Why on the First Day of the Week?

[Article written by Matt Nevins. Originally published in his email newsletter “The Lamp.”]

In various settings I have been privileged to discuss topics relating to the Bible. From such discussions I have learned so many things from individuals that I have admired and have the greatest respect for this day. The instruction and training with such individuals has been an asset when talking to those of my peers in the world. One question that is asked frequently is about why those of the churches of Christ worship on Sunday. Some of the questioners claim to be Christians of various denominations that have left the pattern in participating in worship on another day instead of worshipping on the first day of the week. The time may come when those in the household of faith will also begin to ask this question.

Any question in regards to our lives as Christians, the answer must come from the Scriptures. Paul said, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Col. 3:17). This is said right after instruction concerning the type of music that is acceptable in worship to God to charge those in Colossae to test to be assured that such activities are in fact authorized by God and not a commandment of man. It is sad to see people no longer desire to follow a pattern, but create a new thing to please men. Solomon rightly said “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Pro. 16:25). It is not man that sets the standards of righteousness, but God who created man. Man may think he knows what is right, but having a skewed perspective can lead to certain destruction.

Do we worship on the first day of the week out of convenience, mere tradition, or by the pattern that has been established in the Scriptures? A friend once stated that it seemed a bit unclear why we worship on the first day of the week. They recognized that it happened in Acts 20:7, but was unsure if this was an isolated event or out of practice. I would suggest to the reader that the first century saints worshipped on the first day of the week due to the established standard that was given since the time of the Church’s existence.

The Church can be found first in reality on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. It is important to first note that the day of Pentecost was a feast established in the Law of Moses. Leviticus 23:15-16 gives the timing of this feast as fifty days after the Passover Feast and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Jews were instructed to count seven Sabbaths and one day to make fifty. The day after the Sabbath would therefore be the first day of the week, it is on this day that the Church came into existence. After the instruction by Peter in Acts 2:38, we find that those added to the apostles began to participate in activities together. The activities detailed are teaching by the apostles, breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42). These are activities that are practiced in worship. The pattern from the beginning was done on the first day of the week.

Another occasion when worship was practiced on the first day of the week is found in Acts 20. In Acts 20:6 Paul and Luke met with Paul’s other traveling companions in Troas. While in Troas the party stayed five days where we are told in verse 7 that while being gathered to break bread, Paul preached before the saints in Troas. The purpose for the gathering of the saints was to break bread on this first day of the week. This particular day is right after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, not being Pentecost as the feast had just ended the previous week. It would appear that Paul and his company delayed leaving Troas so that they may be with the saints when they would gather to break bread. The practice of breaking bread was not a new thing practice for the saints, for saints have been practicing this since the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.

If a person were to argue that the Scriptures do not specifically state that we are to worship on the first day of every week, that person must show which Sundays are the designated days of worship. Just as the Jews kept the Sabbath day holy (Ex. 20:8), so also the Christians observed the first day of the week as a day of worship (Acts 2, 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:1-2). It is not to say that the Sabbath in the Old Testament is equivalent to the observance on the first day of the week, for the Sabbath fell on the seventh day and work was not permitted. In the New Testament, there are no instructions to indicate it is sinful to work on the first day of the week. What is noted is that Christians gathered to worship on the first day of the week. The point at hand is that just as the wording for the Sabbath day keeping designated each Sabbath, so also does the indication of worship on the first day of the week.

Another passage to support this conclusion is found in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2. Paul told the Corinthians, “Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.” Translators have recognized the implication that is given by the writer in this passage. There was not a special first day of the week for the saints to give. Rather this would be done regularly each time the saints would gather in order to prepare the gift to be sent to the needy saints in Jerusalem.

Whenever a question is raised why Christians practice an activity, there must be authorization given in the Scriptures to permit the practice. Without authority, we have become our own gods and have departed from the One True God. Whatever we do in word or deed, we must do so with the authority of Christ. Do the Scriptures only authorize worship on a specific first day of the week? As discussed above, the answer is no. Just as each week has a first day, there is instruction for us to worship on the first day of the week.


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