Did Constantine Abolish the Sabbath?

According to the World Mission Society Church of God, the Roman Emperor Constantine abolished the Sabbath in 321 A.D at the First Council of Nicea.  On the official USA site, the WMSCOG quotes Constantine as stating, “All judges, city-people and craftsmen shall rest on the venerable day of the Sun.”   However, given the WMSCOG’s history of poorly interpreting Scripture, and their distortion of other author’s works as proven here, we feel their interpretation of history probably deserves a little closer examination as well.

Sunday Observance In Scripture

Immediately after the resurrection of Jesus, there was some confusion among the Jewish converts about certain Jewish practices such as circumcision, which particular day of worship to observe, and whether or not to observe the Jewish feasts.  We see these issues addressed by the Apostle Paul in many places (e.g. Col 2:14-17Gal 5:6). While Paul goes to the Jewish synagogue on the Sabbath in order to evangelize to the Jews (Acts 17:2, 18:4) but gathers with Christian followers on Sunday (Acts 20:7).  [Click here to see an in-depth explanation of Acts 20:7]

First We Must Study Church History

And how does one study Church history?  By reading historical documents.  The writings of Christians throughout the ages have left the academic world with a veritable wealth of knowledge and insight concerning the beliefs and practices of Christians since the time of Jesus Christ.  These are easily accessible to anyone with an Internet connection, and studied heavily in academia and seminaries throughout the world.  You can read the writings of the first Christians online for free here, at your local library, or pick up any one of a number of good compendiums available online, or from your favorite bookstore.  Now, if you were to click over and read some of these writings, just what would they say?

Sunday Observance In The Early Church

The historical record stands in stark contrast to the claims of the WMSCOG.  All of the writings of the first Christians unequivocally claim that Christians were observing Sunday as their day of worship, some 240 years before the Nicean Counsel when the WMSCOG claims that Sunday worship was imposed upon a “Saturday-observant” Christian world.  Unfortunately for them, their claim does not hold up with history.  You can visit your local library, or purchase any compendium of early Christian writings (such as this one) and read what the first Christians had to say.  For instance:

Ignatius (appointed by Peter as Bishop of Antioch) in the IX chapter of his letter to the Magnesians in 110 A.D. writes:

“If they who were concerned in old things, arrived at a newness of hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living according to the Lord’s day, by which our life sprung from him and by his death (whom certain persons deny)…we have been made his disciples, let us live according to Christianity.”

Barnabas (named in Acts 14:14, who was an apostle and the companion of Paul) writes in the XV chapter of his Epistle in 120 A.D.

“Wherefore, also, we keep the eighth day with joyfulness, the day, also, on which Jesus rose again from the dead.”

Justin Martyr (one of the first Christian apologists) wrote in the LXVII chapter of his first apology in 140 A.D.

Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness, made the world; and Jesus Christ our savior , on the same day rose from the dead.”

The Didache (considered by all major scholars to be the most authoritative historical writing on early Christianity outside the Bible) stated in 80-90 A.D.

“And on the day of our Lord’s resurrection, which is the Lord’s day meet more diligently.”

Don’t just take our word for it though.  See for yourself, by googling, or visiting your local library and learn exactly what the first Christians thought about Sunday vs Saturday observance.  Note well, how everything written both before and after 325 AD. unequivocally states that Christians observed Sunday.  How can the WMSCOG get it so wrong?  It’s turning a blind eye to the clear historical record to say the least, and I don’t know any historian who wouldn’t laugh their version of history out of the room.

Do Christians Worship The Sun On Sunday?

Not content to leave it at misrepresenting early Christian practices, the WMSCOG takes it a step further, claiming on their official USA site, that during the fourth century:

…the faith of the Christians weakened, and they began to accept the customs of the sun-god worshipers. During this turn-over, they even began to rest and to worship on the first day of the week [Sunday].

usa.watv.org

Ouch.  Now, that just looks silly after all of the historical research we have done (you did go and read up on early Christian observance of Sunday didn’t you?)

The WMSCOG implies that Christians are worshiping the Sun when they gather to worship on Sunday.  Let’s take that argument and apply it to Jews and other Sabbatarians.  Saturday is named after the planet Saturn.  Does that mean that Jews and the WMSCOG worship Saturn because they gather to worship on Saturday? People who gather on Sunday are no more worshiping the Sun god that those who gather on Saturday are worshiping the pagan god of Saturn.

Did Constantine Really Abolish The Sabbath?

Constatine, as emperor, only had jurisdiction over civil observance of the day of rest. Constantine did not have authority within the church to designate or change the day of worship.  In fact, Constatine helped stop the persecution of Christians by making Sunday a day of rest, so they could not be singled out for discrimination by a mostly-pagan populous.

Eusebius, a Roman Bishop and historian, wrote “The Life of Constantine”.  Eusebius wrote regarding Constantine and Sunday worship:

“And since his [Constantine] desire was to teach his whole army zealously to honor the Saviour’s day (which derives its name from light, and from the sun), he freely granted to those among them who were partakers of the divine faith, leisure for attendance on the services of the Church of God, in order that they might be able, without impediment, to perform their religious worship”.

Eusebius makes it clear that Christians were previously unable to worship on Sundays because they were required to work.  Previously, Saturday was the only day of rest, or day on which no customary work was to be done.  If Constantine would have abolished the Sabbath, as the WMSCOG claims, then he would have had to reinstate Saturday as a day of work. There is no historical evidence, that I can find, to even suggest that Constantine abolished Saturday as a day of rest.  Is there any evidence in Jewish history that supports that Constantine abolished the Sabbath and forced the Jews to work or prohibited them to worship on Saturday?  No.  Did Constantine institute any consequences for Christians that did not worship on Sunday?  No.  Then it is impossible for Constantine to have “abolished” the Sabbath and therefore, the WMSCOG’s claims remain unfounded.  It is revisionist history to say otherwise.

Is Constantine Satan?

In the WMSCOG’s study on the book of Daniel, or Daniel’s Prophecy, they claim that Constantine is Satan because he allegedly changed God’s laws (Daniel 7:25).  The WMSCOG also claims that the positive changes that Constantine made for Christians during his reign were an attempt by Constantine (or Satan according to the official WMSCOG site) to trick Christians into turning against God.

When Satan [Constantine] changed his methods of persecution, however, and praised the Church, he tempted the Christians to combine their faiths together. They were given back the properties that had been taken from them, ministers were exempted from military service, and the Church was even given the right to emancipate slaves. Through all of these outwardly positive changes to the Church, the Christians unwittingly fell into Satan’s schemes and knelt down before him. They turned their backs away from God…

usa.watv.org

It is important to mention that immediately prior to Constantine’s rule, the Christians suffered what is called The Great Persecution during which 20,000 Christians died under the Roman Emperor Diocletian.  Why doesn’t the WMSCOG consider Diocletian to be Satan?  During the Diocletian rule, Christians were forced to burn incense and offer sacrifices to pagan gods and were arrested, tortured, and sometimes killed if they refused. Constantine made the practice of offering sacrifices illegal and expelled those officers in his court that made sacrifices to pagan gods.  Why would Constantine do this if his goal was to turn Christians away from God?  It was not until Constantine legalized Christianity that the persecution ceased.

In the above quote, the WMSCOG claims that Constantine wanted Christians to bow down before him.  But Eusebius, in his writings about Constantine, explains that Constantine was displeased with people who praised him excessively.

“And now that all these ceremonies were completed, and the divine qualities of the emperor’s character continued to be the theme of universal praise, one of God’s ministers presumed so far as in his own presence to pronounce him blessed, as having been counted worthy to hold absolute and universal empire in this life, and as being destined to share the empire of the Son of God in the world to come. These words, however, Constantine heard with indignation, and forbade the speaker to hold such language, exhorting him rather to pray earnestly on his behalf, that whether in this life or in that which is to come, he might be found worthy to be a servant of God“.

Did Constantine Abolish Other Feasts?

In his writings about Constantine, Eusebius tells us that Constantine died at noon on the day of the Pentacost.

“All these events occurred during a most important festival, I mean the august and holy solemnity of Pentecost, which is distinguished by a period of seven weeks, and sealed with that one day on which the holy Scriptures attest, the ascension of our common Saviour into heaven, and the descent of the Holy Spirit among men. In the course of this feast the emperor received the privileges I have described; and on the last day of all, which one might justly call the feast of feasts, he was removed about mid-day to the presence of his God, leaving his mortal remains to his fellow mortals, and carrying into fellowship with God that part of his being which was capable of understanding and loving him”.

Here is evidence of yet another Christian feast that was not abolished by Constantine. If the WMSCOG’s claims that Constantine abolished the Sabbath were valid, why would Constantine abolish the Sabbath and not the Pentecost?  This does not make sense.  Just another example of how the WMSCOG’s misrepresentation of history easily fails in light of additional sources.

Conclusion

It is abundantly clear that the historical facts do not support the WMSCOG’s claims that Constantine “abolished” the Sabbath and in fact only prove that the WMSCOG must resort to historical revisionism in order to clamor for listeners.

*The photo above is licensed under the Creative Commons license, available here.

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10 Comments
  1. remco9519 says

    WMSCOG is excellent in deliberate misinterpretation and deliberate distortion of facts and events. Deceptive organizations as WMSCOG are happy in making lies after lies and upon lies.

  2. jseldkfld says

    You certainly judge the church by what you’ve researched. It’s in the bible.. Revelation 22:19 ” And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” No one can add or subtract.

    Daniel 7:5
    “He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time”

    And can your research and trying to prove you’re right and proving the church is wrong give you salvation? You are just wasting your time.
    And have you even tried to be a member? But maybe you’ve judge first.
    Knowing God is not only by Commonsense.. but with Heart and Mind. You will just keep other people confused and slander them from the Truth. Take a look on the books you’ve been reading about Christianity, It’s not the bible that their occurring to but their own point of view.
    Lies upon lies you say. People distort the Good from the Bad.. And Bad from the Good.
    More people just don’t accept the truth. How will you know the truth if you never tried? :\ But when Jesus came the first time people persecuted him because of his beliefs in fact they disliked him for establishing a cult. And so far the same situation is happening again. People value the old rules from the new ones.
    And probably you are going to argue with me with your own point of view.
    But anyways GOD bless you. 🙂

    1. dumbasswmscogmembers says

      when you know your so called god don’t bless those who is not korean baptised why do u say god bless you and try to be bigger person?

      1. Kyran S. says

        It’s never been said in the church that God doesn’t bless those who aren’t Korean baptised. You just made that up. The church allows people of all nationalities be baptised by deacons and pastors of all nationalities.

  3. Mountainmom says

    You talk about research like it’s a bad thing! I have heard from someone in the WMS that Scientology is a cult. Did you know that Scientology leaders told members not to research or listen to or look at ANYTHING at all that was negative to Scietology? One guy on the documentary “Going Clear” said he followed their advice and didn’t look at anything or listen to anything negative about that group for 35 years! When he did, he saw that so called “church” for what it is. Every one of the former members who were in that documentary wished they had researched, listened, and looked. The WMS is no different in that aspect. You should research. You owe it to yourself. You owe it to your family too.

  4. what is truth says

    Daniel 7:5?? C’mon, buddy! Daniel is a convenient tool against anyone who doesn’t know their history very well, which is most people. There were more than 10 nations under Rome. Look into it! But will the WMSCOG tell you that? Nope!

    And when your pastor, during the sermon, tries to prove Jehovah’s witnesses wrong, does that give him salvation? How about the 7 day Adventists? Or the Mormons? No problem if your “church” judges other organisations, but rain down fire on anyone who judges your organization?? There is a special place for hypocrites as well, not only your so called “law breakers”. Then I say to you, be careful with how you judge, because you will also be judged… on sites like this most likely.

    Did you know that Jesus DID fulfill all conditions of the Melchizedek? Even “without genealogy”? I bet not. There are many things you would never question, in fact. You have fallen asleep. Keep your head in ALL situations… especially now, when you think you are safe!!

    1. PrinzDavid66 says

      Actually it is Daniel7v25 He will change Gods set laws and times. The Sabbath Day and the Passover were laws of God with a set time. By changing the day of rest to Sunday and abolishing the Passover Constitine erased salvation from earth. Luke4v16 say it was Jesus’ custom to keep the Sabbath and in John15v10 He says He kept ALL of His Fathers commands. Apostle Paul kept the Sabbath and Hebrews chapter 4 is titled A Sabbaths Rest for the People of God and it goes into detail of the 7th day. The earthly Sabbath rest is a shadow of the Heavenly rest and that if you don’t enter God’s rest on earth you won’t enter it in Heaven.

      If you look up the word salvation it means to be delivered from danger. The ultimate danger we all face is our souls burning in hell. In the Bible only ONE thing delivers us from danger and it’s in Exodus12v10-13 God Himself explains the Passover means disasters pass over you. In Jerimiah31v31 God says He would change the Passover to the new covenant which Jesus did in Marks upper room on the night of the Passover. Even 1Corintians5v7 say Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed AND let us keep THIS FESTIVAL, THE PASSOVER.

      You bringing up Melchezidek shows that like so many of the Sunday Christians you know the words of the Bible but don’t understand their meaning. Jesus didn’t fulfill Melchezidek because he had JEWISH geaneology, scripture says Melchezidek had NONE! The only geaneology that means anything in the Bible is Jewish ancestory so everyone else is considered a Gentile, meaning the order if Melchezidek MUST be fulfilled by a GENTILE! This is one of the many things that helped me believe Christ Ahnsahnhong is the 2nd coming of Christ. He brought back salvation, the New Covenant Passover and fulfilled the order of Melchezidek.

  5. Truth says

    They actually do teach about all the nations under Rome its called Daniels revelation. Stop making stuff up. The 7th day is the sabbath of rest it’s clearly the 7th day. Just because they broke break on the first day does not make it holy. Where does it say “because you have broken bread with the churches on the first day god blessed and made it holy” ? IT DOSENT. Above you said the day of Pentecost was celebrated on the day after the sabbath, Sunday. The first day. So you basically admitted that the 7th day is the sabbath day you fool. If your insistence was correct they would have been celebrating Pentecost on The sabbath which you say is sunday. but they clearly celebrated Penticost the day after the sabbath dumb dumb. So 7th is the sabbath day. Honestly you need to do some history research. I research every topic and everything adds up if you look at factual dates and not writings That aren’t found in the Bible. You can’t even discern the 7th from 1st day in clear context. Why should anyone take spiritual advice from you

    1. T.H. says

      Well Truth, this is a very good regurgitation of the spoon fed teachings of the WMSCOG. It is very obvious that you have researched this topic that you have been taught within the influences of the group so that any information you’ve learned doesn’t conflict with what you’ve been taught to believe. Most of us here prefer to follow the example set by Jesus the Christ instead of some group that stole teachings from another group (SDA). Jesus is the Christ (even your group claims this) but the WMS decides to make a copy cat and worship him as Christ. The Bible teaches there is one God but the WMS makes up a whole other god for you to worship. As for your supposed rock solid teaching of the Sabbath being Saturday; Jesus said, “I am the Lord of the Sabbath.” Do you not believe the Bible? Is there any reason why you should not believe Jesus? After the resurrection Jesus established His Sabbath! We are no longer condemned by the curse of the Law. Your group is going backwards and trying to live under the Law which condemns us all to death. You are so busy worshipping the god of Saturn (Saturday) that you are missing out on the Son! Don’t come here with your feeble, pathetic, hole filled spoon fed teachings acting as if you are some kind of authority of others. You claim “Truth” at least in name. You really need to find the Truth before you come here with your judgment! Jesus set the example. You really need to seek truth from His example!

      1. andy says

        Hi – I have been going through this topic in my mind for almost a year now and I just can’t seem to get a response that truly makes sense to me supporting the current Christian Sunday stuff. I can agree that Constantine, while perhaps didn’t try to change the Sabbath, he did set the edict and one is left wondering if this could be a simple trick of the devil to set the church off just a little. But also correct there were many others before that were pushing a separate day to celebrate than the Jews – Ignatious is a perfect example – from his writings I find a vile hatred of Jews and feel as if his desire to push a Sunday instead of Sabbath was nothing more than racism. I think the context of these early church aspirations should absolutely be taken and viewed as if the words from them were fruit from a tree and is that fruit good or bad? Lastly for now – I get that the laws of Moses were fulfilled by Jesus so they need not be followed, but the Commandments of God? Likewise – I believe that the blood of Jesus covers us for sin (not following the commandments), but I also believe that we must repent, and does repenting also include changing our behavior – and not changing our behavior a big problem? To compare – if we decide to take another god before GOD are we not sinning? and if we CONTINUE to do this might that be a huge problem for entry into heaven. i get there is a lot of grey area in this dispute, but frankly I don’t see much actual serious discussion. This one here is awesome – but overall on the internet and at church this is hardly if ever even discussed. In a way it is almost like Santa Claus to me – something that has been engrained into the mind of society as being cute, not harmful, and good to follow, but holy cow – what are the unintended implications of lying to your children about the meaning of Christmas, or having them believe in a false character that pushes materialism, or a character that uses magic to accomplish things, I could go on, but I will leave with sending you all here a blessing and I hope to receive really good feedback as I am truly trying to find the truth here.

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