Day: The First Day of the Week Called the Lord's Day
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The term "Lord's Day" is traditionally understood within Christianity to refer to the first day of the week, Sunday, which is observed as a day of 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 since the early church.

Biblical Foundation

The resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first day of the week is a pivotal event that underpins the observance of the Lord's Day. The Gospels record that Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week. In the Berean Standard Bible, Matthew 28:1 states, "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb." Similarly, Mark 16:2, Luke 24:1, and John 20:1 all affirm that the resurrection occurred on this day, marking it as a day of great significance for Christians.

Early Church Practice

The early Christians began to gather on the first day of the week to break bread and worship, as seen in Acts 20:7 : "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 practice indicates that the first day of the week had already become a special day for the early church, distinct from the Jewish Sabbath.

In 1 Corinthians 16:2 , the Apostle Paul instructs the church in Corinth, "On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion of his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will be needed." This further suggests that the first day of the week was a regular time for the Christian community to gather and engage in acts of worship and charity.

Theological Significance

The designation of the first day of the week as the Lord's Day is deeply theological, symbolizing the new creation inaugurated by Christ's resurrection. It represents a shift from the old covenant, with its observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, to the new covenant, where the focus is on the risen Lord. Revelation 1:10 provides a direct reference to the Lord's Day: "On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet." This passage, attributed to the Apostle John, indicates that by the end of the first century, the term "Lord's Day" was already in use to describe this day of Christian worship.

Historical Development

Throughout church history, the observance of the Lord's Day has been a central aspect of Christian life. The Didache, an early Christian document, instructs believers to gather on the Lord's Day to break bread and give thanks. The writings of early church fathers, such as Ignatius of Antioch and Justin Martyr, also affirm the practice of meeting on Sunday for worship, distinguishing it from the Jewish Sabbath.

The Lord's Day has been recognized as a day of rest and worship, a time for Christians to gather for communal worship, partake in the Lord's Supper, and engage in acts of mercy and service. This observance serves as a weekly reminder of the hope and victory found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, anchoring the Christian faith in the transformative power of the risen Lord.
Nave's Topical Index
Revelation 1:10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Lord's Day
... The majority of people, being accustomed from their infancy to hear the first day
of the week called the Lord's Day, conclude in their own minds that that day ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bullinger/commentary on revelation/the lords day.htm

The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ...
... Ever afterwards the first day of the week was observed ... Jews, continued for some time
to meet together also on the Saturday; but, what was called "The Lord's ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the lords daythe.htm

Meditations of the True Manner of Practising Piety on the Sabbath ...
... disciples being come together to break bread upon the first day of the week, that
is ... none kept those meetings but Christians, who are called disciples (Acts ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/meditations of the true manner.htm

Thou Shalt Sanctify the Holy Day. [Remember the Sabbath Day to ...
... have no need of it [holy days]), but first of all ... leisure, we must devote several
hours a week for the ... observed and practised, there a true holy day is being ...
/.../luther/the large catechism/thou shalt sanctify the holy.htm

When the Nation of the Picts Received the Faith of Christ. [565 AD ...
... day of the week; but being rude and barbarous, they had not learned when that same
first day after the Sabbath, which is now called the Lord's day, should come ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap iv when the nation.htm

The Third Day in Pasion-Week - the Last Series of Parables: to the ...
... it may have been spoken previously to Passion-Week, perhaps on ... been in the general
terms of a day's wages, but ... now appealed to justice; but from first to last ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v the third day.htm

Another Heresy, that of the Sabbatians, is Originated by the ...
... when the fourteenth day of the moon falls upon the first day of the week, in which ...
days between the fourteenth day of the moon and the following Lord's day. ...
/.../chapter xviii another heresy that of.htm

A Day to be Remembered
... intends us to observe the first day of the week, because that ... the day altogether,
for I mean this very day when I am speaking to you, this first of October ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 46 1900/a day to be remembered.htm

Moreover, if Discourse must be Bestowed Upon Any...
... of his departure being close at hand, his discourse was protracted until midnight,
it was the first day of the week, which is called the Lord's Day: whence we ...
/.../augustine/of the work of monks /section 21 moreover if discourse.htm

1875-1877. Mrs. Way's Sewing --Class for Jewesses --Bible Flower ...
... of peculiar interest, as George Clarke, the first-fruits of ... to behold on that which
is called the Lord's Day in a so ... two poor boys who came on a week day to ask ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lowe/gods answers/chapter vi 1875-1877 mrs ways.htm

Resources
If Jesus was crucified on the Day of Preparation, why had He already eaten the Passover meal? | GotQuestions.org

What day is the Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday? Do Christians have to observe the Sabbath day? | GotQuestions.org

On what day was Jesus crucified? | GotQuestions.org

Day: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Day

Day and Night

Day Before the Sabbath

Day of Atonement

Day of Christ

Day of Judgment

Day of Rest

Day of the Lord

Day of Yahweh

Day: A Creative Period

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Day of Gladness

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Day of Good Tidings

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Day Which the Lord Has Made

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Good Day

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Solemn Day

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Adversity

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Anger

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Calamity

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Darkness

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Destruction

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Evil

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Slaughter

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of The Lord

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Trouble

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Vengeance

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Visitation

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Wrath

Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of God's Power

Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of Redemption

Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of Salvation

Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of Visitation

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Break of

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Decline of

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Evening

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Morning

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Noon

Day: Artificial, the Time of the Sun's Continuance Above The

Day: Day's Journey, Eighteen or Twenty Miles

Day: Divided Into Twelve Hours

Day: Judgment: A Figure of Spiritual Illumination

Day: Judgment: Called the Day of the Lord

Day: Later Subdivided Into Twelve Hours

Day: Made for the Glory of God

Day: Natural, from Evening to Evening

Day: Proclaims the Glory of God

Day: Prophetic

Day: Prophetical, a Year

Day: Sabbath Day's Journey, About Two-Thousand Paces

Day: Six Working Days Ordained

Day: Sometimes Divided Into Four Parts

Day: Spiritual Light

Day: Succession of, Secured by Covenant

Day: Th Sixth Day of the Week Called Preparation Day

Day: The First Day of the Week Called the Lord's Day

Day: The Light First Called

Day: The Path of the Just

Day: The Time for Labour

Day: Time of Judgment

Day: Time of, Ascertained by the Dial

Day: Times of Adversity Called Day of the Lord

Day: Under the Control of God

Day: Wild Beasts Hide During

Related Terms

Birth-day (2 Occurrences)

Holy-day (2 Occurrences)

To-day (208 Occurrences)

Sabbath-day (23 Occurrences)

Day-time (11 Occurrences)

Noon-day (8 Occurrences)

Day-star (2 Occurrences)

Day's (19 Occurrences)

Feast-day (5 Occurrences)

Judgment-day (4 Occurrences)

Mid-day (4 Occurrences)

Good-day (2 Occurrences)

Day-spring (2 Occurrences)

Festival-day (1 Occurrence)

Fast-day (1 Occurrence)

To-day's (1 Occurrence)

Day-break (1 Occurrence)

Preparation-day (1 Occurrence)

Three-day (2 Occurrences)

Seven-day (2 Occurrences)

Lord's-day (1 Occurrence)

Sabbath-day's (1 Occurrence)

Self-same (17 Occurrences)

Selfsame (18 Occurrences)

Servile (13 Occurrences)

Yesterday (13 Occurrences)

Yearling (48 Occurrences)

Sepulcher (48 Occurrences)

Susa (20 Occurrences)

Quail (5 Occurrences)

Quenched (22 Occurrences)

Sailed (28 Occurrences)

Xerxes (24 Occurrences)

Sixth (45 Occurrences)

Sunset (18 Occurrences)

Sailing (23 Occurrences)

Spoiling (20 Occurrences)

Shineth (13 Occurrences)

Yeast (48 Occurrences)

Vows (38 Occurrences)

Sheaf (11 Occurrences)

Vengeance (63 Occurrences)

Sepulchre (57 Occurrences)

Sorry (27 Occurrences)

Visitation (17 Occurrences)

Spent (76 Occurrences)

Quails (4 Occurrences)

Zeru'iah (24 Occurrences)

Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Survived (15 Occurrences)

Succeeding (7 Occurrences)

Shadows (11 Occurrences)

Successful (16 Occurrences)

Swordsmen (8 Occurrences)

Saving (37 Occurrences)

Supposed (19 Occurrences)

Swords (50 Occurrences)

Spear (55 Occurrences)

Sang (28 Occurrences)

Spend (54 Occurrences)

Shave (19 Occurrences)

Sabbatical (1 Occurrence)

Servant's (29 Occurrences)

Zeruiah (25 Occurrences)

Kindle (25 Occurrences)

Sail (32 Occurrences)

Shouldst (61 Occurrences)

Shore (45 Occurrences)

Saveth (36 Occurrences)

Silent (120 Occurrences)

Sacrificing (39 Occurrences)

Serious (31 Occurrences)

Smiting (76 Occurrences)

Sacred (140 Occurrences)

Homes (43 Occurrences)

Kiriath-jearim (17 Occurrences)

Shine (62 Occurrences)

Day: Th Sixth Day of the Week Called Preparation Day
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