Is “Easter” in the original Scriptures?

[Hidden In Him]

You are misunderstanding Tertullian. When he says that new moons and sabbaths are "strange" to Christians he mean that Christians have never celebrated them. (He was probably wrong about this, since the first Jewish Christians probably continued to celebrate new moons and sabbaths). He says, disapprovingly, that Christians are participating in pagan festivals. But we know from Tertullian's other works that Christians celebrated Easter and Whitsunday (Pentecost) in his time. He does not disapprove of these celebrations of Easter and Whitsunday. When he says "call out the individual solemnities of the nations, and set them out into a row, they will not be able to make up a Pentecost", he is saying that Christian festivals are superior to the pagan festivals, so Christians have no need of attending pagan celebrations.

Thanks, Mockingbird. I read it differently on that particular sentence, but the rest of your interpretation I fully agree with. Thank you for the post.

Blessings,
- H

 

[Hidden In Him]

Christian festivals also replace those of the jews and christians cannot participate in jewish feasts and fasts without sin

Don, this is way too out of bounds, IMO. Messianics are Christians, and they see spiritual meaning in the feasts, which indeed there IS. You can't tell me they are "in sin" by observing them, not after the law but with Christ in mind. That's just... it borders on antisemitic.

 

[donadams]

Don, this is way too out of bounds, IMO. Messianics are Christians, and they see spiritual meaning in the feasts, which indeed there IS. You can't tell me they are "in sin" by observing them, not after the law but with Christ in mind. That's just... it borders on antisemitic.

no just another sect not of Christ or the church

who can practice two covenants?

there is only one mediator and one covenant

Pope Eugene IV, Council of Florence, Cantate Domino, 1441: “The Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and teaches that the matter pertaining to the law of the Old Testament, of the Mosaic Law, which are divided into ceremonies, sacred rites, sacrifices, and sacraments, because they were established to signify something in the future, although they were suited to divine worship at that time, after our Lord’s coming had been signified by them, ceased, and the sacraments of the New Testament began; and that whoever, even after the passion, placed hope in these matters of the law and submitted himself to them as necessary for salvation, as if faith in Christ could not save without them, sinned mortally. Yet it does not deny that after the passion of Christ up to the promulgation of the Gospel they could have been observed until they were believed to be in no way necessary for salvation; but after the promulgation of the Gospel it asserts that they cannot be observed without the loss of eternal salvation. All, therefore, who after that time (the promulgation of the Gospel) observe circumcision and the Sabbath and the other requirements of the law, it declares alien to the Christian faith and not in the least fit to participate in eternal salvation, unless someday they recover from these errors.”


Pope Benedict XIV in Ex Quo:

"The first consideration is that the ceremonies of the Mosaic Law *were abrogated* by the coming of Christ and that they can no longer be observed without sin after the promulgation of the Gospel. "

Pope Pius XII in Mystici Corporis:

"29. And first of all, by the death of our Redeemer, the New Testament took the place of the Old Law which had been abolished; then the Law of Christ together with its mysteries, enactments, institutions, and sacred rites was ratified for the whole world in the blood of Jesus Christ. For, while our Divine Savior was preaching in a restricted area - He was not sent but to the sheep that were lost of the House of Israel [30] - the Law and the Gospel were together in force; [31] but on the gibbet of His death Jesus made void the Law with its decrees [32] fastened the handwriting of the Old Testament to the Cross, [33] establishing the New Testament in His blood shed for the whole human race.[34] "To such an extent, then," says St. Leo the Great, speaking of the Cross of our Lord, "*was there effected a transfer from the Law to the Gospel, from the Synagogue to the Church, from the many sacrifices to one Victim, that, as Our Lord expired, that mystical veil which shut off the innermost part of the temple and its sacred secret was rent violently from top to bottom.*" [35]

30. *On the Cross then the Old Law died, soon to be buried and to be a bearer of death*, [36] in order to give way to the New Testament of which Christ had chosen the Apostles as qualified ministers; [37] and although He had been constituted the Head of the whole human family in the womb of the Blessed Virgin, it is by the power of the Cross that our Savior exercises fully the office itself of Head of His Church. "

thks

 

[D-D-W]

Morning Star in this place is Israel who once laid low the nations around it.

That smacks of Replacement theology.

 

[D-D-W]

Christian festivals also replace those of the jews and christians cannot participate in jewish feasts and fasts without sin

I realize this is a bit off-topic but the bible does not set them out originally as feasts ONLY of the Jews:

Leviticus 23:1
The Lord spoke again to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations—My appointed times are these:

And it goes on to describe 7 feasts. Including Passover.

I do realize that they are described in various passages in John as "the feast of the Jews," but I see that as referring to feasts that Jews routinely celebrated as opposed to the Greeks and Romans.

Anyway we are commanded to do what Christ did. He celebrated all 7 of those feasts. So should we.

 

[Hidden In Him]

who can practice two covenants?

Don, it's not about practicing two covenants. We're simply talking about observing a Jewish feast (or several, when desiring to) after a spiritual manner.

 

[Mockingbird]

But the fixed date was the Jewish date for the Jewish Passover, not some random fixed date.

I am not certain of this. Polycrates wrote "my family have always kept the day when the people put away the leaven." This may mean that the Christians in the Province of Asia celebrated Pascha on the night of the 13th/14th of Nisan, not on the night of the 14th/15th.

The early church observed the Christian version of the Jewish PASSOVER until the Council of Nicea determined all Christians should specifically avoid having any association with the Jews. That decision was based on prejudice, but not on wisdom. Many of the early Christians not only did not despise the Jews, they were Jews, and there were reasons why men like Polycarp argued for keeping things tied to the Jewish observance. But it appears the council despised the Jews by 325 AD, and this was their overriding motivation.

The Nicene decision (as opposed to the Jew-hating passages in Constantine's letter) only holds that Christians should not rely on the Jewish calendar in setting the date of Easter. This was because the contemporary Jewish calendar was disorganized, and the Jewish residents of some towns celebrated Unleavened Bread before the spring equinox. The independent calculations used by Rome and Alexandria, indeed by everyone except Christians in Syria and Mesopotamia, all set the festival after the equinox. The Syrians were practicing the older tradition; the first Christians had used the Jewish calendar as it was at their time (Acts 2.1, Acts 12/3, Acts 20.6, Acts 27.9, 1 Cor 16.9). And the Syrian tradition is recorded in the Didascalia Apostolorum: "Therefore ye, when the people keep the Passover, fast and study to complete your vigil in the midst of their unleavened bread" (Chapter 21). But by the early 3rd century some Christians had become frustrated with the disorganized state of the Jewish calendar and began experimenting with independent calculations.

 

[Hidden In Him]

I am not certain of this. Polycrates wrote "my family have always kept the day when the people put away the leaven." This may mean that the Christians in the Province of Asia celebrated Pascha on the night of the 13th/14th of Nisan, not on the night of the 14th/15th.


The Nicene decision (as opposed to the Jew-hating passages in Constantine's letter) only holds that Christians should not rely on the Jewish calendar in setting the date of Easter. This was because the contemporary Jewish calendar was disorganized, and the Jewish residents of some towns celebrated Unleavened Bread before the spring equinox. The independent calculations used by Rome and Alexandria, indeed by everyone except Christians in Syria and Mesopotamia, all set the festival after the equinox. The Syrians were practicing the older tradition; the first Christians had used the Jewish calendar as it was at their time (Acts 2.1, Acts 12/3, Acts 20.6, Acts 27.9, 1 Cor 16.9). And the Syrian tradition is recorded in the Didascalia Apostolorum: "Therefore ye, when the people keep the Passover, fast and study to complete your vigil in the midst of their unleavened bread" (Chapter 21). But by the early 3rd century some Christians had become frustrated with the disorganized state of the Jewish calendar and began experimenting with independent calculations.

I think that's all part of God's plan to make sure they not be observed after any strictness for those who chose to continue observing them. Same thing with the solar and lunar calendars. I think it's why the fathers didn't make a big deal of it, and left all to observe things after their own traditions. It was less about the dates and more about what they signified prophetically.

 

[donadams]

That smacks of Replacement theology.

that biblical friend!

Christ replaced david as king
Lk 1:32-33
the church replaced Israel as kingdom

says who? Christ says
mt 21:43 mt 16:18-19

the new covenant replaced the old Gal 4

our mother gal 4:26

Mary replaced Eve as the mother of all the living, Mary mother of alm the living in Christ in the new creation
Jn 19:26-27 rev 12:16

Mary replaced Rachel as sorrowful mother (Rachel mt 2:18)
(Mary at the cross Jn 19:25
ref. Lk 2:35

can I get an Amen?

 

[donadams]

I realize this is a bit off-topic but the bible does not set them out originally as feasts ONLY of the Jews:

Leviticus 23:1
The Lord spoke again to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations—My appointed times are these:

And it goes on to describe 7 feasts. Including Passover.

I do realize that they are described in various passages in John as "the feast of the Jews," but I see that as referring to feasts that Jews routinely celebrated as opposed to the Greeks and Romans.

Anyway we are commanded to do what Christ did. He celebrated all 7 of those feasts. So should we.

christians are under grace not the old law

gal 5:3-4
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

 

[donadams]

Don, it's not about practicing two covenants. We're simply talking about observing a Jewish feast (or several, when desiring to) after a spiritual manner.

only possibility to do so without sin is for purely historical reasons

 

[donadams]

Don, it's not about practicing two covenants. We're simply talking about observing a Jewish feast (or several, when desiring to) after a spiritual manner.

christians practice the christian life and morals
the feasts and fasts and sacraments

 

[Mockingbird]

who can practice two covenants?

St. Paul was against the Galatians depending on the observance of "days" for their salvation (Galatians 4.10) but he believed that Christians could observe "days" as an act of piety (Romans 14.5-6). Those who rest on the Sabbath as an act of private piety are not "practicing two covenants". They are practicing piety.

I myself do not rest on the Sabbath, but like St. Paul I am not troubled by those who do.

 

[donadams]

St. Paul was against the Galatians depending on the observance of "days" for their salvation (Galatians 4.10) but he believed that Christians could observe "days" as an act of piety (Romans 14.5-6). Those who rest on the Sabbath as an act of private piety are not "practicing two covenants". They are practicing piety.

I myself do not rest on the Sabbath, but like St. Paul I am not troubled by those who do.

• Council of Laodicea (circa A.D. 360): This council stated that Christians should not "Judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honoring the Lord's Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians".

thks

 

[Mockingbird]

• Council of Laodicea (circa A.D. 360): This council stated that Christians should not "Judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honoring the Lord's Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians".

I do not accept the Council of Laodicea. I accept Paul's teaching that Christians may rest on the Sabbath if their conscience bids them do so.

 

[D-D-W]

• Council of Laodicea (circa A.D. 360): This council stated that Christians should not "Judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honoring the Lord's Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians".

And like several other points, they got this one wrong. Jesus was/IS a Jew. If we are in HIM, we are grafted into the rich root of the olive tree which is Judaism. (biblical, not necessarily rabbinic) See Romans 11.

 

[Mockingbird]

Free, I don't know where you are getting this information from. The Orphic egg - an occult symbol that goes back to the ancient Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks and Hindus - was not just invented in the 1500's or even in 7th century. It goes back much further,

Do you have documents by ancient authors that show that the devotees of Orpheus used eggs in their worship at all? If you do, do you have documents that show a connection between the Mediterranean Orphic religion and the northeastern European custom of coloring eggs at Easter?

 

[LanaPodesta]

Do you have documents by ancient authors that show that the devotees of Orpheus used eggs in their worship at all? If you do, do you have documents that show a connection between the Mediterranean Orphic religion and the northeastern European custom of coloring eggs at Easter?

Even if so it would be a moot point. Is something done in worship of God? Then it's not pagan. Is it done in worship of a deity other than God? Then it's not Christian. Not hard.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Even if so it would be a moot point. Is something done in worship of God? Then it's not pagan. Is it done in worship of a deity other than God? Then it's not Christian. Not hard.

No, Lana. It's not nearly so cut and dried. There are some who use Tarot to consult God for guidance, for instance, and it raises the question of if God ever intended us to seek Him by such means. If the origins are occultic, then it raises the possibility that the answer here is no.

By contrast, if the decoration and use of eggs in religious contexts is connected with ancient occult religions, then a similar case can be made that it is not something God ever instituted or condoned. There is no favorable reference to the practice of using eggs in a religious context in the word of God itself, so this certainly doesn't trend in its favor.

Do you have documents by ancient authors that show that the devotees of Orpheus used eggs in their worship at all? If you do, do you have documents that show a connection between the Mediterranean Orphic religion and the northeastern European custom of coloring eggs at Easter?

The egg is associated with rebirth in the ancient pagan religions. In Orphism it represented the primordial state of the universe, the potential for creation, the unfolding of divine knowledge, and the cyclical nature of existence and spiritual rebirth.

Orphism is the name given to a set of religious beliefs and practices originating in the ancient Greek and Hellenistic world, associated with literature ascribed to the mythical poet Orpheus, who descended into the Greek underworld and returned. Orphism has been described as a reform of the earlier Dionysian religion... There are two Orphic stories of the rebirth of Dionysus...

Orphism - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It was borrowed from the occult religion of the Egyptians, and represented the same thing, particularly in reference to the goddess Isis and her son Horus:

Like human beings always have, the ancient Egyptians knew and valued this important symbol. Indeed, one of the euphemistic names for the innermost sarcophagus (the one right next to the mummy) was “the egg.” For them, the coffin was merely the eggshell protecting the human being until she or he is ready to break free and be reborn as a Shining One among the Deities.



Geb, father of Isis, with the goose upon His head. As daughter of Geb (the Earth God, one of Whose symbols is the goose), Isis is called “the Egg of the Goose”... Isis is a Bird Goddess Herself and has eggs of Her own, most notably Horus and the Horus-king. In the Pyramid Texts, Isis discusses with Nu, the God of the primordial abyss, how the king will be reborn by breaking out of his egg. (Remember that this is the name for the innermost sarcophagus.) First Nu states that Isis has borne and shaped the king within the egg, then asks how the Deities shall break the egg so that he can be reborn.

Isis answers, telling Nu about all the Divine help the king will get and eventually declaring, “Behold, the king is in being; behold, the king is knit together; behold, the king has broken the egg.”

After breaking out of his egg, the king is reborn, flying up from the nest like a young bird beneath the watchful gaze of his mother Isis. We find these kinds of references to the deceased as a chick in the egg throughout the funerary texts.

Isis & the Egg

The equinox has come and gone. Light now overbalances dark. Things are stirring, stirring, stirring everywhere. The flowerbeds beg (or is that screaming, I hear?) to be weeded and about a million s…

isiopolis.com

One could make the argument that the Egyptians were somehow in agreement with Christian religious beliefs regarding the resurrection, but they were honoring the gods Horus and Isis, and the Greeks were honoring Dionysus after them, all of whom were pagan and demonic deities.

 

[LanaPodesta]

By contrast, if the decoration and use of eggs in religious contexts is connected with ancient occult religions, then a similar case can be made that it is not something God ever instituted or condoned

Maybe I'm ignorant but where is the egg used in the Protestant liturgy? What is its role in church?

There is no favorable reference to the practice of eggs in a religious context in the word of God itself, so this certainly doesn't trend in its favor

The same could be said of crosses. What about electric lighting? Chairs?

The egg is associated with rebirth in the ancient pagan religions

And what is the anastasis if not a rebirth of kind? Again, if it's in memory of Christ and not some pagan deity it's not a problem.