Sunday
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Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Etymology:
Sunday is traditionally recognized as the first day of the week in Christian contexts, often associated with rest and worship. The name "Sunday" is derived from Old English "Sunnandæg," which means "day of the sun." In many cultures, it is considered a day of rest and religious observance.

Biblical Significance:
Sunday holds particular significance for Christians as it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. According to the Gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, which is Sunday. This event is central to Christian faith and is celebrated weekly in Sunday worship services.

Scriptural References:
The resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the week is documented in several passages. In the Gospel of Mark, it is written: "When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb" (Mark 16:1-2). Similarly, the Gospel of John states: "On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb" (John 20:1).

Early Church Practice:
The early Christians began to gather on Sundays to break bread and worship, as indicated in the Acts of the Apostles: "On the first day of the week, we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight" (Acts 20:7). This practice reflects the shift from the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday) to Sunday as the primary day of Christian worship.

Theological Implications:
Sunday worship is seen as a celebration of the new creation inaugurated by Christ's resurrection. It symbolizes the new covenant and the hope of eternal life. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15: "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20).

Historical Development:
By the second century, Sunday had become the established day of Christian worship. The early Church Fathers, such as Justin Martyr, wrote about the significance of Sunday gatherings. In his "First Apology," Justin Martyr describes Christians meeting on Sunday to read the Scriptures and partake in the Eucharist.

Cultural and Liturgical Observance:
In many Christian traditions, Sunday is observed as a day of rest and worship. It is a time for communal gathering, prayer, and reflection on the Scriptures. The observance of Sunday as a day of rest is rooted in the Fourth Commandment, which calls for a Sabbath rest, though Christians traditionally apply this principle to Sunday in honor of the resurrection.

Contemporary Practice:
Today, Sunday remains a central day for Christian worship across denominations. Churches hold services that include preaching, singing, prayer, and the sacraments. It is a day set apart for spiritual renewal and community fellowship, reflecting the joy and hope of the resurrection.
Topical Bible Verses
Mark 2:28
Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Topicalbible.org

John 20:1-31
The first day of the week comes Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, to the sepulcher, and sees the stone taken away from the sepulcher.
Topicalbible.org

Luke 24:1-53
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
Topicalbible.org

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) The first day of the week, -- consecrated among Christians to rest from secular employments, and to religious worship; the Christian Sabbath; the Lord's Day.

2. (a.) Belonging to the Christian Sabbath.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SUNDAY

sun'-da.

See LORD'S DAY.

Library

The Boy and the Sunday School
The Boy and the Sunday School. <. The Boy and the Sunday School
John L. Alexander. Produced by Curtis Weyant, Thomas ...
//christianbookshelf.org/alexander/the boy and the sunday school/

Orthodoxy Sunday.
... ORTHODOXY SUNDAY. The first Sunday in Lent is kept in memory: primarily,
of the final triumph of the Church over the Iconoclasts ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neale/hymns of the eastern church/orthodoxy sunday.htm

Palm Sunday
... HYMNS OF THE EARLY CHURCH Palm Sunday. 8,6,8,6 Palm Sunday. Behold the Lord to Zion
rides,. And crowds hosannas sing; They spread their garments in the way,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/brownlie/hymns of the early church/palm sunday.htm

Easter Sunday
... SUMMER PART Easter Sunday. Text: First 1 Corinthians 5, 6-8. 6 Your glorying is
not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/easter sunday.htm

Palm Sunday
... Palm Sunday. Text: Philippians 2, 5-11. 5 Have this mind in you, which was
also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/palm sunday.htm

On Sunday, or at Matins.
... THE THIRD PART. ONE HUNDRED MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS, COMPRISED IN FEW WORDS.
ON SUNDAY, OR AT MATINS. O Eternal Wisdom, my heart ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/on sunday or at matins.htm

Sunday
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First XLIII SUNDAY. O day most calm, most bright, ...
Of the eternal glorious King: On Sunday Heaven's gate stands ope; ...
//christianbookshelf.org/palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/xliii sunday.htm

Sunday after Easter
... SUMMER PART Sunday After Easter. Text: First John 5, 4-12. 4 For whatsoever
is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/sunday after easter.htm

The Boy and the Sunday School
The Boy and the Sunday School. <. ... V THE BOY AND THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
There are two factors in the above subject"the factor ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/v the boy and the.htm

The Relation of the Sunday School to Community Organizations
The Boy and the Sunday School. <. ... XXII THE RELATION OF THE SUNDAY
SCHOOL TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. The church school ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/xxii the relation of the.htm

Thesaurus
Sunday
... Sabbath; the Lord's Day. 2. (a.) Belonging to the Christian Sabbath. Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. SUNDAY. sun'-da. See LORD'S DAY. ...
/s/sunday.htm - 6k

Easter (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) An annual church festival commemorating Christ's
resurrection, and occurring on Sunday, the second day after Good Friday. ...
/e/easter.htm - 12k

Lord's (548 Occurrences)
... 50, "early on the Lord's day" (compare Luke 24:1); Barn 15 9, "We keep the eighth
day with gladness," on which Jesus arose from the dead." Ie Sunday, as the ...
/l/lord's.htm - 88k

Pentecost (3 Occurrences)
... this question at length. The tradition of the ancient church placed the
first Christian Pentecost on a Sunday. According to John ...
/p/pentecost.htm - 21k

Sunder (9 Occurrences)

/s/sunder.htm - 9k

Day (17670 Occurrences)
... 50, "early on the Lord's day" (compare Luke 24:1); Barn 15 9, "We keep the eighth
day with gladness," on which Jesus arose from the dead." Ie Sunday, as the ...
/d/day.htm - 70k

Sun (1708 Occurrences)

/s/sun.htm - 14k

On (40792 Occurrences)
... bet on a horse. 8. (prep.) At or in the time of; during; as, on Sunday
we abstain from labor. See At (synonym). 9. (prep.) At the ...
/o/on.htm - 17k

Week (18 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) A period of seven days, usually that reckoned from
one Sabbath or Sunday to the next. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. WEEK. ...
/w/week.htm - 13k

Tract (5 Occurrences)
... 9. (v.) Continued or protracted duration; length; extent. 10. (v.) Verses of Scripture
sung at Mass, instead of the Alleluia, from Septuagesima Sunday till the ...
/t/tract.htm - 8k

Resources
Who was Billy Sunday? | GotQuestions.org

Why do some churches have a Sunday night/evening service? | GotQuestions.org

Is Sunday sickness a real thing? | GotQuestions.org

Sunday: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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