Easter and the Bible
Easter and the Bible
Theme: Easter is a manmade religious event, not instituted by Christ or His apostles. Acts 12:4
I. INTRODUCTION
A. “Easter is the greatest of Christian holidays.”1
1. It is celebrated by millions each year.
2. It is also understood as the “grandest and oldest feast in the Christian calendar”2
3. What makes this particular “holy day” so great is that it is the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.
B. As a result a great majority among Christian denominations celebrate Easter religiously.
1. Many places of worship use this Sunday as a grand display of drama and music centering on the
resurrected Christ.
2. In fact, many think it odd – possibly apostate – for a Christian church NOT to celebrate Easter
religiously.
C. In this lesson we look at:
1. Historical origin and evolutionary practice of Easter.
2. What the Bible reveals about Easter.
3. Individual and congregational conclusions.
II. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
A. The origin of Easter:
1. Arguably, the word is derived from Anglo-Saxon word Eastre: a fertility goddess worshipped by
the ancient Saxons3 celebrating the return of Spring commemorating their goddess.
2. From a believer’s vantage point, the Passover feast was continued to be kept by Jewish (probably
including Gentile Christians).4
a. At some point later, there became a distinction between the Jewish Passover and the Christian
“Pascha”: celebrating Christ’s resurrection.
b. Over time, the distinction became clearer when they stopped celebrating the Easter feast on the
Passover day, but rather on a particular Sunday.
B. Evolutionary practice of Easter:
1. As early as the eighth century, the word “Easter” was used to designate the annual Christian
celebration of the resurrection of Christ.5
2. For “western believers” that day is the Sunday at or after the “paschal moon” (The Paschal full
moon is the first Ecclesiastical full moon after march 20th).6
C. Mingling between Pagans and Christianity: in the 2nd century.
1. While the commentaries vary to some degree it is generally accepted that Christianity tried
influencing the pagan world with the mixture of Christ’s resurrection to the celebrations of the
pagan festival.
2. By the 4th century the Catholic church (via Constantine, Roman emperor) ruled on various
circumstances surrounding Easter: technically, when it was to be observed.
D. History, however helpful, is fallible and does not equate with Biblical authority.
1 Article: “He Is Risen” written in book called On This Day, March 21.
2 Nelson's New Christian Dictionary
3 Article: “Easter”, Harper’s Bible Dictionary.
4 From the Letter of the Emperor (Constantine I) to all those not present at the Council. (Found in Eusebius, Vita Const., Lib.
iii., 18-20.). http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/const1-easter.htm
5 Article: “Easter”, Nelson's new Christian dictionary the authoritative resource on the Christian world.
6 http://www.holiday-central.net/easter_paschal_moon.asp
III. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT “EASTER”
A. As with any practice of the church: authority must be established for all we do. Cp. Col. 3:17
1. As the pillar and the ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15), the Lord’s church is subject to its head:
Jesus Christ. Cp. Eph. 5:23-24, 32
2. Christians – who make up the body of Christ (His church) do not assume God’s will.
Cp. 1 Cor. 2:9-11
3. Christians can only worship in spirit and truth. Cp. Jn. 4:23-24
4. Thus, those in the body of Christ do all things according to His teachings. Cp. 2 John v. 9
B. The only time the word “Easter” is used is in the King James Version of 1611. Acts 12:4
1. The Greek word (pa´s?a) “pascha” is unanimously noted as an errant translation.
a. There never was a more absurd or unhappy translation than this (Albert Barnes).
b. The word in our King James Version is an ecclesiastical term of later date, and ought not to
have been employed here (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary).
2. The proper translation of “pascha” is “Passover.”
a. This was a feast the Jews, according to Old Testament law. cp. Ex. 12:12-14
b. Acts 12:4 (or any other New Testament scripture) DOES NOT reference Easter as a New
Testament practice by Christians in the first century.
C. Because the Bible is silent regarding this observance it would be wrong for the church to bind or
assume such as a religious practice.
1. Most important to note: as Christians we are to worship the Lord in Spirit and truth.
2. Since the New Testament scriptures are silent about Easter, the church belonging to the Lord does
not celebrate/practice this as a religious holiday.
CONCLUSION
A. While Easter is a most popular and well intended holy day of Christ’s resurrection, God is completely
silent about this day.
B. As Christians, our desire is to serve our Lord by faith – by His revealed Word which is silent on this matter – thus excluding this holy day.
Theme: Easter is a manmade religious event, not instituted by Christ or His apostles. Acts 12:4
I. INTRODUCTION
A. “Easter is the greatest of Christian holidays.”1
1. It is celebrated by millions each year.
2. It is also understood as the “grandest and oldest feast in the Christian calendar”2
3. What makes this particular “holy day” so great is that it is the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.
B. As a result a great majority among Christian denominations celebrate Easter religiously.
1. Many places of worship use this Sunday as a grand display of drama and music centering on the
resurrected Christ.
2. In fact, many think it odd – possibly apostate – for a Christian church NOT to celebrate Easter
religiously.
C. In this lesson we look at:
1. Historical origin and evolutionary practice of Easter.
2. What the Bible reveals about Easter.
3. Individual and congregational conclusions.
II. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
A. The origin of Easter:
1. Arguably, the word is derived from Anglo-Saxon word Eastre: a fertility goddess worshipped by
the ancient Saxons3 celebrating the return of Spring commemorating their goddess.
2. From a believer’s vantage point, the Passover feast was continued to be kept by Jewish (probably
including Gentile Christians).4
a. At some point later, there became a distinction between the Jewish Passover and the Christian
“Pascha”: celebrating Christ’s resurrection.
b. Over time, the distinction became clearer when they stopped celebrating the Easter feast on the
Passover day, but rather on a particular Sunday.
B. Evolutionary practice of Easter:
1. As early as the eighth century, the word “Easter” was used to designate the annual Christian
celebration of the resurrection of Christ.5
2. For “western believers” that day is the Sunday at or after the “paschal moon” (The Paschal full
moon is the first Ecclesiastical full moon after march 20th).6
C. Mingling between Pagans and Christianity: in the 2nd century.
1. While the commentaries vary to some degree it is generally accepted that Christianity tried
influencing the pagan world with the mixture of Christ’s resurrection to the celebrations of the
pagan festival.
2. By the 4th century the Catholic church (via Constantine, Roman emperor) ruled on various
circumstances surrounding Easter: technically, when it was to be observed.
D. History, however helpful, is fallible and does not equate with Biblical authority.
1 Article: “He Is Risen” written in book called On This Day, March 21.
2 Nelson's New Christian Dictionary
3 Article: “Easter”, Harper’s Bible Dictionary.
4 From the Letter of the Emperor (Constantine I) to all those not present at the Council. (Found in Eusebius, Vita Const., Lib.
iii., 18-20.). http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/const1-easter.htm
5 Article: “Easter”, Nelson's new Christian dictionary the authoritative resource on the Christian world.
6 http://www.holiday-central.net/easter_paschal_moon.asp
III. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT “EASTER”
A. As with any practice of the church: authority must be established for all we do. Cp. Col. 3:17
1. As the pillar and the ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15), the Lord’s church is subject to its head:
Jesus Christ. Cp. Eph. 5:23-24, 32
2. Christians – who make up the body of Christ (His church) do not assume God’s will.
Cp. 1 Cor. 2:9-11
3. Christians can only worship in spirit and truth. Cp. Jn. 4:23-24
4. Thus, those in the body of Christ do all things according to His teachings. Cp. 2 John v. 9
B. The only time the word “Easter” is used is in the King James Version of 1611. Acts 12:4
1. The Greek word (pa´s?a) “pascha” is unanimously noted as an errant translation.
a. There never was a more absurd or unhappy translation than this (Albert Barnes).
b. The word in our King James Version is an ecclesiastical term of later date, and ought not to
have been employed here (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary).
2. The proper translation of “pascha” is “Passover.”
a. This was a feast the Jews, according to Old Testament law. cp. Ex. 12:12-14
b. Acts 12:4 (or any other New Testament scripture) DOES NOT reference Easter as a New
Testament practice by Christians in the first century.
C. Because the Bible is silent regarding this observance it would be wrong for the church to bind or
assume such as a religious practice.
1. Most important to note: as Christians we are to worship the Lord in Spirit and truth.
2. Since the New Testament scriptures are silent about Easter, the church belonging to the Lord does
not celebrate/practice this as a religious holiday.
CONCLUSION
A. While Easter is a most popular and well intended holy day of Christ’s resurrection, God is completely
silent about this day.
B. As Christians, our desire is to serve our Lord by faith – by His revealed Word which is silent on this matter – thus excluding this holy day.
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