The issue of whether Sunday is the Christian Sabbath has been debated for centuries among Christians. The seventh day, Saturday, was established at creation as the Sabbath day of rest (Genesis 2:2-3). After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the early church began meeting on Sundays, the day Christ rose from the dead, to celebrate and commemorate His resurrection (Mark 16:9; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). Does this mean Sunday replaced Saturday as the new Christian Sabbath day? There are differing perspectives.
The Sabbath in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, the Sabbath day was established by God as a day of rest on the seventh day of the week – Saturday. After God finished the work of creation in six days, He rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2-3). This set the pattern for a seven-day week with the seventh day being a day of rest and remembrance of God’s creative work. The day of rest was later incorporated into the Ten Commandments as one of the ten foundational laws God gave Moses for the nation of Israel (Exodus 20:8-11). The punishment for breaking the Sabbath by doing work was death (Exodus 31:14-15; 35:2). The Sabbath served as a sign between God and the Israelites to remind them that He alone is the Lord who sanctifies them (Exodus 31:13; Ezekiel 20:12,20). Strict Sabbath-keeping was required under the Mosaic law.
Sunday in the New Testament
In the New Testament, there is no clear command by Jesus or His apostles to change the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. However, there are several references to Sunday in connection with the resurrection of Christ and the early church’s pattern of meeting and worshipping on that day.
Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, Sunday (Mark 16:9). The apostle John called Sunday “the Lord’s Day” in Revelation 1:10, indicating its significance for early believers. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out while the apostles were gathered together on a Sunday (Acts 2:1; Leviticus 23:15-16). The early church commonly met to break bread, signifying the Lord’s Supper, on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). The collection of the monetary offering also occurred on Sundays during church meetings. These factors point to Sunday becoming the special worship day for the early church to commemorate Christ’s resurrection.
Two Main Perspectives
There are two main Christian perspectives on whether Sunday is the Sabbath:
- Sunday as the Christian Sabbath – Some Christians, particularly in Reformed/Presbyterian circles, view Sunday as inheriting the principles of Sabbath rest and becoming the new Christian Sabbath day. They argue that the moral foundation of the fourth commandment – setting aside one day in seven for rest and worship – remains binding, though its application changed from the seventh to the first day in commemoration of the resurrection. The Westminster Confession of Faith, a Reformed doctrinal statement, declares the Sabbath was changed from the seventh to the first day of the week.
- Sunday as the Lord’s Day – Other Christians view Sunday as the “Lord’s Day” marking the day Jesus rose from the dead, without equating it as the Sabbath. They believe the strict Sabbath regulations were part of the Mosaic law that was fulfilled by Christ (Colossians 2:16-17; Romans 14:5-6). The apostle Paul taught that no one should judge others regarding observance of Sabbath days, indicating their observance is not obligatory for Christians (Colossians 2:16-17). This perspective holds that the principle of resting and honoring God remains, but Saturday is not the mandated day – ‘one person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike’ (Romans 14:5). The day is not as important as the heart attitude.
While Sunday became an important day for Christian worship and celebration of Christ’s resurrection, there is no clear biblical commandment changing the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first day. Some Christians feel obligated to uphold Sunday as a new Sabbath, while others see it as a day to honor Christ without strict Sabbath restrictions. There is freedom in Christ regarding observance of days (Colossians 2:16-17).
Bible Verses on the Sabbath and Sunday
Old Testament Verses on the Sabbath
- Genesis 2:2-3 – “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”
- Exodus 20:8-11 – “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
- Exodus 31:14-15 – “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death.'”
- Isaiah 58:13-14 – “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord.”
- Ezekiel 20:12 – “I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.”
- Ezekiel 20:20 – “Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”
New Testament Verses Related to Sunday
- Matthew 28:1 – “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.” ( Indicates Jesus rose on Sunday)
- Mark 16:9 – “When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.” (Direct statement Jesus rose on Sunday)
- Mark 16:2 – “Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb.” (Jesus had risen on Sunday before the women arrived)
- Luke 24:1 – “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.” (The empty tomb was discovered on Sunday morning)
- John 20:1 – “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.” (Reinforces Jesus rose on Sunday)
- John 20:19 – “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!'” (Jesus appeared to His disciples on the Sunday evening after His resurrection)
- Acts 20:7 – “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.” (Early Christians met to take communion on Sundays)
- 1 Corinthians 16:2 – “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” (Paul instructed the Corinthian church to collect offerings on Sundays)
- Revelation 1:10 – “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.” (John refers to Sunday as “the Lord’s Day”)
Verses on Christian Freedom Regarding Sacred Days
- Romans 14:5-6 – “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.”
- Galatians 4:9-11 – “But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you.”
- Colossians 2:16-17 – “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
Key Considerations
In summary, here are some key considerations on whether Sunday is the Christian Sabbath:
- The Sabbath was firmly established at creation and included in the Ten Commandments as the seventh day – Saturday.
- Jesus Christ fulfilled the demands of the Mosaic law (Matthew 5:17; Romans 10:4).
- The New Testament nowhere commands Sabbath-keeping on Sunday or equates Sunday as the “Christian Sabbath.”
- Sunday became an important day of worship and gathering for the early church to commemorate Christ’s resurrection.
- Some Christian denominations view Sunday as the new Christian Sabbath and the fulfillment of the fourth commandment with slight changes.
- Other Christians view Sunday as the Lord’s Day but believe strict Sabbath-keeping is not required, emphasizing freedom in Christ (Colossians 2:16-17).
- Neither Saturday nor Sunday are inherently “holier” than other days, according to Romans 14:5. The New Testament emphasizes inner spiritual rest, not outward ritual observance (Hebrews 4:9-11).
- The principle of honoring God by setting aside time for worship and rest remains, though Christians disagree on whether a specific day is absolutely binding.
This complex theological issue has been interpreted differently for centuries. Sabbath practices are not central to justifying salvation. Colossians 2:16 instructs believers not to pass judgement on others regarding observance of Sabbaths, indicating freedom in Christ.