Facts of Faith

Sabbath Reform In Scandinavia

THERE were many Sabbath-keepers in Norway even in the days of Catholicism. The Sabbath seems to have been brought to the Scandinavian countries partly by the Waldenses, and partly as a direct work of the Spirit of God. But Rome was no more favorable towards the Sabbath there than in other parts of the world. When the Inquisition of the twelfth century scattered the Waldenses, they were forced to flee to more obscure places and to countries lying on the outskirts of civilization, and as the persecution continued, they gradually drifted into Scandinavia. Then, too, in the “Catechism” that was used during the fourteenth century, the Sabbath commandment read thus: “Thou shalt not forget to keep the seventh day.” ²¹ We are told by Swedish historians that the Sabbath-keeping public claimed that angels had appeared to them, instructing them to keep the Sabbath on Saturday. Of the church council held at Bergen, Norway, August 22, 1435, we read: FAFA 178.1

“The first matter concerned a superstitious keeping holy of Saturday. It had come to the ear of the archbishop that people in different places of the kingdom, ‘partly from the weakness of nature, partly by the deceptions and promptings of the devil,’ had ventured to adopt and keep holy days, which neither God nor the holy Church had ordained or sanctioned, but on the contrary is against the commands of both, ‘namely the keeping holy of Saturday, which Jews and heathen used to keep, but not Christians.’ It is strictly forbidden - it is stated - in the Church-Law, for any one to keep or to adopt holy days, outside of those which the pope, archbishop, or bishops appoint.” — “The History of the Norwegian Church under Catholicism,” R. Keyser, Vol. II, p. 488. Oslo: 1858. FAFA 178.2

At another church conference, held at Oslo, the next year, the same archbishop commanded: FAFA 179.1

“It is forbidden under the same penalty to keep Saturday holy by refraining from labor.” — Id., p. 491.

In another old publication from nearly the same period we find this accusation against the priests: FAFA 179.2

“Also the priests have caused the people to keep Saturdays as Sundays.” — “Theological Periodicals for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Norway,” Vol. I, p. 184. Oslo: P. T. Mallings, 1871. FAFA 179.3

Sabbath-keepers continued to keep the Bible Sabbath in Norway, in spite of persecution, for we read of new laws made against them in 1544: FAFA 179.4

“I, Christoffer Whitefeldt, [governor] over Bergenhus, Stavanger, and Vaardoem, greet all you peasants kindly and with good wishes, who live in the district of Bergen. Dear friends: Mr. Gieble Pederson, superintendent of the district of Bergen, related to me that some of you have kept Saturday holy, especially at Arendal in Sogen, contrary to the ordinance given you last year by Peter Ottesen, my brother, and Niels Bernsen, who had charge of the palace by my authority, in my absence, in which you have done very wrong, and would receive great damage if I would punish you. But, however, because of the solicitation of Mr. Gieble, the superintendent, I will still forbear with you. But now it has been determined at the public Parliament for these two districts, Bergen and Stavanger, that whoever is found keeping Saturday holy shall be fined ten mark in money. So now ye know what ye have to go by. FAFA 179.5

“In the next place you are rebellious and disobedient in the Holydays you keep, and are not willing to be satisfied with those which the priest announces which are contained in the ordinance. We now command you in the name of His Majesty, the King, that you solemnly obey the ordinance of His Grace. And whoever disobeys, he shall by my sheriff be punished for his rebellion as a rebellious and disobedient citizen, and be fined ten mark.” — “History of King Christian the Third,” Niels Krag and S. Stephanius, Vol. II, “Statutes and Ordinances,” p. 379. Copenhagen: 1778. FAFA 179.6