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The Day of Worship for the Christian Church

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The Day of Worship for the Christian Church Digital Commons @ George Fox University Western Evangelical Seminary Theses Western Evangelical Seminary 5-1-1967 The aD y of Worship for the Christian Church David Loren Patterson THE DAY OF WORSHIP FOR THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH A Biblical and Historical Study A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of Western Evangelical Seminary Portland, Oregon In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Bachelor of Divinity by David Loren Patterson May 1967 APPROVED BY Major Professor: __+.~~=-~!::...L.-'~:..L.L.-~r._. __ W.-=--~=--~=-:;...o:...o""'----- CooperativeReader:~(/vn/ /J1. ~~/ TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE PROBLEM UNDER CONSIDERATION . • . • • • • • . · • 1 Statement of the Problem ................. 1 The Problem Seen . eeooooooeooooooooe 1 The Problem Stated oeoooooooooooooo 2 Justliication for the Study • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2 A Real Conflict ••••••••••••••••oooo 2 A Worthy Goal . • • • 0 • o • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2 Definitions and Limitations . 0 • • • • 0 • • • • • • • • 0 3 Definition of Terms . ooooooooooooo 3 Christian. ••••••••o•••••••••••CI 3 Protestant 0 0 e 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 G 0 0 0 3 Roman Catholic • • • • 0 • • • • • • • 0 • • 0 0 • 3 Evangelical • . • 0 • 0 • • 0 • • • • • • • 0 0 3 Seventh Day Groups ................ 4 Limitations of Study • • • • • 0 • • • • • • 0 • 0 0 0 • 5 Preview of Organization ················· 5 The Scriptural Studies ················ 5 The Other Studies • . • • • • • • 0 • • • • • • 0 6 History and Resources • ooaooooooooooaooo 6 iii CHAPTER PAGE History of the Problem. 0 0 • • • 0 • 0 • 6 The Resources Utilized o • • • o • • a o • o • 7 II. AN OLD TESTAMENT STUDY OF THE DAY OF WORSHIP 8 In the Books of the Law . • o • • • o • • • • • • 8 Scriptural Introduction to the Principle of Worship 8 The first record of acts of worship • • • • • 9 The first usage of the term worship • • • o 10 The first commandments concerning worship 12 Scriptural Introduction to the Concept of Sabbath . 14 The fourth commandment • 14 The other record . 15 The terms used . • . 17 Scriptural Introduction to the Purpose of Sabbath . 21 Remember Jehovah the Creator • 22 Remember Jehovah the Deliverer • 0 • • • • 26 Remember Jehovah the Sustainer •o••ooooo• 27 Scriptural Introduction to the Modes of Sabbath • . 29 Sabbath applied to a year or years . • . 29 Sabbath applied to the feasts of Israel 31 Sabbath applied to the special days . • 32 Scriptural Introduction to the Observance of Sabbath 35 iv CHAPTER PAGE Significant terms connected with observance • . 35 Numerous rules concerning observance • . 36 Penalties for violations of observance . • 37 In the Books of Prophecy 39 The Sabbath a Sign for Israel • 0 0 • • 39 The sabbath to be a sign . 39 The sign to be for Israel . Q • • • • • 40 The sign that was to come 43 The Sabbath Profaned and Suspended . 47 The sabbaths are mandatory . ••• . 47 The sabbaths are profaned . 48 The sabbaths are suspended . 51 In the Other Old Testament Books 54 The Sabbath Renewed 55 Affirmation of the law . 55 Renewal of the sabbath. 56 Enforcement of the sabbath. 57 Worship in the Psalms •• 58 The terms of worship . 58 The principle of rest 60 The day of the Lord . • • • 0 • • 62 v CHAPTER PAGE Chapter Summary ••••••••••o•ooo••• 64 III. A NEW TESTAMENT STUDY OF THE DAY OF WORSHIP .• 66 The Teachings and Examples of Christ . 66 The Teachings of 1esus • . 66 Concerning the sabbath 67 Concerning the law . 69 Concerning the future . 72 The Examples of 1esus •••ooooooooo 74 Synagogue visits 74 Sabbath healing 76 Lord's Supper . 78 The Resurrection of 1esus . • 0 • 0 • 79 The resurrection day . 80 The third day • • 0 • • • • • • • • • 81 The first day • • • 0 • • • • 82 The Teachings and Examples of Paul . 84 The Epistle to Romans 84 Unto the Lord • . 85 United in death . 85 Not under law • 87 The Epistle to Galatians • • • 0 87 vi CHAPTER PAGE Law is a curse •••oooooo~oooo•Cll•o 87 Law is beggarly •••••••eoooooo•OOco 89 Law is profitless . 0 • • • • • • • • • • • • 0 • 90 The Epistle to Colossians • • • 0 • • 0 • • 0 • • • • • 91 Cross ends curse. 0 • • • 0 " • • 0 • • • • • • • 91 Judging is forbidden • ,.• • 0 • • • 0 • • • • • • 92 Christ replaces shadows • . • . • • • . • . 93 The Other New Testament Teaching . • • • • • • • • • • . 95 The Resurrection Fellowship ············· 95 The Lord's church ................. 96 The Lord's rest o•••••••••••••••••• 98 The Lord's day 0 0 • • • • • • 0 • • • 0 0 • • • 0 102 The Resurrection Manifestations ............ 106 Resurrection and appearances ............ 107 Events that followed •oGooooooooooooo 110 Easter and Pentecost ••••••••••oooooo 113 The Resurrection Life o•oooooooooooooo 115 Christ the Day Star • • • • 0 • • • • 0 • • • 0 116 Christ our circumcision • • • • • • • • • • • • • 0 117 Christ's new creation • ooooooooooooooo 118 Chapter Summary • . • • . ............... 121 vii CHAPTER PAGE IV. A BIBLICAL STUDY OF LAW AND GRACE • • 0 0 0 0 124 Under the Old Covenant • • 0 • 0 0 0 0 • • 0 • • • 0 124 The law a covenant of human works . 125 The law a covenant of definite time . 127 The law a covenant of death in sin ......... 130 Under the New Covenant • • • 0 0 • • 0 134 The law of faith 0 • 0 • • • 135 The law of love • • ..... .. 140 The law of liberty • 144 The Day of Worship . 146 The absence of a commandment. 146 The absence of any commandments . 150 The absence of legal demands • 0 • 0 • 152 Chapter Summary . • . • • • • 154 V. A HISTORICAL STUDY OF THE DAY OF WORSHIP 157 The Old Testament Period 0 0 0 0 • 158 The two theories • 0 • • • 0 • • 158 The new sects • 0 0 • • 0 161 The new rules . • 0 • 166 The Early Church Period , • • 0 • 0 0 172 The first two centuries • • • 0 • 0 • 0 0 • 0 172 viii CHAPTER PAGE The next two centuries 0 • • • • • 178 The decrees and councils 182 The Later Church Period . • • 185 The Middle-Ages period • 185 The Reformation period . 189 The modern period 193 Chapter Summary .. 198 VI. AN ANALYSIS OF SEVENTH-DAY GROUP TEACHINGS. 201 Their Theological Approach . 201 The exalting of the law 202 The emphasis of a commandment . 207 The keeping of the sabbath . 211 Their Historical Approach . 214 The blaming of the pope 214 The hiding of truth • • • 0 • • • • • 219 The adding to truth . 221 Their Approach Evaluated . 226 Not to be judged • • 0 • 227 Not another gospel 228 Not another way . 229 Chapter Summary . • 0 • • • • • • • • • • . 230 ix CHAPTER PAGE VII. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 234 Summary . • . • . • . • . 234 An 0 ld Testament study of the day of worship 234 A New Testament study of the day of worship 235 A Biblical study of law and grace . 237 A historical study of the day of worship 238 An analysis of seventh -day group teachings 239 General Conclusions . • • • • • • . 241 The importance of the Lord's Day. 241 The need for mutual respect • • . 242 The need for positive testimony. • 242 Specific Conclusions . 244 Concerning the law 244 Concerning the Sabbath 245 Concerning the Lord's Day .. 245 BIBLIOGRAPHY . • • • • . • • . 247 CHAPTER I THE PROBLEM UNDER CONSIDERATION "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy • • • but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God .••" (Ex. 20;8, 1 Oa). "Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years. I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain" (Gal. 4:10,11). I. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The problem seen. Above are given two Scripture passages, one from the Old Testament and the other from the New Testament. The former is part of a command to observe a day, "to keep it holy," while the latter is an obvious admonition against the observing of days and other such times. Here are two different approaches to the observance of a day, or as one considers the purpose of these "Days," it can be said that here are seen two different views concerning a day of worship. This difference is seen through- out the Old and New Testaments, respectively. It is also seen in the historic practices of observance of a day of worship during the centuries since the time of Christ. The Jews and certain other groups have stressed the seventh day of the week as the proper day of worship, while the main body of Christians observe the first day of the week for the assembling together for worship. A conflict has existed through the centuries because of this difference. This 2 conflict is the basis for the purpose of this study. The problem stated. Within the Judaeo-Christian framework there is the obvious conflict between the observance of the seventh day or of the first day of the week as the proper day for worship. The concern for this study is to analyze the day of worship as it concerns Christians in particular. Thus the problem under consideration is the conflict between the observance of Saturday or of Sunday as the day of worship for the Christian Church. II. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE STUDY A real conflict. "The Sabbath has constituted a point of violent . 1 controversy through the centunes." As one reads the pages of either secular or religious histories, the truth of this statement is clearly seen. Literature is widely distributed which stresses a particular point of view concerning the Sabbath. Many people are confused over this issue, and most of them have little basis for forming an understanding of the principles behind the issue. It is the purpose of this paper to provide information which can be used for a better understanding of the conflict and the issues involved. A worthy goal. This study is more than a mere stating of a problem and analyzing of it. It includes a study of the Scriptural teaching related to the I Horace G. Cowan, The Sabbath in Scripture and History (Kansas City, Missouri: Beacon Hill Press, 1948), Introduction. 3 problem and a survey of the historic practices concerning the problem at hand. It includes also an evaluation of these and some workable conclusions concern­ ing the resolving of the problem.
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