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T15 reasoning: Liturgical calendar

Reasoning steps: Liturgical calendar

Verdicts: T15 · Liturgical calendar. Method: conventions, scoring and proximity eras. Scripture is the primary measure; fathers are weighed by era (Era I to c. 150 = 1.0, II = 0.8, III = 0.6, IV = 0.4).

T15.1: Liturgical calendar

Step T15.1.1: Scripture

1 Cor 5:7–8: ‘Christ, our Passover lamb … Let us therefore celebrate the festival’. Rom 14:5–6 leaves days to conscience; Gal 4:10 and Col 2:16 warn against binding observance.

Step T15.1.2: Patristic evidence

Eusebius quotes Irenaeus: Polycarp (Era I) and Anicetus each kept Pascha by their own custom, ’neither could Anicetus persuade Polycarp not to observe what he had always observed with John’, and they remained in communion. Sources: eusebius-t15-s1.

Step T15.1.3: Weighing decision

An annual Pascha is Era I (Polycarp, from John); the fuller calendar (Christmas, Epiphany, saints’ days) is Era III onward. Verdict: Pascha apostolic in practice; wider calendar later and not binding.

  • Confidence: Medium–high.

Step T15.1.4: Source-proximity weighing

  • Scripture (benchmark): Christian festivals are permitted (1 Cor 5:7–8) but not to be imposed on conscience (Rom 14:5; Col 2:16). (Scripture confidence: medium)
  • Assessment: Era I supports Pascha; Scripture permits feasts but forbids binding them.

T15.2: Should Easter fall on a Sunday?

Step T15.2.1: Scripture

Not a Scripture question: Scripture gives no annual feast.

Step T15.2.2: Patristic evidence

Eusebius (Church History V.23–24): ’the parishes of all Asia, as from an older tradition, held that the fourteenth day of the moon … should be observed’, while the other churches kept Sunday; Irenaeus urged peace. Sources: eusebius-t15-s2.

Step T15.2.3: Weighing decision

Era II shows two customs; Sunday prevailed by Nicaea. Verdict: Sunday Easter is the majority custom; Irenaeus treated the difference as tolerable.

  • Confidence: Medium-high.

Step T15.2.4: Source-proximity weighing

  • Scripture (benchmark): Not applicable. (Scripture confidence: n/a)
  • Assessment: Developmental; scored on Era II–III practice.

Post-750 development by tradition

Catholic

See the note below.

  • T15.1 (fathers 3/4; Scripture 3/4): Full calendar, holy days of obligation.
  • T15.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture n/a/4): .

Orthodox

See the note below.

  • T15.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 3/4): Pascha and the feasts.
  • T15.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture n/a/4): .

Oriental Orthodox

See the note below.

  • T15.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 3/4): Pascha and the feasts.
  • T15.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture n/a/4): .

Lutheran

See the note below.

  • T15.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): AC XV: usages ‘profitable unto tranquillity and good order … as particular holy days, festivals’ (verified).
  • T15.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture n/a/4): .

Anglican

See the note below.

  • T15.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): 1662 calendar and Art. XXXIV.
  • T15.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture n/a/4): .

Presbyterian

See the note below.

  • T15.1 (fathers 2/4; Scripture 3/4): Directory for Public Worship (1645): ‘Festival days … are not to be continued’.
  • T15.2 (fathers n/a; Scripture n/a): Not assessed: the Directory for Public Worship could not be fetched.

Reformed Baptist

See the note below.

  • T15.1 (fathers n/a; Scripture n/a): Not assessed: the confession is silent, and the practice of not keeping the calendar was not sourced.
  • T15.2 (fathers 3/4; Scripture n/a/4): Not addressed.

General Baptist

See the note below.

  • T15.1 (fathers 3/4; Scripture 3/4): Not stated (verified by text search of the Standard Confession).
  • T15.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture n/a/4): .

Anabaptist

See the note below.

  • T15.1 (fathers n/a; Scripture n/a): Not assessed: the confession is silent, and the practice of not keeping the calendar was not sourced.
  • T15.2 (fathers 3/4; Scripture n/a/4): Not addressed.