Peace055 – Which is the first day of the week mentioned in the Bible?

Question

I have not read in King James Version the words Saturday or Sunday as Sabbath days. I have read the seventh day of the week which should be Sabbath day. The day following it is the first day of the week.

If the Jews claim that Saturday is Sabbath day, then their first day of the week would be Sunday.

If the Christians claim that Sunday is their Sabbath day, then their first day of the week would be Monday.

John 20:1, KJV, states: “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher.”

Please note that it was the first day of the week.

John 20:19 states: “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.”

Please note that it was evening of the same day, the first day of the week. If the day used is the Jewish day, that evening would have been the second day of the week because the Jewish day starts just after sunset. But it was still the first day, meaning that the first day has not ended that evening yet, not until midnight.

The following is an illustration from a Thursday crucifixion to resurrection between 6 pm and 12 midnight (Jewish Monday or Julian Sunday) and to the assembly of the disciples wherein Jesus appeared before them.

Time Jewish day Christian day
6 pm Thu Wed
12 mn Thu Thu
6 am Thu Thu
12 nn Thu Thu – Crucifixion and burial of Jesus
6 pm Fri Thu – first night in tomb – high day (John 19:31)
12 mn Fri Fri – first night in tomb – high day (John 19:31)
6 am Fri Fri – first day in tomb – high day (John 19:31)
12 nn Fri Fri – first day in tomb – high day (John 19:31)
6 pm Sat Fri – second night in tomb – weekly Sabbath
12 mn Sat Sat – second night in tomb – weekly Sabbath
6 am Sat Sat – second day in tomb – weekly Sabbath
12 nn Sat Sat – second day in tomb – weekly Sabbath
6 pm Sun Sat – third night in tomb – Sabbath of the Way
12 mn Sun Sun – third night in tomb – Sabbath of the Way

6 am Sun Sun – third day in tomb – Sabbath of the Way
12 nn Sun Sun – third day in tomb – Sabbath of the Way
6 pm Mon Sun – resurrection of Jesus
12 mn Mon Mon – discovery of empty tomb
6 am Mon Mon
12 nn Mon Mon – Cleopas & Simon to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32)
6 pm Tue Mon – assembly of disciples (John 20:19)
12 mn Tue Tue
6 am Tue Tue
12 nn Tue Tue

Jesus must have resurrected between 6 pm and 12 midnight of Sunday (Julian), completing three days and three nights in the tomb. Early Christians remember this time by holding their “breaking of bread”, as stated in Acts 20:7-8: “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.”

The translators of the Bible seemed to be mixing the Jewish lunisolar calendar day with the Julian solar calendar day. In the former, the day starts from sunset (about 6 pm), whereas in the latter, the day starts from 12 midnight. Note that when Jesus resurrected between 6 pm and midnight, it was already Monday in the Jewish calendar, their second day of the week, whereas it was still Sunday in the Julian calendar, the first day in the Jewish calendar.

Please notice John 20:1 when the tomb was discovered empty and John 20:19 when they met in the evening, on the same first day of the week, as quoted above. The day must have started from midnight.

When do you think is the first day of the week as stated in the Bible?

Here's a link that illustrates the time line of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus:

http://www.geocities.com/peacecrusader888/timeline.htm

Here is another link entitled "Crucifixion could not have happened other than Thursday" - http://www.geocities.com/peacecrusader888/crucifixionday.htm

Answer 1

As some answered correctly, although our English names for the days of the week did not exist then, the Sabbath is "essentially" the last day of our week (i.e. Saturday). In *fact*, the Jewish Sabbath begins at sundown Friday and ends at sundown Saturday. Thus, *all* Jewish days. *This* is why Sunday is the 1st day of the week, not because (as one answer suggested) Sunday is the Lord's Day (which it is), but rather because the Sabbath was established as the last day of a 7-day week centuries prior to Jesus.

It is true that many Christians celebrate Sunday as "their Sabbath", but this is an adaptation of the Jewish Sabbath spoken of in the bible. Don't forget, Jesus was a Jew.

Now, as for the 3 days and 3 nights.....
First, realize that this verse does *not* say "3 whole days and 3 whole nights, exactly 72 hours, not a minute more or less". Indeed, it is reasonable to assume that they use this term much as we would, and that it could be translated "3 days" without loss of meaning. *However*, don't forget that Jewish days began at sunset, not sunrise!

Thus, Jesus died and was buried *prior* to sunset on the day of his crucifixion. This was necessary because the following day (beginning at sundown) was the Sabbath. So, by sunset we have Jesus dead and buried one day. *Not* a whole day, but still a day.

Then Saturday, which for the Jews ends at sunset on Saturday, not at midnight. Thus, we have a second *and* third day. Jesus was already resurrected *very* early the next morning (Mary Magdalene left to go to the tomb while it was still dark).

The only thing we lack is a third "night". There are certainly 2 complete nights, and 3 days (only one whole day of daylight, but 3 different days by Jewish reckoning).

So, *if* the 3rd night is a figure of speech (like, "I haven't slept in 3 days", meaning 48 hours and 1 minute), then the problem is solved. If not, is there a (reasonable) way to include at least a partial 3rd night? We cannot be certain how the ancient Jews marked the beginning of the day, as Jewish sects, and even scholars *within* sects, in our own time are not in agreement. The problem is: does the day start when the sun touches the horizon, when it is split by the horizon, or the moment when it entirely drops below the horizon? If the last, then we definitely have our 3rd "night" (assuming we need it), for it surely would have been quite dark within a walled city even before the sun fell below the horizon.

Of course, *this* is mere supposition. Here, I am choosing a scenario based on the merit that it best explains the present conundrum. Personally, I feel that the "3 days and nights" is simply a figure of speech used to bring the point home that Jesus was dead for 3 days - not just during working hours, but the entire time. Not 3 *whole* days, but 3 days *continuously*, without a break from being dead. In other words, he was *really* dead. *Very* dead!

I think that's the point of that scripture, but as seen, you *can* explain it physically, as well. Without a doubt, there are 3 days and 2 nights - this requires no assumption whatsoever.

Jim, http://www.life-after-harry-potter.com

Answer 2

Sabbath keeping is NOT an intrinsic part of Christianity. The Sabbath IS and ALWAYS HAS BEEN Saturday! The earliest Christians were all Jews and met on Saturday at the Synagogue for their usual worship, then met together the following day (Sunday) for a Christian meeting, since Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday..

After their separation from the Synagogue, Christians continued to meet together on Sunday traditionally.

Answer 3

Seventh day has no mention of evening and morning.

God saw good(only) x 6, very good the 7th time: Gen1.

God ended blessed & sanctified in order to rest in peace.

There are two Sabbaths at the passover week of easter.

Exodus 12:16 speaks of the first and seventh as holy.

2Peter 3 speaks of two options for the last day:
- the day of the LORD = darkness (Amos 5:18)... LAW
- the day of God = light (1John 1:5)... Grace

The third day is the seventh day in John 1 & 2:1.
It's now the third day (beyond 2000AD) = 7th day.
JC said God said: the third [day] I shall be perfected.

Which things are an "allegory": Galatians 4.

Which things are a "mystery" to solve in time;
for there is neither mystery nor time in eternity.

Revelation takes place on a Sabbath,
evident from the 7 benedictions therein.

Let us have an end to it, the one that's already written:

The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.

Answer 4

As the names of the days of the week were invented until the Middle Ages (1000 years after the Bible was completed), they are not used in the Bible.

The resurrection of Jesus happened on what would be considered Sunday morning on our calendar. Christians do not celebrate the Sabbath (the 7th day), but rather the Lord's Day which is the first day of the week (our Sunday). That is why our Christian calendar still starts with Sunday, not Monday.

As for your timetable that tries to place the Resurrection on Monday, there are too many mistakes in it to try to detail them here.

Answer 5

Your calculation is incorrect, Jesus did not die on Thurday, he died on Friday, & since it was getting close for the time of the sabbath to come around at 6:00 PM on Friday they hurrily took Jesus off the cross before 6 PM on Friday, & he rosed from the dead on the morning of Sunday at sunrise. Because your calcualtion put Jesus in the tomb & being dead longer then 72 hours, While the bible says that Jesus body will not see corruption, & corruption set in any dead body after 72 hours, ask any funeral director

Answer 6

First day of the week is Sunday. Sabbath day is Saturday.. Jews and Christians believe on the same thing...

Answer 7

The Sabbath was the 7th day, the day God rested from
creating all the earth and everything in it. So, the Jews
worshipped on the Sabbath.

In the New Testament, it speaks of the first day of the
week when they went to worship, so that was Sunday.
Many things changed when Jesus Christ came upon the
scene in \His earthly body and lived among us.

Answer 8

The first day which is mentioned in the bible is monday. i have said so because if sunday is the sabbath therefore monday is the first day.b

Answer 9

everyone says something different