Expert: J.M.J. West - 6/1/2008

Question
Dear J.M.J. West:

I have been told by one who says that Jesus was Resurrected on Saturday or the sabbath that the Greek brings this out. He said that the translators arbitrarily translate "one sabbath" (mia sabbaton) as "first day of the week". I don't know Greek, but it seems to me that Bible translators would use sabbath if that is what the text clearly says. Can you help me understand what the Greek actually says concerning the gospels account of what day Jesus rose on?
Thanks so much,
Steve  

Answer
The scriptures are pretty clear that Christ was resurrected on the "first" day, which would be Sunday, not the seventh day, the sabbath, which would be Saturday.  Passages of Scripture such as Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, Colossians 2:16-17, and Revelation 1:10 indicate that, even during New Testament times, the Sabbath is no longer binding and that Christians are to worship on the Lord’s day, Sunday, instead, because it was on the 1st day that Christ rose from the dead.  In early Christian documents, it's called sometimes the "Eighth day", i.e. the day after the sabbath.

He was in the earth "three days", dying the afternoon before the sabbath (Friday Afternoon, hence the hurry to take the three crucified men down and bury them before the sabbath began at sundown), and spending that evening and all of Saturday in the grave.  Sunday was the 3rd day, the day on which the temple was rebuilt.  Anyone trying to tell you otherwise is preaching falsity, whether or not they realize it.

I hope that helps.

Pax Christi,

-J.M.J. West