Marcion and the Roman Sabbath fast: a search for origins

The evidence for Jewish sabbath practice in first-century ancient Rome is elusive and tantalising. Up till then, Roman writers had represented Jews as a colourful group on the fringes of Roman society whose custom of foreswearing working on their sabbaths was well known. Horace (65¬8 BCE) and Ovid (43 BCE¬17/18 CE) used references to Jews to enliven or colour their poetry, Pompeius Trogus respected Jews, and Cicero had a healthy respect for them. The Jewish sabbath was to them a day held sacred, with no fires, and no cooking—and so construed as a day with no eating either. Jewish avoidance of everyday activities on their sabbath attracts comment but there are no hints of activities special to the sabbath in which Jews participated.

… of the Israel Society for the …, 2010

According to sociologists, the distinction between the sacred and the profane is one of the main characteristics of religion. These two spheres can be demarcated in different ways, for example by building temples or altars reserved for cultic activities. Another way of distinguishing the sacred and the profane is temporal segregation, that is, holidays are reserved for religious rituals and not for everyday profane activity. 1

The Oxford Handbook of Jewish Daily Life in Roman Palestine (ed. C. Hezser; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010), 566–586

Two fragments of two statutes issued by Constantine, preserved in the Codex Theodosianus and in the Codex Iustinianus, contain the prohibition of jurisdictional activities and of some other forms of work on the dies Solis (Sunday). By means of a detailed survey of the norms issued by the Emperor and his successors and by the analysis of Christian literary testimonies in the early centuries AD, we reached the conclusion of linking – with a high degree of certainty and in disagreement with recent research – the Constantinian rules on dies Solis with the aim of fostering Christian worship on dies Dominica. The Jews had already obtained this recognition, and Constantine afforded this privilege also to Christians. Religious freedom has always had a twofold dimension: having internal freedom which had to be matched with “acting” freely in the political sphere, in order to practice religion in society. Hence, the time to dedicate to worship (along with the space) has been one of the main factors regarding the realization of the external profile of religious freedom

Case Study, 2025

This case study examines the influence of Roman culture on the establishment of Sunday as a day of Christian worship and rest, exploring how Roman customs and laws shaped early Christian observance. It highlights the Roman legal recognition of Sunday as a day of rest, particularly through Emperor Constantine's Edict of Constantine in 321 CE, and the integration of Roman sun worship, particularly the veneration of Sol Invictus, with Christian worship practices. The study further discusses the theological shift from the Hebrew Sabbath to Sunday worship, the political implications of Constantine’s legalization of Christianity, and the social impact of Sunday as a unifying practice within the Roman Empire. By analyzing the intersection of Roman culture and Christian practices, this case study illustrates how early Christians adapted Roman customs to establish Sunday as a central day of worship, a tradition that continues to define Christian observance today.

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies

The Sabbath is part of Jewish tradition. In Christianity it has taken on a new meaning. Both faiths saw it as a gift from God, a tool to affirm one’s spiritual creed and identity, and a way to maintain a distinct faith identity. The secularism of contemporary society has resulted in a misinterpretation of the purpose of Sunday rest and a disregard for the spiritual aspects that the Sunday celebration involves. A false perception of Sunday rest has emerged in modern times: It is not perceived as a divine gift that enables a spiritual ministry, which leads to resistance and opposition to the restless anxiety of the consumerist world and serves as an alternative to advertising’s demanding presence in this world. This rest, as a gift from God, has been one of the most fundamental defining features of man’s connection with God throughout history. Since Christian antiquity, there has been substantial debate over how to observe this tremendous gift of rest. Rest was valued as a gift in the...

2020