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Could you tell me why the Sunday-Law of Constantine is ignored as if Sunday is mentioned in the Greek Scriptures. Is this not a turning point of the history of the apostasy of the church as prophesied in 2nd Thessalonians 2?February 2010
I assume that you are referring to the law Constantine passed in 321 AD that closed all courts of law on Sunday and placed restrictions on the use of slave labor except for certain farming activities. He also changed the market day for farmers to Sunday, encouraging Romans not to work everyday of the week. These two changes pushed the culture into observing some kind of "sabbath" day of rest. This was not an enforced law, but a way to encourage Sunday as a day for worship. When he passed these laws he recognized them as "the day of the sun," and was not forcing anyone to attend Christian church. It could be that Constantine recognized the sun to keep from putting pressure on Romans to embrace Christianity. Like his father, Constantine exhibited moderation with respect to Christianity. [Kind of like having a Christian President who does not want to force Christianity on all Americans - and most Christians would NOT want this either.]
I realize that many will contest what I have just written, but there are numerous examples from church fathers in the first and second centuries which make it clear that Christians met on the eighth day to commemorate the resurrection day of Jesus. There was a clear anti-Jewish strain in the early Gentile church - I am not saying this is good, but it is historically true.
Finally He says to them; "Your new moons and your Sabbaths I cannot endure."
You can perceive His meaning: it is not your present Sabbaths that are acceptable, but the Sabbath which I have made...when I have set all things at rest, I will make the beginning of the eighth day which is the beginning of another world. Therefore, we keep the eighth day for rejoicing, in which
Jesus rose from the dead, and having been manifested ascended into the heavens. Moreover I will tell you likewise concerning the temple, how these wretched men, being led astray, set their hope on the building, and not on their God that made them, as being a house of God. - Barnabas 15:8-16:1
You can see the promtion of Sunday AND the anti-Jewish sentiment in this text.
If, therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord's Day, on which also our life has sprung up again by Him and by His death - whom some deny, by which mystery we have obtained faith....Let us not, therefore, be insensible to His kindness...Therefore, having become His disciples, let us learn to live according to the principles of Christianity. For whosoever is called by any other name besides this, is not of God. Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the sour leaven....It is absurd to profess Christ Jesus, and to Judaize. For Christianity did not embrace Judaism, but Judaism Christianity... Ignatius - To the Magnesians 9-10
Greetings ! Thank you for your kind reply and I need to listen to you fully when you can fully explain Scripturally, in due course. Thanking you, Yours in His service,
10-23-2010
From: Paul The early church met on Sundays. This can be traced as far back as the Day of Pentecost: every time Christ appeared to the 11 it was on the first day of the week which is Ssunday. The apostle paul spoke about sabbaths and new moons. He said do not hold it against any christian for observing or not observing any day. He even spoke on eating certain food or eating foods sacrificed to idols saying "let no man judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of a holy day or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days". So it is clear to me that these things do not affect a believer's salvation. See Colossians 2:13-16
I get many comments regarding this issue, whether keeping the Sabbath is a New Testament requirement or not. I have noticed those who write me in favor of keeping the Sabbath are very dogmatic. It reminds me of the Judaizers in their opposition to the Apostle Paul and his outreach to Gentiles - they demanded that the Gentile believers be circumcised and obey the Laws of Moses. Paul would not "give in to them for a moment" (Gal 2:5).
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