In the latest issue of the United Church of God's Beyond Today magazine, Scott Ashley wrote an article titled Was the Biblical Sabbath Changed to Sunday? For those hoping for an updated and more historically accurate version of this story, you are going to be disappointed. In the article, Ashley writes:
"When John finished his writings late in the first century, the books and letters that would form what we call the New Testament were complete. With his passing, however, trustworthy eyewitness accounts of events and changes in the Church largely ceased. We are left with little reliable information for the next several centuries."
Unfortunately, this statement is blatantly FALSE! Consider the following list of documents available to us from the First and Second Centuries:
The Didache
Epistle of Barnabas
Epistle of Clement of Rome
The Shepherd of Hermas
Epistles of Ignatius of Antioch (To Polycarp, Smyrnaeans, Philadelphians, Romans, Trallians, Magnesians, Ephesians)
Epistle of Polycarp
Writings of Justin Martyr
Against Heresies by Irenaeus of Lyons
If you're interested in examining these primary historical sources from this period of Church history, please visit Early Christian Writings
Also, you may want to take a look at these posts by me:
Early Christianity: From Sabbath to Sunday
Christian Sunday Observance Did NOT Originate in Ancient Pagan Practice
Hello Lonnie,
ReplyDeleteI just read Scott Ashley's article. (Link: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-magazine/was-the-biblical-sabbath-changed-to-sunday).
To me, the article comes across as well written and clearly informs the reader about the history of how Christianity changed from the early Christian practices of the biblical apostles to what we see today in mainstream Christianity. I agree with Scott Ashley's commentary.
I note that you do not mention the sources that Mr. Ashley cited to support his views.
As for the sources you cited: They are not recognized, even by mainstream Christianity, as being a part of the biblical scriptures.
I believe that any teaching or advocation within them that runs contrary to what was taught and practiced in the early NT church, as revealed in the Bible, should be rejected.
Dean
Dean