Scripture References

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 16, 1878

Scripture References.

THE SABBATH.

1. THE word Sabbath is found in the Scriptures (in its singular and plural forms) 166 times; 106 times in the Old Testament, and 60 times in the New Testament. In the Old Testament the word refers as many as 81 times to the weekly Sabbath, called the Sabbath of the Lord, and the remaining 25 times it is used in reference to festival days, and sabbaths of the land. In the New Testament, the Sabbath of the Lord is mentioned 59 times, and those local sabbaths, which expired by limitation and ceased at the cross, are mentioned once.

THE SABBATH OF THE LORD.

2. The Sabbath in the Old Testament. Ex. xvi, 23, 25, 26, 29; xx, 8, 10, 11; xxxi, 13, 14, 15, twice, 16, twice; xxxv, 2, 3; Lev. xix, 3, 30; xxiii, 3, twice, 11, 15, twice, 16, 38; xxiv, 8; xxvi, 2; Num. xv, 32; xxviii, 9, 10; Deut. v, 12, 14, 15; 2 Kings xi, 5, 7, 9, twice; xvi, 18; 1 Chron. ix, 32; 2 Chron. xxiii, 4, 8, twice; Neh. ix, 14; x, 31, twice; xiii, 15, twice, 16, 17, 18, 19, thrice, 21, 22; Isa. lvi, 2, 4, 6; lviii, 13, twice; lxvi, 23; Jer. xvii, 21, 22, twice, 24, twice, 27, twice; Eze. xx, 12, 13, 16, 20, 21, 24; xxii, 8, 26; xxiii, 38; xliv, 24; xlvi, 1, 4, 12; Amos viii, 5. Total, 81.

3. The Sabbath in the New Testament. Matt. xii, 1, 2, 5, twice, 8, 10, 11, 12; xxiv, 20; xxviii, 1; Mark i, 21; ii, 23, 24, 27, twice, 28; iii, 2, 4; vi, 2; xv, 42; xvi, 1; Luke iv, 16, 31; vi, 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9; xiii, 10, 14, twice, 15, 16; xiv, 1, 3, 5; xxiii, 54, 56; John v, 9, 10, 16, 18; vii, 22, 23; twice; ix, 14, 16; xix, 31, twice; Acts i, 12; xiii, 14, 27, 42, 44; xv, 21; xvi, 13; xvii, 2; xviii, 4. Total, 59.

4. Remarks on the New Testament. It was written by inspiration of God, in the Christian age, for the instruction of those who should live in this age; hence the inspired name of the seventh day of the week, in the Christian dispensation, is the Sabbath, while the next day following is simply called the first day of the week.

5. The Sabbath was instituted at creation. Gen. ii, 1–3; Ex. xx, 11; Mark ii, 27; Heb. iv, 4.

6. It was pointed out and enforced before the law was given at Sinai. Ex. xvi, 4, 22, 23, 25–30.

7. The Sabbath law is recognized in the New Testament. Matt. xii, 12; Luke xxiii, 56.

8. Apostolic example for the Sabbath. Acts xvii, 2; xvi, 13; xviii, 3, 4, 11; xiii, 42, 44.

9. The above texts, and also Acts xiii, 14, 15, 27; xv, 21, show that the apostles and evangelists acknowledged the name of the Sabbath as belonging to the seventh day in this dispensation.

CEREMONIAL SABBATHS.

Old Testament. Lev. xvi, 31; xxiii, 32, twice; xxv, 2, 4, twice, 6, 8, twice; xxvi, 34, twice, 35, 43; 2 Kings iv, 23; 1 Chron. xxiii, 31; 2 Chron. ii, 4; viii, 13; xxxi, 3; Neh. x, 33; Isa. i, 13; Lam. ii, 6; Eze. xlv, 17; xlvi, 3; Hosea ii, 11; Lev. xxiii, 24, 39, twice. Total, 28.

New Testament. Col. ii, 16. The “days” mentioned in Rom. xiv, 5, 6, are annual feast-days. Compare with Lev. xxiii, 24–41.

TIME TO COMMENCE THE SABBATH.

1. The Sabbath is a memorial of Jehovah’s rest on the seventh day, after he had created all things in six days; hence it begins with the evening, according to the first division of time.

2. Every twenty-four-hour day begins with the evening. Gen. i, 5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31; Lev. xxiii, 32; Neh. xiii, 19.

3. The evening begins with the setting of the sun. Lev. xxii, 6, 7; Deut. xxiii, 11; Judg. xiv, 18; Josh. viii, 29; x, 26, 27.

4. Christ healed the sick at even, or sunset. Matt. viii, 16, compare with Luke iv, 40; Mark i, 32.

FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK.

1. The first day of the week is mentioned only eight times in the New Testament, and not in a single instance is it referred to as a holy day, or Sabbath. Matt. xxviii, 1; Mark xvi, 2, 9; Luke xxiv, 1; John xx, 1, 19; Acts xx, 7; 1 Cor. xvi, 2.

2. In contrast with the above, we find the Sabbath of the Lord mentioned fifty-nine times in the New Testament, besides Rev. i, 10, which speaks of the “Lord’s Day,” which is proved by Ex. xx, 10; Isa. lviii, 13; Mark ii, 27, to be the seventh day.

3. As the testimony of the “Fathers” is invariably referred to in support of the first day of the week, it would not be amiss to give the opinion of Dr. Clarke on these writings.

“We should be cautious how we appeal to heathens, however eminent, in behalf of morality; because much may be collected from them on the other side. In like manner we should take heed how we quote the fathers in proof of the doctrines of the gospel; because he who knows them best, knows that on many of those subjects they blow hot and cold.” —Autobiography of Adam Clarke, p. 134, book III.