jcrichton,
re: “I am not stating that Scriptures calls the 1st day of the week the Day of the Lord…”
But if by “Sunday” you mean the first day of the week, then you did call it the “Lord’s Day”.
re: “I am saying that the Apostles gathered together, broke Bread, and Worshiped on the 1st day of the week because Jesus’ Resurrection was on the first day of the week”.
Actually, as far as the Bible is concerned, there are only two times mentioned with regard to anybody getting together on the first (day) of the week - John 20:19 and Acts 20:7. There is never any mention of them ever again being together on the first. The John reference has them together in a closed room after the crucifixion because they were afraid of their fellow Jews. Nothing is said about a celebration, worship service or day of rest. The Acts reference has them together because Paul happened to be in town and he apparently wanted to talk to them before he had to leave again. The breaking of bread mentioned (even if it were referring to the Lord’s Supper) had nothing to do with placing a special emphasis on the first (day) because Acts 2:46 says that they broke bread every day. And nowhere does scripture ever say that anyone gathered on the first day of the week in recognition of the resurrection.
…not to delve into technicalities… but do you believe that if it is not Written in Scriptures it is not part of Church Doctrine?
The problem with sola Scriptura is that it fails to accept the fact that the Apostles preached the Gospel first–for a good few decades!
Also, the same people that subscribe to sola Scriptura are quite selective about what in Scriptures they accept as God’s Commandment…
…here’s a little conundrum: where in Scriptures do we have ‘Jesus/the Apostles taught that those of the Way should not gather in the local synagogues?’
Nowhere, right?
Yet, it happened! The Apostles and Believers gathered for Worship outside of the Judaic customs (Temple and synagogues).
In Scriptures we have the following Revelation:
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42, 46-47)
It is revealed that the Apostles, along with the community of the Believers, gathered together everyday to brake bread, to fellowship, learn, pray, and praise God–they did this in the temple’s courts!
Though Scriptures do not Reveal when this gathering in the temple courts ceased, we know that the Way became persecuted and that the Church emerged outside of Judaic practices.
Since, the Apostles and the Believers gathered together everyday to brake Bread and Worship, why would it be necessary to emphasize that they met on Sunday (Acts 20:7) if not to separate this particular day from the rest of the week?:
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. (1 Corinthians 16:2)
So how did the Sunday become the Worship day for Christians? Here’s what St. Justin Martyr stated:
And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. (
prayerfoundation.org/justin_martyr_early_christian_worship.htm)
…this is why the Tradition of the Apostles (Oral and Written) is important; without the Succession of the Apostles there are so many seeming inconsistencies with what has transpired in the Church through time.
Interestingly enough, those who want to take the Church back to its origins refuse to see her as an organism that, through the Succession of the Apostles, has remained, by the function of the Holy Spirit, as Christ foretold Simon:
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (St. Matthew 16:18)
Maran atha!
Angel