First Day of the Week According to the Bible

The precise identification of the “first day of the week” according to the Bible is a significant topic for Christians, and Bible students alike.

The Bible states that Sunday is the first day of the week.

It is known today by Christians the day that Jesus rose from the dead. (Mark 16:9)

We know the biblical Sabbath is on the seventh day, thus Sunday is the first day of the week. (Matthew 28:1), (Genesis 2:2-3)

Key Takeaways:

The seventh day (Saturday) is the only day called the Sabbath in the Bible.

Sunday, the first day, is the day after the Sabbath and marks Jesus’ resurrection.

Changes in worship practices grew out of history, tradition, and cultural shifts—not scriptural command.

For Seventh-day Adventists and others seeking biblical fidelity, keeping the seventh-day Sabbath is both a sign of allegiance and rest in God’s creative and redemptive power. (Ezekiel 20:12,20)

Christians, Jews, and Bible students are encouraged to study the Scriptures, compare tradition with the Word of God, and make decisions rooted in biblical truth.

Honoring the Sabbath of the Bible is not only a matter of doctrine but a call to deeper relationship and obedience to the Creator.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8)—the Word still stands.

Table of Contents

What Is the First Day of the Week in the Bible?

The Name and Order of Days

In the Bible, days were not named as we know them today. Instead, they were numbered. The day immediately following the Sabbath is consistently called the first day of the week.

Sunday as the First Day: In the modern week, Sunday is regarded as the first day.

Hebrew: This day is called Yom Rishon (יום ראשון), literally “First Day.”

Greek: The New Testament refers to it as mia ton sabbaton (μία τῶν σαββάτων), “the first [day] from the Sabbaths.”

This foundational ordering is crucial: the Bible always frames the Sabbath as day seven and the day after as the first.

Creation Week Context

The origins of the weekly cycle are found in creation itself.

Genesis 1:1–5 tells us that God created light on the first day, marking the beginning of time and the ordering of days.

This pattern establishes the seven-day rhythm: six days of work, followed by a seventh-day Sabbath rest.

Nowhere in Scripture is the Sabbath confused with the first day. The seventh day (Yom Shabbat in Hebrew) is unique, blessed, and set apart.

New Testament References to the First Day

The resurrection of Jesus is the most significant event tied to the first day of the week:

Matthew 28:1: “In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week…”

Mark 16:2: “And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.”

Luke 24:1: “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher…”

John 20:1: “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early…”

These texts clearly show: the resurrection occurred on the first day, after the Sabbath, which remains distinct and unaltered as the seventh day.

Early Church Practices

A few New Testament verses mention gatherings on the first day:

Acts 20:7: “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread…”

1 Corinthians 16:2: “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store…”

These references are often cited as evidence for Sunday worship, but contextually, they mention meetings and offerings—not the establishment of a new Sabbath.

The Sabbath commandment remains unmodified (Exodus 20:8–11).

Theological Significance of the First Day

Symbolism of New Beginnings

The first day points to new beginnings. Jesus’ resurrection on the first day marks the start of the new covenant, the hope of eternal life, and victory over death.

For early Christians, this day celebrated the resurrection—but it never erased or replaced the Sabbath’s sanctity.

Jewish and Christian Views Compared

Jewish Understanding

Sunday was a regular workday for Jews; special significance rested solely on the Sabbath (Saturday), which remains the commandment-keeping day of rest and worship.

All biblical references to Sabbath observance point to the seventh day, not the first.

Christian Denominational Perspectives

Catholic and Protestant: Most churches now observe Sunday as the “Lord’s Day,” viewing it as a memorial of resurrection. However, this practice stems from tradition and early church adjustments, not direct biblical command.

Seventh-day Adventists and some others: Continue to observe Saturday as the only biblical Sabbath, maintaining that Sunday observance is a later development not sanctioned by Scripture.

Historical and Cultural Context

Roman Calendar Influence

In Latin, Sunday is dies Solis—”Day of the Sun.”

In 321 AD, Roman Emperor Constantine enacted the first civil Sunday law, mandating rest on Sunday to unify the empire under a common day, both religiously and civilly.

Secular vs. Religious Calendar Systems

The Gregorian calendar (used in most countries today) lists Sunday as day one.

ISO 8601 standard: Monday is considered the official start of the week.

Despite these adjustments, the biblical week remains anchored: Sabbath is the seventh day.

Controversies and Interpretations

Is Sunday the “Christian Sabbath”?

There is no biblical authority for moving Sabbath rest from the seventh to the first day.

The attempt to transfer Sabbath sanctity to Sunday arose through tradition and gradual ecclesiastical change, not scriptural command.

History shows the shift was slow and met resistance by those faithful to the commandments.

Prophetic Views and Eschatology

Seventh-day Adventists understand the prophetic significance of Sabbath in end-time events.

Sunday laws and enforced worship are seen as pivotal in end-time prophecy (Revelation 13), where the contrast between God’s command (Sabbath) and man’s tradition (Sunday) becomes central.