That Greek Prop for Sunday.
By Uriah Smith
A CORRESPONDENT of the A. C. Times writes to that paper that “one who claims to be a Greek scholar” says Matt. 28:1 should read “after the last Sabbath, early on the first Sabbath,” &c., and asks for light. In reply the Times anchors itself on the claim so long ago exploded, that one series of Sabbaths there ended and another commenced. It says: “The idea seems to be that it was a time when one Sabbath was past and another was beginning.” Are our friends aware how many new series of Sabbaths they are introducing by making the μίαν σαββάτων of Matt. 28:1, the first Sabbath of a new series? Let us suppose as they claim that the old series, the Jewish Sabbaths, as they call them, there ended, and the first of the new series, the Christian Sabbaths, Sunday, was there introduced. This was at the time of the resurrection of Christ. We now come down to the year 59, when Paul met with the disciples at Troas, Acts 20:7, and we find the same expression again used. On the μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων, when the disciples came together to break bread. Now if μίαν σαββάτων in Matt. 28:1 denotes the beginning of a new series of Sabbaths there, the same expression in Acts 20:7 denotes the beginning of a new series here, many years later. What series was this? If the series of Sunday Sabbath commenced at the resurrection of Christ what other series commenced in A. D. 59? Will they tell us? Again, in 1 Cor. 16:2 we find another μίαν σαββάτων, upon which the disciples were directed to lay by their liberalities. Here is a new date and a new series. What series was this, and what has become of it? If the Greek of the New Testament proves anywhere the introduction of one new series of Sabbaths, it proves the introduction of at least three new series; and if one of these is to be taken up and observed, on this ground, the others should also be, or good reason be given why they should not be so observed. But aside from this fact, which is sufficient of itself to annihilate this argument, the attempt to establish a new Sabbath from the expression in Matt. 28:1, betrays a very deficient acquaintance with the Greek language. The reader is referred to the little tract published at this Office, entitled “Sabbaton,” for a full explanation of the Greek of Matt. 28:1, and parallel passages.