“One
man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth
every day alike.
Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”
(Romans 14:5)
In
Reformed
theology, the principle that unless explicitly set
aside by the New Testament
writers, Old Testament doctrines remain binding,
hinges on the continuity of
God's covenant with His people across both Testaments.
This theological stance
is rooted in several key principles:
1.Covenantal
Unity:
Reformed theology views the Bible through the lens of
covenant
theology, where God's covenants with humanity, from
Adam to Christ, form a
unified narrative. The Old Testament covenants,
particularly the Mosaic
Covenant, are seen as preparatory for the New Covenant
established by Christ.
Unless the New Testament explicitly modifies or
abrogates an Old Testament law
or doctrine, it is considered to remain in force. This
continuity is based on
the belief in God's unchanging nature and His
consistent plan of redemption.
·Example:
The
moral law, as encapsulated in the Ten Commandments, is
not abolished but
fulfilled in Christ. While ceremonial laws (like
sacrifices) and certain civil
laws specific to Israel's theocracy are set aside, the
moral principles remain
binding for Christians.
2.Scripture's
Authority
and Sufficiency:
The Reformed tradition upholds the
doctrine of Sola Scriptura, emphasizing that Scripture
alone is the final
authority for faith and practice. This principle
implies that any doctrine or
practice not explicitly contradicted or modified by
the New Testament remains
authoritative. The New Testament is viewed as an
interpretive lens for the Old
Testament, not necessarily as a replacement unless it
specifically indicates
otherwise.
·Example:
The
Sabbath principle from the Old Testament is
transformed but not abolished in
the New Testament. While the day (from Saturday to
Sunday) and some aspects of
its observance might change, the principle of setting
aside a day for worship
and rest remains.
3.Typology
and
Fulfillment:
Reformed theologians often interpret Old Testament
figures,
events, and laws as types or shadows that find their
fulfillment in Christ.
This typological interpretation does not negate the
original context but sees
it as pointing forward to Christ, where elements might
be fulfilled or
transformed rather than abolished.
·Example:
The
sacrificial system of the Old Testament is fulfilled
in Christ's ultimate
sacrifice, rendering the need for animal sacrifices
obsolete, yet the
underlying principle of atonement through sacrifice
remains central to
Christian theology.
4.The
Role of
Christ and the Apostles:
The teachings of Jesus and the
Apostles are seen as authoritative interpretations of
the Old Testament. Their
silence or modification on certain laws or practices
is taken as indicative of
their stance. If they do not address or change a
doctrine, it is presumed to
continue.
·Example:
Jesus'
teaching on divorce in Matthew 19:3-9 reaffirms the
original creation ordinance
of marriage's indissolubility, thus setting aside the
Mosaic allowance for
divorce in Deuteronomy 24, showing both continuity and
discontinuity.
5.Theological
Method:
This approach also reflects a hermeneutical method
where the New
Testament is read in light of the Old, and vice versa,
with an emphasis on the
progressive revelation of God's will. This method
ensures that while there is
continuity, there's also an acknowledgment of
progressive clarity and
fulfillment in Christ.
·Example:
The
dietary laws in Leviticus are explicitly set aside in
Acts 10 with Peter's
vision, indicating a clear instance where the New
Testament writers explicitly
change an Old Testament practice.
In
summary, Reformed theology's approach to binding
doctrines from the Old
Testament unless set aside by the New Testament,
reflects a deep respect for
the continuity of God's revelation while recognizing
the transformative work of
Christ. This principle ensures that while the Old
Testament remains
authoritative, it is interpreted through the lens of
Christ's fulfillment,
providing a balanced view of continuity and
discontinuity in biblical law and
doctrine.
The
principle in Reformed theology, where Old Testament
doctrines are considered
binding unless explicitly set aside by the New
Testament, does not inherently
set aside the Reformed view of the Christian Sabbath.
Instead, it provides a
framework through which the Sabbath is understood and
applied within the
Christian context. Here's how this principle interacts
with the concept of the
Sabbath in Reformed theology:
1.Continuity
of
the Sabbath Principle:
The Sabbath command in the
Decalogue (Exodus 20:8-11) is part of the moral law,
which, according to
Reformed theology, remains perpetually binding. This
moral aspect of the
Sabbath, emphasizing rest and worship, is seen as
transcending the ceremonial
laws that were fulfilled in Christ.
2.Transformation
in
Christ:
While the principle of the Sabbath remains, its
application is
transformed in the New Testament. The day of
observance shifts from the seventh
day (Saturday) to the first day (Sunday),
commemorating Christ's resurrection.
This change is not explicitly mandated in scripture
but is inferred from the
practices of the early church and the apostolic
teachings.
3.New
Testament
Evidence: There
are instances where the first day of the week is
highlighted
for Christian gatherings (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians
16:2), suggesting a shift in
practice.
4.The
Lord's Day: The
term "Lord's Day" (Revelation 1:10) is often taken by
Reformed
theologians to refer to Sunday, indicating a new
covenant application of the
Sabbath principle. This day is not merely a
continuation of the Jewish Sabbath
but a celebration of Christ's resurrection, embodying
both continuity with the
Old Testament command and a new significance.
5.Christ's
Teaching:
Jesus himself claimed lordship over the Sabbath (Mark
2:27-28),
suggesting a redefinition or fulfillment of the
Sabbath in his person and work.
His teachings on the Sabbath emphasized its purpose
(rest, mercy, worship) over
strict legalistic observance, which aligns with the
Reformed understanding of
the Sabbath's moral and spiritual intent.
6.Apostolic
Practice:
The Apostles' silence on explicitly changing the
Sabbath command
to a different day or abolishing it entirely is
interpreted as an endorsement
of its continued relevance, albeit in a transformed
manner. The lack of
explicit abrogation supports the view that the Sabbath
principle, in its
essence, remains.
7.The
Westminster
Confession of Faith:
A key document in Reformed theology, it states that
the Sabbath is
"from the beginning of the world to the resurrection
of Christ, was the
last day of the week; and, from the resurrection of
Christ, was changed into
the first day of the week, which in Scripture is
called the Lord's Day, and is
to be continued to the end of the world, as the
Christian Sabbath" (WCF
XXI.7).
In
summary, the principle that Old Testament doctrines
remain binding unless set
aside by the New Testament does not negate the
Christian Sabbath in Reformed
theology. Instead, it supports the view that while the
ceremonial aspects of
the Sabbath (specific day, detailed restrictions)
might be transformed, the
moral and spiritual principles of Sabbath rest and
worship are upheld and
fulfilled in Christ, thus maintaining the Sabbath's
relevance for Christians,
albeit in a new covenant form. This understanding
reflects a nuanced continuity
where the Sabbath is both affirmed and redefined in
light of Christ's work.
In
academic exegesis, Reformed theologians would approach
Romans 14:5 within the
broader context of Paul's argument in Romans,
particularly focusing on themes
of Christian liberty, the unity of the church, and the
application of Old
Testament laws in the New Testament era. Here's how
they might exegete this
verse:
Textual
Analysis:
Romans
14:5
– “One man esteemeth one day above another: another
esteemeth every
day alike. Let every man be fully
persuaded in his own mind.”
Contextual
Setting:
·Immediate
Context:
Romans 14 deals with issues of weaker and stronger
believers, focusing
on matters of conscience, particularly dietary laws
and the observance of days,
which were points of contention in the early church,
likely between Jewish
Christians and Gentile Christians.
·Broader
Context:
Paul's letter to the Romans addresses the
righteousness of God,
justification by faith, and the implications for
Christian living. Chapter 14
specifically addresses how believers should interact
regarding disputable
matters.
Exegetical
Points:
1.The
Nature of Days:
·Diverse
Practices:
Paul acknowledges that within the church, there are
differing
opinions on the significance of certain days. This
likely refers to Sabbath
observance or Jewish festival days versus the
Christian practice of observing
every day as holy or having equal sanctity.
·Christian
Liberty:
The principle here is not about abolishing the Sabbath
but about the
freedom in Christ regarding non-moral issues. Paul
does not command one
practice over the other but allows for personal
conviction.
1.Theological
Implications:
·Fulfillment
in
Christ: Reformed theologians might argue that while
the Sabbath principle
remains, its ceremonial aspects (specific day, strict
observances) are
fulfilled in Christ, allowing for this diversity in
practice without violating
the moral law.
·Unity
in
Diversity: Paul emphasizes unity despite differences
in practice, which aligns
with the
·Reformed
principle
of adiaphora (things indifferent) where non-essential
practices do
not affect salvation or core doctrine.
2.Hermeneutical
Approach:
·Typological
Fulfillment:
The Sabbath, as a type, finds its antitype in Christ,
where the
rest of the Sabbath is ultimately realized in him.
Thus, while the principle of
rest and worship remains, the specific day or manner
of observance can vary.
·Covenantal
Continuity
and Discontinuity: While the moral law (including the
principle of
Sabbath rest) remains, the ceremonial aspects might be
seen as set aside or
fulfilled, allowing for the kind of flexibility Paul
describes.
3.Ethical
Application:
·Personal
Conviction:
Paul's instruction for each to be "fully convinced in
his own
mind" underscores the importance of personal faith and
conviction in
non-essential matters, which aligns with the Reformed
emphasis on the
priesthood of all believers.
·Charity
and
Edification: The overarching goal is to maintain unity
and build up the church,
not to cause division over secondary issues. This
reflects the Reformed
emphasis on the church's corporate life and mutual
edification.
Conclusion:
Reformed
theologians
would likely interpret Romans 14:5 as supporting the
principle that
while the moral law (including the Sabbath's core
principle) remains binding,
the specific application of how one observes days of
worship can vary. This
interpretation does not negate the Sabbath but rather
redefines its application
in light of Christ's fulfillment, emphasizing
Christian liberty, unity, and
personal conviction within the bounds of faith. This
exegesis would align with
the broader Reformed theological framework of
continuity in moral law and
discontinuity in ceremonial aspects, all under the
overarching principle of
Christ's lordship over all things, including the
Sabbath.
The
above study was Groked and perfected with Grammarly
AI.
“Study
to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word
of truth.” (2 Timothy
2:15)
Mr.
Kettler is a respected author who has previously
published articles in the Chalcedon Report and Contra
Mundum. He and his wife, Marea, are active
Westminster, CO, RPCNA Church
members. Mr. Kettler's extensive work includes 18
books defending the Reformed
Faith, which are available for order online at Amazon.