After discussing the views and practices relating to Sunday in the ancient church, González turns to Constantine and how his policies affected Sunday observances. He then recounts the long process, beginning in the Middle Ages and culminating with Puritanism, whereby Christians came to think of and strictly observe Sunday as the Sabbath. Finally, González looks at the current state of things, exploring especially how the explosive growth of the church in the Majority World has affected the observance of Sunday worldwide.
Readers of this book will rediscover the joy and excitement of Sunday as early Christians celebrated it and will find fresh, inspiring perspectives on Sunday amid our current culture of indifference and even hostility to Christianity.
Randall Balmer
-- Dartmouth College
"In his Brief History of Sunday Justo L. González demonstrates both an impressive command of history and a dexterous handling of sources. He concludes, provocatively, that Christian observance of Sunday in the twenty-first century might actually benefit from a reversion to the pre-Constantinian model, when Christianity was not the favored faith. This is a very good, informative, and lively book."
Kimberly Bracken Long
-- Columbia Theological Seminary
"With the extensive knowledge of an accomplished historian and the graceful skill of a storyteller, Justo González traverses the long and complex history of Sunday clearly and accessibly. Not only does he deepen our understanding of how we came to do the things we do, but he also offers a vision of the church's future where Protestants and Catholics alike rediscover the ancient meaning of Sunday--a day of joy when we celebrate Christ's resurrection, eagerly and actively anticipating the coming of the new creation."