The Early Church Kept the Sabbath Day

Billions of Christians and Catholics around the world practice their faith worshiping God on Sundays. They believe whole-heartedly this is God’s command. Even non-Christians know this as the day to go to church. So why is the World Mission Society Church of God different? Why do we worship on Saturdays and reject Sunday worship? It’s because the Early Church kept the Sabbath day, not Sunday worship.

From the book of Genesis, the Bible indicates the correct day to worship and receive God’s blessings is Saturday. Keeping the Sabbath day holy is even one of the Ten Commandments. Even Jesus showed the example of keeping the Sabbath day on Saturday. Yet many people who oppose the teachings of the Church of God claim the Bible does teach about Sunday worship. Referring to 1 Corinthians 16:2, they say the Early Church worshiped on Sundays.

Because Apostle Paul asked the Church in Corinth to set aside a portion of their income on the first day of the week, many people assume that they were worshiping on Sunday. But it’s important to understand the context of this verse.

First, Paul mentions that they should collect it now, and not wait until he arrives. In another version of the Bible, it clearly says that Paul will not make collections when he arrives.

If this verse were referring to Sunday worship and the collection of offerings during worship, why does Paul say they should not make any collections once he arrives? If in fact, this is referring to collections made during worship, they should continue whether Paul is there or not.

Apostle Paul asks them to set aside a portion of their income once they receive their wages on Sundays. So the members of the Church were working and earning an income on the first day of the week—they were not keeping Sunday worship.

Offerings For Jerusalem

Second, it’s always important to understand the context of a verse before jumping to any conclusions. We must understand the Bible correctly. If you read the verse contextually, you’ll understand the Church in Corinth was collecting money for the Church in Jerusalem. It has nothing to do with Sunday worship.

It’s clear that Apostle Paul was giving them instructions on their offering to the Church of God in Jerusalem. And this is also confirmed in another letter Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth.

Apostle Paul praised church members in Corinth for preparing a monetary gift to give the Church in Jerusalem. And he encouraged the Macedonians to do the same. The Macedonian brothers were even accompanying Paul to Corinth. But before arriving in Jerusalem with them, he wanted to ensure the Corinth members prepared the offering they promised. So 1 Corinthians 16:2 is not about worshipping on Sunday. It’s about a special offering the churches were preparing for the Church in Jerusalem.

Churches Today Know Sunday is Not Biblical

Leaders of the Roman Catholic Church are aware that Sunday worship is not biblical but simply church doctrine. They’ve even published it in their books:

The Early Church Kept the Sabbath Day

Apostle Paul also wrote the book of Acts where he talks about keeping the Sabbath day.

Acts 17:2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead.

Acts 18:4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

Apostle Paul set the example for the Early Church of how to keep Christ’s commands correctly. And he taught them to keep the Sabbath day just as Jesus had kept the Sabbath day.

God gave us the Bible to let us know His commands that lead to salvation. As believers, all we need to do is follow them without adding our thoughts or opinions. From beginning to end, the Bible says we must keep the Sabbath day holy. That is Saturday, not Sunday.