How is the sabbath understood in early Christianity? [Monday Q&A]

How do Eastern Christians understand the Sabbath? Do Orthodox Christians take the Sabbath seriously? What does "Sabbath" even mean?
Short answer: The sabbath is a type of death that precedes the resurrection. The early Christians understood the Sabbath typologically is pointing to the "harrowing of hades" that occurred prior to the resurrection. The Sabbath is experienced in the liturgical life of the Church on Bright Saturday or the Saturday of Lights between the Friday of the Crucifixion and the Feast of the Resurrection.
Photo of our baptismal font: www.timesofisrael.com/israel-...

[@minasoliman]

I had a very good discussion with a 7th day Adventist some time ago. He really was receptive to everything concerning the Orthodox tradition except the issues with “not taking Sabbath seriously” because it was part of the 10 commandments (interestingly he was fine with my explanation of the defense of icons). I didn’t have a good response other than Christ fulfilled the Sabbath, and verses from the NT regarding Sabbath for man not man for the Sabbath. But I do appreciate this video. This is a good explanation.

[@ProfessorMichaelWingert]

Yeah, the question assumes too much and can be posed in the reverse. Why reduce the Sabbath to a politically-oriented matter of labor laws for the purpose of spiritual reflection?

[@23dgedSWORD]

@minasoliman what response are you looking for?

[@petarjovanovic1481]

Many people don't know that the Orthodox Church has kept Shabbat (Saturday) Holy for 2000 years. This is how the Orthodox Church observes Shabbat. The Church has laws which: 1. Mandate relaxed fasting during Lent on Shabbat Day; 2. Mandate that the Christian sacrifice of bread, wine and our bodies can only be offered on Sabbath Day and Lord's Day during Lent; 3. Forbid kneeling on Shabbat Day during Lent; 4. Strictly mandate reading of the scriptures on the Sabbath; 5. Mandate that "the birthdays of Saint's martyrdom" (beautiful expression) (commemoration of the day on which the Saint died) in Lent can only be done on Shabbat Day and Lord's day 6. And finally the canon which forbids "resting on Shabbat as Jews do" (meaning keeping all the Jewish Shabbat rules) but recommending to Christians to rest (if they can) on the Lord's Day. Recommending, "if they can", because Christians are commanded to work until Lord's second glorious coming and NOT to rest. There is no such thing as obligated Christian rest. The Church has always given special importance to the Shabbat becouse it is to be kept Holy in Christ for all eternity. The most holy Shabbat is Shabbat Gadol (Great Shabbat) on which God rested from all His works by being dead in the sepulchre, trampling down death by death. But there is something greater then the Shabbat, Holy and Great Pascha which we celebrate every Lord's Day, one day after the Shabbat, the 8th day, the Day not of this world and not in this world. "This is the chosen and Holy Day, the king over all Sabbaths, the Feast of Feasts, and Triumph of Triumphs, on which let us bless Christ forever" -excerpt from the Resurrection cannon Also, it is highly recommend to go to Church on Friday evening (the start of the Shabbat) and Saturday morning, particularly in a monastery. You will see how Shabbat day (which starts on Friday evening) is celebrated in the Orthodox Church.

[@sammyk157]

good content, thank you.

[@ProfessorMichaelWingert]

Glad you liked it!

[@scented-leafpelargonium3366]

The pre-Roman Celtic Church of Britain & Ireland kept the Sabbath after the practice of the Quartodeciman churches founded by John the Apostle across Asia Minor until the Synod of Whitby in 664, after which the British Church turned Roman, with the later Protestants keeping those Roman dates and 'holy days' such as 'Christ-Mass' & 'Easter' without question. ☘

[@susanrasmussen8124]

From a practical use, what do doctors, nurses, CNAs do? Leave people die? Or the dairy farmer, if cows are not milked at certain times daily, there will be bacteria in the milk and the cow itself will suffer sickness.

[@23dgedSWORD]

@susanrasmussen8124 at that point, a willingness to volunteer and serve would be sufficient instead of those professions being called in to work. God will take care of the rest.

[@bekangreppachuau4561]

Even before the world exist,even adam and evi exist there is already 10 commandments in heaven its the law and the word of God so sabbath day(Saturday) is the true day to worship him

[@gparker7019]

Keep Shabbat! The seventh day, the fourth commandment. John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Scripture cannot be broken (#3089 - annulled) Scripture can't be annulled. It is eternal, it abides forever. 3089. luó Strong's Concordance luó: to loose, to release, to dissolve Definition: to loose, to release, to dissolve Usage: (a) I loose, untie, release, (b) met: I break, destroy, set at naught, contravene; I break up a meeting, annul. 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. You will hear a common argument against observing or keeping a seventh day sabbath something similar to "well its not commanded in the new Testament so I don't have to keep it, or it's no longer in effect" or similar. But we are told numerous times the Scripture is eternally valid. It can't be annulled. We don't need to have a repeat commandment to know the seventh day sabbath is valid. We are told oh so clearly and often that scripture cannot be made of no effect. If for some unknown reason sabbath was abolished in all the arguments Jesus had about sabbath we would perhaps expect Jesus to say "silly person, sabbath will be annulled shortly don't even question anything about it". But that's not what the writing records. Jesus defends time and again what is right and correct to do or allow on shabbat. We see his followers keeping it, in detail. No back and forth about it ending or that Judaism really has the wrong day, etc. Two examples. In both these examples the followers of Jesus observe sabbath rules, and the writer is particular in pointing out the detail. Luke 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment Acts 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. Knowing that Jesus said scripture can't be annulled, failing to keep the seventh day shabbat is a lack of faith in Jesus. A lack of belief or trust. Essentially calling Jesus a liar. Isaiah 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.

[@thomaspayne3347]

Baruk attah. Let those with eyes see, and those with ears hear! As the gentles shall come from the ends of the earth and say, surely our father’s have inherited lies, vanity, and worthlessness! The Catholic Church openly admits, that it was her act, changing the Sabbath to Sunday/ the first day of the week, at the Council of Laodicea in 336 AD/ CE. Shalom friend

[@MSHOOD123]

Satanic lies through "traditions" and antisemitism crept in among the believers that's why it's not kept by the western churches.

[@gparker7019]

There is more to this idea but ver briefly on "8th day". Dear friends this is pure sin bordering on idolatry if not outright. Jeroboam changed the feast of the 7th month to the 8th. The jerusalem talmud records he really changed all the feast set times including shabbat. Interestingly Daniel indicates the anti-messiah will do same. We dont have to rely on the talmud though, several prophets -ezekiel and notably Hosea speak againt the sabbath plural of the northern kingdom. They are NOT APPROVED. There are several church writings particulalry from catholic sources that talk about the church changing the sabbath from 7th day to 8th because it is "more spiritual"! This is simply the sin of Jeroboam!! I am certain jeroboam justified his man made system with how much more holy it is. God forbid. 1 Kings 12:32 Jeroboam also instituted a feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month, 10:06

[@gparker7019]

Terrible teaching and advice friends. The seventh day is a shadow picture of the millenial reign. Ill post another comment on 8th day. Keep Shabbat! The seventh day, the fourth commandment. John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Scripture cannot be broken (#3089 - annulled) Scripture can't be annulled. It is eternal, it abides forever. 3089. luó Strong's Concordance luó: to loose, to release, to dissolve Definition: to loose, to release, to dissolve Usage: (a) I loose, untie, release, (b) met: I break, destroy, set at naught, contravene; I break up a meeting, annul. 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. You will hear a common argument against observing or keeping a seventh day sabbath something similar to "well its not commanded in the new Testament so I don't have to keep it, or it's no longer in effect" or similar. But we are told numerous times the Scripture is eternally valid. It can't be annulled. We don't need to have a repeat commandment to know the seventh day sabbath is valid. We are told oh so clearly and often that scripture cannot be made of no effect. If for some unknown reason sabbath was abolished in all the arguments Jesus had about sabbath we would perhaps expect Jesus to say "silly person, sabbath will be annulled shortly don't even question anything about it". But that's not what the writing records. Jesus defends time and again what is right and correct to do or allow on shabbat. We see his followers keeping it, in detail. No back and forth about it ending or that Judaism really has the wrong day, etc. Two examples. In both these examples the followers of Jesus observe sabbath rules, and the writer is particular in pointing out the detail. Luke 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment Acts 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. Knowing that Jesus said scripture can't be annulled, failing to keep the seventh day shabbat is a lack of faith in Jesus. A lack of belief or trust. Essentially calling Jesus a liar. Isaiah 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.