In this paper we will use the final form of the biblical text to develop the Adventist view on the biblical Sabbath. Scholars commonly use the historical critical approach when dealing with this subject. They have been mainly interested in the origin and

In this paper we will use the final form of the biblical text to develop 
the Adventist view on the biblical Sabbath. Scholars commonly use the 
historical critical approach when dealing with this subject. They have
been 
mainly interested in the origin and historical development of the 
commandment[1] and consequently they concluded that only the historical 
critical methodology will produce adequate results. In our case the
primary 
interest is theological and doctrinal. We would like to move beyond a 
biblical theology that is conceived as a descriptive historical
discipline. 
John J. Collins is right, "Historical criticism, consistently understood,
is 
not compatible with a confessional theology that is committed to specific 
doctrines on the basis of faith."[2] Perhaps that is one of the reasons
Pope 
John II used in the Apostolic Letter Dies Domini the biblical text in its 
final canonical form to develop the theology and modern relevance of the 
Sabbath commandment. We will use that same approach.
       The Adventist view of the Sabbath commandment as designating the 
seventh day as a day of rest required by God for fellow****p and communion 
with Him is based on the facts that according to the Bible it originated 
during creation week. It was observed by Jesus and the apostles and there
is 
no evidence in the biblical text to sup****t the claim that the commandment

was transferred from the seventh day to the first day of the week.