Heartily receive Truth, Heartily reject error

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth - 2 Tim 2: 16

The foundation clause of the BASF states:

THE FOUNDATION

That the book currently known as the Bible, consisting of the Scriptures of Moses, the prophets, and the apostles, is the only source of knowledge concerning God and His purposes at present extant or available in the earth, and that the same were wholly given by inspiration of God in the writers, and are consequently without error in all parts of them, except such as may be due to errors of transcription or translation - 2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Cor. 2:13; Heb. 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:21; 1 Cor. 14:37; Neh. 9:30; John 10:35. .

(This paragraph was added in 1886.)

From the above I became convinced of the following principles:

1. That there must not be any deviation from the spirit's teaching. What is plainly taught in the Bible must be believed and upheld without compromise. Rebellion against the plain teaching of the Bible cannot be tolerated in fellowship.

2. There are matters of uncertain details which may be discussed and variations of opinion expressed. Such discussions ought to take place in a brotherly manner - the advancement of Truth being the pure motive. Uncertain details should not affect fellowship.

Christadelphian history briefly summarised

Brother Thomas sets forth the gospel in Elpis Israel constituting the revival of the Truth in the Latter days. This revival is continued in his monthly magazine The Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come. In the 1860s Eureka is published. This completes the revival of the Truth.

1864, Bro Roberts on Bro Thomas' recommendation commences the magazine 'The Ambassador of the Coming Age'. Renamed 'The Christadelphian' in 1866.

Yahweh has determined that the Truth should be revived in the Latter Days. He has ensured that through the labours of two faithful servants, vessels of his choosing, there will be a remnant alive at Messiah's second advent who will be prepared as a bride is prepared for her groom.

My own conviction is that I have studied the Dr.'s writings and must confess myself a follower with Bro John Thomas. We do not care for the babblers. The Dr. is following the teaching of Deity, and why should we not follow with him?

Multiple divisions

The BASF was expanded to meet the challenges posed by heretics who troubled the brotherhood.

https://www.christadelphian-origin.org/birmingham-amended-statement-of-faith/

https://www.christadelphian-origin.org/doctrines-to-be-rejected/

The first challenge to the Christadelphians came in the 1860s when certain brethren were willing to tolerate in fellowship the immortal soul and supernatural devil heresies - Rev 2: 7. Bro Roberts withdrew fellowship from the Dowieites as they became known and they became a small faction separated from the Christadelphians.

The second major division occurred when it was proposed in 1873 that Messiah was not a partaker of sin's flesh and that he did not need to die for himself - Rev 2: 8. Clean flesh heresy was repudiated and this group continue today under the name 'The Nazarenes'. Clauses 5-12 of the BASF concern the sin and sacrifice of Messiah and these repudiate the 'clean flesh' heresy.

In 1885 a division occurred when the inspiration of the Bible was challenged. This became known as the partial inspiration division. Unlike the previous divisions Bro Robert's attitude and character were attacked from with the Birmingham ecclesia and there was a major split - Rev 2: 13. The Birmingham ecclesia itself split, Bro Roberts at Temperance Hall and approximately half the meeting formed a separate entity at a hall in Suffolk Street.

This separate community became known as Suffolk Street. They were willing to accept in fellowship those who would not consent to a definitive position on the inspiration of scripture. (They would not accept the newly added foundation clause of the BASF).

In 1884-98 a further major division occurred over the issue of resurrectional responsibility. The BASF was again expanded and the theory of the non-resurrection of enlightened but unbaptised rejectors of the gospel became a doctrine to be rejected. This was the last major division for Bro Roberts - Rev 2:24. He died in 1898.

My research suggests to me that following Bro Roberts' death there was a malaise. 'The Christadelphian' magazine was less robust, there were signs of decline and apathy - Rev 3: 3.

In 1917 there was a breach in the Birmingham Temperance Hall ecclesia. A separate ecclesia called John Bright Street was formed by brethren and sisters who refused to tolerate the unscriptural position of Bro Davis (an AB) who argued it was legitemate for brethren to join the Police Force and to use violence to apprehend criminals. This issue was never resolved despite a six year conflict.

Added to this, the Temperance Hall ecclesia (the largest in the UK) refused to withdraw fellowship from AD Strickler who published writings advocating 'clean flesh'. He rejected the doctrine of the atonement taught by Brethren Thomas and Roberts calling it 'darkness'.

In consequence a new fellowship was formed and a rival magazine called the Berean came into existence in 1923 edited by Bre Dowling and FG Jannaway, contending for the faith, and against the compromise position of 'The Christadelphian' edited by Bro CC Walker.

In 1947 there was a conference attended by Bro John Carter editor of 'The Christadelphian' of the Temperance Hall community, in which he laid the foundation for the beginnings of a reunion between the separated Christadelphian groups.

He worked toward this end culminating in a reunion of disparate groups. By 1957 the Temperance Hall community (now known as Central from within, and Reunion from without) had united with believers of the very doctrines Bro Roberts had fought so hard to expel.

As a consequence, in 1957 a large number of ecclesias left 'Central' and formed 'The Old Paths'. They left because they understood the need for separation from the errors repudiated by Bro Roberts - Rev 3: 8.

The smaller groups outside of 'Central' have further divided over the issue of divorce and remarriage in particular. Todays Christadelphians tend to be either lax or extreme. On the lax side false doctrine and practice are tolerated as a consequence of sentimentalism, and on the extreme side burdens are imposed after the hard of heart pharisaaical fashion.

It is my belief that the true fellowship position, "First pure, then peacable" is to be found with Bro Thomas. I look for fellowship with those who genuinely uphold his writings without compromise. Sadly such are rare.

Much more detailed information about fellowship and the various divisions is available at the following website

https://www.pioneerchristadelphians.org/index1.htm