Customer Reviews

Sabbath Roots : The African Connection

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I received my BA in African/African American Studies and am very interested in religious history, so I was very interested to read this book. While the book contains EXCELLENT information regarding the Sabbath in Africa and gives excellent quotes from African leaders regarding the Sabbath, I found it a bit "academic" and hard to stay focused at times.

I encourage anyone interested in African History or religious history to read the book. Just be advised, it reads more like a book can be a bit "thick" to read at times.

Sabbath keeping in Africa has a rich history. There is old history and new. The interesting area is that of the Ethiopian Sabbath keepers who were constantly persecuted. From the early church starting with the Ethiopian Eunich to today with the many Adventist and Church of God groups Sabbath keepers have a heart and desire to keep that day in spite of hardship.

Bradford does a great job showing how African Christians are heartfelt and hearty in their beliefs. These Christians already struggle in the lands they live in, yet, the Sabbath communities are very united and strong.

With the growth of the Sabbath church of God groups, Bradford should expand his research using this as a jump off point to show how Adventist, church of God and Wesleyans have a common starting point.

This book is a good read for any Sabbatarian wishing to learn about the Sabbath keepers in Africa. Not much is mentioned about earlier Sabbath history, like the Sabbatarians of Ethiopia. For Christian Sabbath keepers, it is nice to learn that the Sabbath has been kept in Africa for more than 100 years. Charles Bradford does an admirable job of piecing together the non-adventist history and honors other groups in addition to the adventists.

This book treats in depth the subject of the Early Church [first 300 years] in Northern Africa, the theological division between the East and the West, and the seventh Day as the valid Sabbath day. Rarely have I seen such in depth scholarship on this topic. Regardless of your theological persuasion, this book will speak to you about re-examining your beliefs in light of the entire Biblical revelation, particularly in light of the Early Church in North Africa and it's faithful adherence to the Biblical seventh Day as the rest day. Particularly interesting is the provocative theme of Early Christianity leaving it's Jewish roots, begging the Question "Where do we go after that (as a church?)". The answer is not an easy one. I wonder if this historical development was part of the Apostle Paul's admonition to the primitive church believers of what was coming in his 2 Thessalonians 2:7 reference?