C H R I S T A D E L P H I A N R E S E A R C H

An exhaustive and authoritative investigation into the Christadelphians with links from their own sources as well as insights from former
members. Complete examination of their history, organisation, theology, practices, and the challenges they face.
John Thomas "Rediscovered the Truth"
On many forums it is questioned whether Christadelphians have believed John Thomas “rediscovered the Truth.” Here are some quotes from The Christadelphian magazine taken from a digital resource produced
by them. Although today the magazine is less well read, it was the main mouthpiece of the movement at one point and was instrumental in establishing many of the movement’s statements of faith.
The Christadelphian, 1888, Vol 25, Page 112
Bro Pugwash quoted by the editor of the magazine:
Revival of the truth seems to have been as gradual as the declension. The declension was slow but sure. Error after error crept in until ‘The One Faith’ was swallowed up, and how slowly it emerged till Dr. Thomas rediscovered it for us in its entirety.
The Christadelphian, 1891, Vol 28, Page 414
Quoted from a Christadelphian lecture at a Christadelphian meeting place in Birmingham:
If God had not raised up in this century such a man as Dr. Thomas, our generation would have been stumbling on in the inherited fogs which have entirely hidden the teaching of the Bible from view, while glorifying the Bible itself in a certain sentimental way. It does not appear that the understanding of the Bible has been attained in any other channel. There is a deal of writing about the Bible, and a deal of smattering in connection with separate and scattered points involved in Bible things; but where, outside of his work in our day, is to be found that complete mastery of the whole Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelations, which renders the work of God through Israel from the beginning a consistent, connected, and progressives thing, which not only does not require the help of human philosophy, but which cannot endure the admixture of it without being spoiled? We know not its like in any current system or movement, or in any library treasures, ancient or modern, or in the hands of any teacher or institution of modern life anywhere. If others know of it, we should be delighted to be introduced—with the liberty, however, of thorough independent inspection. We know enough of shams and echoes and abortions to make us very chary.
The Christadelphian, 1902, Vol 39, Page 568
Quoted in a section referring to other Christadelphian publications. This was commending one called “The Shield” for its comments:
The Shield, September. We are glad to see the Editorial remarks on Conferences. Fraternal gatherings for edification, exhortation, and comfort are delightful; but fraternal gatherings to discuss bases of faith, or schemes for reunion without unity of mind are the reverse. Dr. Thomas rediscovered the truth fifty years or more ago. It does not want doing again; it wants “keeping”—”the righteous nation that keepeth the truth.” And in this, ecclesias are responsible directly to the Lord, and not to any earthly “committee or delegates,” or other self-constituted authority like the Pope.
The Christadelphian, 1940, Vol 77, Page 200
Written on the death of the editor of The Christadelphian magazine as a tribute to him:
Bro. C. C. Walker, he said, was a man of many gifts—widely travelled, of considerable linguistic attainments, and of wide knowledge. But his greatest gift was his power to use all other gifts as a steward of the grace of God. A noble man, innately courteous, naturally dignified, he was nevertheless a humble disciple of the Lord. As successor to two remarkable men, Dr. John Thomas and bro. Robert Roberts, he maintained with voice and pen the Truth as it had been rediscovered about a hundred years ago.
The Christadelphian, 1947, Vol 84, Page 110
Found within an article published in The Christadelphian magazine:
We have been blessed in the guidance given to us by Dr. Thomas and bro. Robert Roberts. In the Ecclesial Guide is sterling counsel for all succeeding generations of Christadelphians. We recommend its careful study by both young and old. For the young it has historical value in showing the conditions under which the Truth was rediscovered a century ago: problems which do not perplex us in these days were real enough in those days; as for example, What is a solitary man to do who, recognizing the necessity for baptism, is unable to find a Christadelphian near to him to baptize him? In the Guide are discussed at some length the various points associated with the administration of baptism, and it has been to me a cause of interest and fortification to note that the suggestions made by bro. Roberts over sixty years ago are carried out to the very letter in the arrangements for the baptism of candidates at the Birmingham Central Ecclesia.
...and one from an early Berean Christadelphian, Bro G.W. Growcott in his book, “Search me, O God”
There are two kinds of Christadelphians: those who recognize and appreciate the value and soundness and stability afforded by the writings and labors of brethren Thomas and Roberts – and those who do not. Not much can be done to help the latter kind. They are on their way back to the old Apostasy. Resuscitations of the Gospel Truth have run this pattern over and over: a period of soundness; then a drifting of the majority back to the main orthodox stream.
Brother Thomas assembled the total Truth. Admittedly, others had disjointed parts, some this, some that. He revealed a beautiful, harmonious, living whole. His critics and scorners owe what knowledge they have of it to him, squirm as they may under this embarrassing fact. Intelligent men will recognize their debt and dependency, and will be humbly thankful. Intelligent, mature believers will not feel they have to devise anti-brother Thomas theories, to demonstrate their independence, but will be anxious to stand with the sound Truth as he revealed it – and that includes a true conception of the book of Revelation."
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- PROVE ALL THINGS
- PROPOSAL FOR ADVOCATE
- CONFESSION AND ABJURATION, JOHN THOMAS
- JOHN THOMAS ON THE BIBLE AS THE ONLY AUTHORITY
- JOHN THOMAS ON REPENTANCE
- DISFELLOWSHIPPING QUOTES
- PRE-ADAMIC CREATION
- JOHN THOMAS ON FORMER BRETHREN
- EARLY CONSTITUTION
- ON BEING EXCLUSIVE
- RETURN BY 1866
- ROBERT ROBERTS
- EXACT KNOWLEDGE AND OBEDIENCE
- INTRODUCTION BIBLE COMPANION
- PROVIDENCE AND THE INDEPENDENT MIND OF JOHN THOMAS
- ROBERT ROBERTS ON WHY THE TRUE DOCTRINES WERE LOST
- THE RETURN OF THE LAW
- ON THE HOLY SPIRIT
- BRYAN R WILSON
- PATRIARCHALISM AND WOMEN
- POVERTY AND RECRUITMENT
- INTRODUCTION TO PHANEROSIS
- DEMONS AND PIGS, BY BRANSON HOPKINS
- CREEDAL FLEXIBILITY
- HIGH CHURCH CHRISTADELPHIANS
- DR THOMAS - FREE ENQUIRY
- BELIEFS OF FORMER BRETHREN
- ALTERING THE STATEMENT
- HISTORY MYSTERY
- REDISCOVERY OF THE TRUTH
- ONLINE BOOKS
- THE EARLY HISTORY-NORRIE
- GOSPEL BANNER 1867
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PAGE VISITS FROM 16/09/13
UnBELIEVABLE
THE TRINITY HURDLE
NOVEL: HOLY BIBLE
Christadelphian Quotes
You lay a great stress upon facts throughout your letters, and are incessant in your demand that I should attend to them. This is good; but facts have to be rightly put together, and then you must have all the facts. I do not think you put the facts rightly together, and you leave out some, I am sure.
(Robert Roberts, a Christadelphian Pioneer, quoted
by Ruth McHaffie in Brethren Indeed)
The Spirit of liberty, based upon the law of faith, is the Spirit of Christ; and this spirit all the Sons of God are privileged to possess, and having it, to breathe. I claim the right of exercising this privilege, as well as my contemporaries; and I require of them that they should do to me as once they loudly required others to do to them…
(written by John Thomas, the founder of the Christadelphians, when he was against creeds in
The Apostolic Advocate magazine, August 1836)
(John Thomas, from Apostacy Unveiled, p. 137,
quoted in The Christadelphian Magazine, January 1906)
Must a man never progress? If he discovers an error in his premises, must he for ever hold to it for the sake of consistency? May such a calamity never befall me! Rather let me change every day, till I get right at last.
(from a letter written by John Thomas in 1848, quoted by Robert Roberts, in Dr. Thomas: His Life and Work)
Do what is right; be valiant for the Truth; teach it without compromise, and all lovers of the Truth will approve you. For all others you need not care a rush!
(from a letter written by John Thomas to Robert Roberts and published in The Christadelphian magazine, February 1866)