The Pagan Origins of Easter
The following excerpt is taken from Vine’s Expository Dictionary:
EASTER
Mistranslated “Easter” in Acts 12:4, AV, denotes the Passover (RV). The phrase “after the Passover” signifies after the whole festival was at an end. The term “Easter” is not of Christian origin. It is another form of Astarte, one of the titles of the Chaldean goddess, the queen of heaven. The festival of Pasch held by Christians in post-apostolic times was a continuation of the Jewish feast, but was not instituted by Christ, nor was it connected with Lent. From this Pasch the pagan festival of “Easter” was quite distinct and was introduced into the apostate Western religion, as part of the attempt to adapt pagan festivals to Christianity. See PASSOVER.
The Greek spelling of the Aramaic word for the Passover, from the Hebrew pasach, “to pass over, to spare,” a feast instituted by God in commemoration of the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and anticipatory of the expiatory sacrifice of Christ. The word signifies (I) “the Passover Feast,” e.g., Matthew 26:2; John 2:13,23; 6:4; 11:55; 12:1; 13:1; 18:39; 19:14; Acts 12:4; Hebrews 11:28; (II) by metonymy, (a) “the Paschal Supper,” Matthew 26:18,19; Mark 14:16; Luke 22:8,13; (b) “the Paschal lamb,” e.g., Mark 14:12 (cp. Exodus 12:21); Luke 22:7; (c) “Christ Himself,” 1 Corinthians 5:7.
Now one must ask: Why would the Bible translators ‘mistranslate’ the Greek word ‘pascha’ when they knew exactly what it meant since they translated it correctly every other place in the New Testament!
Secondly, Vine’s is one of those Bible Study tools that every so-called Bible scholar and theologian utilize in their Biblical studies. You’ll most likely find one on every Christian preacher’s bookshelf. So why in God’s name do they continue promoting this pagan ritual? The Messiah told us why:
“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” -Matthew 5:14
Students of the Bible BEWARE. One of the reasons the Messiah said “salvation is of the Jews” is because everything in the New Testament has its roots in the Old Testament. Christ Himself is called ‘the passover’ by the apostle Paul.
“Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” -1 Corinthians chapter 5, verses 6-8
Happy Passover.
July 9, 2008 at 2:28 am
I, personally love to dig deep into the hebraic roots of christianity. I, honestly believe is the only way of understanding all the teachings of The Lord Jesus The Messiah. By the way I think the apostle Paul in the 11th chapter of the epistle to the romans very clearly teaches that the church has been grafted into the rich root of the olive tree which symbolizes Israel. Thanks for the correct information you have provided.