Lk 18:12: „I fast twice in the week...“ - This is the text of the King James Bible (KJV), but the basic Greek text speaks of a different day, namely a Sabbath in the singular genitive form, which is very easy to translate:

„νηστευω (nesteuo; I fast) δις (dis; twice) του (tou; on the) σαββατου (sabbatou; Sabbath)...“

The translation into any other language is very easy:

„I fast twice on the Sabbath“ or 

„I fast twice during the Sabbath“

Therefore many Bible translators have made 2 mistakes:

1. the Sabbath (σαββατου, genitive, neuter, singular) has been removed from the Bible

2. the week (εβδομαδα = ebdomada; εβδομαδες = ebdomades) was added to the bible

Admittedly, the day of fasting is not primarily concerned with the question - „on what day of the week did Jesus rise from the dead?“ - but since the words "Sabbath" and "week" are involved, it is necessary to comment on them as well. The list of examples (at the end of this website) shows only a small excerpt, because worldwide most old and new Bibles speak of fasting „twice a week". It is astonishing how people want to erase the Sabbath from the Bible, although Lk 18:12 is so easy to translate. A negative example from the famous King James Bible: 

As can be clearly seen, this is not an interlinear translation, but an interlinear replacement. The King James Bible simply swapped two different words (Sabbath and week). In contrast, Jerome (* 347; † 420) correctly translated this passage into Latin (Vulgate) almost 2,000 years ago. He speaks of „in sabbato“ (on the Sabbath), the same word that is also found in many other places in the Vulgate and always means the Sabbath (see definition of Latin week). Jerome could have spoken of the week (Latin: hebdomada, septimana) if he had wanted to, since he used this very word in other passages of the OT. But that is not what he wanted. Attention should be paid here, because some programs were designed to translate this Latin phrase into English as „twice a week“. This can only be viewed with humour, because conversely, the English „twice a Sabbath“ in Latin also means "bis in sabbato“. It is impossible that "bis in sabbato" means both „twice on a Sabbath“ and „twice a week“. This is not the case in any language of the world and only reveals the manipulation made by theologians. Greek has always been able to differentiate very precisely what was meant, and for the "week" there has always been a separate Greek word that translates as „a period of seven“ (hebdomada, septimana). Jerome did not mean that, he meant the Sabbath day in the singular. 

The free Bible program ISA3 (Scripture4All, link) shows the literal translation and grammar, including the corresponding Concordant Literal Version (CLV 1926). The Apostolic Bible Polyglot (ABP) also has a clear message: 

It is not surprising that Google translates Lk 18:12 correctly into English. For in every language in the world and in Greek there are separate words for the "week" (εβδομάδα) and for the Sabbath (σαββατου). The Sabbath is the last day of the week (from Friday evening to Saturday evening), but the week is a period of seven days with the Sabbath as the last day. These are very big differences:

The week is a period of seven days. Every Christian can convince himself in the simplest way that the basic Greek text by no means speaks of the "week" (ebdomada), but only of the Sabbatou (σαββατου) (see Interlinear). Grammatically it is not about anything special at all, but about the Sabbath in the singular in the genitive form. That is so simple. So there is only one correct translation possibility. Otherwise no Roman, Greek or Jew could ever have said „I fast on the Sabbath" in Greek, because it should automatically mean „I fast a week“ or "on Sunday“. The Greek language existed long before the English, Spanish and German languages even existed and the Greeks were not stupid. They could express themselves very precisely, as can be seen from numerous ancient works of science, philosophy, medicine, art, etc. Unlike the theologians of today, the Greeks did not equate the clearly defined Sabbath with their own week, which literally means a Sevenness (ebdomada), since it contains a series of seven days. The Sabbath, on the other hand, was for them the last Jewish day from sunset with which they wanted nothing to do. These have always been two completely different words with two completely different meanings. If a man wanted to say that he fasts „in the week“, he should have said by using the word "ebdomada". Instead, Luke emphasizes only one particular day, which he clearly called by its name "Sabbath". If someone were to say „I fast twice on Sunday“ today, no one would think that he meant „I fast twice a week“. There is no justification at this point to replace the Sabbath in the singular (one day) with the week (7 days). If God meant the week, it would be written in the NT.

„twice on the Sabbath" does not mean „twice on the Sevenness (week)“

The man did not say „I fast twice on the Sevenness,“ but „twice on the Sabbath.“ He used the foreign word that comes from the Hebrew with a clear definition. If God had meant the week, he would have said it, because this very word is itself part of the Greek Bible (the Septuagint). All people knew the Greek week (hebdomada), even the evangelists. In non-biblical literature this word was widely known, just as the number 7 was widely known. Luke was an educated doctor and he knew the difference between the Greek word sabbath and week (see definition). The text of the Spanish Alfonsina Bible of 1260 is also interesting: 

„I do not eat more than twice on the Sabbath“ =  „Non como mas de dos uezes en el sabado“

The word "σαββατου" was reproduced in other places in the NT by all translators as „on the Sabbath“ in the singular. But just in the chapter on resurrection, of all places, where the 100% identical Sabbath occurs, should it suddenly and without reason mean "week" or „after the Sabbath“ or even „on Sunday“ (Mk 16:9)? Where is the logic in this? The 13 places where σαββατου occurs are these: 

Numerous examples prove that only a Sabbath day can be meant. It is not possible to replace a clearly defined day (the last day of the week from Friday evening to Saturday evening after sunset) with seven days (week) or Sunday:

• Lk 6:5: „The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath (του σαββατου)“ (so also Mk 2:28; Mt 12:8). Is Jesus the „Lord of the Sabbath“ or „Lord of the week“ or "Lord of Sunday“?
• Mk 6:2: „And on the Sabbath (σαββατου), He [Jesus] began to teach in the synagogue.“ Question: Did the Sabbath, the week, or the Sunday begin? 
• Mk 16:1: „When the Sabbath (σαββατου) was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Him.“ The point here is that the women prepared the ointments „the Sabbath (σαββατου) was past“, so how can some theologians then replace just a few verses further on in Mk 16:9 the 100% identical word „first Sabbath“ (πρωτη σαββατου) with week or Sunday? What if Mark really meant the „first Sabbath“ of the seven weekly Sabbaths until Pentecost, which was known to all who knew God's calendar? 
• Lk 13:16: If the healing took place „on the Sabbath day“ (του σαββατου), why can't the Pharisee in Lk 18:12 also fast twice „on the Sabbath“ (του σαββατου)? If Jesus heals „on the sabbath" and if other people even release an ox from the well „on a Sabbath day“ (του σαββατου; Lk 14:5), then where is the problem if a person fasts?   

The Vulgate has correctly translated all the passages mentioned above. Martin Luther always mentioned the Sabbath in his Bible, made only a small mistake in Lk 18:12, because he could not explain why a Jew should fast on the Sabbath? Many other translators couldn't understand this either, and introduced the word "week" into the Bible. If they had read the Bible more carefully, they would have known that all Jews had to fast on some Sabbaths, as is explained further down in the text.

All other translations are nothing but interpretations, substitutions and distortions. It cannot be stressed often enough that here (as in Mk 16:9) we are dealing with the Sabbath in the singular. For some theologians claim that the plural "Sabbath" (σαββατων) could supposedly mean "week" as well. But here we have the Sabbath in the singular, and so there is only one correct correspondence.

Martin Luther had a problem with Lk 18:12, because the Jews in his environment did not fast on a normal weekly Sabbath. He therefore translated the Sabbath mentioned in the Greek and Latin texts as "week" only at this single verse. It was illogical for him that the Jews should have fasted on a Sabbath of all days, and then twice? Many other theologians have felt the same way. However, a problem of understanding does not give the right to remove something from the Bible (Sabbath, singular) and put something else in (week, 7 days).

Here the explanation is simple: The Pharisee merely said that he fasted twice "on the Sabbath". This is very easy to understand. But why on the Sabbath of all days? Was it not forbidden? No, it is not forbidden in the Bible to fast on the Sabbath, nor does God force anyone to eat on the Sabbath. Examples:

• All Israelites had to fast on the 5th annual High Sabbath (Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur; Lev 23:26-32). Those who did not fast had to die (v. 29). Now, if it was even necessary to fast on a High Feast Sabbath, why is it not possible for a person to fast on a small weekly Sabbath, if it is his own decision? The reason is unimportant here.
• The people of Israel were deported several times because of their disobedience, and there were terrible famines over long periods of time, so also on many Sabbaths. So many were forced to starve or even die of hunger even on Sabbaths.
• Daniel fasted on some Sabbaths: "In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks" (Dan 10:2-3). 
• Even Jesus fasted on Sabbaths when he was "40 days and 40 nights" in the desert (Matt 4:1-2; Luke 4:1-2). Yes, Jesus also fasted on several Sabbaths.
• These were often exceptional situations when men of God fasted on the Sabbath. Normally the Sabbath is for welfare. We may also fast on a Sabbath if we want to. It is not a sin. But God Himself never commanded to fast on the weekly Sabbath, because the Sabbath was made a blessing for man. When Israel came out of Egypt, God gave double rations on the 6th day, so that no one would go hungry and all had the tasty bread of God every Sabbath. 
• From historical sources (e.g. Qumran) we know that people have invented special fasting rules themselves, not only in Judaism but also among Christians. Normally in the first centuries AD on Wednesday, because on this day Jesus was crucified. Quote: "But fasting on the Sabbath was already common in the case of the superposito in the 4th century and was legally recognized in Spain... This custom soon spread further, so that in Rome already Innocent I. in 416 was able to combine fasting on Fridays and Sabbath... Wednesday ceased to be a day of fasting, which was strongly disapproved of by the Greek Church" (Johann Jakob Herzog Real-Encyklopädie für protestantische Theologie und Kirche, 1868, vol. 16, chapter fasting, p. 336).

This biblical passage (Lk 18:12) refers to the behavior of a SINGLE man. It was his personal decision. It does not say in what circumstances he was and what the other Pharisees did, since there were several groups and sects that differed in their regulations. In the NT it is not mentioned why he fasted exactly, but Jesus personally declared in Lk 18:14 that this Sabbath fast was completely in vain, because the motivation of the Pharisee was obviously nothing else but self-righteousness. It was not his intention to humble himself before God. In Mt 23 Jesus declared that the Pharisees will not enter the kingdom of God, despite their own strict Sabbath rules.

Jesus looks to the heart of people and not to senseless religious acts thought up by people. The Pharisees made the Sabbath a burden. Healings of the sick were forbidden and people had to suffer on the Sabbath. Even eating a few ears of corn from the field was forbidden. The Pharisees allowed only very short distances to walk (Sabbath Way). On the other hand, they established new rules to be recognized outwardly as pious. This also included fasting "twice on the Sabbath". There are some possible explanations for this:

1. The Jews usually ate three meals on the Sabbath. The man could have obviously missed two meals. How often and when or what he ate is not said, because it does not mean "I fast the whole Sabbath".
2. The word "fasting" is not a clearly defined term. Some may have drunk but not eaten. Some understood it to mean a renunciation of something specific, which did not have to mean food. 
3. It is also possible that the Pharisee meant the whole Sabbath, that is to say the night and the day phase of the Sabbath, that is to say "twice of the Sabbath". For comparison, the book of Ester 4:16 where a distinction is made between the two halves of the day: "Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day." The Jews at the time of Esther were not allowed to say, "I fast during the day, but at night I eat", but they had to fast twice, namely in the night and in the day phase of a whole calendar day. 
4. The Sabbath fasting during the weekly Sabbaths was an invention of some sects, which ordered a 24-hour Sabbath fast, i.e. "twice of the Sabbath" (night and day), in order to be considered particularly pious. Lighting fires was strictly forbidden and the preparation of food in the kitchen was also considered prohibited work. So on Friday evening they ate plenty of food before sunset, then little or nothing on the Sabbath, and after sunset at the end of the Sabbath (i.e. Saturday evening) a full meal again. Anyway, whoever eats abundantly in the evening shortly before sunset can wait without any problems until the coming sunset with the food without getting really hungry or having health problems. This self-righteousness even went so far that they tried to avoid going to the toilet on the Sabbath if possible, according to the scriptures of the Essenes found in Qumran.

We are not at all interested in how and why some Pharisees or sects fasted on the Sabbath. We are much more interested in the fact that every word in the Bible is quoted correctly. It is proven that there can only be one correct translation of Lk 18:12, which reads: „I fast twice on the Sabbath“ or „during the Sabbath.“ Every child understands this and it has nothing to do with the week or Sunday. If God had meant the week, then he would have used the corresponding Greek word (εβδομαδα = ebdomada), which all people knew at the time of the writing of the New Testament. God spoke instead of the Sabbath in the singular.

The abbreviations of the cited Bible translations are defined in the index. The original copies of most Bibles can be downloaded as facsimiles from the Internet free of charge (see Historical Bibles).

For the list of abbreviations of the Bibles see link. The original copies of most Bibles can be downloaded as facsimiles from the Internet free of charge (see Historical Bibles).

 "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good"

(1Thess 5:21)

"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them"

(Epheser 5:11)