Facts of Faith

The Conclusion

Dr. William Smith, LL.D., after carefully examining all the texts in the New Testament usually adduced in favor of the first day, comes to this conclusion: FAFA 92.4

“Taken separately, perhaps, and even all together, these passages seem scarcely adequate to prove that the dedication of the first day of the week to the purposes above mentioned was a matter of apostolic institution, or even of apostolic practice.” — A Dictionary of the Bible, art. “Lord’s Day,” p. 356. Hartford: Burr and Hyde, 1871.

The learned Dr. John Kitto sums up those texts in the following words: FAFA 93.1

“Thus far, then, we cannot say that the evidence for any particular observance of this day amounts to much; still less does it appear what purpose or object was referred to. We find no mention of any commemoration, whether of the resurrection or any other event in the Apostolic records.” — Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature (2-vol. ed.), Vol. II, art. “Lord’s Day,” p. 269. New York.

“‘But,’ say some, ‘it was changed from the seventh to the first day.’ Where? when? and by whom? No man can tell. No, it never was changed, nor could it be, unless creation was to be gone through again: for the reason assigned must be changed before the observance, or respect to the reason, can be changed!! It is all old wives’ fables to talk of the change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day. If it be changed, it was that august personage changed it who changes times and laws ex officio — I think his name is DOCTOR ANTICHRIST.” — Alexander Campbell, in “The Christian Baptist,” revised by D. S. Burnet, from the Second Edition, with Mr. Campbell’s last corrections, page 44. Cincinnati: D. S. Burnet, 1835. FAFA 93.2

A tract widely circulated against those who keep the seventh day as the Sabbath has this to say in its fourteenth proposition: FAFA 93.3

“If Christians are to keep the Sabbath day, how do you account for the fact that the apostles preached the gospel in Jerusalem, Samaria, to Cornelius the Gentile, and to many others, without commanding a single individual to keep it? Did they under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit fail to properly instruct their converts? “ FAFA 93.4

We answer: The Christians everywhere were keeping the seventh-day Sabbath, and there was an acknowledged law enforcing its observance. There was therefore no occasion for giving any commandment on this point. (Luke 23:52-56; 16:17; Matthew 5:17-19; Romans 3:31) And the apostles by their example and teaching had educated both Jewish and Gentile believers to keep the seventh-day Sabbath. (Acts 13:42-44; 18:14; 17:2; 16:12,13; 1 Corinthians 7:19; Romans 7:12; 3:31.) What more could they have done in this direction? FAFA 93.5

But if a new day (Sunday) was to be instituted among God’s people, how can we account for the fact that the apostles preached the gospel in Jerusalem, Samaria, to Cornelius the Gentile and to many others, without ever mentioning the institution of Sunday in place of the Sabbath, or ever commanding any one to keep Sunday, the first day of the week? If the day of rest was changed from the seventh to the first day of the week, how can we account for the fact that the New Testament is entirely silent about any such change, and that the apostles wrote four Gospels, and twenty-one letters to instruct the churches, besides the Acts and the Revelation, and never instructed the Christians to keep Sunday, or even mentioned it with any sacred title, but always as a “week” day; that is, a work day? Did the apostles, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, fail to instruct their converts properly? (See Acts 20:26, 27.) FAFA 94.1

The new Christian institutions of baptism and the Lord’s supper are clearly taught in the New Testament. We can point to the chapter and verse where they are commanded. Then why should not so important an institution as a new Christian rest day be mentioned? To this there can be but one answer: The silence of the New Testament as to any change of the weekly rest day is an indisputable evidence that no such change was made till after the New Testament canon was closed. FAFA 94.2