If ever there was some doubt in my mind that Bible translations contribute to false doctrines, all doubt is gone.
While I believe that Bible translations are a valuable aid to understanding Scripture, especially for us who are not fluent in the languages of the Bible, we have to recognize that they are not without problems. I accept that, to translate into another language, the translation becomes a paraphrase, and very often minute details are lost. However, the offenses arise when translations replace words or adjust verses to align with a preconceived doctrine. Such is the case with passages regarding the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Nearly every translation promotes the idea that Jesus arose from the tomb on Sunday morning. By doing so, they have taken great liberties in doctoring the translations to fit the false Sunday resurrection agenda. Jesus did not arise from the tomb on Sunday. Jesus arose from the tomb on the Sabbath, a Saturday morning. The translators had to concoct the notion that the Greek word Sabbaton, meaning “Sabbath,” could also mean “week.” However, the New Testament does not use the Greek word for “week,” and there was no need, because God never intended for scripture to say, “the first of the week.” To be clear, the Greek word for Sunday does not exist in the Bible.
The idea that Sunday was a holy day, a special day set aside for Christian worship, was rooted in the ideology of the institutional church rather than in the Bible. Sunday, as a holy day, has been accepted throughout church history, so my goal is not to cast doubt on its true origin but rather to expose the lie.
The Core Argument: A Translation Shift
The central point is that mainstream translations (like the KJV) have substituted the word “week” for the original Greek word “Sabbath.” This was done to support a Sunday-worship agenda rather than to provide a literal translation of the text.
Key Vocabulary Corrections
| Greek Word | Traditional Translation | Research Translation |
| Opse (G3796) | “In the end of” | “At even” (approx. 6 pm Friday) |
| Sabbaton (G4521) | “Week” | “Sabbaths” (plural) |
| Mian (G1520) | “First” | “One” |
| Eis (G1519) | Omitted | “Into” |
Evidence from Matthew 28:1
I highlight Matthew 28:1 as one example of how this mistranslation is often applied. Applying the corrections, the verse changes significantly:
In the end of And evening of the sabbaths, as it began to dawn toward thefirst day into one of the week Sabbaths, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
Note that the events began at the start of the Sabbath (Friday evening), not Sunday morning.
The “Three Sabbaths” Context
During the Passover week, when Jesus was crucified, there were actually three Sabbaths. Here’s why: According to Leviticus 13:6-8, the 15th Day of Nisan and the 21st Day of Nisan were holy convocations, Sabbaths on which work could not be performed. In other words, these were annual Sabbaths in addition to the weekly Sabbath that occurred the week of Jesus crucifixion. Jesus arose from the tomb on a “high Sabbath”—a weekly Sabbath that coincided with an annual feast day. By translating the plural “Sabbaths” as “week,” translators effectively hid the timing of when Jesus arose from the tomb.
Summary
We need to understand how mistranslations of specific Greek words in the New Testament have influenced the false traditional belief that Jesus arose from the tomb on Sunday and that Sunday is the Lord’s Day.
Note these three points:
- Linguistic Accuracy: The Greek text uses Sabbaton (Sabbath), not a word for “week.”
- Timing: The “dawn” mentioned in Matthew 28:1 is the dawning of the Sabbath day (which begins at sunset), placing the resurrection much earlier than Sunday.
- Doctrinal Impact: If the resurrection didn’t happen on Sunday, the biblical basis for “The Lord’s Day” being Sunday is challenged.
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