Defending the Sabbath – Part I

Mainstream Christianity has numerous ways of defending their Sunday, first day of the week, the day the sun, and use several verses of New Testament scripture to support it. Only problem is that it is always a simple single verse or two completely taken out of context, usually from one of Paul’s letters, and twisted like a pretzel to fit their philosophical ideology.

Colossians 2:6-10

KJV^(i) 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: ⁷ Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. ⁸ Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy (G5385) and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. ⁹ For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. ¹⁰ And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

*G5385 – φιλοσοφία – “philosophy”, i.e. (specially), Jewish sophistry
Derivation: from G5386; KJV Usage: philosophy.

>G5386 – φιλόσοφος – fond of wise things, i.e. a “philosopher”
Derivation: from G5384 and G4680; KJV Usage: philosopher.

>>G5384 – φίλος – actively, fond, i.e. friendly (still as a noun, an associate, neighbor, etc.) Derivation: properly, dear, i.e. a friend; KJV Usage: friend.

>>G4680 – σοφός – wise (in a most general application)
Derivation: akin to σαφής (clear); KJV Usage: wise.

Satan was full of wisdom before he fell. (Eze. 28:12, Lk. 10:18) He knows the Word of God very well! (2Cor. 11:13-15) The falling away began long ago by many that were anti-Christ one way or another. (2Th.2:1-5, 1Jn. 2:18)

The most utilized verse used to support Sunday is:

Colossians 2:16-17

KJV^(i) 16 Let no man therefore judge (G2919) you in (G1722) meat, or in (G1722) drink, or in (G1722) respect (G3313)of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: ¹⁷ Which are a shadow (G4639) of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

*G1722 – ἐν” – in,” at, (up-)on, by, etc. Derivation: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537); KJV Usage: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in).

*G2919 – κρίνω – by implication, to try, condemn, punish. Derivation: properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); KJV Usage: avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.

*G3313 – μέρος – a division or share (literally or figuratively, in a wide application) Derivation: from an obsolete but more primary form of μείρομαι (to get as a section or allotment); KJV Usage: behalf, course, coast, craft, particular (+ -ly), part (+ -ly), piece, portion, respect, side, some sort(-what).

*G4639 – σκιά – “shade” or a shadow (literally or figuratively (darkness of error or an adumbration)) Derivation: apparently a primary word; KJV Usage: shadow. {an image or a sketch, outline, adumbration}

Many were trying to impose the Jewish Talmud which is different from the Torah which Jesus taught from. It is a book of ordinances with lists of “how to respect” and do the law and commandments, which was contrary to Jesus’ teaching. It was not the Law of Moses that was nailed to the cross, but the “handwriting of ordinances” (Talmud) that was “blotted out”. (Col. 2:14-15) To claim that this verse done away with the keeping of God’s Commandments is to call the Holy Scriptures a lie! (John 14:15,21, 15:10, Rev. 12:17, 14:12, 24,14, 2Jn. 2:1-4, 3:18-24, 5:1-3, Mt. 5:17-20) If the Torah has no authority, might as well rip the first books of Moses right out of your Bible.

Matthew 12:8

For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

“The Sabbath has no longer ceased from being Holy, any more than Jesus has ceased from being Lord of it.”

Proverbs 14:2

He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

Matthew 7:15-23

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Daniel 7:25

And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Isaiah 24:5

The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

Who changed seventh day sabbath?

• “The Sunday is a Catholic institution, and its claim for sacredness can be defended only on Catholic authority. In Holy Scripture, from the beginning to the end, we find not one single text which justifies the transfer of the weekly public worship service from the last to the first day of the week.” (Catholic Press, Sidney, 8-25-1900)
• “We celebrate Sunday instead of Saturday, because the Catholic Church has transferred the sacredness from Saturday to Sunday at the council of Laodicea in the year 364 AD.” (The Converts Catechism of Catholic Doctrine from P. Geiermann, the work of Pope Pius X, on 1-25-1910)
• “It pleased the church of God to transfer the celebration of the Sabbath to Sunday.” (Published Roman Catechism, p. 247, after the decision of the Council of Trent by order of Pope Pius V.)
• “The Sabbath, the best-known day of the law, was changed into the Lord’s day. These and others have not ceased because of instructions received from Christ, (because he himself says, I have not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it), but because due to the authority of the church they have been changed…” (Archbishop of Rheggio, Sermon 1-18-1562, Mansi 23, p. 526)
• “The seventh-day Sabbath was kept by Christ and the apostles and was celebrated by the first Christians and acknowledged as such until it was abolished by the Laodicean Council. This council first settled the question about the Lord’s Day and forbade the keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath under the issue of an Anathema (Curse).” (William Prynne, from “Dissertation on Lord’s Day”, pg. 32)
• “It was the holy Catholic Church who transferred the rest day from Saturday to Sunday, the first day of the week…Which Church does the whole civilized world obey? The Protestants…acknowledge great reverence towards the Bible, and yet by celebrating the Sunday they acknowledge the authority of the Catholic Church. The Bible says,

• ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy’, but the Catholic Church says, ‘No, keep the first day of the week holy!’ – and the entire world obeys her!” (Pater Enright on 12-15-1889)

• “The celebration of Sunday has always been a man-made arrangement.” (Neanders Church History, Vol. 1, p. 399)

Ezekiel 34

KJV^(i) 1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, ² Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? ³ Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. ⁴ The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. ⁵ And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. ⁶ My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. ⁷ Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; ⁸ As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; ⁹ Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; ¹⁰ Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. ¹¹ For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. ¹² As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. ¹³ And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. ¹⁴ I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵ I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. ¹⁶ I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment. ¹⁷ And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. ¹⁸ Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet? ¹⁹ And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet. ²⁰ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. ²¹ Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; ²² Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. ²³ And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. ²⁴ And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it. ²⁵ And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. ²⁶ And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. ²⁷ And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. ²⁸ And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. ²⁹ And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. ³⁰ Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD. ³¹ And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.

Sweet Pastures

The Scripture of Truth is like a beautiful pasture of plush green grass, and many sheep flocked to it to graze, but the taste was a little bitter. So, the sheep looked for shepherds who would sweeten the taste, and when the sheep grazed upon the flavored grass, the taste was not yet sweet enough. So, the shepherds sprayed the grass with a sweeter flavor, but the sheep were still not satisfied. Some other shepherds said to the sheep, “Try this other pasture, it is greener and sweeter.” So, the sheep followed those shepherds, and began to graze in the other pasture, and it was very sweet grass. The sheep grazed and grazed until they became very fat and lazy, and the shepherds were also made fat by the gratitude of the sheep.

Then the Head Shepherd returned for his flock and found his true pasture almost empty. So, he asked the shepherds there, “Where are my sheep? There were once many, now there are so few.” Then the shepherds of the true pasture said, “They have found a greener and sweeter pasture.” Then the Head Shepherd asked, “Were you so lazy to not call out unto them and bring any of them back?”

So, the Head Shepherd went to the other pasture and asked those shepherds, “What is this thing that you have done to my sheep, for I left them in my holy pasture?” Then, those other shepherds, trying to defend themselves, said, “It was the sheep! They wanted the sweeter grass, so we only did that which the sheep had asked.”

Then the Head Shepherd stood between the two pastures and shouted, “Woe to the idol shepherds that leave the flock! The sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. Woe to the shepherds of the flocks that do feed themselves! Should not those shepherds have feed the flocks?”

Then the fat and lazy shepherds asked, “How were we to know you would come by the old pasture first?” Then the Head Shepherd replied, “Did I not send you watchmen sounding the alarm to return to my holy pasture and have patience in my testimony?”

Then all those shepherds cried, “Yes, but we thought he was just a crazy old fool blowing on an old Jewish horn!”

LOLGB+