The topic of which day to observe the Sabbath has been a subject of discussion among believers for centuries. The Sabbath was originally instituted in the book of Genesis, where God rested on the seventh day after creating the heavens and the earth, and this day was later established as a day of rest and worship for the Israelites in the Ten Commandments, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Exodus 20:8). In the Jewish tradition, this day is observed from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday.

The New Testament, however, introduces a shift in the early Christian community’s practices. After the resurrection of Jesus, which occurred on the first day of the week (Sunday), many Christians began to gather on this day to break bread and remember the Lord’s resurrection. Acts 20:7 notes, “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread.” The Apostle Paul also mentions the first day of the week in 1 Corinthians 16:2 in the context of setting aside offerings.

The shift from observing the Sabbath on the last day of the week (Saturday) to the first day (Sunday) was not explicitly commanded in the New Testament but evolved as a tradition in the early Christian Church in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Romans 14:5-6 offers guidance that emphasizes freedom and personal conviction in such matters: “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.”

Therefore, the emphasis in the New Testament is not on the specific day of the week that should be observed as the Sabbath but on the spirit in which it is observed. The principle of setting aside a day for rest and worship, to honor God and refresh the body and spirit, remains central. Observing the Sabbath, whether on Saturday or Sunday, is a matter of personal conviction and tradition rather than a strict commandment in the Christian faith, as the focus is on the relationship with God and the remembrance of Christ’s resurrection.