Topical Bible: The Sabbath: Honoring of Paul

◄ The Sabbath: Honoring of Paul ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The Sabbath, a day of rest and worship, holds significant importance in Judeo-Christian tradition. It is observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening, commemorating God's rest after creation (Genesis 2:2-3). In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul, a pivotal figure in early Christianity, provides insight into the observance and understanding of the Sabbath within the early Church.

Paul's Background and the Sabbath

Paul, originally Saul of Tarsus, was a Pharisee well-versed in Jewish law and traditions, including the Sabbath. His conversion to Christianity did not negate his respect for the Jewish customs, but rather transformed his understanding of them in light of Christ's fulfillment of the Law. Paul’s epistles reflect a nuanced approach to the Sabbath, emphasizing the spirit of the law over the letter.

Paul's Observance of the Sabbath

Throughout the Acts of the Apostles, Paul is depicted as honoring the Sabbath by attending synagogue services. Acts 17:2 states, "As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures." This practice highlights Paul's commitment to engaging with both Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, using the Sabbath as an opportunity for teaching and evangelism.

The Sabbath and Christian Liberty

Paul's teachings in his epistles address the role of the Sabbath in the life of a believer. In Colossians 2:16-17 , he writes, "Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ." Here, Paul emphasizes that the Sabbath, like other ceremonial laws, points to Christ and should not be a source of legalistic judgment among believers.

Paul's Teaching on Rest and Worship

While Paul acknowledges the traditional observance of the Sabbath, he also expands the concept of rest and worship beyond a single day. In Romans 14:5 , he states, "One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." This passage suggests that the principle of rest and worship is not confined to the Sabbath but is a continual aspect of the Christian life.

The Sabbath in the Context of the New Covenant

Paul's writings reflect the transition from the Old Covenant, with its strict Sabbath observance, to the New Covenant, where the focus is on the believer's relationship with Christ. In Galatians 4:9-10 , Paul warns against returning to the "weak and worthless principles" of the law, including the observance of "days and months and seasons and years." This indicates that while the Sabbath remains a valuable tradition, it is not a requirement for salvation or spiritual maturity.

Conclusion

Paul's approach to the Sabbath demonstrates a balance between honoring tradition and embracing the freedom found in Christ. His teachings encourage believers to focus on the substance of their faith rather than the shadows of the law, promoting a spirit-led observance of rest and worship that transcends specific days. Through his example and instruction, Paul honors the Sabbath by pointing to its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 13:14
But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath Day and Defends his Act.
... was Jesus who made him whole, so honoring Christ. ... him, because he not only brake
the sabbath [Not only ... could not have been less righteous than Paul and Barnabas ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxvii jesus heals on the.htm

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
... is authority and the Law of the Sabbath is void ... Paul teaches this method of
understanding and mastering law ... had he blindly insisted on honoring the prohibitions ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/fourth sunday after epiphany.htm

Acts XIII
... but much to encourage us in honoring a brother ... us, however, at a later period, that
Paul censured him ... and entering into the synagogue on the Sabbath-day, they ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xiii.htm

The Danger of Deviating from Divine Institutions.
... When Paul assured the Colossians that they were "complete in ... Why are not these ways
of honoring God and exciting ... but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxviii the danger of.htm

Galatians Chapter I.
... 6:6, 7.) Wherefore if to transgress the sabbath, and to ... Which is plain from this
journey, for Paul was induced ... for the sake of beholding and honoring Peter by ...
/.../galatians chapter i.htm

"Thou Shalt Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother. "
... to hear God's Word, and to keep the Sabbath, that they ... to exercise themselves in
obeying and honoring it ... Paul teaches his disciple Titus, that he should rightly ...
/.../luther/a treatise on good works/thou shalt honor thy father.htm

Limiting God
... produce the richer harvest; for God, honoring our faith ... She looks round every Sabbath
morning, but John is not ... enough to cover the iniquities of Paul, and doth ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/limiting god.htm

The Wicked Man's Life, Funeral, and Epitaph
... to be a Christian by some sermon from a Paul, he trembles ... and let the golden hours
of their Sabbath-day roll ... almost laugh to see the folly of honoring the man ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the wicked mans life funeral.htm

Faustus Repels the Charge of Sun-Worship
... the words quoted from the prophet by Paul, "Their throat ... fathers, who observed the
rest of the Sabbath in a ... Instead of honoring God in your prayers, you insult ...
/.../faustus repels the charge of.htm

The Treatise
... Paul means in many places, where he ascribes so much to faith, that he says ... cross
of God or the pictures of His saints: this we call honoring and worshiping God ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/a treatise on good works/the treatise.htm