Is Keeping The Sabbath Affirmed In The New Testament? -- By: Thomas A. Howe

Journal: Christian Apologetics Journal
Volume: CAJ 08:2 (Fall 2009)
Article: Is Keeping The Sabbath Affirmed In The New Testament?
Author: Thomas A. Howe


Is Keeping The Sabbath Affirmed In The New Testament?

Thomas A. Howe

There is a generally accepted notion among Evangelicals that what is known as the ten commandments1 are all restated and reasserted as moral principles in the New Testament—that is, all except one, namely, the keeping the Sabbath. In the Old Testament, the Sabbath was supposed to be a day of rest, a ceasing from our works. The Sabbath did not, of course, originate with the Law of Moses, although it was certainly incorporated into the Mosiac Covenant. The Sabbath law was based upon the creation. After the six days of creative work, God rested on the seventh day:

Gen. 2:1

Now the heavens and the land were completed, and all their hosts.

וַיְכֻלוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ וְכָל־צְבָאָם

Gen. 2:2

And God ceased in the seventh day from His work which He did.

And He rested in the seventh day from all His work which he did.

וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מְלַאכְתּוֹ אְַשֶׁר עָשָׂה

ויִּשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מִכָּל־מְלַאכְתּוֹ אְַשֶׁר עָשָׂה

Gen. 2:3

And God blessed the seventh day and set it apart,

for in it He rested from all His work which God created in order to make.

וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מְלַאכְתּוֹ אְַשֶׁר עָשָׂה

ויִּשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מִכָּל־מְלַאכְתּוֹ אְַשֶׁר עָשָׂה

Verses 1 and 2 use the same verb to refer to the completion of the work (כָּלָה, kãlãh). Verse 1 uses a passive verb, “the heavens and the land were completed [וַיְכֻלוּ, waykulû],” and verse 2 uses an active form of the verb, “God completed [וַיְכַל, waykal] the work.” The seventh day is set apart from the six days not only by the specific declaration of God that He blessed the seventh day, but also by other factors indicated in the text. Fir...

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