SABBATICAL CATECHISM

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 19, 1860

SABBATICAL CATECHISM.

Concluded.

Ques. How much ground have we now passed over on this subject?

Ans. We have noticed every book in the Old Testament in which the Sabbath is mentioned, and every instance of the occurrence of the word. We have found a harmonious testimony concerning it from creation downward, with no intimation of change or cessation.

Ques. As we have now come to the New Testament, the record of the new covenant, previous to which it is claimed that the Old Jewish Sabbath was done away, will you name every instance of its mention in the book of Matthew?

Ans. The Sabbath is mentioned in three different chapters in Matt., namely, xii, xxiv, and xxvii. In chap. xii it occurs in verses 1, 2, 5, 8, 10–12; in chap. xxiv, in verse 20; in chap. xxvi, in verse 1.

Ques. How long after the crucifixion of Christ was Matt. written?

Ans. About six years.

Ques. How many times mentioned in Mark?

Ans. Eleven times in six chapters, viz., i, 21; ii, 23, 24, 27, 28; iii, 2, 4; vi, 2; xv, 42; xvi, 1.

Ques. How many times mentioned in the book of Luke?

Ans. Eighteen times in five chapters, viz., iv, 16, 31; vi, 1, 2, 5–7, 9; xiii, 10, 14–16; xiv, 1, 3, 5; xxiii, 54, 56.

Ques. Under what circumstances was the Sabbath mentioned in the last of the above references?

Ans. It was after the crucifixion. After the women had beheld where the body of Jesus was laid, "they returned," says the record, "and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment."

Ques. Could this be true if the Sabbath was abolished at the death of Christ?

Ans. It could not.

Ques. What evidence then does the testimony furnish?

Ans. It is irrefragable evidence that the Sabbath, the seventh day, the day on which God rested, and which the Jews were required to keep, was binding this side of the crucifixion, in the gospel dispensation.

Ques. How many times is the Sabbath mentioned in John?

Ans. Eleven times in four different chapter; namely, v, 9, 10, 16, 18; vii, 22, 23; ix, 14, 16; xix, 31.

Ques. How many times in Acts?

Ans. Eight times in five different chapters; viz., xiii, 14, 27, 42, 44; xv, 21; xvi, 13; xvii, 2; xviii, 4.

Ques. Where was Paul when he kept the Sabbath according to the testimony of chap. xviii?

Ans. In Corinth.

Ques. Where was Corinth?

Ans. It was a city of Greece, about twelve degrees west from Jerusalem.

Ques. How great a difference of time would this difference of longitude involve?

Ans. About one hour.

Ques. How then could Paul keep the Sabbath in Corinth, where the time differed so much from that at Jerusalem?

Ans. Because it is not necessary, in order to keep the Sabbath, to observe the same absolute time, as the shallow argument of some is. It is only necessary to keep the Sabbath as it is brought to us by the revolution of the earth; hence, there is no difficulty in keeping it in different longitudes.

Ques. How do you know this?

Ans. From the very fact that Paul did keep the Sabbath at Corinth, where it would commence somewhere near an hour later than at Jerusalem.

Ques. How long did Paul remain at Corinth?

Ans. A year and six months, including seventy-eight Sabbaths. Acts xviii, 11.

Ques. How many of the allusions to the Sabbath in the New Testament have reference to a time subsequent to the crucifixion?

Ans. Fifteen; viz., Matt. xxviii, 1; Mark xv, 42; xvi, 1; Luke xxiii, 54, 56; John xix, 31; and the book of Acts throughout.

Ques. How long after the crucifixion was the book of Acts written?

Ans. About thirty years.

Ques. What fact does this establish?

Ans. It establishes the fact that the Sabbath is acknowledged by Inspiration as an existing institution in the gospel dispensation.

Ques. Does the term Sabbath occur in the New Testament subsequent to the Acts?

Ans. It does not.

Ques. Is the Sabbath anywhere brought to view in the New Testament under any other term?

Ans. Nowhere except in Rev. i, 10, under the title of Lord's day. If a day of the week is here intended, it must have reference to the Sabbath, as that is the day of which the Son of man is Lord. See Mark ii, 28.

Ques. As the New Testament is considered by Sunday-keepers a stronghold, as it is the only hold, for their institution, will you tell us how many times the first day of the week is mentioned in the New Testament?

Ans. Only eight times; and six of these have reference to scenes connected with the crucifixion and resurrection. The other two references [Acts xx, 7; 1 Cor. xvi, 2] furnish positive proof that the first day of the week was used as a secular day.

Ques. How does the Saviour define his relation to the law?

Ans. He says, Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. . . . Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled.

Ques. Does the word "all" here refer to the law?

Ans. It does not; it is neuter, plural, and means all things.

Ques. How do you know that the law here spoken of is the moral law?

Ans. Because it is our rule of righteousness? Verse 20.

Ques. But how does testimony in favor of the moral law help the Sabbath?

Ans. Because whatever is predicated of a thing as a whole, is predicated of all the parts contained under it; and the Sabbath rests in the very bosom of the decalogue.

Thus, like a bright sunbeam, runs the testimony of the word of God, from Genesis to Revelation, concerning the glorious rest day of Jehovah.