Introduction
Seventh-day Adventists (SDA) claim that since God began creation on the first day and rested on the seventh day (Saturday), this proves that Saturday is the permanent day of rest for all believers. But is this reasoning correct?
This article examines the biblical text, historical context, early Christian practices, and Catholic teaching to reveal whether God’s “seventh-day rest” was meant to bind Christians forever to Saturday worship.
1. The Biblical Account of Creation
Genesis 1 describes the six days of creation:
-
Day 1: God created light (Genesis 1:3–5) – the first day.
-
Day 7: God rested from His work (Genesis 2:2–3).
Nowhere does Genesis say that the first day was Sunday or that the seventh day was Saturday. The text speaks of “day one,” “day two,” etc.—without naming days of the week. The Jewish naming of days (Sunday–Saturday) came much later.
👉 Thus, the SDA assumption that “day one = Sunday, day seven = Saturday” is not explicitly biblical—it’s a human interpretation.
2. The Sabbath in the Old Covenant
-
The Sabbath was given specifically to Israel as a covenant sign:
“The people of Israel shall keep the sabbath… as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel.” (Exodus 31:16–17) -
The Sabbath recalled:
-
God’s rest at creation (Genesis 2:2–3)
-
Israel’s deliverance from Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:15)
-
👉 The Sabbath was never imposed on all nations, but on Israel as part of the Mosaic covenant.
3. Christ the Fulfillment of the Sabbath
Jesus Declares His Lordship
-
“The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:8)
👉 Jesus claims authority over the Sabbath itself.
True Rest in Christ
-
“So then, there remains a sabbath rest for the people of God… whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4:9–10)
👉 The ultimate Sabbath is not tied to a day, but to eternal rest in Christ.
4. Apostolic and Early Christian Practice
The Apostles and early Christians did not continue binding Saturday observance:
-
Acts 20:7 – Christians gathered on the first day of the week (Sunday) to break bread (Eucharist).
-
1 Corinthians 16:2 – Offerings were collected on Sunday.
-
Revelation 1:10 – St. John speaks of the Lord’s Day, distinct from the Sabbath.
Early Church Fathers
-
St. Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110 AD):
“Those who lived according to the old order of things have come to a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in observance of the Lord’s Day.” (Letter to the Magnesians, 9) -
St. Justin Martyr (c. 150 AD):
“On the day called Sunday, all gather together… because it is the day Jesus Christ our Savior rose from the dead.” (First Apology, 67)
👉 The earliest Christians universally shifted to Sunday worship.
5. Catholic Church Teaching
-
CCC 2175: “Sunday is expressly distinguished from the sabbath which it follows… For Christians, its ceremonial observance replaces that of the sabbath.”
-
CCC 2177: Sunday is the day of Eucharistic assembly.
-
CCC 2190–2191: The Sabbath commandment is fulfilled by Sunday worship, commemorating the Resurrection.
6. Table of Comparison
| Aspect | SDA Claim | Catholic Response |
|---|---|---|
| Creation Days | God started on Sunday, rested on Saturday. | Genesis never names days; “day one” ≠ Sunday by name. |
| Sabbath Purpose | Eternal law for all humanity. | Covenant sign for Israel (Exodus 31:16–17). |
| Christian Worship | Must be Saturday. | Apostles worshipped on Sunday (Acts 20:7, Rev 1:10). |
| Fulfillment | Keep Mosaic Sabbath. | Christ is the true rest (Hebrews 4:9–10). |
| Tradition | Saturday-only worship preserved true faith. | Early Church Fathers confirm Sunday worship from Apostolic times. |
7. Answering the SDA Principle
The SDA principle assumes:
-
Genesis equates “day one” with Sunday. (Not stated in Scripture)
-
The Sabbath was given to all nations. (Actually, to Israel as covenant)
-
The Sabbath law was never fulfilled in Christ. (Contradicted by NT and Apostolic practice)
👉 Therefore, the SDA argument collapses.
Conclusion
God’s rest on the seventh day (Genesis 2) does not prove that Saturday is eternally binding on all Christians. The Sabbath was a shadow of things to come (Colossians 2:16–17), fulfilled in Christ, who rose on Sunday—the Lord’s Day.
From the Apostles to the early Church Fathers, Christians celebrated the Eucharist on Sunday. The Catholic Church continues this unbroken tradition, affirming that Sunday fulfills the Sabbath commandment.
✝️ The truth is clear: our rest is not in Saturday, but in Christ Himself, the Lord of the Sabbath.
Read also:
- Did Exodus 20:8–10 Specify Saturday as the Day of Rest for All Christians?;
- The Truth About the Saturday Sabbath: Was It Meant for All People or Only for Israel?;
- Is It Wrong to Observe Sunday Instead of Saturday as the Sabbath? Biblical and Historical Truths About Christian Worship
No comments:
Post a Comment