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Removed comment which applied to Christadelphians in general, not only to Berean Christadelphians. See talk page for explanation.
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The schism resulting in the formation of the Berean Christadelphian Fellowship took place in 1923<ref>{{cite web | last =Phillips | first =Jim | title =The Berean Christadelphians: Why the Bereans? | url =http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/Bereans/wbp4.html | accessdate =2008-01-19 }}</ref> over the nature of Christ and the atonement.<ref>{{cite web | last = The Berean Fellowship | title = The Berean Restatement | date = 1960 | url=http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/Bereans/Sof/brs.html | accessdate = 2008-01-19 }}</ref> As a result of disagreement with the standard Christadelphian position, a large group of Christadelphians withdrew from the main body and identified themselves as the Berean fellowship. This schism held to a view of fellowship which required entire ecclesias to withdraw from any other ecclesia in fellowship with individuals or ecclesias in error.<ref>Julio Scaramastro and Jim Phillips, ''The Doctrine of Fellowship'' 1982</ref> This position radicalised the Berean fellowship, and has contributed to a number of other schisms from the Berean fellowship itself (including the Family Journal schism,<ref>{{cite web | last =Phillips | first =Jim | title =The Berean Christadelphians: Why the Bereans? | url =http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/Bereans/wbp3.html#Family | accessdate =2008-01-19 }}</ref> the Dawn schism,<ref>{{cite web | last =Phillips | first =Jim | title =The Berean Christadelphians: Why the Bereans? | url =http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/Bereans/wbp3.html#Dawn | accessdate =2008-01-19 }}</ref> the Four Point schism, and the Antipas schism<ref>{{cite web | last =Phillips | first =Jim | title =The Southern California Division | url =http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/Bereans/Myfiles/davis.html | accessdate =2008-01-19 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last =Phillips | first =Jim | title =The Berean Christadelphians: Why the Bereans? | url =http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/Bereans/wbp4.html#Another | accessdate =2008-01-19 }}</ref>). The resulting attrition has caused Berean numbers to decline to around 400 individuals.{{Citation needed}}
The schism resulting in the formation of the Berean Christadelphian Fellowship took place in 1923<ref>{{cite web | last =Phillips | first =Jim | title =The Berean Christadelphians: Why the Bereans? | url =http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/Bereans/wbp4.html | accessdate =2008-01-19 }}</ref> over the nature of Christ and the atonement.<ref>{{cite web | last = The Berean Fellowship | title = The Berean Restatement | date = 1960 | url=http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/Bereans/Sof/brs.html | accessdate = 2008-01-19 }}</ref> As a result of disagreement with the standard Christadelphian position, a large group of Christadelphians withdrew from the main body and identified themselves as the Berean fellowship. This schism held to a view of fellowship which required entire ecclesias to withdraw from any other ecclesia in fellowship with individuals or ecclesias in error.<ref>Julio Scaramastro and Jim Phillips, ''The Doctrine of Fellowship'' 1982</ref> This position radicalised the Berean fellowship, and has contributed to a number of other schisms from the Berean fellowship itself (including the Family Journal schism,<ref>{{cite web | last =Phillips | first =Jim | title =The Berean Christadelphians: Why the Bereans? | url =http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/Bereans/wbp3.html#Family | accessdate =2008-01-19 }}</ref> the Dawn schism,<ref>{{cite web | last =Phillips | first =Jim | title =The Berean Christadelphians: Why the Bereans? | url =http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/Bereans/wbp3.html#Dawn | accessdate =2008-01-19 }}</ref> the Four Point schism, and the Antipas schism<ref>{{cite web | last =Phillips | first =Jim | title =The Southern California Division | url =http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/Bereans/Myfiles/davis.html | accessdate =2008-01-19 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last =Phillips | first =Jim | title =The Berean Christadelphians: Why the Bereans? | url =http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/Bereans/wbp4.html#Another | accessdate =2008-01-19 }}</ref>). The resulting attrition has caused Berean numbers to decline to around 400 individuals.{{Citation needed}}


Over time the Bereans have developed a culture{{Citation needed}} and a set of doctrines which differentiate them radically from mainstream Christadelphians. Some of these doctrines are shared with the Unamended fellowship (but not the Central fellowship), particularly beliefs on the atonement and the nature of the flesh. Some of these doctrines constitute beliefs which the original Bereans held, whilst others are the development of original beliefs.{{Citation needed}} A number of these beliefs are not held by any other Christadelphian fellowship, which the Bereans take as indicative that they alone hold the correct understanding of the gospel.{{Citation needed}}
Over time the Bereans have developed a culture{{Citation needed}} and a set of doctrines which differentiate them radically from mainstream Christadelphians. Some of these doctrines are shared with the Unamended fellowship (but not the Central fellowship), particularly beliefs on the atonement and the nature of the flesh. Some of these doctrines constitute beliefs which the original Bereans held, whilst others are the development of original beliefs.{{Citation needed}} A number of these beliefs are not held by any other Christadelphian fellowship, which the Bereans take as indicative that their group alone holds the correct understanding of the gospel.<ref>'The term "Berean" identifies us as a separate group from other Christadelphians' [http://www.bereans.info The Berean Christadelphians]</ref><ref>'The Berean Christadelphians hold fast to the foundation principles upon which the Christadelphian movement was started in the middle 1800s. Sadly, throughout our history, we have found it necessary to withdraw from some Christadelphian groups who would not defend the foundation principles. Equally sad, other Christadelphian groups have decided to add to the original sound foundation laid down by the early brethren, demanding others to join in their additions and have refused those who would not' [http://www.bereans.info The Berean Christadelphians]</ref><ref>'Our movement is today--and by the grace of God will continue to be until Christ returns--an accurate reflection of those divine principles brought to light by the dedicated work of our pioneer brethren' [http://www.bereans.info The Berean Christadelphians]</ref><ref>'On our part, both careful research and personal contact has revealed that on the whole, as a fellowship, Berean brethren are more oriented toward original Christadelphian beliefs than are the other respective groups on the whole, as a fellowship: Even on their worst day, Bereans appear to be better off doctrinally than virtually anything else that we have been able to find, on its best day' [http://rightlydividedtruth.bravehost.com/page2.html Christadelphian History and The Biblical Fellowship]</ref><ref>'In 1923, those remaining in The Fellowship were brethren and sisters comprising over 100 Ecclesias in the British Commonwealth and the Americas who would become known as The Berean Christadelphians. These held to the original Christadelphian doctrines' [http://rightlydividedtruth.bravehost.com/page2.html Christadelphian History and The Biblical Fellowship] As can be seen in the full article cited, Bereans use the term 'The Fellowship' to refer to the group of individuals who hold the true gospel. This statement is a declaration that the Berean group are those who are 'remaining in The Fellowship', as opposed to non-Berean Christadelphian groups, who are not.</ref>


The following is a list of the beliefs which differentiate the Bereans radically from mainstream Christadelphians:
The following is a list of the beliefs which differentiate the Bereans radically from mainstream Christadelphians:


* The Berean position on fellowship (described above)<ref>'This page will contain a history of the Christadelphians as it pertains to the Berean fellowship, along with specific doctrines which separate us from other Christadelphian groups' [http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/Bereans/whybereans.html Why the Bereans?]</ref>
* The Berean position on fellowship (described above){{Citation needed}}
* That sin is a physical substance which is the cause of moral transgression, disease and death<ref>'Sin's Flesh, the flesh in which the Diabolos, SIN, resided in every cell and fibre', GV Growcott, ''The Purifying of the Heavenly'' 1978</ref><ref>'As a race, we ARE Sin. Everything we do naturally is Sin. Sin is the very fiber of our being', GV Growcott, ''The Purifying of the Heavenly'' 1978</ref><ref>', 'The term "sin" is scripturally extended by the process called "metonymy" (extending a name to include a related thing) to include the evil, corrupt, death-bringing principle in every cell and particle of human flesh - the diabolos - that causes all diseases and death and disharmony with God', GV Growcott, ''The Purifying of the Heavenly'' 1978</ref>
* That sin is a physical substance which is the cause of moral transgression, disease and death<ref>'Sin's Flesh, the flesh in which the Diabolos, SIN, resided in every cell and fibre', GV Growcott, ''The Purifying of the Heavenly'' 1978</ref><ref>'As a race, we ARE Sin. Everything we do naturally is Sin. Sin is the very fiber of our being', GV Growcott, ''The Purifying of the Heavenly'' 1978</ref><ref>', 'The term "sin" is scripturally extended by the process called "metonymy" (extending a name to include a related thing) to include the evil, corrupt, death-bringing principle in every cell and particle of human flesh - the diabolos - that causes all diseases and death and disharmony with God', GV Growcott, ''The Purifying of the Heavenly'' 1978</ref>
* That babies die because they are made of this physical substance which is sin (and so inherit the wages of sin)<ref>GV Growcott, ''The Purifying of the Heavenly'' 1978</ref>
* That babies die because they are made of this physical substance which is sin (and so inherit the wages of sin)<ref>GV Growcott, ''The Purifying of the Heavenly'' 1978</ref>

Revision as of 10:54, 2 February 2008

The Berean Christadelphians are a Christian denomination that separated from the main Christadelphian denomination in the 1920s.

The schism resulting in the formation of the Berean Christadelphian Fellowship took place in 1923[1] over the nature of Christ and the atonement.[2] As a result of disagreement with the standard Christadelphian position, a large group of Christadelphians withdrew from the main body and identified themselves as the Berean fellowship. This schism held to a view of fellowship which required entire ecclesias to withdraw from any other ecclesia in fellowship with individuals or ecclesias in error.[3] This position radicalised the Berean fellowship, and has contributed to a number of other schisms from the Berean fellowship itself (including the Family Journal schism,[4] the Dawn schism,[5] the Four Point schism, and the Antipas schism[6][7]). The resulting attrition has caused Berean numbers to decline to around 400 individuals.[citation needed]

Over time the Bereans have developed a culture[citation needed] and a set of doctrines which differentiate them radically from mainstream Christadelphians. Some of these doctrines are shared with the Unamended fellowship (but not the Central fellowship), particularly beliefs on the atonement and the nature of the flesh. Some of these doctrines constitute beliefs which the original Bereans held, whilst others are the development of original beliefs.[citation needed] A number of these beliefs are not held by any other Christadelphian fellowship, which the Bereans take as indicative that their group alone holds the correct understanding of the gospel.[8][9][10][11][12]

The following is a list of the beliefs which differentiate the Bereans radically from mainstream Christadelphians:

  • The Berean position on fellowship (described above)[13]
  • That sin is a physical substance which is the cause of moral transgression, disease and death[14][15][16]
  • That babies die because they are made of this physical substance which is sin (and so inherit the wages of sin)[17]
  • That although the Bible uses the word 'sin' in two different senses, it always refers to only one thing and not two separate things since sin and the cause of sin are one and the same[18][19]
  • That God treats both sin and the cause of sin in the same way[20]
  • That Jesus, through his miraculous birth and divine parentage, was enabled to resist sin to an extent normal human beings are incapable[citation needed]
  • That Jesus earned the wages of sin[21]
  • That God requires a sacrifice for 'sinful nature', and that Christ therefore had to make a sacrifice both for his sinful nature and for the sinful nature of humanity[22]
  • That human nature is physically defiled by sin even before personal transgression has taken place[23]
  • That even without personal transgression, man is an abomination unto His Creator and has need for redemption through the shedding of blood[24]


References and footnotes

  1. ^ Phillips, Jim. "The Berean Christadelphians: Why the Bereans?". Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  2. ^ The Berean Fellowship (1960). "The Berean Restatement". Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  3. ^ Julio Scaramastro and Jim Phillips, The Doctrine of Fellowship 1982
  4. ^ Phillips, Jim. "The Berean Christadelphians: Why the Bereans?". Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  5. ^ Phillips, Jim. "The Berean Christadelphians: Why the Bereans?". Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  6. ^ Phillips, Jim. "The Southern California Division". Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  7. ^ Phillips, Jim. "The Berean Christadelphians: Why the Bereans?". Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  8. ^ 'The term "Berean" identifies us as a separate group from other Christadelphians' The Berean Christadelphians
  9. ^ 'The Berean Christadelphians hold fast to the foundation principles upon which the Christadelphian movement was started in the middle 1800s. Sadly, throughout our history, we have found it necessary to withdraw from some Christadelphian groups who would not defend the foundation principles. Equally sad, other Christadelphian groups have decided to add to the original sound foundation laid down by the early brethren, demanding others to join in their additions and have refused those who would not' The Berean Christadelphians
  10. ^ 'Our movement is today--and by the grace of God will continue to be until Christ returns--an accurate reflection of those divine principles brought to light by the dedicated work of our pioneer brethren' The Berean Christadelphians
  11. ^ 'On our part, both careful research and personal contact has revealed that on the whole, as a fellowship, Berean brethren are more oriented toward original Christadelphian beliefs than are the other respective groups on the whole, as a fellowship: Even on their worst day, Bereans appear to be better off doctrinally than virtually anything else that we have been able to find, on its best day' Christadelphian History and The Biblical Fellowship
  12. ^ 'In 1923, those remaining in The Fellowship were brethren and sisters comprising over 100 Ecclesias in the British Commonwealth and the Americas who would become known as The Berean Christadelphians. These held to the original Christadelphian doctrines' Christadelphian History and The Biblical Fellowship As can be seen in the full article cited, Bereans use the term 'The Fellowship' to refer to the group of individuals who hold the true gospel. This statement is a declaration that the Berean group are those who are 'remaining in The Fellowship', as opposed to non-Berean Christadelphian groups, who are not.
  13. ^ 'This page will contain a history of the Christadelphians as it pertains to the Berean fellowship, along with specific doctrines which separate us from other Christadelphian groups' Why the Bereans?
  14. ^ 'Sin's Flesh, the flesh in which the Diabolos, SIN, resided in every cell and fibre', GV Growcott, The Purifying of the Heavenly 1978
  15. ^ 'As a race, we ARE Sin. Everything we do naturally is Sin. Sin is the very fiber of our being', GV Growcott, The Purifying of the Heavenly 1978
  16. ^ ', 'The term "sin" is scripturally extended by the process called "metonymy" (extending a name to include a related thing) to include the evil, corrupt, death-bringing principle in every cell and particle of human flesh - the diabolos - that causes all diseases and death and disharmony with God', GV Growcott, The Purifying of the Heavenly 1978
  17. ^ GV Growcott, The Purifying of the Heavenly 1978
  18. ^ 'Let us not be squeamishly afraid to give the name SIN to the very root of sin', GV Growcott, The Purifying of the Heavenly 1978
  19. ^ 'We are told by some that we must not link transgressions and sin-in-the-flesh in the same "category," as two "aspects" of the same basic sin constitution. That is, we must not link "the Devil" (Diabolos) "and his works." But the Scriptures do', GV Growcott, The Purifying of the Heavenly 1978
  20. ^ 'When God condemned Sin by condemning the Diabolos in the sinless Christ, He inseparably linked all aspects of sin together - or active sin was not condemned', GV Growcott, The Purifying of the Heavenly 1978
  21. ^ 'And seeing that the wages of sin is death—whether it be physical or moral sin—all must die', Simplified Atonement", adapted from "God’s Way Of Atonement", by Frank Jannaway
  22. ^ 'It was necessary that Jesus should offer for himself for the purging of his own nature, first, from the uncleanness of death', GV Growcott, The Purifying of the Heavenly 1978
  23. ^ 'God ordained sacrificial blood-shedding for the cleansing of mankind from the defilement brought on the race through Adam', GV Growcott, The Purifying of the Heavenly 1978
  24. ^ GV Growcott, The Purifying of the Heavenly 1978
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