Christ Resurrected On Saturday Morning

[Samie]

There is only one verse in Scriptures that explicitly say when Christ rose from the grave. All other resurrection verses only tell of the coming of some of the Lord’s followers to the sepulcher only to find an already empty tomb. That empty tomb was proof He has indeed risen. But when? Only Mark 16:9 says when: on ‘proi prote sabbatou’

The Greek phrase ‘proi prote sabbatou’ is better rendered ‘early morning of the chief sabbath’ rather than the generally accepted ‘early morning of the first day of the week’. It is worth noting that the Greek makes no mention of ‘day’(hemera) nor of ‘week’(hebdomas). In fact, in the Septuagint, ‘sabbatou’ (genitive, singular) always refer to ‘sabbath’ (a single day) and NEVER to ‘week’ (7 days). But the Sunday-keeping Bible translators seemed to have put in a tint of doctrinal bias in their rendering of the phrase in order to give a semblance of Scriptural authority to their Sunday-keeping.

But why ‘chief sabbath’? Because in that paschal week, other than the weekly sabbath, there also occurred a ceremonial sabbath. Between the weekly sabbath which the Lord calls ‘my sabbath’ and a ceremonial sabbath referred to by the Lord as ‘your sabbath’ the chief is undoubtedly the weekly sabbath, Saturday.

That ceremonial sabbath was the sabbath that had passed when the women followers of the Lord bought spices (Mk 16:1) which they prepared before they rested the weekly sabbath (Lk 23:56). Since preparation of the spices and ointments was before the weekly sabbath, it was done Friday. Also, since the ceremonial sabbath preceded the preparation of spices, having only bought the spices after this ceremonial sabbath had passed, it was therefore Thursday. This ceremonial sabbath occurred after preparation of Passover the day before, which was, of course, Wednesday.

It was preparation of Passover when Christ was crucified (John 19:14ff), and therefore Wednesday. 3 days and 3 nights later, as the Lord Himself specified (Mt 12:40), He rose from the grave ‘proi prote sabbatou’ = ‘early morning of the chief sabbath’.

daytime Wednesday = day 1; … nighttime Wednesday = night 1
daytime Thursday = day 2; … nighttime Thursday = night 2
daytime Friday = day 3; … nighttime Friday (which covers the whole night until before sunrise Saturday) = night 3

In contrast, the Roman Catholic doctrine of Friday crucifixion and early Sunday morning resurrection can only account for 2 days and 2 nights.

Honest Sunday-keepers who keep Sunday believing it was His resurrection day would do well to become Sabbath-keepers upon knowing the Lord rose from the grave Saturday.

 

[Spencerian]

There is only one verse in Scriptures that explicitly say when Christ rose from the grave. All other resurrection verses only tell of the coming of some of the Lord’s followers to the sepulcher only to find an already empty tomb. That empty tomb was proof He has indeed risen. But when? Only Mark 16:9 says when: on ‘proi prote sabbatou’

The Greek phrase ‘proi prote sabbatou’ is better rendered ‘early morning of the chief sabbath’ rather than the generally accepted ‘early morning of the first day of the week’. It is worth noting that the Greek makes no mention of ‘day’(hemera) nor of ‘week’(hebdomas). In fact, in the Septuagint, ‘sabbatou’ (genitive, singular) always refer to ‘sabbath’ (a single day) and NEVER to ‘week’ (7 days). But the Sunday-keeping Bible translators seemed to have put in a tint of doctrinal bias in their rendering of the phrase in order to give a semblance of Scriptural authority to their Sunday-keeping.

But why ‘chief sabbath’? Because in that paschal week, other than the weekly sabbath, there also occurred a ceremonial sabbath. Between the weekly sabbath which the Lord calls ‘my sabbath’ and a ceremonial sabbath referred to by the Lord as ‘your sabbath’ the chief is undoubtedly the weekly sabbath, Saturday.

That ceremonial sabbath was the sabbath that had passed when the women followers of the Lord bought spices (Mk 16:1) which they prepared before they rested the weekly sabbath (Lk 23:56). Since preparation of the spices and ointments was before the weekly sabbath, it was done Friday. Also, since the ceremonial sabbath preceded the preparation of spices, having only bought the spices after this ceremonial sabbath had passed, it was therefore Thursday. This ceremonial sabbath occurred after preparation of Passover the day before, which was, of course, Wednesday.

It was preparation of Passover when Christ was crucified (John 19:14ff), and therefore Wednesday. 3 days and 3 nights later, as the Lord Himself specified (Mt 12:40), He rose from the grave ‘proi prote sabbatou’ = ‘early morning of the chief sabbath’.

daytime Wednesday = day 1; … nighttime Wednesday = night 1
daytime Thursday = day 2; … nighttime Thursday = night 2
daytime Friday = day 3; … nighttime Friday (which covers the whole night until before sunrise Saturday) = night 3

In contrast, the Roman Catholic doctrine of Friday crucifixion and early Sunday morning resurrection can only account for 2 days and 2 nights.

Honest Sunday-keepers who keep Sunday believing it was His resurrection day would do well to become Sabbath-keepers upon knowing the Lord rose from the grave Saturday.

Hi, and welcome to the Catholic Answers forums.

The answer is simple. Christians are not Jews. By the authority of Christ given to the Apostles, the day was changed to reflect the resurrection of our Lord, which was Sunday morning, known theologically as the “eighth day.” Your perception of time does not reflect how the Jews counted days culturally in that time (and, liturgically, today, which ended at sundown, not midnight by modern reckoning).

As you are a new forum member, you may not have thought to use the search feature to find the scriptural support for the Lord’s Day being the day of worship for Christians, as opposed to the Sabbath, which is the day of worship for Jews. This is a very common problem that’s addressed–although you didn’t ask a specific question on the subject.

Please see this Catholic Answers tract on why most Christians celebrate the Lord’s Day on Sunday. It specifically addresses how Seventh Day Adventism (formally founded in 1869) does not warrant a case for the change. You can also see this tract that answers, through Scripture and Early Church Fathers, why the change is authorized and supported through Scripture.

You can also use the search feature to find past discussions on this question.

If you have a specific question to ask other forum members after reading these articles, please do so.

 

[anodos]

The ancient Church knew Greek also, and they understood “the Lord’s Day” to mean the eighth day of the week, associated with His resurrection. Here is a website for a searchable online collection of the writings of the Church Fathers. A search for “Sabbath” or “Lord’s Day” may turn up something helpful. I mentioned Ignatius of Antioch’s Lord’s Day reference in this thread. There are Catholic Answers articles that have addressed the “Sunday problem” as well.

 

[Samie]

Hi, and welcome to the Catholic Answers forums.

The answer is simple. Christians are not Jews. By the authority of Christ given to the Apostles, the day was changed to reflect the resurrection of our Lord, which was Sunday morning, known theologically as the “eighth day.” Your perception of time does not reflect how the Jews counted days culturally in that time (and, liturgically, today, which ended at sundown, not midnight by modern reckoning).

As you are a new forum member, you may not have thought to use the search feature to find the scriptural support for the Lord’s Day being the day of worship for Christians, as opposed to the Sabbath, which is the day of worship for Jews. This is a very common problem that’s addressed–although you didn’t ask a specific question on the subject.

Please see this Catholic Answers tract on why most Christians celebrate the Lord’s Day on Sunday. It specifically addresses how Seventh Day Adventism (formally founded in 1869) does not warrant a case for the change. You can also see this tract that answers, through Scripture and Early Church Fathers, why the change is authorized and supported through Scripture.

You can also use the search feature to find past discussions on this question.

If you have a specific question to ask other forum members after reading these articles, please do so.

Thanks for the reply. Sadly, I don’t see any attempt at addressing the issue of ‘proi prote sabbatou’ in Mark 16:9. Again, this verse is the only verse of all resurrection verses that explicitly say when Christ resurrected.

 

[Samie]

[No message]

 

[Samie]

The ancient Church knew Greek also, and they understood “the Lord’s Day” to mean the eighth day of the week, associated with His resurrection. Here is a website for a searchable online collection of the writings of the Church Fathers. A search for “Sabbath” or “Lord’s Day” may turn up something helpful. I mentioned Ignatius of Antioch’s Lord’s Day reference in this thread. There are Catholic Answers articles that have addressed the “Sunday problem” as well.

Yes of course, they knew Greek and I don’t deny it. This is why I was wondering why the singular ‘sabbatou’ in Mark 16:9 which refers to one single day was made to refer to ‘week’ which we all know is a period of 7 days.

 

[pablope]

I am grateful for the reply. Oh, how I wish it had addressed ‘proi prote sabbatou’ of Mark 16:9, which again, is the only verse that explicitly say when Christ rose from the grave.

Mark 16
And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Him.

9Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils

They both refer to first day of the week, not the Sabbath. Jesus did not resurrect on the Sabbath…v9 says early first day of the week…so it is anytime from after the Sabbath…to the time before Mary Magdalene and the BVM visit the tomb and find it empty.

To properly understand this verse, I suggest you study the Jewish understanding and culture of the time…when Sabbath for them began and when it ended.

So…no, Jesus arose on the 1st day of the week…now we call Sunday…not the Sabbath, and we honor the Resurrection by worshipping on the the day of the Resurrection.

And it is also rooted in the Tradition we inherited from the Apostles…as practiced and written and accounted for in different historical documents and the Bible.

I think you can either reject this tradition of the Apostles, or follow one that is not rooted in the Apostles…but from your prophet who came 1800 years later.

 

[pablope]

T

It was preparation of Passover when Christ was crucified (John 19:14ff), and therefore Wednesday. 3 days and 3 nights later, as the Lord Himself specified (Mt 12:40), He rose from the grave ‘proi prote sabbatou’ = ‘early morning of the chief sabbath’.

 

[CB_Catholic]

There is only one verse in Scriptures that explicitly say when Christ rose from the grave. All other resurrection verses only tell of the coming of some of the Lord’s followers to the sepulcher only to find an already empty tomb. That empty tomb was proof He has indeed risen. But when? Only Mark 16:9 says when: on ‘proi prote sabbatou’

The Greek phrase ‘proi prote sabbatou’ is better rendered ‘early morning of the chief sabbath’ rather than the generally accepted ‘early morning of the first day of the week’. It is worth noting that the Greek makes no mention of ‘day’(hemera) nor of ‘week’(hebdomas). In fact, in the Septuagint, ‘sabbatou’ (genitive, singular) always refer to ‘sabbath’ (a single day) and NEVER to ‘week’ (7 days). But the Sunday-keeping Bible translators seemed to have put in a tint of doctrinal bias in their rendering of the phrase in order to give a semblance of Scriptural authority to their Sunday-keeping.

But why ‘chief sabbath’? Because in that paschal week, other than the weekly sabbath, there also occurred a ceremonial sabbath. Between the weekly sabbath which the Lord calls ‘my sabbath’ and a ceremonial sabbath referred to by the Lord as ‘your sabbath’ the chief is undoubtedly the weekly sabbath, Saturday.

That ceremonial sabbath was the sabbath that had passed when the women followers of the Lord bought spices (Mk 16:1) which they prepared before they rested the weekly sabbath (Lk 23:56). Since preparation of the spices and ointments was before the weekly sabbath, it was done Friday. Also, since the ceremonial sabbath preceded the preparation of spices, having only bought the spices after this ceremonial sabbath had passed, it was therefore Thursday. This ceremonial sabbath occurred after preparation of Passover the day before, which was, of course, Wednesday.

It was preparation of Passover when Christ was crucified (John 19:14ff), and therefore Wednesday. 3 days and 3 nights later, as the Lord Himself specified (Mt 12:40), He rose from the grave ‘proi prote sabbatou’ = ‘early morning of the chief sabbath’.

daytime Wednesday = day 1; … nighttime Wednesday = night 1
daytime Thursday = day 2; … nighttime Thursday = night 2
daytime Friday = day 3; … nighttime Friday (which covers the whole night until before sunrise Saturday) = night 3

In contrast, the Roman Catholic doctrine of Friday crucifixion and early Sunday morning resurrection can only account for 2 days and 2 nights.

Honest Sunday-keepers who keep Sunday believing it was His resurrection day would do well to become Sabbath-keepers upon knowing the Lord rose from the grave Saturday.

Prosetylizing is against forum rules. Your last sentence does exactly that.

 

[Samie]

Hi, pablope;

Thank you for venturing on a reply. Sadly, as with others, you failed to address the main issue on the Greek ‘proi prote sabbatou’ of Mark 16:9. Your mentioning of EGW is I think out of place. I never mentioned her in my OP; in fact, my position does not reflect hers.

In Christ Our Risen Lord,
Samie

 

[Samie]

Hi, CB Catholic;

Thanks for the reminder. I feel though it was not that necessary because I think I understand proselytizing differently from how you understand it.

And since you had not yet ventured to address the issue on the Greek ‘proi prote sabbatou’ in Mark 16:9, I think I will just have to wait for some other knowledgeable forum member to address it.

In Christ Our Risen Savior,
Samie

 

[Mintaka]

Well, first off, I’m not sure why you’re not asking in a forum full of Greek people, rather than of people who don’t speak Greek. You are no doubt aware that Greek Catholics and Orthodox and Protestants all read Greek, understand Greek, and have had the New Testament (read and written) for almost 2000 years.

So… why aren’t there a lot of “Sabbath-keepers” in Greece, if what you think you know is true? Don’t they know their own language? Aren’t they the best judges of what Greek expressions mean?

The fact of the matter is both are Hebrew loanwords, and that there’s not a lot of difference between the expressions “Day Seven” (Sabbath - Shabbat) and “Sevenday” (week - Shabbat-ha or Shebhua) in the way a Greek pronounces them. Since Shabbat in Hebrew can also be used to mean “religious week”, there’s even less difference when using it in that sense.

gospelgazette.com/gazette/2005/jan/page10.htm
Here’s a list of uses of “sabbatou” in the Bible.

 

[jmcrae]

Thanks for the reply. Sadly, I don’t see any attempt at addressing the issue of ‘proi prote sabbatou’ in Mark 16:9. Again, this verse is the only verse of all resurrection verses that explicitly say when Christ resurrected.

There were three Sabbaths in a row that weekend, since it was Passover - there was the Friday, which was the day of Sacrifice. Jesus died at the same moment as the Lamb of Sacrifice in the Temple, at the 3:00 hour. The veil was rent in twain at that moment, and all the priests saw it - meaning that they were in the Temple offering the Sacrifice at that very moment.

The second was the ordinary Sabbath - the Saturday - which was also a day of preparation for the Great Sabbath - Passover - which took place on the Sunday in that particular year. (Jesus had celebrated early, on Holy Thursday, without the Lamb of Sacrifice, offering instead the bread and the wine which He said (being the Word of God, whatever He said became real) were His Body and His Blood, given for many.

I don’t remember where I learned this, but I have known it since I was a child.

 

[Samie]

Thank you, Mintaka. Following are my comments to your reply.

Well, first off, I’m not sure why you’re not asking in a forum full of Greek people, rather than of people who don’t speak Greek. You are no doubt aware that Greek Catholics and Orthodox and Protestants all read Greek, understand Greek, and have had the New Testament (read and written) for almost 2000 years.

I’m not sure either how you knew there are not that many knowledgeable in Greek in this forum. Sorry, but I had thought otherwise, seeing this is in cyberspace.

So… why aren’t there a lot of “Sabbath-keepers” in Greece, if what you think you know is true? Don’t they know their own language? Aren’t they the best judges of what Greek expressions mean?

Well perhaps, for the same reason why there are lots of law-breakers in a nation governed by laws.

The fact of the matter is both are Hebrew loanwords, and that there’s not a lot of difference between the expressions “Day Seven” (Sabbath - Shabbat) and “Sevenday” (week - Shabbat-ha or Shebhua) in the way a Greek pronounces them. Since Shabbat in Hebrew can also be used to mean “religious week”, there’s even less difference when using it in that sense.

Can you please provide me with even one example in the Septuagint where “sabbatou” ever referred to “week”?

gospelgazette.com/gazette/2005/jan/page10.htm
Here’s a list of uses of “sabbatou” in the Bible.

Thank you. I surely appreciate it.

In Christ Our Risen Savior,
Samie

 

[anodos]

I am grateful for the reply. Oh, how I wish it had addressed ‘proi prote sabbatou’ of Mark 16:9, which again, is the only verse that explicitly say when Christ rose from the grave.

If ‘proi prote sabbatou’ had been an issue, wouldn’t it have been widely reflected in the earliest writings of Christianity?

 

[Samie]

There were three Sabbaths in a row that weekend, since it was Passover - there was the Friday, which was the day of Sacrifice. Jesus died at the same moment as the Lamb of Sacrifice in the Temple, at the 3:00 hour. The veil was rent in twain at that moment, and all the priests saw it - meaning that they were in the Temple offering the Sacrifice at that very moment.

The second was the ordinary Sabbath - the Saturday - which was also a day of preparation for the Great Sabbath - Passover - which took place on the Sunday in that particular year. (Jesus had celebrated early, on Holy Thursday, without the Lamb of Sacrifice, offering instead the bread and the wine which He said (being the Word of God, whatever He said became real) were His Body and His Blood, given for many.

I don’t remember where I learned this, but I have known it since I was a child.

Hi, jmcrae;

Thanks. I share with you the same observation of having different sabbaths in that Paschal week; although of course we differ on their specific weekdays of occurrence. This is why I started this thread.

In Christ Our Risen Savior,
Samie

 

[Samie]

If ‘proi prote sabbatou’ had been an issue, wouldn’t it have been widely reflected in the earliest writings of Christianity?

It could probably was an issue then, who knows. But surely, we can intelligently discuss this issue now that it had been brought out. Thanks, anodos.

 

[jmcrae]

It could probably was an issue then, who knows.

If it had been, then the Pope would have made a declaration on it, in writing.

But surely, we can intelligently discuss this issue now that it had been brought out. Thanks, anodos

Actually, we can read everything that has been written on the subject up to this point. Just do a “search” in this Forum - this is not the first time this issue has come up.

 

[puzzleannie]

.

by gosh you are right!
one amateur playing games with Greek has proven 2000 years unbroken Christian tradition based on eye witness accounts is wrong. good work, dude

 

[Samie]

If it had been, then the Pope would have made a declaration on it, in writing.

I believe silence is NEVER an evidence for or against an issue.

Actually, we can read everything that has been written on the subject up to this point. Just do a “search” in this Forum - this is not the first time this issue has come up.

Thanks for the suggestion. But could you help me out in the search? You could perhaps readily come across such and post the link right away.

Thank you, jmcrae.