Is “Easter” in the original Scriptures?

[Hobie]

Many preconceived ideas and wrong teachings can be brought in and have been, even by well meaning men and become tradition, but not be true. We see this in the idea that the wicked will continue to live eternally in hell, or that man is immortal, etc.. So we have to look at what was brought in from outside of the scriptures, and being picked up although not its true meaning. In the case of this preconception, it actually led to the word being changed from its original meaning, to "Easter". The Greek word that the King James Version translates as “Easter” is actually the word “Pascha” (Hebrew: פסח—Pesach) which means “Passover”. It was during an annual Passover celebration that Jesus was crucified at Jerusalem. Here is the text in question:

Acts 12:4 King James Version

"4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people."

We find it was translated incorrectly because the bible scholars preconceived ideas led them to this. If we look at the text from previous versions we find it was correctly translated...

Acts 12:4 1599 Geneva Bible

"4 [a]And when he had caught him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to be kept, intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people."

Acts 12:4 Wycliffe Bible

"4 And when he had caught Peter, he sent him into prison; and betook him to four quaternions of knights, to keep him, and would after pask bring him forth to the people [willing after pask to bring him forth to the people]."

And others..

Acts 12:4 Complete Jewish Bible

"4 so when Herod seized him, he threw him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each, with the intention of bringing him to public trial after Pesach."

Acts 12:4 Young's Literal Translation

"4 whom also having seized, he did put in prison, having delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him, intending after the passover to bring him forth to the people."

So how could this happen, why would such learned men change something from one meaning to another, simple, because of their preconceived ideas. You see, it has taken time, but Greek philosphy and Ghonosticism had been picked up and in Rome the old beliefs and festivals were still followed by the Romans and many Christian and leaders didnt see a problem with it. One of the first disputes arose as the bishop of Rome allowed the celebration of the Pasch or Passover to continue till the following Sunday so Christians could also celebrate Spring Equinox festival as they had done before. Now the danger of allowing the Christians to join in pagan solstice celebrations was overlooked as the new pagan 'converts' joined the church and swelled the numbers under the bishop of Rome. But other Christian leaders saw the danger of worship according to the old pagan festivals and tried to stop it in what came to be known as Paschal/Easter controversies. The first recorded such controversy came to be known as the Quartodeciman controversy.

Eusebius of Caesarea (Church History, V, xxiii) wrote:
"A question of no small importance arose at that time [i.e. the time of Pope Victor I, about A.D. 190]. The dioceses of all Asia, according to an ancient tradition, held that the fourteenth day of the moon [of Nisan], on which day the Jews were commanded to sacrifice the lamb, should always be observed as the feast of the life-giving pasch (epi tes tou soteriou Pascha heortes), contending that the fast ought to end on that day, whatever day of the week it might happen to be. However it was not the custom of the churches in the rest of the world to end it at this point, as they observed the practice, which from Apostolic tradition has prevailed to the present time, of terminating the fast on no other day than on that of the Resurrection of our Saviour." So the bishop of Rome began the practice of fixing the celebration of Passover for Christians on Sunday and it spread through the old areas of the Empire.Polycarp the disciple of John the Apostle who was now the bishop of Smyrna, came and confronted Anicetus, the Bishop of Rome who had allow the changes in the Passover and other changes to bring in converts. According to Irenaeus, around the 150s or 160, Polycarp visited Rome to discuss the differences that existed between the other centers of Christianity in Asia and Rome "with regard to certain things" and especially about the time of the Pasch or Passover which in Rome were now the Easter festivals. Irenaeus says that Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, observed the fourteenth day of the moon, whatever day of the week that might be, following therein the tradition which he derived from John the Apostle. Irenaeus said that on certain things the two bishops speedily came to an understanding, while as to the time of the Pasch and the change to Easter, each adhered to his own custom. Polycarp following the eastern practice of celebrating Passover on the 14th of Nisan, the day of the Jewish Passover, regardless of what day of the week it fell while the bishop of Rome let it be observed on Sunday.

So the Bishop of Rome ignored the warning and continued to allow the Passover to be observed on Sunday at the pagan Spring Equinox festival and we can see how the Pasch was change to the festival of Easter. But not only was it just the festival as more pagan converts came in, they were allowed to worship on the pagan Spring Equinox festival day which they were used to, while Christians continued to worship on Sabbath. A careful study of the historical records reveals that gradually, with the passing of the years, the Roman bishop tended to use his new day, Sunday, as a ploy for political supremacy over the other churches. Now the danger of allowing the Christians to join in pagan solstice celebrations was overlooked as the new pagan 'converts' joined the church and swelled the numbers under the bishop of Rome. The festival on Easter controversy continued, with the Eastern churches giving it stiff opposition until the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D., at which time Sunday was declared the official day for Easter observance. Emperor Constantine immediately followed this, the same year, with civil enactments enforcing it among the churches, and it began to take hold as we see to this day.

So now you can see how this led to the Bible Scholars changing Gods truth, to their preconception of what it was, yet it was from another tradition, not of God.

 

[Josheb]

Is “Easter” in the original Scriptures?​

No.

So now you can see how this led to the Bible Scholars changing Gods truth, to their preconception of what it was, yet it was from another tradition, not of God.

No, I cannot see it. What I see is legalistic contempt that appears blind to the fact something that had previously set itself up against Christ has been taken captive for Christ and subjugated to his power in direct obedience to scripture. Paul once wrote to the saints in a city where they had to address and overcome problems of Gnosticism, secular humanism, Hellenism, Apollo and Aphrodite worship, the harvest religions, as well as the Roman Imperial cult of Caesar worship. He said these words...

2 Corinthians 10:3-7
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ's, so also are we.

This was his second attempt to aid them in their understanding how to live in a pagan world as saints owned by God purchased by the blood of his Son.

1 Corinthians 8:4-6
Therefore, concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.


In idol is nothing. ALL of them, including all the philosophies and rituals are nothing, and all of them are to be taken captive and subjugated to Christ. ALL of them, even Easter, is captive to the obedience of Christ. The worst of it is these criticisms are used intentionally and unintentionally to judge and divide the body of Christ. Stop judging the Church. When that happens, it makes the judge part of the problem, not the solution.


All over the world billions of people worship the resurrection of Jesus and not a single Christian doing so give a single thought to the Spring equinox. Not one. The pagan gods are lost to the sands of time, relegated to history books as myths, and forgotten in the hearts and minds of every saint except the misguided preachers who remind the vulnerable and easily persuaded to a legalism that has nothing to do with Jesus or the salvation found in him.

So we have to look at what was brought in from outside of the scriptures...

No, we don't.

...and being picked up although not its true meaning.

I might agree if some proof any Christian here was actually worshiping Oestre instead of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus.

In the case of this preconception, it actually led to the word being changed from its original meaning, to "Easter". The Greek word that the King James Version translates as “Easter” is actually the word “Pascha” (Hebrew: פסח—Pesach) which means “Passover”. It was during an annual Passover celebration that Jesus was crucified at Jerusalem.

That is factually true but now all over the world the word "Easter" means the celebration of Jesus's resurrection and victory over the grave.

As the gospel spread all over the world it met with a variety of competing worldviews, religions, and philosophies and it took every single one of the captive and assimilated them so they old meanings were lost and Christ crucified and resurrected is celebrated.


The next time you hear a preacher preach this nonsense ask him (or her) one single question and asked them to answer it immediately, directly, and unequivocally without any obfuscation.

Can you name one saint worshiping a mythological pagan god when the celebrate the resurrection of Christ?

And when he says, "Well no, but..." cut him off and thank him for his honesty and leave. Leave him with his red herring.

Is Easter in the Original Scriptures?

No, and everyone knows it.

 

[Josheb]

The first recorded such controversy came to be known as the Quartodeciman controversy.

Although I think the question asked in the title is a waste of time, I am encouraged that you know about Quatrodecimanism.

There certainly is no reason why Christians could not keep the celebration of Christ's resurrection and victory over sin and the grave matched to the Judaic calendar. There is, however, plenty of reason why Christians might discard the Passover rituals and replace them with rituals celebrating their fulfillment. In fact, whether the denominational or sectarian institutions changed or not, it is very easy for a Christian to day to do both, one, or the other. Such is the time in which we live. We can have a seder according to the Jewish calendar AND we can celebrate the resurrection on the first day of the week. We have liberty where many in earlier times did not (for a variety of reasons, including religious institutional dictate and risk of life).

Romans 14:1-13
Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.... One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord..........For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.... Therefore, let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this — not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way....

We - you, me, and every other person bought by the blood of Christ - has liberty. We have the liberty to treat one day more significant than another AND we have liberty to treat them all alike in significance..... as long as we do so honoring God AND we do not judge others who do it differently.

 

[Hobie]

Well if you look you will see 'Easter' was never about anything about Christ, but about continuing a pagan festival so they could get more people in so they would be more influential than the other churchs, bishops and Patriarchate. It was given a Christian veneer so pagans could join and continue as they had during the Empire. The pagan festival or Spring Equinox festival was characterized by the rejoining of the Mother Goddess and her lover-consort-son, who spent the winter months in death.

Easter is nothing else but Ashtarte, one of the titles of Beltis, the Queen of Heaven. The Easter "buns" were used in the worship of the queen of heaven, the goddess of Easter. As early as the days of Cecrops, the founder of Athens, fifteen hundred years before the Christian era. The prophet Jeremiah takes notice of this offering when he says,

"The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough to make cakes to the Queen of heaven." Jeremiah 7:18.

The hot cross buns were given as offering on the festival of Astarte. The origin of the Easter egg, was from ancient times were they were used in religious rituals throughout Egypt and Greece. Eggs were hung for mystic purposes in temples. These sacred eggs can be traced to the banks of the Euphrates and Babylon paganism. Pagan priests were celibate, tonsured, and received the power of sacrificing for the living and the dead. The goddess in ancient religions was worshipped as the life giver and nurturer and as such, this religion was imbued with sexual undertones. Phallic symbols, as well as symbols of femininity and divine intercourse, were common in ancient temples. Other symbols of pagan worship include the solar wheel dating back to the Chaldeans of Babylon, halos, various pagan crosses, lightning bolts, hand-signals from sun worship cults, tridents, astrological signs, globes as symbols of rulership of the universe, sacred hearts as used in many sun cults, sacred animals, sacred trees, and prayer beads for repetitive prayers even though the Bible admonishes:

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Matthew 6:7

The Babylonian system of worship has essentially been maintained all the way to pagan Rome, and even is hidden as mysterys or ceremonies or otherwise to modern day and can be seen in some form or another.

 

[Hobie]

Although I think the question asked in the title is a waste of time, I am encouraged that you know about Quatrodecimanism.

There certainly is no reason why Christians could not keep the celebration of Christ's resurrection and victory over sin and the grave matched to the Judaic calendar. There is, however, plenty of reason why Christians might discard the Passover rituals and replace them with rituals celebrating their fulfillment. In fact, whether the denominational or sectarian institutions changed or not, it is very easy for a Christian to day to do both, one, or the other. Such is the time in which we live. We can have a seder according to the Jewish calendar AND we can celebrate the resurrection on the first day of the week. We have liberty where many in earlier times did not (for a variety of reasons, including religious institutional dictate and risk of life).

Romans 14:1-13
Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.... One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord..........For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.... Therefore, let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this — not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way....

We - you, me, and every other person bought by the blood of Christ - has liberty. We have the liberty to treat one day more significant than another AND we have liberty to treat them all alike in significance..... as long as we do so honoring God AND we do not judge others who do it differently.

Well the change from Passover for the Pasch by the bishop of Rome, there is no dispute on this...

Quartodecimans | Encyclopedia.com

Quartodecimanism - Oxford Reference

What does quartodecimanism mean?

Quartodecimanism

Easter or Passover: Which Is for Christians?

Passover (15): Why Jewish Passover and Easter don’t match -Chuck Missler

This is a excellent study...
"Why did POLYCARP and the Asiatic bishops refuse to accept the Roman Method of reckoning the date to celebrate the death of Christ? And why did they the Asiatic churches emphasize the DEATH
of Jesus rather and his resurrection?

The answer can be found in what is written about POLYCARP himself.

"Bishop of Smyrna, 2nd century martyr .... a disciple of St.
John, probably the Apostle. ....Polycarp journeyed to Rome as representative of the churches of Asia Minor and dealt with the Pope Anicetus (155-166) on the Quartodeciman question....
CATHOLIC ENCY. ART. 'POLYCARP ').

Did you catch it? Polycarp was a disciple of the apostle John!

Mr. LATOURETTE, writing about Irenaeus in his "HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIANITY" says, "....A native of either Syria or Minor, Isrenaeus had in his youth seen POLYCARP, Bishop of Smyrna. Polycarp, he informs us, had been instructed by the apostles and had talked with many who had seen Christ" page 131.

On the evening of the 14th of Nisan Jesus instituted the NT ordinance of FOOT WASHING (see my study on that question under the Passover studies), among His disciples as a sign of humility to each other, and the symbols of Bread and the fruit of the Vine, to represent His broken body and shed blood for our sins
(John 13:1-15; Mat.26:17,20,26-29).

The apostolic church continued to keep this very special evening and service (1 Cor. 11:17-34).

God's people under the leadership of Polycarp and others of the 2nd century followed the teaching and example of Jesus and the early church, in remembering the death of Christ on the 14th of Nisan (in the Jewish calendar).

People of God today will do the same."...Keith Hunt - Quartodeciman Controversy

 

[Josheb]

Well if you look you will see 'Easter' was never about anything about Christ

Irrelevant.

What it is today is what matters. Today it is very much about Jesus and, as such, it stands as an example of the gospel's victory and how powerful that gospel can be. Today billions bow their heads, bend their knees, and raise their hands in celebration of Jesus' death and resurrection.

The Babylonian system of worship...

...has been rendered impotent and fruitless. It is irrelevant other than as a record of Christ's overwhelming victory.



Sadly, even some Christians won't stand on that victory. They like to live in the past and focus on the evil rather than celebrate the victory. It is particularly reprehensible when they use their own selective views of history to divide the Church made even worse when they do so to elevate themselves and/or their sectarian views. The violation of Philippians 2:3 and fallacious appeal to purity the latter group do is straight out of Galatians 5:20. It's not a good thing to be stuck in the past but if stuck then it would be better to be stuck in the victory of Christ and the example set by the New Testament Church. They problem is the Church is supposed to be spreading, not stucking. God kicked the apostles out of ancient Jerusalem and an ancient age long ago. Metaphorically speaking, some still live there and want to do so.

Hebrews 6:1-8
Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.


No one today is worshiping any paganism when they celebrate the resurrection. If criticism is one's bend, then the better criticism is the rank commercialism and profiteering (often exploitive) that exists today. That is straight out of Matthew 21:12-13. That is emblematic of Babylon's whore. There's nothing wrong with capitalism when done ethically. God even tolerates profiteering when the gospel is part of the profit, as long as slakes the actual thirst of humanity's need.

Mark 9:38-41
John said to Him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name and be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For he who is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.

Philippians 1:15-18
Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.

All over the world Christ is proclaimed at Easter. There's no reason why we couldn't call it something else, like "Resurrection Sunday," "Christ's Victory," or "Victory Over the Grave Day," and if I had my way that's what we might do, but it's probably a good think I'm not in charge .

 

[Josheb]

Well the change from Passover for the Pasch by the bishop of Rome, there is no dispute on this...........
People of God today will do the same."...Keith Hunt - Quartodeciman Controversy

Is what is happening here wholly understood.


The entire op is built on extra-biblical sources who are decidedly biased in both their reading of history and their reading of scripture. Because of some vulnerability in you that existed prior to your reading of those sources they were able to exploit you and persuade you to their misguided beliefs. There is no Quartodecimen Controversy today! We live in an age when information AND truth (sadly, the two are often not the same thing ) are available within seconds. Anyone wanting to know the substance of the ancient "controversy" over Quartodecimenism can find all the information from all sides in the dispute AND 20 centuries worth of examination, critique, and commentary. We're not stupid, ignorant, or unable to understand (as some would have you and I believe).

Yes, it would be historically accurate to correlate the Christian thought, doctrine, and practice of Christ's resurrection with the Jewish calendar and celebration of Passover but it is NOT required!!!

We are not Jews and the Judaization of Christianity is something repudiated in many ways at many times in the epistolary and Revelation. Christianity comes from Tanakh (or what we call the "Old Testament"). Christianity does NOT come from Judaism. Tanakh is 100% always and everywhere correct. Judaism is often wrong and misguided AND misguided in some of the most core precepts of God. Judaism got the priesthood wrong. Judaism got the temple wrong. Judaism got the monarchy wrong. Judaism got the Messiah wrong. The newer revelation (as recorded in what we now call the "New Testament" corrected ALL their misguided thoughts, doctrines, and practices AND explained to them how they should do it correctly. Every single one of those links in Post 5 contains factual errors and fallacious reasoning. I do not doubt the authors' earnestness and attempted sincerity, but they all failed to communicate the whole truth of scripture and history (btw, the Keith Hunt link does not work).



There is no Quartodecimen controversy today. Christianity and Christians have moved on. The gospel usurped and assimilated the pagan spring equinox philosophies and rituals and it did so successfully those pagan religions no longer exist. In their place every Christian all around the globe celebrates the resurrection of God's Son and every outsider to the faith understands it. There is no evidence any of these authors grasped that history.













Btw, Chuck Missler is often wrong. As a dispensational Zionist his theology is often adulterated by Judaization. He is a follower of Darby's and Scofield's theology and as such he elevates (Zionist, dispensational) ecclesiology and end times above soteriology. His Christology is two-kingdoms theology. Most of his views did not exist in Christian history prior to the 19th century. That, in and of itself does not make his views inherently wrong (new thoughts can be correct and the age of a belief proves nothing about its veracity) but he believes things openly contradictory to long-held and well-established Christendom. He justifies that by dividing and impugning the Church with fallacious appeals to purity.

.

 

[prism]

The Greek word that the King James Version translates as “Easter” is actually the word “Pascha” (Hebrew: פסח—Pesach) which means “Passover”. It was during an annual Passover celebration that Jesus was crucified at Jerusalem.

It is interesting that where 'pascha' occurs elsewhere in the NT it is rendered 'Passover' and not Easter. Why this one place???

 

[Josheb]

It is interesting that where 'pascha' occurs elsewhere in the NT it is rendered 'Passover' and not Easter. Why this one place???

Great question. It appears to be unique to the KJV so I'm going to include it in my list of KJV translation errors for the next KJVO debate . That being said, I think it good to remember, the KJV was written by Anglicans (Protestants), not Roman Catholics, and we have a plethora of translation nowadays that get Acts 12:4 correct.

 

[prism]

That being said, I think it good to remember, the KJV was written by Anglicans (Protestants), not Roman Catholics, and we have a plethora of translation nowadays that get Acts 12:4 correct

Wasn't the KJV a 'correction of sorts' distancing its self from the Geneva Bible and it's Calvinistic notes?

 

[GoKart Mozart]

. The Greek word that the King James Version translates as “Easter” is actually the word “Pascha” (Hebrew: פסח—Pesach) which means “Passover”...

The vast majority of Christendom still uses Pascha (Πάσχα), it's only Easter in English/Germanic derived languages in the west.
Examples:
Albanian – Gezuar Pashket!
Arabic – عيد فصح سعيد! (Eid Fasah Said!)
Chinese – 复活节快乐！(Fùhuó jié kuàilè!)
Croatian – Sretan Uskrs!
Czech – Veselé Velikonoce!
Danish – God påske!
Dutch – Vrolijk Pasen!
English – Happy Easter!
French – Joyeuses Pâques !
Finnish – Hyvää pääsiäistä!
German – Frohe Ostern!
German (Swiss) – Schoni Oschtere!
Greek – Καλό Πάσχα! (Kaló Páscha!)
Hungarian – Kellemes Húsvéti Ünnepeket!
Hebrew – חג פסח שמח! (Chag Pesach Sameach!)
Italian – Buona Pasqua!
Indonesian – Selamat Paskah!
Latin – Felix Pascha!
Lithuanian – Linksmų Velykų!
Latvian – Priecīgas Lieldienas!
Norwegian – God påske!
Polish – Wesołego Alleluja!
Portuguese – Feliz Páscoa!
Romanian – Paşte Fericit!
Serbian – Srećan Uskrs!
Spanish – ¡Felices Pascuas!
Swedish – Glad påsk!
Turkish – Paskalyanız kutlu olsun!

The festival on Easter controversy continued, with the Eastern churches giving it stiff opposition until the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D., at which time Sunday was declared the official day for Easter observance.

The reason it was changed was very pragmatic. Why should Christianity want or need to turn to the Jews who rejected Christ for the date to celebrate Christ's Resurrection?

 

[Josheb]

Wasn't the KJV a 'correction of sorts' distancing its self from the Geneva Bible and it's Calvinistic notes?

Oooooo..... Source for that?

The Anglican Church was a direct response against the Roman Catholic Church and, therefore, a Protestant movement. James was not contesting Luther or Calvin (or any of the other Reformers); he was angry he couldn't divorce his wife so he started his own church and became his own "pope" (of sorts), establishing a pseudo "pope" with the Canterbury Archbishop. As far as scripture goes, the RCC was using the Douay-Rheims translation as the officially sanction Bible. There were many competing translations (Erasmus gained a certain fame, or notoriety, with his Latin translation improving upon the Vulgate) during that time period. In the 1300s Wycliffe had translated the Bible so King James certainly didn't need an Englishman's translation. As far as the Geneva Bible goes, James was adversarial with the Puritans, and they used the GB. Knox favored the GB (I think he was a translator) and James certainly didn't like the Scottish Church competition, so I'm inclined to say any impetus from GB was likely political and not theological. I am not sure how any of that would explain why the KJV chose "Easter" instead of "Passover"



...but I'm all eyes and ears.

 

[prism]

The reason it was changed was very pragmatic. Why should Christianity want or need to turn to the Jews who rejected Christ for the date to celebrate Christ's Resurrection?

I think the Jews were there first.

Romans 11:19-21,25 NKJV
You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." [20] Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. [21] For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
[25] For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

 

[prism]

The Anglican Church was a direct response against the Roman Catholic Church and, therefore, a Protestant movement. James was not contesting Luther or Calvin (or any of the other Reformers); he was angry he couldn't divorce his wife so he started his own church and became his own "pope" (of sorts), establishing a pseudo "pope" with the Canterbury Archbishop. As far as scripture goes, the RCC was using the Douay-Rheims translation as the officially sanction Bible. There were many competing translations (Erasmus gained a certain fame, or notoriety, with his Latin translation improving upon the Vulgate) during that time period. In the 1300s Wycliffe had translated the Bible so King James certainly didn't need an Englishman's translation. As far as the Geneva Bible goes, James was adversarial with the Puritans, and they used the GB. Knox favored the GB (I think he was a translator) and James certainly didn't like the Scottish Church competition, so I'm inclined to say any impetus from GB was likely political and not theological. I am not sure how any of that would explain why the KJV chose "Easter" instead of "Passover"

Ditto
Oooooo..... Source for that?
(At least mine was posed as a question )
...but I'll look it up.

 

[prism]

Oooooo..... Source for that?

Geneva Bible - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

(5th paragraph down under History)

"The annotations which are an important part of the Geneva Bible were Calvinist and Puritan in character, and as such they were disliked by the ruling pro-government Anglicans of the Church of England, as well as King James I, who commissioned the "Authorized Version", or King James Bible, in order to replace it. The Geneva Bible had also motivated the earlier production of the Bishops' Bible under Elizabeth I, for the same reason, and the later Rheims–Douai edition by the Catholic community. The Geneva Bible remained popular among Puritans and remained in widespread use until after the English Civil War. The Geneva notes were surprisingly included in a few editions of the King James version, even as late as 1715.[6]"

 

[eclipseEventSigns]

All this discussion and false assumptions. Very typical. What is termed "christianity" lost the connection with the true origin that it was birthed out of Jewish culture. The anti-semitism lives on as is evidenced by this entire thread.

 

[Hobie]

Irrelevant.

What it is today is what matters. Today it is very much about Jesus and, as such, it stands as an example of the gospel's victory and how powerful that gospel can be. Today billions bow their heads, bend their knees, and raise their hands in celebration of Jesus' death and resurrection.

...has been rendered impotent and fruitless. It is irrelevant other than as a record of Christ's overwhelming victory.



Sadly, even some Christians won't stand on that victory. They like to live in the past and focus on the evil rather than celebrate the victory. It is particularly reprehensible when they use their own selective views of history to divide the Church made even worse when they do so to elevate themselves and/or their sectarian views. The violation of Philippians 2:3 and fallacious appeal to purity the latter group do is straight out of Galatians 5:20. It's not a good thing to be stuck in the past but if stuck then it would be better to be stuck in the victory of Christ and the example set by the New Testament Church. They problem is the Church is supposed to be spreading, not stucking. God kicked the apostles out of ancient Jerusalem and an ancient age long ago. Metaphorically speaking, some still live there and want to do so.

Hebrews 6:1-8
Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.


No one today is worshiping any paganism when they celebrate the resurrection. If criticism is one's bend, then the better criticism is the rank commercialism and profiteering (often exploitive) that exists today. That is straight out of Matthew 21:12-13. That is emblematic of Babylon's whore. There's nothing wrong with capitalism when done ethically. God even tolerates profiteering when the gospel is part of the profit, as long as slakes the actual thirst of humanity's need.

Mark 9:38-41
John said to Him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name and be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For he who is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.

Philippians 1:15-18
Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.

All over the world Christ is proclaimed at Easter. There's no reason why we couldn't call it something else, like "Resurrection Sunday," "Christ's Victory," or "Victory Over the Grave Day," and if I had my way that's what we might do, but it's probably a good think I'm not in charge .

Never was and not even today as its not from God...

 

[Josheb]

Never was and not even today as its not from God...

Fail.

You MUST think as critically of those sources as you do my posts. That link states,

"All the fun things about Easter are pagan. Bunnies are a leftover from the pagan festival of Eostre, a great northern goddess whose symbol was a rabbit or hare. Exchange of eggs is an ancient custom, celebrated by many cultures. Hot cross buns are very ancient too."​

But that is completely incorrect. It is false. Why? Because what it should say is,

"All the fun things about Easter [were] pagan. Bunnies [were] a leftover from the pagan festival of Eostre, a great northern goddess whose symbol was a rabbit or hare. Exchange of eggs [was] an ancient custom, celebrated by many cultures. Hot cross buns [were] very ancient too."​

In other words, the author of that site erred. He failed to amend the language to accurately reflect the past-tense nature of events and conditions long ago AND he also likewise failed to accurately reflect the current conditions because no one today is worshiping bunnies or goddesses. They are celebrating Jesus' victory over the grave.




You MUST examine your sources as critically as you do my posts. Heather McDougall is a liberal journalist writing for a liberal "news" agency and she specializes in differences between Catholicism and Buddhism. I will admit my examination was superficial, but I could not find any evidence she's actually a Christian, especially not in the conservative Bible-believing iteration to which you and I would subscribe. If she is Christian then she also knows no one is worshiping bunnies, Eostre, the spring equinox, or any of the other ancient affiliations when celebrating Easter. If she is worshiping bunnies at Easter time, then she is not a valid source for this op. Why on earth would she be considered an authoritative source for anything except liberal secular beliefs? Why would she be considered persuasive to you, me, or any other CCAM members? More importantly, and more specifically germane to any use of her as a source, McDougall has been a professional journalist for more than 15 years. That means she is educated and practiced in the use of words. She KNOWS the difference between "are" and "were."

When an educated professional with more than a decade of experience specifically in the use of words misuses words there are only three possible explanations:

• She's incompetent.
• She is lying.

There are no other explanations. We cannot say she is cognitively impaired because she's an educated, practiced professional and her work is overseen by another. She might have some mental illness, but again, her work is overseen by an editor and The Guardian does not want the rants of a mentally ill person to be presented as rational thought. We cannot attribute the errors to an "honest mistake," and unwitting or unintended lapse of decision-making or lapse in professional skill. Here articles are all examined and approved by another journalist, an editor with more education, knowledge, and professional experience than McDougall. The error cannot be attributed to anything unwitting because she knows better and when people do things, they know factually not to be true they are lying. If I post a factual error I made a mistake. If I post something I know to be factually incorrect as if it is not incorrect, then I am lying. McDougall's error is subtle, but it is nonetheless very real. She knows the difference between "are" and "were" and deliberately and knowingly wrote those words anyway.

That article was written that way because they wanted it to read that way.



As a consequence, the case supporting the op is undermined. The witness for the defense is lying. Using McDougall is a misguided appeal to authority. I do not know your education, profession, or experience so I can and will benevolently assume the use of McDougall was a lapse in judgment. However, with a college degree is intelligent and educated, at least a little. Anyone who went to seminary or Bible college and had classes in logic knows better than to employ the fallacies contained in this op as well as McDougall and all the other sources used in the defense of this op. Every single one of them neglected to discriminate between "are" and "were."



This op's argument boils down to one single, solitary, very easily and readily addressed matter.

Can you provide a single example of some Christian currently living in the 21st century actually worshiping a bunny, the antiquated pagan goddess Eostre, or the spring equinox when the celebrate Easter?​

If not then pagan Easter position is without substance. A host of sources who themselves never proved the veracity of their own arguments end up proving the entire premise is a huge red herring.

You MUST learn to examine your sources as critically as you do my posts. There are a lot of people in the world who love to bind Christians with false teaching and, sadly, many of them live and teach in the Church. I may be thought to be one of them but I'm not the one failing to use language and logic abusively to divide the Church. Those guys are not your friend.




















For the record: I have multiple degrees and my undergraduate studies were in social psychology, sociology, and anthropology. I have also studied history and philosophy including the history of western secular thought from Thales to Foucault, Derrida, and Chomsky. Because I have become a Christian, I have studied religion and culture all over the world and done so critically. I am, by nature, a skeptic. I have studied all of the "great" religions of modernity and many of antiquity, especially those of the Middle and Far East (as well as a few in the Pacific islands and South America). I was a practicing Buddhist for several years and member of a "Christian" cult. Had God Himself not rent the fabric of time and space to call me out of darkness I would be like McDougal (or worse). I have been a Christian for more than forty years. I do not stake my arguments on anecdotal report, but I want you to know I am a better source for understanding this topic than anyone and everyone you have cited thus far. Investigate what I posted. Critically examine it. Find one Christian currently worshiping bunnies at Easter and I will immediately reconsider everything I posted here and now in public before all the CCAM members.
.

 

[Hobie]

Irrelevant.

What it is today is what matters. Today it is very much about Jesus and, as such, it stands as an example of the gospel's victory and how powerful that gospel can be. Today billions bow their heads, bend their knees, and raise their hands in celebration of Jesus' death and resurrection.

...has been rendered impotent and fruitless. It is irrelevant other than as a record of Christ's overwhelming victory.



Sadly, even some Christians won't stand on that victory. They like to live in the past and focus on the evil rather than celebrate the victory. It is particularly reprehensible when they use their own selective views of history to divide the Church made even worse when they do so to elevate themselves and/or their sectarian views. The violation of Philippians 2:3 and fallacious appeal to purity the latter group do is straight out of Galatians 5:20. It's not a good thing to be stuck in the past but if stuck then it would be better to be stuck in the victory of Christ and the example set by the New Testament Church. They problem is the Church is supposed to be spreading, not stucking. God kicked the apostles out of ancient Jerusalem and an ancient age long ago. Metaphorically speaking, some still live there and want to do so.

Hebrews 6:1-8
Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.


No one today is worshiping any paganism when they celebrate the resurrection. If criticism is one's bend, then the better criticism is the rank commercialism and profiteering (often exploitive) that exists today. That is straight out of Matthew 21:12-13. That is emblematic of Babylon's whore. There's nothing wrong with capitalism when done ethically. God even tolerates profiteering when the gospel is part of the profit, as long as slakes the actual thirst of humanity's need.

Mark 9:38-41
John said to Him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name and be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For he who is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.

Philippians 1:15-18
Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.

All over the world Christ is proclaimed at Easter. There's no reason why we couldn't call it something else, like "Resurrection Sunday," "Christ's Victory," or "Victory Over the Grave Day," and if I had my way that's what we might do, but it's probably a good think I'm not in charge .

Irrelevant? I think you've missed the whole focus of the scriptures...

 

[eclipseEventSigns]

Fail.

You MUST think as critically of those sources as you do my posts. That link states,

"All the fun things about Easter are pagan. Bunnies are a leftover from the pagan festival of Eostre, a great northern goddess whose symbol was a rabbit or hare. Exchange of eggs is an ancient custom, celebrated by many cultures. Hot cross buns are very ancient too."​

But that is completely incorrect. It is false. Why? Because what it should say is,

"All the fun things about Easter [were] pagan. Bunnies [were] a leftover from the pagan festival of Eostre, a great northern goddess whose symbol was a rabbit or hare. Exchange of eggs [was] an ancient custom, celebrated by many cultures. Hot cross buns [were] very ancient too."​

In other words, the author of that site erred. He failed to amend the language to accurately reflect the past-tense nature of events and conditions long ago AND he also likewise failed to accurately reflect the current conditions because no one today is worshiping bunnies or goddesses. They are celebrating Jesus' victory over the grave.




You MUST examine your sources as critically as you do my posts. Heather McDougall is a liberal journalist writing for a liberal "news" agency and she specializes in differences between Catholicism and Buddhism. I will admit my examination was superficial, but I could not find any evidence she's actually a Christian, especially not in the conservative Bible-believing iteration to which you and I would subscribe. If she is Christian then she also knows no one is worshiping bunnies, Eostre, the spring equinox, or any of the other ancient affiliations when celebrating Easter. If she is worshiping bunnies at Easter time, then she is not a valid source for this op. Why on earth would she be considered an authoritative source for anything except liberal secular beliefs? Why would she be considered persuasive to you, me, or any other CCAM members? More importantly, and more specifically germane to any use of her as a source, McDougall has been a professional journalist for more than 15 years. That means she is educated and practiced in the use of words. She KNOWS the difference between "are" and "were."

When an educated professional with more than a decade of experience specifically in the use of words misuses words there are only three possible explanations:

• She's incompetent.
• She is lying.

There are no other explanations. We cannot say she is cognitively impaired because she's an educated, practiced professional and her work is overseen by another. She might have some mental illness, but again, her work is overseen by an editor and The Guardian does not want the rants of a mentally ill person to be presented as rational thought. We cannot attribute the errors to an "honest mistake," and unwitting or unintended lapse of decision-making or lapse in professional skill. Here articles are all examined and approved by another journalist, an editor with more education, knowledge, and professional experience than McDougall. The error cannot be attributed to anything unwitting because she knows better and when people do things, they know factually not to be true they are lying. If I post a factual error I made a mistake. If I post something I know to be factually incorrect as if it is not incorrect, then I am lying. McDougall's error is subtle, but it is nonetheless very real. She knows the difference between "are" and "were" and deliberately and knowingly wrote those words anyway.

That article was written that way because they wanted it to read that way.



As a consequence, the case supporting the op is undermined. The witness for the defense is lying. Using McDougall is a misguided appeal to authority. I do not know your education, profession, or experience so I can and will benevolently assume the use of McDougall was a lapse in judgment. However, with a college degree is intelligent and educated, at least a little. Anyone who went to seminary or Bible college and had classes in logic knows better than to employ the fallacies contained in this op as well as McDougall and all the other sources used in the defense of this op. Every single one of them neglected to discriminate between "are" and "were."



This op's argument boils down to one single, solitary, very easily and readily addressed matter.

Can you provide a single example of some Christian currently living in the 21st century actually worshiping a bunny, the antiquated pagan goddess Eostre, or the spring equinox when the celebrate Easter?​

If not then pagan Easter position is without substance. A host of sources who themselves never proved the veracity of their own arguments end up proving the entire premise is a huge red herring.

You MUST learn to examine your sources as critically as you do my posts. There are a lot of people in the world who love to bind Christians with false teaching and, sadly, many of them live and teach in the Church. I may be thought to be one of them but I'm not the one failing to use language and logic abusively to divide the Church. Those guys are not your friend.




















For the record: I have multiple degrees and my undergraduate studies were in social psychology, sociology, and anthropology. I have also studied history and philosophy including the history of western secular thought from Thales to Foucault, Derrida, and Chomsky. Because I have become a Christian, I have studied religion and culture all over the world and done so critically. I am, by nature, a skeptic. I have studied all of the "great" religions of modernity and many of antiquity, especially those of the Middle and Far East (as well as a few in the Pacific islands and South America). I was a practicing Buddhist for several years and member of a "Christian" cult. Had God Himself not rent the fabric of time and space to call me out of darkness I would be like McDougal (or worse). I have been a Christian for more than forty years. I do not stake my arguments on anecdotal report, but I want you to know I am a better source for understanding this topic than anyone and everyone you have cited thus far. Investigate what I posted. Critically examine it. Find one Christian currently worshiping bunnies at Easter and I will immediately reconsider everything I posted here and now in public before all the CCAM members.
.

A vey typical response from those that have no clue about the actual history of WHY the unbiblical tradition of Good Friday developed.