History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week - John N. Andrews

of the week." And next it is mentioned once by
Bardesanes, who calls it simply "the first of the
week." The variety of names by which the day is
mentioned during this time is remarkable; but it is
never called Lord’s Day, nor ever called by any
sacred name.
Though Sunday is mentioned in so many
different ways during the second century, it is not
till we come almost to the close of that century that
we find the first instance in which it is called
Lord’s Day. Clement, of Alexandria, A.D. 194,
uses this title with reference to "the eighth day." If
he speaks of a natural day, he no doubt means
Sunday. It is not certain, however, that he speaks of
a natural day, for his explanation gives to the term
an entirely different sense. Here are his words:--
"And the Lord’s Day Plato prophetically speaks
of in the tenth book of the Republic, in these
words: 'And when seven days have passed to each
of them in the meadow, on the eighth they are to
set out and arrive in four days.' By the meadow is
to be understood the fixed sphere, as being a mild
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