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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 4, NUMBER 51, DECEMBER 19, 2004 UPON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK PART 2 This is a continuation of last week’s article. It is the manuscript of a lecture I am scheduled to give in Florida in February. It helped me while I was preparing it. I hope it will be helpful to you as well. Luke, the author of the Gospel that bears his name and the book of Acts, is a recognized historian who very carefully noted the times in which the events he was recording took place. He mentions years and officials (both Jew and Gentile), helping us to understand when the biblical events took place in relation to the history of the world. He is exact and orderly in his writing, and nothing is presented without purpose. In Acts 20:6-7, we find, “And we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days. And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight .” Stringer, in The Truth Commentary on The Book of Acts, makes an interesting observation about Luke’s mention of the first day of the week. “Luke specifies the day. As Luke describes the many events recorded in Acts, how often does he specify the day of the week on which an event occurred? How many times does he specify that a thing occurred on the second day of the week? Or the month? In view of the great importance of the first day of the week, when Luke is careful to specify that the brethren observed the Lord’s Supper on that day, we must conclude that their observing it on that particular day was a matter of significance (416).” While there is little written in God’s Word concerning the time and frequency of the observance of the Lord’s Supper, what is written reveals a great deal. Luke makes it clear that their foremost purpose for coming together on that day was to break bread; it was to partake of the memorial feast. It is also at least probable that Paul tarried at Troas in order to be able to assemble with the saints there on the first day of the week to observe the Lord’s Supper. Another well-known reference to the first day of the week is found in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, where Paul gave the following instructions to the Corinthian brethren: “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia , so do you also. On the first day of the week let each of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.” The two passages we are considering, Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, provide strong evidence of a regular weekly assembly of the saints that took place upon the first day of the week. In his Commentary of Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians, Willis noted: “Hence, from the very beginning, the Lord’s church has had a regular meeting on the first day of the week. That this was the church’s general practice is evident from the fact that the churches of Galatia as well as the church at Corinth were commanded to prepare the collection on this day of the week. ‘The command that the collection be taken on the first day of the week cannot be harmonized with the interpretation that this refers to every member setting aside some money at his own home. If this was to be done in the privacy of one’s own home, why was a special day mentioned for doing it? The only logical reason that can be given for specifying a particular day is that this was the regular day on which the congregation assembled for worship. Hence, Paul commanded that a collection be taken at that assembly (599).” The evidence that is available to us makes it clear that the pattern established by the apostles and followed by the church from the beginning, included a weekly assembly that took place upon the first day of the week for worship. Two vital parts of that time together were partaking of the Lord’s Supper and the taking of a collection to finance the work of the church. Those who are determined to follow the Lord will adhere to that pattern. The relatively recent practice of substituting Saturday assemblies for gathering together on the first day of the week and offering the Lord’s Supper as well as taking a collection at that time, are completely without scriptural authority, and are nothing more than traditions and practices created by man.
To be continued… Greg Litmer RESULTS AND ROSES The man who wants
a garden fair, The things are
mighty few on earth It matters not
what goal you seek
Edgar Guest
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