p. 85 | SUNDAY by A. S. Hutchins

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 7, 1876

SUNDAY

By A. S. Hutchins

Buck, in his Theological Dictionary in speaking of Sunday, says, “The ancient Saxons called it by this name, because upon it they worshiped the sun; and shall Christians keep up the memory of that which was highly displeasing to God, by calling the Sabbath by that name, rather than by either of those he hath appointed? [Meaning Lord’s day and Sabbath.] It is, indeed, called Sunday, only because it is customary; but this, say they, will not justify men in doing what is contrary to the example and command of God in his word.”

Now one might justly infer from this that there is some example or command in the Bible for calling Sunday, Lord’s day, or Sabbath. But all the proof given sustaining this position is: “The words Sabbath and Lord’s day, say some, are the only names mentioned in Scripture respecting this day.”

The fact in this case is, the only name mentioned in the Scripture respecting this day is “first-day” or “first day of the week.”

Mr. Buck closes the article by saying, “But although it was in the primitive times indifferently called the Lord’s day, or Sunday, yet it was never denominated the Sabbath; a name constantly appropriated to Saturday, or the seventh day, both by sacred and ecclesiastical writers.”

A. S. Hutchins.