Argument of days of worship in the new testament
In the New Testament, there are several arguments made about the days of worship. Here are a few examples:
The Sabbath (Saturday) vs. Sunday
- The apostles and early Christians continued to observe the Sabbath (Saturday) as a day of rest, as commanded in the Old Testament (Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15). (Acts 13:14, 16:13, 18:4)
- However, the apostles also began to observe the Lord's Day (Sunday), which was the day of Jesus' resurrection (John 20:1, 19, Acts 20:7). This day became a day of worship and celebration for Christians.
- The apostle Paul argued that the Sabbath was a shadow of things to come, and that the true rest was found in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:1-11). He also encouraged Christians to gather on the Lord's Day to break bread and celebrate the resurrection (1 Corinthians 16:2, Revelation 1:10).
The Day of the Lord
- The apostle Paul referred to the day of the Lord as a day of judgment and wrath, when God would pour out his wrath on the wicked (2 Thessalonians 2:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3).
- However, he also referred to the day of the Lord as a day of salvation and redemption, when God would reveal his glory and righteousness (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, 2 Peter 3:10-13).
The Lord's Day vs. the Sabbath
- The apostle John argued that the Lord's Day was a superior day of worship to the Sabbath, as it was the day of Jesus' resurrection and the day of Christian worship (Revelation 1:10).
- The apostle Paul also emphasized the importance of gathering on the Lord's Day, rather than the Sabbath, as a day of worship and celebration (1 Corinthians 16:2).
The Early Church's Practice
- The early church continued to observe the Sabbath as a day of rest, but they also began to gather on the Lord's Day for worship and celebration (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2).
- The Didache, a early Christian text, instructs Christians to gather on the Lord's Day to break bread and celebrate the resurrection (Didache 14:1).
Overall, the New Testament presents a complex and nuanced view of the days of worship, with both the Sabbath and the Lord's Day being observed by early Christians. While the Sabbath was seen as a day of rest and a shadow of things to come, the Lord's Day was seen as a day of worship and celebration, and a day of salvation and redemption.