Topical Encyclopedia The term "Lord's Day" is traditionally understood within Christianity to refer to Sunday, the first day of the week, which is set aside for worship and rest in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This practice is rooted in the New Testament and has been a significant aspect of Christian worship and community life since the early church.Biblical Foundation The concept of the Lord's Day is primarily derived from Revelation 1:10, where the Apostle John writes, "On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet" . This reference indicates a specific day recognized by early Christians as belonging to the Lord, distinct from the Jewish Sabbath, which is observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening. Resurrection and Early Church Practice The significance of the Lord's Day is closely tied to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which occurred on the first day of the week. The Gospels record that Jesus rose from the dead on this day, as noted in Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:2, Luke 24:1, and John 20:1. This event transformed the first day of the week into a day of celebration and worship for the early Christians. The Book of Acts provides further evidence of the early church gathering on the first day of the week. Acts 20:7 states, "On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight" . This passage suggests that the early Christians met regularly on Sundays for fellowship, teaching, and the breaking of bread, which is understood as the Lord's Supper or Communion. Apostolic Instruction The Apostle Paul also makes reference to the first day of the week in 1 Corinthians 16:2, where he instructs the church in Corinth, "On the first day of every week, each 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" . This directive indicates that the first day of the week was a time for the church to gather and engage in acts of worship, including offerings. Historical Development The observance of the Lord's Day as a distinct day of Christian worship became more formalized in the post-apostolic period. Early church fathers, such as Ignatius of Antioch and Justin Martyr, wrote about the practice of meeting on Sunday, emphasizing its connection to the resurrection and its distinction from the Jewish Sabbath. Ignatius, in his letter to the Magnesians, refers to Christians as those who "no longer observe the Sabbath, but the Lord's Day, on which our life sprang up through Him and His death." Justin Martyr, in his First Apology, describes the Christian practice of gathering on Sunday for communal worship, reading of the Scriptures, and the Eucharist. Theological Significance The Lord's Day holds theological significance as a weekly reminder of the new creation inaugurated by Christ's resurrection. It serves as a foretaste of the eternal rest promised to believers and a celebration of the victory over sin and death. The observance of the Lord's Day is seen as an expression of Christian liberty, distinct from the legalistic observance of the Sabbath under the Old Covenant. Contemporary Observance In contemporary Christianity, the Lord's Day continues to be observed by many denominations as a day for corporate worship, rest, and spiritual reflection. While practices may vary, the central focus remains on honoring the resurrection of Christ and fostering community among believers. The Lord's Day serves as a weekly opportunity for Christians to realign their lives with the teachings of Christ and to participate in the life of the church. ATS Bible Dictionary Lord's-DaySee SABBATH. Library The Lord's Day The Lord's Day. The Lord's Day The Lord's Day. The Lord's Day. The Lord's Day; Or, Delight in Ordinances. The Lord's Day; Or, the Resurrection of Christ. The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ... The Lord's Day. Psalm 5. For the Lord's Day Morning. Thesaurus Lord's-day (1 Occurrence)Lord's-day. Lord's, Lord's-day. Lordship . Multi-Version Concordance Lord's-day (1 Occurrence). Revelation 1:10 I was ... /l/lord's-day.htm - 6k Eucharist Supper (17 Occurrences) Sabbath (126 Occurrences) Lordship (12 Occurrences) Botch (3 Occurrences) Sunday Day (17670 Occurrences) Lord's (548 Occurrences) Worship (332 Occurrences) Resources What is the Lord's day? | GotQuestions.orgWhat day is the Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday? Do Christians have to observe the Sabbath day? | GotQuestions.org What is the importance of the Lord's supper / Christian Communion? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Lord's-day (1 Occurrence)Revelation 1:10 Subtopics Related Terms |
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