is worshiped does matter.

 

[Chowmah]

Hey Darrel C
Col.2{16} doesnt say what you think it means

 

[Gerhard Ebersoehn]

I am actually busy working on other for me more urgent things at the moment;
but I just couldn't RESIST to quickly place this here --- without having read the current discussion ...


Dr Walter:

Giving your tithe ON the Lord's day IS PART OF TRUE BIBLICAL PUBLIC WORSHIP IN GOD's HOUSE!

How about being honest? You know very well I was making this comment concerning YOUR COMMENTARY on this not mine! Your COMMENTARY by design was to make the rediculous idea that Jews made Sunday the secular work day for handling money. If you had proof you would give it.

My commentary was about bringing and giving tithes ON the Lord's day IN the house of God as inseparable part of PUBLIC WORSHIP.

Try being honest, it is not only a virtue but a fruit of the Spirit!

GE:

To be honest, Paul said of the 'collection' the Corinthians “saved up”, “each one”, “separately at home”, “that there would be NO gatherings-in” – whatsoever – “when I come”, that “when I come”, “I will send your liberality unto JERUSALEM” Capital of “Synagogue-going”-CHRISTIANITY AND “GOD's HOUSE”!

To be honest, why did Paul NOT say in 1 Corinthians 16:2, “Let everyone of you bring your contribution to God’s House, the “Synagogue” like he speaks of ‘God’s House’ as being the “Synagogue” in the fifth chapter verse 4, “When ye are gathered together”?— Why didn’t Paul say, ‘Let everyone of you bring your contribution WHEN YE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER” or “Synagogue-ing”, ‘sunachthentohn’ (Aorist Participle), the ‘JEWISH’ word for CHRISTIAN ‘Church-going’— “GOD's HOUSE”, or, “PUBLIC WORSHIP” in Dr Walter's words!

And THAT, on SUNDAYS! Oh my!!