How did the day of the CRUCIFIXION of JESUS become known as :GOOD FRIDAY"?

-- hamstuff (hamstuff@fast.net), April 10, 2004

Answers

bump

-- (bump@bump.bump), April 10, 2004.

There are several theories about the origin of this term.

1. This is “an archaic sense of good, synonymous with holy…” (Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins by William and Mary Morris.)

2. “Some scholars argue that ‘good’ is a corruption of ‘God’ and that early Christians commemorating the sad event called it God’s Friday.” (Sacred Origins of Profound Things by Charles Panati.)

3. “It is possible that the appellative was chosen simply to distinguish the day from all the other Fridays throughout the year.” (How Did It Begin.)

And, perhaps the best explanation: 4. “Others claim that ‘good’ signifies the bounty of blessings – indeed, salvation – Christ won for mankind by his sacrifice.” (Sacred Origins of Profound Things.)

-- J. Fernandes (goana@hotmail.com), April 10, 2004.

FOUND THIS INTERESTING:

Why do we call it ‘Good’ Friday? Calling the day of the Crucifixion ‘Good’ Friday is a designation that is peculiar to the English language. In German, for example, it is called Karfreitag. The Kar part is an obsolete word, the ancestor of the English word care in the sense of cares and woes, and it meant mourning. So in German, it is Mourning Friday. And that is what the disciples did on that day—they mourned. They thought all was lost. I’ve read that the word good used to have a secondary meaning of holy, but I can’t trace that back in my etymological dictionary. There are a number of cases in set phrases where the words God and good got switched around because of their similarity. One case was the phrase God be with you, which today is just good-bye. So perhaps Good Friday was originally God’s Friday. But I think we call it Good Friday because, in pious retrospect, all that tragedy brought about the greatest good there could be. I can see virtue in either terminology. If we call it Mourning Friday, as in German, we are facing reality head on, taking up the cross if you will, fully conscious that the Christian walk is seldom a walk in the park. But if we call it Good Friday, as in English, we are confessing the Christian hope that no tragedy—not even death—can overwhelm God’s providence, love, and grace. Either way seems fine to me! You can read more about this topic if you are wondering if the Crucifixion took place on a Friday.

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), April 13, 2004.

Hi Enrique,

That was some interesting insight. Thanks! What do they call the day in Spanish?

God bless,

-- Emily (jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), April 13, 2004.

Hi, Emily. Since I know that you understand Spanish I'm giving you the name of days for Holy Week:

- Domingo de Ramos

- Lunes Santo

-Martes Santo

- Miércoles Santo

- Jueves Santo

- Viernes Santo

- Sábado Santo (hasta antes de Vaticano II: Sábado de Gloria)

- DOMINGO DE PASCUA o DOMINGO DE RESURRECCION.

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), April 14, 2004.