Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi (bah-ki-ok-i) professor and scholar most famous for his book, From Sabbath to Sunday—on how the Christian observance of Sabbath was changed to Sunday observance, died this past Sabbath, December 20, 2008, at the age of only 70.

Dr. Samele Bacchiocchi,
1938-2008.

Dr. Bacchiocchi was the first non-Catholic to graduate from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He obtained his doctorate, summa cum laude, in 1974, with the special honor of a gold medal presented to him by the Pope Paul IV. His thesis was on the change of Sabbath (Saturday) observance by the early Christians (who were Jewish) to the observance of Sunday by later Christians (who were not Jewish). The research was all done at the Vatican libraries.

Bacchiocchi’s book was published by the Pontifical Gregorian University Press in 1977, with the papal symbol (the tiara and crossed keys) on the cover, and the Vatican’s official written imprimatur on the inside.

Samuele Bacchiocchi was born to Seventh-day Adventists parents, just outside Rome, in 1938. He was educated in Adventist institutions, and lectured in Bible studies and history in Ethiopia from 1964-1969. Then he returned to Rome and entered the Pontifical Gregorian University to begin his doctoral studies.

When his book on the Sabbath was published, I was Yale Divinity School. Some of my professors were quite interested in Bacchiocchi’s work. I sold a few copies for him. I was in fact acquainted with Dr. Bacchiocchi since that very time. I corresponded with him, and eventually met with him several times. (Not too many years ago, he was preaching in Oklahoma City, and I had the honor of singing before him and the church. I sang in Italian, naturally—“Quale gioia, e Quale piaciere!” Dr. Bacchiocchi remarked to the congregation that he had never in America been honored with a hymn sung in Italian.)

Dr. Bacchiocchi wrote many other books. His chief works expounded the distinct doctrines of the (protestant) Seventh-day Adventist church. His second book, in fact, was on the meaning and observance of the Sabbath: Divine Rest for Human Restlessness. He went on to write about the role of women in the church, and another on wine. He took the “orthodox” Adventist position in all his works, meaning, the conservative, traditional, or “strict” view (that is to say, women cannot be ordained as priests or ministers, and that no alcoholic drinks can be allowed in the Christian’s life, etc.). This caused many to wonder whether or not he was in fact a salubrious influence in the church. Many looked at him as a trouble maker. Some even issued the malicious gossip that he was actually a Jesuit who had infiltrated the Adventist Church!

Such is the fate of any purist. Such is the experience of any conservative.

There is always the illusion of going backwards—only because the popular trends are off base. Anyone who holds to the original concepts, who honors the blueprints, seems to be relatively off track himself.

Orthodoxy versus development, progress, or evolution—this is the choice coerced upon us. This dilemma itself may be nothing more than a political ploy. Any philosopher, psychologist, or even a good historian, has seen the patterns of human behavior. Orthodoxy and change are two coetaneous elements. They exist side by side, always. History is a constant sway from one condition toward the other.

Bacchiocchi was an orthodox Adventist, that’s all. An Italian by culture, yes, but his works expounded Adventist doctrine. He believed these were all biblically based. He simply tried to demonstrate this through rational, scholarly work.

Of course, that’s my view.

When Richard Poe and his wife Marie were visiting me here in Oklahoma, I was introduced to another view of Dr. Bacchiocchi. Richard was unfamiliar with him, but was quite concerned about the “imprimatur” bit on the Vatican book. Richard seriously questioned whether Bacchiocchi’s Sabbath to Sunday book carried the official imprimatur. I showed him the book. He looked at it carefully, and was still unconvinced. In turn, he showed me a Catholic devotional book he had brought with him, and said it contained a real, genuine imprimatur. He insisted there was reason to doubt the Bacchiocchi Vatican imprimatur.

All I could say was this: if Bacchiocchi’s work was in any way fraudulent, I was quite sure the Roman Church would have made it known long ago. Rome honored Bacchiocchi. That is a fact.

In any case, from an Adventist point of view, Bacchiocchi was “orthodox.” From a Catholic view, he was merely “progressive.”