Primitive Apostolic Christianity (Sabbatarian)
Encyclopedia
Primitive Apostolic Christianity or Sabbatarianism is movement that attempts to reconstruct the earliest forms of Christianity
. Adherents to this movement commonly refer to early Roman Christian requirements to be separated from Jewish traditions which began in Antisemitism and Antinomianism
, as well as Judaism
's attempts to distinguish Rabbinical Judaism from the early sect
of primitive Christianity as some the reasons for separation and persecution of the early Sabbath observing groups throughout the world Critics see it as an effort to combine the Old Testament
laws of Judaism
with Christianity
while followers point to bible passages such as Acts 13 which speak of the early church meeting on the Sabbath. The movement is often called Primitive since its followers believe their movement to reconstruct the earliest forms of Christianity
. It is called Apostolic since its followers believe it to represent the form of Christianity that the twelve Apostles followed. It requires that Christians follow certain biblical practices, such as keeping Jewish Sabbath
, and thus is often criticized as a modern revival of the Judaizers
of the Epistles and the Ebionites while Sabbatarians distinguish between physical circumcision, animal sacrifices, ceremonial requirements and observation of the Ten Commandments
as noted in the Hebrews
epistle and the Acts of the Apostles
in chapter 13.
and many other denominations. These groups consider their practices primitive in that they are based on scholarship and research into the actual writings of the Church fathers
and other historical documents. They call themselves "apostolic" in that they maintain a literal Apostolic Succession
or historical lineage tracing back to the Apostles and the Great Commission
. During the early phase of Christianity the Church was persecuted by Roman and Jewish authorities and survived underground. Thus written documents for the Church of the first century are sparse. To remedy this, the primitive church passed down its knowledge verbally and is reflected in the Church writings that appear prolifically in the second and third centuries. This body of literature forms a body of precedence called "tradition."
Sabbatarians, however, reject such tradition and literature and instead attempt to reconstruct (or invent say detractors) primitive church practices as they think they might have been at the times of the Apostles. To do this, they revive practices found in the Old Testament.
The label Primitive and Apostolic, in terms of Christianity, are used by such authors as Alan Knight, Primitive Christianity in Crisis, and Roderick Meredith, Restoring Apostolic Christianity, to describe Christians, who are sometimes called Jewish Christians
(see Ebionites), although the term is not completely descriptive of all who follow Primitive Apostolic Christian doctrine.
. These groups often see the verses in Acts 15:19-21 as a directive from the first Council of Jerusalem
, also called the Apostolic Decree, to observe the basic understanding of the Noahide Laws in order to be considered righteous Gentiles, and not be required to live completely as Torah
-observant Jews. This settled a dispute among the first Christians, which began as a sect of first century Judaism
, as to whether the new Gentile converts were required to become circumcised
and live completely under the dictates of Judaism
(Acts 15:5,24). The Noahide Law was based on the understanding that some ordinances were in effect at least since the time of Noah
, and some had been given in the Garden of Eden
to Adam and Eve
, thus given to all mankind.
Judaism has continued to observe Gentiles, even when they become proselytes, as not being under the same scrutiny of the ordinances of Judaism. They may have a part in salvation and in the world to come just by observing the Noahide Law according to Maimonides
, who was a Jewish scholar of the thirteenth century. There is much speculation, and some disagreement as to what is part of the Noahide Law, even among Jewish scholars (see Noahide Laws
for more information on the Jewish perspective).
Some groups consider themselves unique in current observation of Primitive Apostolic Christianity. These include most Sabbatarian Church of God
groups, and some Noahide Nazarenes
. The doctrines vary slightly from each group, but usually include the teaching that Sabbath
was one of the observances given to Adam and Eve, as well as the Sacred Calendar
, in order to count the years, seasons, weeks and days. They claim that there is evidence that events such as Abraham
's offering of his son Isaac, occurred at the time of the Passover
, therefore High Sabbaths
are included in the covenant that Noah is said to have observed. Also related is Quartodecimanism
. Clean and unclean animals were also understood in the time of Noah, as can be seen in Genesis 7:2. These precepts are viewed to be included in the Noahide Law, and along with the Ten Commandments
given to Moses, to be observed by true Christians. The Sermon on the Mount
(Matthew 5-7) is also specific regarding Antinomianism
, which is the rejection of biblical teachings concerning observance of the Law. See also Expounding of the Law
.
Mormons also consider themselves unique in current observation of Primitive Apostolic Christianity, but with current revelation given priority. That is, the "latter-day" saints' teachings are primary for understanding. They believe that Christianity lost its priesthood authority
sometime before the First Council of Nicaea
in 325, but that it was restored to Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement
. The primitive observances are relegated to secondary status in observance of progressive revelation, much as mainstream Christianity is said to have changed the appointed times such as fourth commandment obedience.
8 United Church Of God
Early Christianity
Early Christianity is generally considered as Christianity before 325. The New Testament's Book of Acts and Epistle to the Galatians records that the first Christian community was centered in Jerusalem and its leaders included James, Peter and John....
. Adherents to this movement commonly refer to early Roman Christian requirements to be separated from Jewish traditions which began in Antisemitism and Antinomianism
Antinomianism
Antinomianism is defined as holding that, under the gospel dispensation of grace, moral law is of no use or obligation because faith alone is necessary to salvation....
, as well as Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
's attempts to distinguish Rabbinical Judaism from the early sect
Sect
A sect is a group with distinctive religious, political or philosophical beliefs. Although in past it was mostly used to refer to religious groups, it has since expanded and in modern culture can refer to any organization that breaks away from a larger one to follow a different set of rules and...
of primitive Christianity as some the reasons for separation and persecution of the early Sabbath observing groups throughout the world Critics see it as an effort to combine the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
laws of Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
with Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
while followers point to bible passages such as Acts 13 which speak of the early church meeting on the Sabbath. The movement is often called Primitive since its followers believe their movement to reconstruct the earliest forms of Christianity
Early Christianity
Early Christianity is generally considered as Christianity before 325. The New Testament's Book of Acts and Epistle to the Galatians records that the first Christian community was centered in Jerusalem and its leaders included James, Peter and John....
. It is called Apostolic since its followers believe it to represent the form of Christianity that the twelve Apostles followed. It requires that Christians follow certain biblical practices, such as keeping Jewish Sabbath
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
, and thus is often criticized as a modern revival of the Judaizers
Judaizers
Judaizers is predominantly a Christian term, derived from the Greek verb ioudaïzō . This term is most widely known from the single use in the New Testament where Paul publicly challenges Peter for compelling Gentile believers to "judaize", also known as the Incident at Antioch.According to the...
of the Epistles and the Ebionites while Sabbatarians distinguish between physical circumcision, animal sacrifices, ceremonial requirements and observation of the Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
as noted in the Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews is an ethnonym used in the Hebrew Bible...
epistle and the Acts of the Apostles
Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of the Apostles , usually referred to simply as Acts, is the fifth book of the New Testament; Acts outlines the history of the Apostolic Age...
in chapter 13.
Terminology
The terms "primitive" and "apostolic" are used differently by Sabbatarians than in orthodox Christianity such as Roman Catholicism, Orthodox ChristianityEastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
and many other denominations. These groups consider their practices primitive in that they are based on scholarship and research into the actual writings of the Church fathers
Church Fathers
The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were early and influential theologians, eminent Christian teachers and great bishops. Their scholarly works were used as a precedent for centuries to come...
and other historical documents. They call themselves "apostolic" in that they maintain a literal Apostolic Succession
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
or historical lineage tracing back to the Apostles and the Great Commission
Great Commission
The Great Commission, in Christian tradition, is the instruction of the resurrected Jesus Christ to his disciples, that they spread his teachings to all the nations of the world. It has become a tenet in Christian theology emphasizing missionary work, evangelism, and baptism...
. During the early phase of Christianity the Church was persecuted by Roman and Jewish authorities and survived underground. Thus written documents for the Church of the first century are sparse. To remedy this, the primitive church passed down its knowledge verbally and is reflected in the Church writings that appear prolifically in the second and third centuries. This body of literature forms a body of precedence called "tradition."
Sabbatarians, however, reject such tradition and literature and instead attempt to reconstruct (or invent say detractors) primitive church practices as they think they might have been at the times of the Apostles. To do this, they revive practices found in the Old Testament.
The label Primitive and Apostolic, in terms of Christianity, are used by such authors as Alan Knight, Primitive Christianity in Crisis, and Roderick Meredith, Restoring Apostolic Christianity, to describe Christians, who are sometimes called Jewish Christians
Jewish Christians
Jewish Christians is a term which appears in historical texts contrasting Christians of Jewish origin with Gentile Christians, both in discussion of the New Testament church and the second and following centuries....
(see Ebionites), although the term is not completely descriptive of all who follow Primitive Apostolic Christian doctrine.
Beliefs
Some Christian sects today view these "Primitive Apostolic teachings" and observances as the proper form of Christianity. The collection of non-biblical, pre-Nicene writings is called by some the Ante-Nicene FathersAnte-Nicene Fathers
The Ante-Nicene Fathers, subtitled "The Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325", is a collection of books in 10 volumes containing English translations of the majority of Early Christian writings. The period covers the beginning of Christianity until before the promulgation of the Nicene Creed...
. These groups often see the verses in Acts 15:19-21 as a directive from the first Council of Jerusalem
Council of Jerusalem
The Council of Jerusalem is a name applied by historians and theologians to an Early Christian council that was held in Jerusalem and dated to around the year 50. It is considered by Catholics and Orthodox to be a prototype and forerunner of the later Ecumenical Councils...
, also called the Apostolic Decree, to observe the basic understanding of the Noahide Laws in order to be considered righteous Gentiles, and not be required to live completely as Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
-observant Jews. This settled a dispute among the first Christians, which began as a sect of first century Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, as to whether the new Gentile converts were required to become circumcised
Circumcision in the Bible
Religious male circumcision generally occurs shortly after birth, during childhood or around puberty as part of a rite of passage. Circumcision is most prevalent in Muslim countries and Israel, and is most prevalent in the Jewish and Muslim faiths, although also common in the United States, the...
and live completely under the dictates of Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
(Acts 15:5,24). The Noahide Law was based on the understanding that some ordinances were in effect at least since the time of Noah
Noah
Noah was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the tenth and last of the antediluvian Patriarchs. The biblical story of Noah is contained in chapters 6–9 of the book of Genesis, where he saves his family and representatives of all animals from the flood by constructing an ark...
, and some had been given in the Garden of Eden
Garden of Eden
The Garden of Eden is in the Bible's Book of Genesis as being the place where the first man, Adam, and his wife, Eve, lived after they were created by God. Literally, the Bible speaks about a garden in Eden...
to Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve were, according to the Genesis creation narratives, the first human couple to inhabit Earth, created by YHWH, the God of the ancient Hebrews...
, thus given to all mankind.
Judaism has continued to observe Gentiles, even when they become proselytes, as not being under the same scrutiny of the ordinances of Judaism. They may have a part in salvation and in the world to come just by observing the Noahide Law according to Maimonides
Maimonides
Moses ben-Maimon, called Maimonides and also known as Mūsā ibn Maymūn in Arabic, or Rambam , was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the greatest Torah scholars and physicians of the Middle Ages...
, who was a Jewish scholar of the thirteenth century. There is much speculation, and some disagreement as to what is part of the Noahide Law, even among Jewish scholars (see Noahide Laws
Noahide Laws
The Seven Laws of Noah form the major part of the Noachide Laws, or Noahide Code. This code is a set of moral imperatives that, according to the Talmud, were given by God as a binding set of laws for the "children of Noah" – that is, all of humankind...
for more information on the Jewish perspective).
Some groups consider themselves unique in current observation of Primitive Apostolic Christianity. These include most Sabbatarian Church of God
Church of God
Church of God is a name used by numerous, mostly unrelated Christian denominational bodies, most of which descend from either Pentecostal/Holiness or Adventist traditions.-Pentecostal Movement:*Church of God...
groups, and some Noahide Nazarenes
Church of the Nazarene
The Church of the Nazarene is an evangelical Christian denomination that emerged from the 19th century Holiness movement in North America with its members colloquially referred to as Nazarenes. It is the largest Wesleyan-holiness denomination in the world. At the end of 2010, the Church of the...
. The doctrines vary slightly from each group, but usually include the teaching that Sabbath
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
was one of the observances given to Adam and Eve, as well as the Sacred Calendar
Hebrew calendar
The Hebrew calendar , or Jewish calendar, is a lunisolar calendar used today predominantly for Jewish religious observances. It determines the dates for Jewish holidays and the appropriate public reading of Torah portions, yahrzeits , and daily Psalm reading, among many ceremonial uses...
, in order to count the years, seasons, weeks and days. They claim that there is evidence that events such as Abraham
Abraham
Abraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
's offering of his son Isaac, occurred at the time of the Passover
Passover
Passover is a Jewish holiday and festival. It commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt...
, therefore High Sabbaths
High Sabbaths
The term High Sabbaths is used by some Christians to refer to the Jewish High Holy Days. There are seven annual Biblical festivals specified in the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy.-Biblical rest days:...
are included in the covenant that Noah is said to have observed. Also related is Quartodecimanism
Quartodecimanism
Quartodecimanism refers to the custom of some early Christians celebrating Passover beginning with the eve of the 14th day of Nisan , which at dusk is Biblically the "Lord's passover".The modern Jewish Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread is seven days, starting with the sunset at...
. Clean and unclean animals were also understood in the time of Noah, as can be seen in Genesis 7:2. These precepts are viewed to be included in the Noahide Law, and along with the Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
given to Moses, to be observed by true Christians. The Sermon on the Mount
Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of sayings and teachings of Jesus, which emphasizes his moral teaching found in the Gospel of Matthew...
(Matthew 5-7) is also specific regarding Antinomianism
Antinomianism
Antinomianism is defined as holding that, under the gospel dispensation of grace, moral law is of no use or obligation because faith alone is necessary to salvation....
, which is the rejection of biblical teachings concerning observance of the Law. See also Expounding of the Law
Expounding of the Law
The Expounding of the Law is a highly structured part of the Sermon on the Mount in the New Testament...
.
Mormons also consider themselves unique in current observation of Primitive Apostolic Christianity, but with current revelation given priority. That is, the "latter-day" saints' teachings are primary for understanding. They believe that Christianity lost its priesthood authority
Great Apostasy
The Great Apostasy is a term used by some religious groups to describe a general fallen state of traditional Christianity, especially the Papacy, because it allowed the traditional Roman mysteries and deities of solar monism such as Mithras and Sol Invictus and idol worship back into the church,...
sometime before the First Council of Nicaea
First Council of Nicaea
The First Council of Nicaea was a council of Christian bishops convened in Nicaea in Bithynia by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in AD 325...
in 325, but that it was restored to Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
. The primitive observances are relegated to secondary status in observance of progressive revelation, much as mainstream Christianity is said to have changed the appointed times such as fourth commandment obedience.
Early Christian church
- Early ChristianityEarly ChristianityEarly Christianity is generally considered as Christianity before 325. The New Testament's Book of Acts and Epistle to the Galatians records that the first Christian community was centered in Jerusalem and its leaders included James, Peter and John....
- Apostolic AgeApostolic AgeThe Apostolic Age of the history of Christianity is traditionally the period of the Twelve Apostles, dating from the Crucifixion of Jesus and the Great Commission in Jerusalem until the death of John the Apostle in Anatolia...
- Christianity in the 1st centuryChristianity in the 1st centuryThe earliest followers of Jesus composed an apocalyptic, Jewish sect, which historians refer to as Jewish Christianity. The Apostles and others following the Great Commission's decree to spread the teachings of Jesus to "all nations," had great success spreading the religion to gentiles. Peter,...
Specific groups
- JudaizersJudaizersJudaizers is predominantly a Christian term, derived from the Greek verb ioudaïzō . This term is most widely known from the single use in the New Testament where Paul publicly challenges Peter for compelling Gentile believers to "judaize", also known as the Incident at Antioch.According to the...
- EbionitesEbionitesEbionites, or Ebionaioi, , is a patristic term referring to a Jewish Christian sect or sects that existed during the first centuries of the Christian Era. They regarded Jesus as the Messiah and insisted on the necessity of following Jewish religious law and rites...
- MilleritesMilleritesThe Millerites were the followers of the teachings of William Miller who, in 1833, first shared publicly his belief in the coming Second Advent of Jesus Christ in roughly the year 1843.-Origins:...
- Seventh-day Adventist ChurchSeventh-day Adventist ChurchThe Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
- Jehovah's WitnessesJehovah's WitnessesJehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
- Herbert W. ArmstrongHerbert W. ArmstrongHerbert W. Armstrong founded the Worldwide Church of God in the late 1930s, as well as Ambassador College in 1946, and was an early pioneer of radio and tele-evangelism, originally taking to the airwaves in the 1930s from Eugene, Oregon...
- Restorationist (Church of Christ-Elijah)
- Lord's Day Observance SocietyLord's Day Observance SocietyDay One Christian Ministries is a Christian organisation based in the United Kingdom that lobbies for no work on Sunday, the day that many Christians celebrate as the Sabbath, a day of rest — a position based on the fourth of the Ten Commandments.Originally founded in 1831 as the Lord's Day...
- Messianic JudaismMessianic JudaismMessianic Judaism is a syncretic religious movement that arose in the 1960s and 70s. It blends evangelical Christian theology with elements of Jewish terminology and ritual....
- Living Church Of GodLiving Church of GodThe Living Church of God is one of the church groups formed by followers of the teachings of the late Herbert W. Armstrong. It was formed as a series of major doctrinal changes were introduced in the Worldwide Church of God after Armstrong's death in 1986...
8 United Church Of God
United Church of God
The United Church of God, an International Association is a Christian denomination based in the United States with members in various countries around the world...
Theological issues
- ArianismArianismArianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
- Restorationism (Christian primitivism)
- Great ApostasyGreat ApostasyThe Great Apostasy is a term used by some religious groups to describe a general fallen state of traditional Christianity, especially the Papacy, because it allowed the traditional Roman mysteries and deities of solar monism such as Mithras and Sol Invictus and idol worship back into the church,...
- Christian Torah-submission
- Seventh-day Sabbatarianism
Other
- Judeo-ChristianJudeo-ChristianJudeo-Christian is a term used in the United States since the 1940s to refer to standards of ethics said to be held in common by Judaism and Christianity, for example the Ten Commandments...
- ShabbatShabbatShabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
- Sabbath in Christianity
- Passover (Christian holiday)Passover (Christian holiday)Christian Passover is a religious observance celebrated by some churches to keep faith with Old Testament teaching. It is often linked to the Christian holiday and festival of Easter. Often, only an abbreviated seder is celebrated to explain the meaning in a time-limited ceremony...