"Upon the First Day of the Week":
Some people remain in confusion about what should be done on the first day of
the week. What should we as Christians do? Many think it is no different than
any other day, while some regard it as near sacred. We shall examine the
scriptures and see what is said on the subject.
Some people believe it is a time to give to God's
service. In the New Testament, I have not found anything telling us that it
matters when or how often we give, but that it is done; and it is likely a good
idea to give regularly, lest we forget.
Such people may try to prove their point by giving the
example of when Paul said to gather on the "first day of the week".
(The phrase "first day of the week", (what we call Sunday) is used only twice in Scripture, except for when referring to the day when
Jesus rose from the dead.)
In this passage, Paul writes to the Corinthians,
wanting them to collect a special offering that would be sent to Jerusalem. He
wanted to make sure it got taken up before he came, so he told them when to
gather it:
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that
there be no gatherings when I come. (1 Corinthians 16:2)
And there is the passage when Paul preached unto them
at Troas, and this was the day mentioned. This likely wasn't the
only day he spoke to the Christians there:
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them,
ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts
20:7)
Some take this to mean that we are to break bread
every first day of the week; I see no problem with remembering the Lord's
Supper at this time, or at any other, for it says:
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's
death till he come. (1 Corinthians 11:26)
Which Jesus told us to do:
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying,
This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. (Luke 22:19)
We have several occasions where the apostles and early
Christians gathered together on the first day of the week. We can be sure that
there is nothing wrong with doing so, although it should not be made "holy". In
summery, the scripture says that: - Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week.
- At least a few times the believers in the early church met on the first day of
the week.
- Jesus appeared to the Apostle John near the beginning of the book of Revelation
on
"the Lord's day", which refers to the first day of the week.
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of
a trumpet, (Revelation 1:10)
This seems to suggest that we should "keep" the first
day of the week. In contrast however, we have the verses that say:
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let
every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. (Romans 14:5)
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an
holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (Colossians 2:16)
If it were very important which day we were to
remember and give
to Him, would He not have told us directly? Also, He doesn't tell us to meet
together
weekly, (although there is absolutely nothing wrong with this, and should
likely be done more than once a week). The only commandment on
this subject is that we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;
but exhorting one another... (Hebrews 10:25)
Brethren, let us not forsake the assembling of
ourselves together in His name. Let us search the scriptures, (Acts 17:11) and, prove all things; (1 Thessalonians 5:21) Hold fast that which is good.
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