For a proper orientation to Exodus 20:11 and an accurate submission of its biblical yield is readily at hand, and is easily obtained through resort to one of Scripture’s most renowned commentators. A qualified, reliable expositor of Scripture, specifically communicating Exodus 20:11 (deMSby) is readily apparent and biblically worthy. And timely is this and convenient for us…

For designated through the Apostle Paul himself is a ready explanation of Exodus 20:11 and an exposition of “this, your sanctification”. Provided through the proclamation of Paul himself is reliable analysis, expounding this scripture, revealing how behaviourally it practised is, and how it is personally and practically conveyed, which divulges how it must communicated be.

Introduction to which and initial thoughts on it immediately develop, and readily emerge through astute examination of this poetic preview…

Religious tradition

Directs us to say

That the Almighty “rested”

On earth’s seventh day

Perhaps “two thousand†years

Has tradition professed

That the Almighty did

On the “sabbath day†“rest”

And undoubtedly, this

For yourself have you heard

With its solemn, repetitive

Use of the word

And semantics of “rest”

With equivalent terms

That a focus on “rest”

Magnifies, and affirms

But aside from tradition

Is “rest” the display

When the Scriptures to you

The Almighty portray?

To your own observation

What testify they

When the Scriptures to God

Testimonial pay?

When the Bible would God

And his work represent

Is it not ever faithful

To this one intent?…

An account it submits

Of provision for all

So that everyone “Godâ€

Their “Provider†would call

And the most uninstructed

Of us can discern

That the Scriptures upon

This reality turn

Any reading of Scripture

Of this is to learn

And awareness of this

In addition to earn

And exists neither sensible

Reason nor rhyme

That endorses a plausible

Season or time

When the Bible in some way

Should say, or suggest

That the Almighty God

Might have needed to “rest”

For by nature, he must

Be an Almighty God

Every day, and depict

Something more than façade

Of his “rest”, relaxation

And idle passivity

No more achieving

Than mere inactivity

Which very truth

Must demand its recall

In evangelization

As rendered by Paul

The Apostle: Of whom

One is given in “Acts”

The New Testament book

Its account of the facts

For addressing “the Gentiles”

To make introduction

Of God, and to offer them

Helpful instruction

This very scripture

Paul chiefly expressed

That tradition maintains

Is account of God’s “rest”

Yes: This is the verse

Paul principally used

For he plainly by it

Was inspired, and enthused

In recital of what

Now announces “God ‘rested'”

The mission of Paul

Was conceived, and invested

Yes, that is quite true, and is all quite accurate: This very verse, which traditionally says, and authenticates, that God “rested the seventh day” (RSV Exodus 20:11) is the specific, actual, designated verse of which Paul made most emphatic, fundamental and repetitive use.

And apparent is this in Paul’s clearly citing it in Acts 14:15-17 (deMSby):

¹⁵“Men, why are you doing these things? We are men of like-nature to you, bringing you the good news to turn from these empty things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all, which are in them; ¹⁶who allowed in past generations all the nations to go their own ways. ¹⁷Ever doing good works, however, he never left himself without a witness, giving rain from heaven to you with fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and joy”…

As your own personal reading will affirm, the italicized wording of verse 15 is all but quotation of Exodus 20:11.

And this is the verse, which typically is rendered to record, that Almighty God “rested the seventh day” (RSV Exodus 20:11). And as before, you can easily, reliably confirm this yourself.

In addition to which, later on in Acts, Paul again makes reference to this very scripture:

(deMSby Acts 17:24-25) ²⁴“The God, making the universe and all in it is owner of heaven and earth. He does not dwell in hand-made temples. ²⁵Neither is he served by human hands, as one in need of something. To all, he gives life, breath and everything…”

Though here in paraphrase and not verbatim wording, it is plainly cited here, as above recalled: This italicized phrasing in verse 24 submits a recapitulation of Exodus 20:11 (deMSby) and useful condensation of Exodus 20:11 (deMSby), and exhibits here also Paul’s focal emphasis and specific use of this very verse, which according to tradition recollects God’s “rest”.

But this is suggestive, and is inferential. It has implicit indication and meaning, the which realistically can be conclusive…

Paul undeniably embraced this verse. And conspicuously is he committed to its use.

A. The Actual Words

Which great import has and pith for us. To us divulges this much “evangelistic” bearing, and merits some additional reflection and attention…

You see, it is one thing simply to report, that Paul “preached the gospel to the Gentiles”. Or that through Paul’s efforts, “all the inhabitants of” a certain region “heard the word of God”. Or that “God’s word increased, and was widely circulated” by way of Paul’s evangelism, or something of this sort…

It is quite something else, however, to recall the actual words, which the Apostle Paul spoke, and which he used, when he “preached, and proclaimed the gospel to the Gentiles”, and to cite his words verbatim and in literal quotation. And that is what these verses each present to us above…

B. Only Two Scriptures

Indeed, throughout all of the Bible’s New Testament, Acts 14:15-17 and 17:22 through 31 are the only two scriptures in all the book of Acts, that actually quote Paul, presenting his God to specifically “the nations”. Yes, these verses are introduction by Paul, and verbatim recite his presenting his God to primarily “the Gentiles”, “the nations” or to the non-Jewish…

And as determined have we on inspection, both scriptures cite, and are treatment of a verse, which says, that Almighty God “rested the seventh day” (RSV Exodus 20:11), or “was” additionally “refreshed” (RSV Exodus 31:17) that day. But of course, in Acts, each far more accurately promulgates the absolute inverse of God…

C. As a Policy

Though in the disclosure of these above passages, it emerges plainly, and clearly is apparent: Paul very often cited Exodus 20:11 (deMSby), and frequently resorted to recalling this verse.

For these above scriptures reveal his preference of this very scripture, and show his reliance upon this scripture and to some extent his habitual, prepared, and considered such emphasis…

Through which truth

There emerges to be

For the vigilant student

And apt devotee

A disclosure of Paul

The Apostle to see

In suggestive display

And persuasive degree

Because: Such emphasis and concentration focused on this particular verse educates us, and teaches of Paul’s “evangelism”, and divulges a priority, the which must direct it…

Deducing from what is observable above, we conclude, that Paul’s sharing of his God with “the nations” or those, who the “Gentiles” are very often amounts to routine recitation of Exodus 20:11 (deMSby), which predicates traditionally God’s having “rested”. And due to specifically what above presented is, one could conclude, and authentically assert of this Old Testament verse, Exodus 20:11 (deMSby):

When Paul his objective

Made teaching all “nations”

And fashioned his message

For their habitations

This scripture he wielded

And on it relied

As a vital and most

Indispensable guide

And affirming this truth

The New Testament’s Acts

Observation and study

Invites, and attracts

Whereupon, such a finding

It featly exacts

Through display of its narrative’s

Relevant facts

For whenever Paul could

And was given the chance

Through designed preparation

Or mere circumstance

He adapted this scripture

And on it relied

That this Pauline essential

Be used, and applied

Which is stated more concisely, and summarized conclusively: When the book of “Acts” quotes Paul’s “evangelism” as intended for primarily “the nations” or “Gentiles”, he advises them, and routinely teaches them of Exodus 20:11 (deMSby) of the Bible’s Fourth Directive, which notably emerges in the Bible’s book of Acts, where manifest becomes Paul’s resort to this verse…

D. To Imitate His Method

And perhaps you perceive now what this affirms, as it teaches, and informs us of Paul’s “evangelism”, and well-advises of Paul’s evangelistic strategy, and how one fulfills this evangelistic strategy, assuming, that a person would obtain Paul’s objective: Those, who cooperation seek with Paul, and his method would copy, and be his co-workers can not truly do so, unless [1] they understand this, his fundamental scripture, and [2] they apply it, as he himself did…

For you cannot as Paul

The Apostle achieve

And his Mission fulfill

And fruition conceive

If neglectful you are

To restore, and retrieve

This “essential”: In which

He himself did believe

But here awaits the spectre of potential difficulty, which is at least latent in Exodus 20:11, and inferentially waiting in Exodus 20:11, as this scripture’s wording is translated typically, according to tradition…

E. Surely, Paul Would Know

Why would Paul commit to this particular verse, which tradition represents to be recall, that God “rested” (KJV Exodus 20:11)? And how could Paul have persuasively acclaimed such a god to “the nations”, “the Gentiles” or literally any audience?

And surely Paul would know, and have anticipated this: Sooner or later, someone would examine his selected source scripture.

And this someone would thereby discover, and observe: Paul’s God may often be a great and mighty God.

But on at least one occasion, Paul’s God was over-exerted: He grew tired, fatigued, and “rested” (RSV Exodus 20:11). And how could Paul commend a god like that, and promote such a god as a viable “salvation” in any credible way?…

But this specious is in all current versions of Bible translation. And that includes whatever version you yourself read. It erroneous, inaccurate and foolishness is to profess God Almighty ever “rested†at all…

F. How He Used It

For as is asserted, and previously recognized, it is significant, that Paul adopted this certain scriptural specimen, Exodus 20:11, and crucially dependent on it came to be.

He entrusted his “evangelistic” method to it. For he’d planned, and prepared, that persistently reliant on it would he always be.

Yet of exceeding and far more significance and of far surpassing and even greater note is how he used it, and heralded its import: What meaning did the Apostle Paul circulate through this verse, which predicates traditionally, that God “rested” (KJV Exodus 20:11)? For this its de MontSabbathby Translation validates…

G. Rather Than…

Rather than cite it, recalling God’s long ago having to “rest”, Paul published this verse to distribute, and proclaim a completely different message, a message for the present, which applies to all people, and announces a reality, which visible is now, and usefully is represented, when Paul proclaims introduction of God as (deMSby Acts 14:15-17)…

¹⁵“The living God, who made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all, which are in them; ¹⁶who allowed in past generations all the nations to go their own ways. ¹⁷Ever doing good works, however, he never left himself without a witness, giving rain from heaven to you with fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and joy”…

According to this use of Exodus 20:11, God Almighty is forever and always at his “work”, as he is at this moment and any previous time…

H. Care for All People

Which “work” involves everyone, both Jew and Gentile as well as all people, whatever their ethnicity, their place or nationality. Since the creation and forging of the world, God has occupied himself with “all the nations” (deMSby Acts 14:16) and all peoples, and has “never left himself without a witness” (deMSby Acts 14:17) at such work.

For he alone is it, that reliably and faithfully is ever “giving rain from heaven to you with fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and joy” (deMSby Acts 14:17). And this applies to “you”, no matter who or where “you” are.

And throughout the accurate meaning of Exodus 20:11 is this quite conspicuous, and equally asserted.

“For throughout six days, Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all, which is in them. And he placed them in the seventh day. Bountifully, therefore, did Yahweh bestow upon the day of the sabbath, and had made it holy” (deMSby Exodus 20:11).

For God’s constant maintenance and care for all people is the substance and the emphasis of this above scripture, as properly proclaimed by Exodus 20:11 (deMSby).

I. When and How?

But here are we halted, and impassably obstructed. Impeded, and intransigently blocked are we by implacable deterrent and immovable obstruction, this severance of congruity within the Bible’s text, this statement, that “Almighty” God isn’t quite that, as asserted in tradition’s use of Exodus 20:11, which persists in recall, that Almighty God “rested” (RSV Exodus 20:11)…

For how “fits” this “in” to Paul’s evangelism? And what likeness has it to Paul’s introduction and narrative of God? And what (on earth!) would be the terminal consequence, had God actually “rested”, and halted, or suspended his giving “to all” people their “life, breath and everything” (deMSby Acts 17:25)?!?

For were God to appoint, and to schedule a seventh day’s “rest” from provision of essentials, such as are these, you can see for yourself the inevitable result: There wouldn’t, and there couldn’t have occurred an eighth day, as concerns all of us, and includes those like us. When and how in God Almighty’s “ever doing good works” (deMSby Acts 14:17) could he feasibly and actually have “rested the seventh day” (RSV Exodus 20:11), and be conceivably “refreshed” that day (RSV Exodus 31:17) in a biblically admissible and realistic way?

J. Rendered Plainly Evident

But through our inspection of Paul’s evangelism, we come “coincidentallyâ€, but no less reliably upon an opportunity to ponder, and consider what obvious is above. Through our study and its scrutiny of Paul’s evangelism, we gain, and acquire, what we couldn’t have before…

We more able are now, and more prepared to address certain questions, which actualize to surface, and progressively emerge, and observably and visibly materialize through light. Which questions are becoming ever more and more apparent: They begin to be persistent, and expectant are become of intelligent deduction as to what revealed is through Exodus 20:11 (deMSby).

For by way of Paul’s evangelistic use of this scripture, it seems, that we are subliminally, subtly, but certainly influenced, and manoeouvred, and progressively and gradually directed, and guided to address, and respond to these questions:

Was Paul, the Apostle

Aware of God’s “resting”?

Does Scripture portray him

Himself so investing?

When citing our scripture

Was he so attesting?

Does Paul admit anything

God’s work arresting?

And as you can distinctly now see, and can quite conclusively judge for yourself, no: Paul knew nothing of God’s having “rested”, and was unaware, that such ever happened, and says nothing anywhere, conceding God’s “resting”.

Because: This tradition of God’s having “rested” (KJV Exodus 20:11), and having been “refreshed” (KJV Exodus 31:17) on the world’s the seventh day neither had been invented, nor begun circulation. It hadn’t been established, or acknowledged as “tradition”, which well becomes epitomized through Paul himself:

Of Paul, the Apostle

We readily see

Uniformly, the facts

Authorize, and agree

Any talk of the Almighty’s

“Resting” would he

Ridicule. For it can

But absurdity be

For Paul would have known, and have long been instructed of what here is called “the de MontSabbathby Translation”, which would have taught him its portrait of God, who could never actually, truly have “rested” (KJV Exodus 20:11), or have been “refreshed” (KJV Exodus 31:17), as do our traditions now cite, and record.

For “ludicrously inappropriate” is such a claim. Consequently through Paul’s introduction of God, this truth now is recognized, and rendered plainly evident.