Introduction
In Exodus 20:8–10, God commanded Israel to keep holy the seventh day (Sabbath). Some Christian groups, such as Seventh-day Adventists, argue that this law applies to all people worldwide. But does the Bible and early Church teaching support this claim?
The truth is: the Sabbath commandment was a covenant sign between God and Israel, fulfilled in Christ and transformed into the Lord’s Day (Sunday) celebration for Christians.
1. The Biblical Foundation of the Sabbath
A Sign for Israel
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“The people of Israel shall keep the sabbath, observing the sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel…” (Exodus 31:16–17, RSVCE).
👉 The Sabbath is explicitly described as a sign between God and Israel, not the entire world.
Remembrance of Deliverance
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“You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out… therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day.” (Deuteronomy 5:15).
👉 The Sabbath was tied to Israel’s Exodus experience—a deliverance unique to them.
2. The Fulfillment in Christ
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Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8).
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St. Paul teaches: “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath. These are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” (Colossians 2:16–17).
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The Letter to the Hebrews points to a new kind of rest in Christ:
“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 true Sabbath is not tied to a day but to salvation in Christ.
3. Apostolic Practice: The Lord’s Day (Sunday)
The early Christians gathered not on Saturday but on Sunday, the day of Christ’s Resurrection:
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“On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread…” (Acts 20:7).
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“On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside…” (1 Corinthians 16:2).
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“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.” (Revelation 1:10).
👉 This is why Sunday worship became the norm for Christians from the very beginning.
4. Witness of the Early Church Fathers
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St. Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110 AD):
“Those who were brought up in the old 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.” (Letter to the Magnesians, 9). -
St. Justin Martyr (c. 150 AD):
“On the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place… because it is the day on which Jesus rose from the dead.” (First Apology, 67).
👉 From the earliest times, Christians worshipped on Sunday, not Saturday.
5. Catholic Church Teaching
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CCC 2175: Sunday fulfills the Sabbath, commemorating the Resurrection.
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CCC 2190–2191: The Sabbath was part of the Old Covenant; Sunday is the day of worship in the New Covenant.
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CCC 2177: Sunday is the day the Christian community gathers for Eucharist.
6. Table of Comparison
| Aspect | Sabbath (Saturday) | Lord’s Day (Sunday) |
|---|---|---|
| Covenant | Old Covenant (Israel) | New Covenant (all nations) |
| Purpose | Sign of Exodus, creation rest | Resurrection, new creation in Christ |
| Biblical Basis | Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5 | Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:2, Rev. 1:10 |
| Early Practice | Synagogue observance | Eucharistic celebration |
| Church Teaching | Binding for Israel | Binding for Christians (CCC 2175–2191) |
Conclusion
The Sabbath law was a special covenant for Israel, rooted in their creation faith and Exodus deliverance. It was never imposed universally on all humanity. With Christ’s Resurrection, the Apostles and early Church Fathers affirmed Sunday—the Lord’s Day—as the true day of Christian worship.
The Catholic Church continues this unbroken apostolic tradition, teaching that Sunday fulfills the Sabbath commandment in Christ.
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
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