UPON WHAT AUTHORITY? by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 9, 1880

UPON WHAT AUTHORITY?

By Dudley Marvin Canright

IN the word of God it is plainly commanded, "Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy." "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God," etc. Ex. 20:8-12. It is a part of that law of which Jesus says he came not to destroy, but to fulfill; and that till Heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle should in no wise pass, till all be fulfilled. Matt. 5:17-19. Upon what authority, then, do men transgress this plain precept of God's law, and keep another day instead—the first day of the week? Do they think they have not changed the law "one jot or tittle" (in the smallest letter or corner of a letter) when, by their teachings, they make it read, "The first day of the week is the Christian Sabbath," and that "the seventh day is the old Jewish Sabbath"? As if, t-h-e L-o-r-d t-h-y G-o-d spelled "Jewish," or that the first day and seventh day of a week were one and the same.

Again I ask, as Jesus says till Heaven and earth pass, every jot and tittle of the law shall remain, upon what authority do you transgress the fourth commandment, and keep as a substitute the first day of the week? Do you say Christ or his apostles gave you authority? I would ask, where is it to be found? It is not so commanded in the whole Bible, and is contradicted by the sayings of Christ and his apostles. Matt. 5:17-19; 19:17; Rev. 22:14; Rom. 3:31, etc.

Do you say we keep it to commemorate the resurrection of Christ, or the completion of redemption upon that day? I ask, by whose authority do you do it? Is it so commanded in the Scriptures? If not, and it is not, then you must keep it by tradition, or on your own, or somebody else's authority, besides the Bible; and the commandment of God is emphatically transgressed by your tradition. See Matt. 15:1-9. Again, where is it said that redemption was fully completed upon that day? We have redemption through his blood (Eph. 1:7; Rev. 5:9), but we are not redeemed yet, if the words of Jesus are allowed to have any weight. See Luke 21:25-28.

Why not take the memorials which the gospel furnishes for the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord? They are stated as plainly as our duty to keep the seventh-day Sabbath. Please read 1 Cor. 11; Col. 2:12; Rom. 6. Why do men wish to lay these aside, and substitute something of their own, other than that which the gospel that Paul preached, furnishes? and transgress the law of God in doing it? See Isa. 24:5, 6.

All the reasons, dear reader, that are put forth for Sunday observance, you will find like those we have just examined, to be wholly without Scriptural authority, and originating in the hearts of men. See Eze. 13:2-6; 22:26, 28, 30. There is no command for first-day observance in the Bible. Sunday is not in the Bible. It is never called by any sacred title whatever. The term "Christian Sabbath," is not in the Bible. The term "Lord's day" (Rev. 1:10), has reference to the seventh-day Sabbath, as you may see from the following texts of Scripture: Ex. 20:8-12; Isa. 58:13; Mark 2:28, etc.

The phrase, "first day of the week," occurs but eight times in the New Testament scriptures, and is called plainly, "first day of the week." The following are the texts: Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1-19; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2.

The inspired historian simply recorded the facts which occurred upon that day, the same as he did upon the Sabbath, and preparation day, but made no intimation that it was to be observed as a Sabbath, much less to take the place of God's holy day. Christ had promised that he would rise again the third day, and the first six of those texts are put on record for evidence to us, from those who knew, that he had risen as he had promised, and his words, or the prophecies concerning him, had not failed.

The seventh text records a meeting Paul held on the first day of the week, the only meeting ever held upon that day, that is spoken of, and it was held all night, as it was a farewell meeting. It was held corresponding with our Saturday night, according to Bible reckoning of time, which begins the day at even or sunset. Lev. 23:32; 22:6, 7; Mark 1:32; Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, etc. It was after the Sabbath, and they had come together to break bread, or eat their supper. See Acts 2:46. Luke, with other disciples, was working the boat around the peninsula, while Paul preached. A man was killed by a fall, and restored to life; this is probably why Luke records it. But the time upon which it occurred is not called by any sacred title. It was on the "first day of the week." The disciples always made a clear distinction between the first day and the Sabbath. They show that the day before the first day of the week is the Sabbath. See Luke 23:54-56; 24:1; See also Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:1, 2; 2:23-28. Sunday-keepers say, not so. Whom will you believe?

The eighth and last text where the first day is mentioned, shows that Paul required them to look up their secular accounts upon that day for the past week, which they would not do on the Sabbath, and for every one to lay aside, "by him," a certain prescribed proportion of that with which the Lord had prospered him. 1 Cor. 16:12. So instead of this giving any intimation of its being a sacred day, it shows it was devoted to attending to secular business, looking up accounts.

Now Jesus and his apostles always kept the Sabbath, and it was their custom to preach upon that day, as recorded in Luke 4:16; John 15:10; Acts 17:1, 2, etc. The Sabbath is mentioned fifty-nine times in the New Testament, and always refers to the seventh day of the week. We have a record of where Paul held eighty-four meetings upon the Sabbath. See Acts 13:14, 42, 44; 16:13; 17:1, 2; 18:1-11. Jesus taught that it should be kept. Matt. 12:12; 5:17-19; 19:16, 17.

Again I would ask, upon what authority God's holy Sabbath is transgressed, and the first day of the week used as a substitute? There being no Bible authority, is it not a tradition and commandment of men, and does it not make of none effect the commandments of God? "In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Matt. 15:3-9. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. 22:14.

W. C. GRAINGER.