THE PROPHECY DIGITAL LIBRARY
2007-02-04 16:24:12 UTC
In this paper we will use the final form of the biblical text to develop
the Adventist view on the biblical Sabbath. Scholars commonly use the
historical critical approach when dealing with this subject. They have been
mainly interested in the origin and historical development of the
commandment[1] and consequently they concluded that only the historical
critical methodology will produce adequate results. In our case the primary
interest is theological and doctrinal. We would like to move beyond a
biblical theology that is conceived as a descriptive historical discipline.
John J. Collins is right, "Historical criticism, consistently understood, is
not compatible with a confessional theology that is committed to specific
doctrines on the basis of faith."[2] Perhaps that is one of the reasons Pope
John II used in the Apostolic Letter Dies Domini the biblical text in its
final canonical form to develop the theology and modern relevance of the
Sabbath commandment. We will use that same approach.
The Adventist view of the Sabbath commandment as designating the
seventh day as a day of rest required by God for fellowship and communion
with Him is based on the facts that according to the Bible it originated
during creation week. It was observed by Jesus and the apostles and there is
no evidence in the biblical text to support the claim that the commandment
was transferred from the seventh day to the first day of the week.
the Adventist view on the biblical Sabbath. Scholars commonly use the
historical critical approach when dealing with this subject. They have been
mainly interested in the origin and historical development of the
commandment[1] and consequently they concluded that only the historical
critical methodology will produce adequate results. In our case the primary
interest is theological and doctrinal. We would like to move beyond a
biblical theology that is conceived as a descriptive historical discipline.
John J. Collins is right, "Historical criticism, consistently understood, is
not compatible with a confessional theology that is committed to specific
doctrines on the basis of faith."[2] Perhaps that is one of the reasons Pope
John II used in the Apostolic Letter Dies Domini the biblical text in its
final canonical form to develop the theology and modern relevance of the
Sabbath commandment. We will use that same approach.
The Adventist view of the Sabbath commandment as designating the
seventh day as a day of rest required by God for fellowship and communion
with Him is based on the facts that according to the Bible it originated
during creation week. It was observed by Jesus and the apostles and there is
no evidence in the biblical text to support the claim that the commandment
was transferred from the seventh day to the first day of the week.