FAQ

Questions

  1. When were the Christadelphians established?
  2. What does the name “Christadelphian” mean?
  3. Where are Christadelphians found?
  4. How are Christadelphians organised?
  5. Why are Christadelphian churches called “ecclesias”?
  6. What kind of people are Christadelphians?
  7. What do Christadelphians do?
  8. Do we worship with other Christians?
  9. What’s so different about Christadelphian beliefs?

Answers

When were the Christadelphians established?

The origins of the modern Christadelphian movement can be traced back to an English doctor, Dr. J. Thomas who emigrated to America in 1832. Circumstances led him away from medicine and towards the Bible, upon which he lectured and wrote extensively for the last thirty years of his life. Congregations holding Christadelphian views began to form around 1840.

What does the name “Christadelphian” mean?

In order to register as conscientious objectors in the American Civil War, early members of our movement were asked to take an identifying name. Both the English expression “Brethren in Christ” (taken from Colossians 1:2

Colossians 1:2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
) and the one-word equivalent “Christadelphian” were chosen. The name “Christadelphian” is formed from three Greek roots: Χριστος (Christos, Christ), αδελφοι (adelphoi, brethren) and the ending -ιανος (-ianos, -ian). The name can be compared to others like “Christian” (one belonging to Christ) and “Philadelphia” (city of brotherly love). Both the names “Christadelphian” and “Brethren in Christ” are used in our community around the world, with the term “Christadelphian” being more common in English-speaking countries.

Where are Christadelphians found?

Christadelphians are located throughout the world (in something like 120 countries at last count). Like the early Christians, we meet in homes, rented rooms, and, in some cases, our own halls. In the Wellington area, there are congregations meeting in Newlands, Paraparaumu, Petone and Tawa.

How are Christadelphians organised?

We are a lay community patterned after first century Christianity. Members of each congregation are addressed as “Brother” and “Sister”, and all have an equal responsibility for the welfare of the congregation. While a strong common belief (enshrined in a Statement of Faith) binds our Brotherhood together, local congregations (or ecclesias) are autonomous.

Why are Christadelphian churches called “ecclesias”?

The word ecclesia is lifted from the Greek New Testament. Its basic meaning is that which is called out, and in our English Bibles the word is usually translated as “church”. However, over the years, the word “church” has come to refer more to a building than a people. Since the building in which we meet has no relevance to our salvation (Acts 7:48–50

Acts 7:48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,
Acts 7:49
Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
or what is the place of my rest?
Acts 7:50
Did not my hand make all these things?
) we call ourselves an “ecclesia”, that is, people called out to serve God.

What kind of people are Christadelphians?

We are made up of people from most walks of life. We would like to think that we are normal, but our beliefs do tend to be held with a strong conviction and this probably reflects in our character. Our faith encourages us to be enthusiastic in our work, loyal in our marriages, generous in our giving, dedicated in our preaching, content in our circumstances. We tend to have little interest in much that the modern world finds entertaining.

What do Christadelphians do?

We hold regular meetings for worship, Bible study, and preaching. The most important of these is held every Sunday morning when all the congregation meets together for “the breaking of bread”. This is a service in which, after an exhortational talk, baptised Christadelphians share bread and wine in remembrance of our Lord’s sacrifice and in anticipation of his return. By doing this we are obeying the instruction of Jesus, through the Apostle Paul, given in 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

I Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
I Corinthians 11:24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
I Corinthians 11:25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
I Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
(we also call this service our “Memorial Meeting”). The meeting is preceded by a Sunday School (for children and young adults). We have a mid-week Bible Class for in-depth study, and we also hold regular public seminars to publicize and preach the gospel. We do not have a paid ministry (or clergy); all our studies, seminars and administrative activities are performed in turn by our own members.

Do we worship with other Christians?

We are not an ecumenical movement because we believe that agreement on doctrine is important (see for example Ephesians 4:4–6

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—
Ephesians 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Ephesians 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
), and therefore we only break bread and drink wine with others who share a common faith and understanding of the gospel with us.

What’s so different about Christadelphian beliefs?

Hardly any Christadelphian belief is unique to us, but major differences with much of Christendom would include the following:

  • we do not believe in the Trinity of the Godhead;
  • we believe Jesus is God’s son and not co-equal with the Father;
  • we believe existence ceases at death until a (bodily) resurrection, which will take place when Jesus returns to the earth;
  • we believe that Jesus died as mankind’s representative rather than as our substitute;
  • we look forward to the overthrow of human governments at the return of Christ.