The shift of the traditional day of rest and worship from Saturday to Sunday represents a significant development in early Christian history. Understanding this transition necessitates examining the religious, cultural, and political factors that contributed to its adoption.
Several elements influenced this change. The resurrection of Jesus Christ on a Sunday held immense theological importance for early Christians, who began to commemorate this event by gathering for worship on that day. Furthermore, the increasing Gentile composition of the Christian community, coupled with a desire to distinguish themselves from Jewish practices, gradually led to a lessened emphasis on strict adherence to the Saturday Sabbath. Roman imperial decrees also played a role, as Sunday, originally a day dedicated to the sun god (Dies Solis), eventually became recognized as a day of rest, facilitating its adoption by Christians within the Roman Empire. This transition wasn’t immediate or universally accepted, and various Christian groups maintained Saturday observance for centuries.