IS SUNDAY A SABBATH?

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 9, 1860

"IS SUNDAY A SABBATH?"

[THE following article was sent to the Crisis for publication; but as it has not appeared in that paper, we give it, with the permission of the writer, a place in the REVIEW.—Ed.]

The article in the last No. of the Crisis, headed as above, in which the writer argues the question affirmatively, and labors to prove from the Word the existence of a first-day or Sunday Sabbath, induces me to notice briefly his proof texts, and thus show, in my judgment, that the brother's conclusion is incorrect.

In the first place allow me to say that, though I am not by practice what is termed a Sabbatarian, yet from recent investigations I am strongly inclined to the opinion that the seventh day is the only true Sabbath. And as I am ever desirous to arrive at truth in all that pertains to Bible faith and doctrine, I take the present occasion to notice the question raised by the brother, hoping thereby to provoke further discussion of the subject through the Crisis.

The brother says, "If I mistake not, and my eyes and judgment do not lead me astray, I do find that Sunday is really a Sabbath," and claims "assuredly" that it is the Sabbath of "this dispensation" which we are to observe in contradistinction to the "shadowy Sabbath which reached to the substance—Christ, and then ceased its obligation." His first text is Matt. xxviii, 1, where he says we "will find two Sabbath-days, Saturday and the first day of the week; and that the original for both days is Sabbaton." He also refers us to Mark xvi, 1, 2, 9; Luke xxiv, 1; John xx, 1, 19; Acts xx, 7; 2 Cor. xvi, 2, in all of which texts may be found the phrase, "The first day of the week," and in summing up the case, says, "Wherever then we find this phraseology, 'The first day of the week,' the original word is Sabbaton, which signifies Sabbath, or rest."

Now I am not a Greek scholar, but I find on referring to my Greek Concordance, that it is simply the word "week" that corresponds with the Greek Sabbaton, and not the whole phrase, "The first day of the week," so that first day no more answers to the original term, Sabbaton, than second day, third day, or any other day of the week; hence I think the texts quoted by the brother fail to prove a first day Sabbath.

There is one other text in the New Testament containing the word "week," translated from the same original word Sabbaton. It is Luke xviii, 12, being a part of the self-righteous Pharisee's prayer, when he says, "I fast twice in the week," and surely the brother will not claim that the phrase, "I fast twice in the week," is synonymous with the phrase, "The first day of the week," and signifies Sabbath, or rest, though I think he may with as much propriety in the one case as the other.

From the circumstance that the Sabbath was the principal day of the week, the whole period of seven days was likewise called Sabbath, or in the Hebrew Shabat, in the Syriac Shabtu, and in the Greek Sabbaton, and hence the Jews in designating the days of the week, would say the first day, and second day, &c., of the Sabbath; i. e., of the week; hence the brother's mistake in making the original term, Sabbaton read too much when translated into English. There are other points in the brother's article that I would like to notice, were it not that my communication is already too lengthy. Will Bro. S. give us more proof?

J. M. A.

Somerset, N. Y., July 15, 1860.