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Did the “Early Church Fathers” Keep the Feasts?

Published by Rob Skiba April 5, 2015 at 2:07 PM

Easter has nothing whatsoever to do with the Resurrection Day of our Savior. Please note that neither He, nor any of His disciples ate ham either. Just some “food for thought.”

Likewise, please consider what Eusebius wrote. Eusebius was a Roman historian and Christian apologist who lived sometime between 260 and 340AD. He is generally regarded as an expert in the  Biblical canon, having written an accurate account of early Christianity. Sometimes referred to as “The Father of Church History” he produced the some valuable documents that help us to understand what the early post-Apostolic Church was doing and why.

In his Church History or Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius wrote the first surviving history of the Christian Church as a chronologically-ordered account, based on earlier sources, complete from the period of the Apostles to his own epoch. The time scheme correlated the history with the reigns of the Roman Emperors, and the scope was broad. Included were the bishops and other teachers of the Church, Christian relations with the Jews and those deemed heretical, and the Christian martyrs through 324 C.E. Although its accuracy and biases have been questioned, it remains an important source on the early church due to Eusebius’s access to materials now lost. – Wikipedia

Thanks to Facebook friend, Bob Simkonis for pointing the following out to me, I looked it up for myself. Here is a direct cut and paste from a faithful reprinting of Eusebius’ writings [http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/201/2010165.htm] concerning Church History…

Chapter XXIV.—The Disagreement in Asia.

1. But the bishops of Asia, led by Polycrates, decided to hold to the old custom handed down to them. 1695 He himself, in a letter which he addressed to Victor and the church of Rome, set forth in the following words the tradition which had come down to him: 1696

2. “We observe the exact day; neither adding, nor taking away. For in Asia also great lights have fallen asleep, which shall rise again on the day of the Lord’s coming, when he shall come with glory from heaven, and shall seek out all the saints. Among these are Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who fell asleep in Hierapolis; and his two aged virgin daughters, and another daughter, who lived in the Holy Spirit and now rests at Ephesus; and, moreover, John, who was both a witness and a teacher, who reclined upon the bosom of the Lord, and, being a priest, wore the sacerdotal plate.

3. He fell asleep at Ephesus.

4. And Polycarp 1697 in Smyrna, who was a bishop and martyr; and Thraseas, 1698 bishop and martyr from Eumenia, who fell asleep in Smyrna.

5. Why need I mention the bishop and martyr Sagaris 1699 who fell asleep in Laodicea, or the blessed Papirius, 1700 or Melito, 1701 the Eunuch who lived altogether in the Holy Spirit, and who lies in Sardis, awaiting the episcopate from heaven, when he shall rise from the dead?

6. ALL THESE OBSERVED THE FOURTEENTH DAY OF THE PASSOVER ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL, deviating in no respect, but following the rule of faith. And I also, Polycrates, the least of you all, do according to the tradition of my relatives, some of whom I have closely followed. For seven of my relatives were bishops; and I am the eighth. And MY RELATIVES ALWAYS OBSERVED THE DAY WHEN THE PEOPLE PUT AWAY THE LEAVEN.

7. I, therefore, brethren, who have lived sixty-five years in the Lord, and have met with the brethren throughout the world, and have gone through every Holy Scripture, am not affrighted by terrifying words. For those greater than I have said ‘We ought to obey God rather than man.

Assuming this account is accurate, we have a pretty solid case coming from about the 3rd century, revealing that for at least that long, the “Church Fathers” were still obeying the Torah concerning the Feasts. Of course, it would not be too much longer before Constantine would come along and change all of this, outlawing Passover and instituting Easter as a replacement as well as switching the Sabbath to Sunday and doing other things that would forever alter the course of Church practices, reflected in the “Christianizing of paganism” that is still taking place today – a practice NO WHERE found nor endorsed in Scripture.

It’s time to get back to the basics and the original faith and practices held by those who followed the Jewish Messiah of the Scriptures.

– Rob Skiba

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