Shameless Popery #246 Why Do Christians Worship On Sunday?
Feb 3, 2026
A probing look at why Christians gather on Sunday instead of Saturday. The Sabbatarian challenge and claims about Constantine's 321 law are examined. Early patristic and apostolic-era evidence is surveyed. The discussion contrasts Sabbath theology with the rise of the Lord's Day and explores whether Sunday worship predates imperial influence.
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Constantine Didn't Invent Weekly Sunday Worship
- Sunday as a weekly rest in Rome began with Constantine's 321 decree, not as an ancient pagan weekly worship day.
- Roman religion lacked a regular seven-day weekly worship rhythm, so Sunday wasn't a longstanding pagan practice.
Roman Paganism Had No Weekly Sabbath
- Roman pagan practice centered on many festival dates, not a recurring weekly sabbath like Jewish or Christian practice.
- The seven-day week was primarily an astronomical import and not central to Roman religious life before Christianity.
Sunday Worship Predates Constantine By Centuries
- Early Christian writers (Ignatius, Barnabas, Justin, Tertullian) show Sunday observance centuries before Constantine.
- They explain Sunday as the Lord's Day tied to Christ's resurrection and the Christian understanding of Sabbath fulfillment.
