Ask The Pastor

June 4, 2003

> Dear Sir
>
> You made the statements: * "Not only can we see this in the the
> New Testament writings, but the Tulmud refers to this Jewish
> Christian day as 'the Nazarene day.' Jewish synagogues that belonged
> to believers in Jesus were referred to as Be Nitzraphi. (House of
> Nazarenes.)" * "My point being that Sunday was established early
> on as the day of worship for the new covenant. And while it was not
> made a law of the new covenant, it did become the traditional day of
> worship for both Jewish and Gentile believers." I would be very
> interested in looking up this Talmudic passage. Could you please
> give me the reference so that I could do so?

Craig,

Here are two references:

The day the Nazarene is referenced in The B. Talmud -- b. A. Zar: "For R. Tahlipha bar Abdimi said that Shemuel said: 'The Nazarene day, according to the words of R. Ishmael, is forbidden forever.'"

Also in b. Taan. 27 -- "On the eve of Sabbath they did not fast, out of respect to the Sabbath; still less [did they fast] on the day after Sabbath? R. Johanan says, 'Because of the Nazarenes.'

Here are a couple of reference sources that you may wish to consider. (1) The New Testament and Rabbinic Judaism by David Daube, and, (2) Christianity in Talmud & Midrash by R. Travers Herford.

> Referring to your second quote above, I was unable to follow your
> reasoning as to why you think Sunday was established as the day of
> worship for the early believers in light of the passage/verses
> quoted. Would you please lead me through the logical process.

It really wasn't a matter of officially 'establishing' Sunday as the day of worship. First day worship came natural to the early believers because of the resurrection of Christ on that day. No amount of Scripture manipulation will change the fact the Jesus resurrected on the first day.

My point in saying, "Sunday (first day worship) was established early on as the day of worship for the new covenant," had to do both with historical considerations, both secular, Christian, and Jewish, and with the the apostolic writings. It is true that early Jewish believers continue to observe the 7th day rest, but they also included first day worship. In short time 1st day worship associated itself with the new covenant. The issue at hand was that the new covenant identified itself as a 'new' creation.

Those who represent Constantine as being the originator of first day worship among Christians, are short on facts. It doesn't take a lot of research to disprove the Constantine theory.

Hope this helps,

Bro. Buddy

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