R0MANS 1 


Paul's letter to the brethren and sisters at Rome is very deeply doctrinal, but it is also very personal. He mentions nearly forty specific individuals in chapter 16, beside several references to households.

We must always remember that the Truth is a personal thing -- a matter of personal relationships to others -- not a mathematical or technical or coldly individual thing. Paul says in chapter 1 that without ceasing he made mention of them always in his prayers. This is not exaggeration: This was Paul's whole heart and life.

First and above all, the whole meaning and power of the Truth is an intense personal relationship to God and Christ:

"This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent" (John 17).

Not just to know of them. Not even just to know about them: to know the truth concerning them (though that is truly vital in itself). But to know them personally as close and intimate companions, far more intimate and closer to us than anyone else can possibly be.

It is quite possible -- and if we observe ourselves we shall often catch ourselves falling into it -- it is quite possible to work diligently all day long on the work of God, and not once think of Him as a personal, living Reality, as a Friend, as a Companion, in terms of closeness, and affection, and communion. Yet this is the very essence of the Truth. This is the central, heart-purpose for which all else is designed. We may feel we are "always abounding in the work of the Lord," but it is meaningless if it is not built upon this.


Bro Growcott - BYT 1.11



1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

His Hebrew name was Saul. Thus the first word in the epistle would impress the Roman disciples with the truth that now, through the blood of Christ, "there is neither Jew nor Greek" in the eyes of God. Here was a Jewish-born apostle addressing himself to the Roman Ecclesia by the Gentile name of "Paul."

As Saul, his name signified Appointed of God, which was certainly true. Yet, it had been under this name that he had persecuted the ecclesia (Acts 9:1). Wishing to repudiate that period of his life in which he had denied the Lord Jesus Christ, and to clearly identify his ministry to the Gentiles (Gal 2:9), he preferred to be known as '"Paul," meaning

"little."

His adoption of this name testified to his attitude of self-denial and humility as a bond-slave of Christ. He may too have been "small" in stature (2Cor 10:1,10): and certainly considered himself to be "small" in his own estimation

"For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the ecclesia of God (1Cor 15:9, 2Tim 1:15).

This name [Paul] became prominent on his first missionary journey when he inflicted punishment on Elymas the sorcerer (Acts 13: 8-10) on the island of Cyprus.

"A servant of Jesus Christ"

— Gk., doulos, "a bond-slave." He considered himself to be "owned" by Christ (1Cor.6:20, 7:22), and was dedicated to the service of his Master. A bond-slave was without rights or privileges. His entire life was devoted to fulfilling without question every demand his master made upon him.

Paul's Master however, was wise, loving and kind:

"of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Jesus Christ" (Col. 3:24).

This word doulos indicated that Paul was more than a mere "supporter" of the cause of Christ. He was "branded" on his "body" with the mark of the Lord Jesus (Gal. 6:17). As a bond-slave, he labored as a "chosen vessel" to "bear" the "name" of the one to whom he was bound (Acts 9:15).

The Christadelphian Expositor





EVEN the name that he chose, gives us a sympathetic insight into his character, for this was an adopted name. We first find him as Saul, a Benjamite, proudly named after his royal compatriot, who had stood head and shoulders above the people.

But after he had become the servant of Jesus Christ, the name Saul would no longer seem appropriate. It rang too much of regal splendor and Jewish pride, and to his now enlightened mind it would speak too vividly of the same imperious and headstrong, but misguided, temperament that he had shared with his ancient royal namesake.

So when he began his mission to the Gentiles, he chose a new name. Perhaps it was a name Christ gave him, after the example of Peter and James and John.

And, in keeping with the course that lay before him, it was a Gentile name, while "Saul," like his whole previous life had been so distinctly and exclusively Hebrew.

The meaning of this new name is interesting and significant. To us and to the world, his life has invested it with dignity and honour, and none would hesitate to bear it now, but when he chose it, it had no such atmosphere. It meant "small" or "little," in sharp contrast to the high-sounding pretentions of the name Saul The king Saul started out commendably as Paul, the little; and ended dismally as Saul, for Samuel said to him-

"When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel?"

But Paul on the other hand began as Saul, the learned and respected Pharisee; and became Paul, the little and despised. From the same root we derive our word "paucity" meaning "insufficiency," and also perhaps "paltry" meaning worthless and contemptible.

This is the humble significance the name would carry as it fell upon the Gentile ear. It had the same meaning in both Latin and Greek. It was the calling card with which he introduced himself-Paul, the insignificant. He said, frankly and sincerely (1 Cor. 15.9)-

"I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle."

And again (Eph. 3:7)-

"I, who am less than the least of all saints."

Bro Growcott - BYT 4. 30


2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)



3 Concerning his Son Yahoshua Anointed our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

The crucifixion of Christ as a‭ "‬declaration of the righteousness of God‭" ‬and a‭ "‬condemnation of sin in the flesh,‭" ‬must exhibit to us the righteous treatment of sin.‭ ‬It was as though it was proclaimed to all the world,‭ ‬when the body was nailed to the cross.‭ 

"‬This is how condemned human nature should be treated according to the righteousness of God‭; ‬it is fit only for destruction.‭"

The shedding of the blood was the ritual symbol of the truth‭; ‬for the shedding of the blood was the taking away of the life.‭ ‬Such a declaration of the righteousness of God could only be made in the very nature concerned‭; ‬a body under the dominion of death because of sin.‭

It would not have been a declaration of the righteousness of God to have crucified an angel or a new man made fresh from the ground.‭ ‬There would have been confusion in such an operation.‭ ‬This is why it was necessary that Jesus should be‭ "‬made of the seed of David according to the flesh‭"‬,‭ ‬that he might partake of the very flesh and blood of man‭ (Heb. ii. 14)‬.‭

 ‬It was that nature that was to be operated upon and redeemed in him.‭ ‬It was needful that he should at the first‭ "‬come in the flesh.‭"

Sunday Morning ‬258




Christ the Seed of David, Yet not a Mere Man

The substance of Christ was flesh and blood, of Adamic stock, identical with that of "the children" he came to redeem (Heb. 2:14). In this, he was "the seed of David, according to the flesh."-(Rom. 1:2); but this did not make him "mere man."

The phrase "according to the flesh" implies another side, viz., "the Spirit." How was he related to this? The angel's words to Joseph and Mary, answer this.

"That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit."-(Matt. 1:20.) The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee."-(Luke 1:35.)

By this the babe begotten, and afterwards the man, was related to God, who is Spirit, and could say "I came from heaven." By this, he was God manifest in the flesh; the word of Eternal Power made flesh, dwelling in Israel, full of grace and truth, which could never be testified of any mere man.

But surely it is time to leave the discussion of this principle of the doctrine of Christ. It has been defined and discussed sufficiently to satisfy the requirements of such as are truly waiting for the kingdom of God. Let us go on unto perfection. Our salvation does not depend upon our ability to define the process of God-manifestation. If it did, we should have no hope.

Abstractions belong to God. They are inconceivable to the human intellect. What we are called upon to do is to recognise in Jesus the arm of the Lord as a matter of faith; rejoice in the day-spring from on high that hath visited us; looking for his re-appearing, and meanwhile preparing ourselves for his coming by the obedience of his commandments in all holiness, love, patience, and joy. Upon this our salvation does depend.

It is possible to carry the discussion of definitions too far. The futile attempt to squeeze God's operation into the language of human ideas, may degenerate into a strife of words to no profit; a barren controversy, in which he is least inclined to needlessly engage who is most in sympathy with the glorious objects contemplated in that operation, and presented for faith in the testimony concerning the man Christ Jesus now exalted to the right hand of the Majesty of the Heavens.

The Christadelphian, Mar 1872



The Apostasy of the First Century

"They preached Christ of envy and strife-of contention not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to the apostle's bonds."-Phil. 1:16. "They walked as the enemies of the cross of Christ, worshipping their appetites, glorying in their shame, minding earthly things."-ch. 3:13.

They were "enemies of the cross of Christ;" that is, γνωσται, or Knowing Ones, were opposed to the doctrine of the cross, as taught by the apostles. These taught that

"God sent his Son in the likeness of the flesh of sin (σαρκοϚ ̓μαρτιαϚ) and on account of sin condemned sin in the flesh;"

that "he was descended from David according to flesh;" "for as much as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same;" "being in all things made like unto his brethren;" so that "he could bear their sins in his own body to the tree," and "be touched with the feelings of their infirmities;" being, when tried, "tempted in all points like as they, but without sin.-Rom. 1:3; 8:3; Heb. 2:14-17; 4:15; 1 Pet. 2:24.

The "seducers" opposed this, and taught that "Jesus did not come in flesh;" and consequently, did not descend from David; was therefore also, not born of a Virgin; and did not really suffer on the cross; so that "sin was not condemned in the flesh; and his resurrection not real. These things flow logically from the assertion that the flesh of Jesus was not "flesh of sin," but a holy and better compound.

If he came not in the flesh of Abraham's seed, he can have no right to the things covenanted to Abraham and his seed, nor to "the sure mercies of David;" for these are promised only to David and his seed.

The whole gospel was therefore nullified by these two principles, namely, "the resurrection past, and the body of Jesus not flesh of sin. Well might the apostle say, that such had made shipwreck of the faith.

Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, Nov 1857



4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

This anointing with Spirit and Power was the revival in a greater degree of the former relations subsisting between the Father and the Son.

"constituted Son of Deity in power, through Spirit of holiness, out of a resurrection of dead ones" (Rom. 1:4).

Eureka 16.11.3.1.



5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

6 Among whom are ye also the called of Yahoshua Anointed:

7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Yahoshua Anointed.



8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

We must always remember that the Truth is a personal thing -- a matter of personal relationships to others -- not a mathematical or technical or coldly individual thing. Paul says  that without ceasing he made mention of them always in his prayers. This is not exaggeration: This was Paul's whole heart and life.

First and above all, the whole meaning and power of the Truth is an intense personal relationship to God and Christ:

"This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent" (John 17).

Not just to know of them. Not even just to know about them: to know the truth concerning them (though that is truly vital in itself). But to know them personally as close and intimate companions, far more intimate and closer to us than anyone else can possibly be.

It is quite possible -- and if we observe ourselves we shall often catch ourselves falling into it -- it is quite possible to work diligently all day long on the work of God, and not once think of Him as a personal, living Reality, as a Friend, as a Companion, in terms of closeness, and affection, and communion. Yet this is the very essence of the Truth. This is the central, heart-purpose for which all else is designed. We may feel we are "always abounding in the work of the Lord," but it is meaningless if it is not built upon this.

There is no point, no value, no life, in doing God's work if there is not an ever-conscious personal relationship at the heart of it. It is this personal, affectionate relationship to God and Christ that draws us from evil, and strengthens us in good. Nothing else can. *



9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Paul's whole life was the love and fellowship and welfare of his brethren; intense empathy with and sympathy for them. About three years after writing this letter, as he approached Rome as a prisoner, this same group of brethren came out thirty-five miles to meet him--

"Whom, when Paul saw, he thanked God and took courage" (Rom. 28:15).

Knowledge is essential. But knowledge is just a means to an end -- not an end in itself. Character is the vital thing that knowledge must be creating -- spirituality, holiness, integrity, purity, beauty. We are being put through exercises and experiences to create holiness. Even Jesus himself "learned obedience by the things that he suffered" and was "made perfect through suffering."

God does not actually need us to do anything for Him. All that we do for Him is training for ourselves. Now this needs qualifying to avoid misunderstanding. God does not need any particular one of us, but in His wise divine purpose there is work to be done by man, and the work itself is important. In the plan God has devised faithful servants are an essential part. It has pleased Him to condescend to make His beloved children co-workers with Himself.

And we must always be mindful that all we ever do of any good is God's working in us, and not of ourselves (Phil. 2:13):

"It is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure."

Our part is to yield, to submit, to conform, to put away other things that waste our time (God's time, for all belongs to Him) and distract our interest, to maintain our attention in the right direction, to discern and cooperate with the shaping and molding hand.

And further, character is not a self-centered operation. It is the very opposite. We cannot be holy in a selfish vacuum. We cannot turn inward and just work out our own salvation as if others did not exist, though that may be tempting to the flesh. It is so selfishly pleasant to get off into our own little corner of isolation.

Character is essentially a self-forgetting, outgoing relationship, primarily to God and Christ, but also to all members of the Body of Christ, and in a more general sense to the whole suffering world. Paul is our example, as Christ was his. *



10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;



12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Comforted together with you by the mutual faith

This is, and must be, the reason for our visiting and associating with one another, and this aspect must be constantly borne in mind. Any time of our association not spent for this purpose is time wasted, unfaithful stewardship, lost opportunity.

There are, of course, many different ways, direct and indirect, by which this purpose may be furthered, and, therefore, we must be slow and careful in judging others' activities, because we do not know their motive. But let us be sure that we ourselves bear this ever in mind, and that this is always our motive. Our constant goal must be to do everything we do to the glory of God and to spiritual upbuilding of both ourselves and others.

Bro Growcott - BYT 1.11.



Mutual Faith


...rarely attainable in our day on account of the scarcity of real faith. Friendly people are to be met with; people interested in your personal concerns, or the workings of the truth in an ecclesiastical sense; but where are those whose hearts, emancipated from the pettiness of this provisional life, are occupied with a genuine appreciation of the great things that are of God, and filled with hopes, and sighs, and prayers? They are here and there; their name is not legion.

You do not necessarily find them where people profess the name of Christadelphians; but, thank God, they are on the increase. They were naturally more numerous in Paul's day, on account of the powerful means employed in the sowing of the good seed; though even then, Paul had to lament that

"all seek their own, and not the things that are Jesus Christ's" (Phil. ii. 21).

No marvel if this lament should have a tenfold force in this cloudy and dark day. To discern the truth, and be able to define it is one thing: but to set about the service of it and those connected with it, in the spirit of self-sacrifice, is another and a scarcer thing, and yet the only thing that will stand in the day of trial; for the Great President at that trial has said:

"He that taketh not his cross and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it" (Matt. x. 38, 39).

The foundation or cause of the comfort in one another, that Paul desired the brethren to realise, is thus expressed by him: "Being knit together in love and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ." Love is an indispensable element in mutual comfort. Faith and hope are refreshing to behold -- so much so, indeed, in these barren days, that we can love intensely where they are manifested, even if they are unaccompanied by the manifestation of benevolence.

But the truly joyful and love-evoking combination is where the greatest of the three stands high in the centre of the group, and faith and hope stand obeisantly at each side. This love will flourish when faith and hope are swallowed up in the glories of God's realised purpose.


Bro Roberts - Consolation



13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

I purposed to come unto you, but was hindered hitherto


He never visited the ecclesia at Rome, though from chapter 16 it is clear he knew many of the members. He longed to see them that he might impart to them some spiritual benefit...

Paul had many times planned to visit Rome, but so far had not been able to do so. At the time he was writing, it had been about seven years since he had first gotten as far as Corinth -- the closest he had been to Rome. It was his practice, as is clear from the history in Acts and from what he says to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 10:13-16) to gradually work toward Rome, establishing ecelesias and fields of activity on the way.

We know, too, of course, that he was guided by the Spirit, both directly and indirectly, as to where to carry the Gospel. He had recently spent three years in Ephesus, as headquarters for evangelizing Asia Minor -- first detained there by the tremendous opportunities and also by the opposition the Truth was receiving; and then he was suddenly driven away from Ephesus by the great uproar and agitation created under the leadership of Demetrius the silversmith.

So we see Paul's life was guided and laid out for him by the Spirit, often with great danger and violence and abruptness, and often in ways we would think strange, such as long periods in prison when he just ached and agonized to be out preaching the Gospel. But the enforced confinement, though a physical hardship, would be an opportunity for study and meditation, and for writing many needed letters of comfort and instruction that a busy outside active life would have prevented.

Bro Growcott - BYT 1.11.



16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

... the truth is his power by which his witnesses are able to do, what mere naturals are utterly impotent to effect.

But the truth in His witnesses is the power of the Deity to work intellectual and moral results; and is "the savour of life, ending in life" to those who believe; and of "death ending in death" to those who do not.

Hence, it divides the peoples in the Court into two general divisions, believers and unbelievers, between whom the truth generates implacable hostility; for as in the days of Isaac,

"he that was born after the flesh persecuted him born after the Spirit, even so it is now," "in all their days of the prophecy" (Gal. iv. 29).

This state of feeling is the "enmity" put between the two seeds by Divine Power (Gen. iii. 15); so that a man's foes are often those of his own house.

Eureka 11.2.



The gospel is the power of The Deity unto salvation

..this is an important verse as to the vital necessity for salvation of believing the One True Gospel of the Kingdom. But why does Paul say, writing to brethren, that he was not ashamed of it? Why should there be any thought that he might be?

The Gospel is a simple, "unlearned," unworldly thing. It requires simple, unworldly people to believe it and value it. The Gospel, in its simple beauty was providentially unearthed for our benefit in these last days by the labours of brethren Thomas and Roberts.

There were those in Paul's day, and have been ever since, who -- enamored of worldly learning -- were not satisfied with the simple teaching of the Gospel. They were, in effect, ashamed of it. It did not appeal to the worldly wise, or the speculative-minded. They desired greater scope for worldly learning and philosophy and theory.

Bro Growcott - BYT 1.11.



17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

The just (or righteous) shall live by faith


--the Diaglott and some other versions have it more clearly:


"The righteous by faith, shall live."


That is to say:


"He who becomes righteous through faith, shall live."


Faith is not an end in itself, but a means to an end, a power to accomplish an end: "Faith without works is dead." Faith, if it does not lead to works, produce works, is dead. Faith is never a substitute for holiness. To the Hebrews, in very direct and decisive exhortation, Paul says plainly (12:14):


"WITHOUT HOLINESS SHALL NO MAN SEE GOD."


And the context clearly shows that he is not giving a soothing assurance of something that will flutter down from heaven upon us at the last day. Rather he is solemnly warning us of something that must be accomplished by the mighty power of faith and love right now. If we hope for salvation, we had better give far more attention to this matter of holiness, and what it involves of transformation of our lives, than most -- in or out of the Truth -- appear willing to give.


Bro Growcott - BYT 1.11.*



The faith which justifies is the love-working belief of the exceeding great and precious PROMISES yet unfulfilled, and of the FACTS and their DOCTRINE concerning Jesus as the Christ; in other words, justifying faith Abrahamically embraces the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ. 

The promises, facts, and doctrine, are essential to that faith "without which it is impossible to please God." These understood and appreciated, will lead men to repentance, because they exhibit comprehensively "the goodness of God," and "knowest thou not," saith Paul, "that it is the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"

The reason why immersed people produce no better fruits than the undipped, and many of them not so good, is because their "faith" is a mere belief of history-of a narrative of facts-leaving them altogether in the dark respecting the heart-touching and mind- renewing promises of the gospel. Ignorant of these, they fail of becoming "partakers of the divine nature"-2 Peter 1: 4. Bethanian, and other species of "orthodoxy divinity," ignore the promises of God, or double-distil them into the absurd follies of spiritualism. 

Their repentance is not the mind that was in Abraham-an unstaggering mind, strong in faith, giving glory to God; being fully persuaded that what he had promised, (and the things promised he knew and understood) he is able to perform-Romans 4: 18-23.

Their repentance is sorrow because their sin has found them out. Their minds are in torment because of the apprehended tortures of the damned, which may seize upon their "souls" if they do not appease the fury of God! "Fear hath torment," and their "repentance" is the offspring of their terror. This is a repentance that needeth to be repented of; for it is a repentance that worketh death. It is "sin working death in them." 

Repentance of this sort pervading the inner man is evidential of that heart being untouched by "the goodness of God," for faith in this goodness produces no such result. Its legitimate fruit is "faith working by love and purifying the heart;" and, a belief of facts combined with hell-terrors never since the world began, nor while flesh is flesh will it ever yield that perfect love which casteth out fear, which is essential to a scriptural purification of the soul.

Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, September 1853.



18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

The wrath of God is revealed against ALL ungodliness


We should note the "all," for it is essential to Paul's line of reasoning. In reading the stomach-turning description of natural human corruption that follows, we are apt to be put off the track by its very vileness. Paul gives as examples some of the worst forms of unrighteousness, but he is speaking of all unrighteousness, large and small.

Often the only difference between big sins and little ones is that the little ones take less courage, and are more cowardly and despicable. This is not to belittle serious sins, but to illustrate the deadly seriousness of what we may consider "minor" sins.

It is fatal to belittle any sin, however "small." If we can deliberately choose to sin - deliberately, knowingly choose to do anything displeasing to God and contrary to His law of holiness, then it does not matter how small or big it is, as it is always deadly, because the heart is wrong.

Any heart that can choose to displease God in order to please the flesh is still dead in sin; it has not been reborn and transformed to the way of life and love:

"Whosoever is born of God DOTH NOT COMMIT SIN . . . he CANNOT SIN, because he is born of God" (1 Jn. 3:9).

Such may repeatedly stumble and fail, but they will be quick to cleanse themselves with repentance and tears, and renewed efforts to overcome.


Bro Growcott - BYT 1.11.




Bro Thomas replies

Holding the Truth in Unrighteousness


About holding the truth in unrighteousness I can truly say, I am unconscious of the offence. I have not hypocritically sworn to thirty-nine articles, more or less, contrary to my conscience, for the sake of the loaves and fishes. I do not funereally trade "in bodies and the souls of men;" neither do I squeeze tithes out of parishioners by law or force of arms, under pretence of "curing their souls."

 I do not write complaints to governments, as the Bishop of Nova Scotia did, because soldiers do not present arms on passing me. I seek no honour of men, but repudiate all their ecclesiastical honours. I do not wring "rascal counters" from rich or poor for reading other men's prayers out of stereotyped books, and

"Grind divinity of other days

Down into modern use; transform old print

To zigzag manuscript, and cheat the eyes

Of gallery critics by a thousand arts."

I do not pander to royalty, or court the favour of the rich under pretence of being an ambassador of Christ, and a successor of the apostles, and treat the poor as if they were made of other blood, and only planted in the earth as a medium for the manifestation of the pietism of hypocrites, and of the ostentatious charity of proud and lordly reverences. I do not denounce heresy and heretics to turn men's minds from my own errors, and to conceal from their view my own ignorance of the gospel I profess.

I do not hypocritically swear to renounce the Devil and all his works, and to eschew the pomps and vanities of this vain and wicked world, and at the same time serve him, and seek his honours and riches with all the might of body, soul, and spirit! I do not make merchandise of the truth to clothe myself in purple and fine linen, and to fare sumptuously every day.

These things, and many more equally reprehensible, practised by the clergy and dignitaries of the "United Church of England and Ireland"-the Anglo-Hibernian Daughter of the Old Mother-I do not do; but I the rather exercise myself in reading and studying the Word, that, coming to the understanding of it myself, I may show to men of ingenuous minds and honest hearts what the "great salvation" so intensely darkened by thirty-nine article theology is, as revealed on the page of holy writ. Being sustained by no sect, Protestant or Papal, I am free; and being free, I call no man Rabbi but Christ; and prove all things, and hold fast what appears to my own mind, and not another's, to be good.

Believing, then, with full assurance, that I understand Moses, the prophets, and apostles; and because no two truths or systems of truth can possibly be antagonistic; and seeing that there is an antagonism between my understanding of those writings and the theological systems endorsed by the multitudinous divisions of "Christendom" in nearly all their generalities and details-I therefore of necessity repudiate as intense and outer darkness the Act of Parliament and Nonconformist theology of our day.

It is a conviction ascending from the bottom of my heart that the most "orthodox" theology of "Christendom" is but a form of that departure from the goodness of God, and of faithlessness of the gospel, which Paul foretold would overspread the Gentiles, and on account of which God would cut them off judicially. "They receive not the love of the truth, that they may be saved. And for this cause God sends them Strong Delusion that they should believe a lie; that they all might be condemned who believe not the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness."

This strong delusion continues until the appearing of Christ, who consumes it with the Spirit of his mouth, and destroys it with the brightness of his coming: for, as Isaiah testifies with Paul, when he shall reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem before his ancients, gloriously, "he will there destroy the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory."

Convinced, then, with full assurance that this is descriptive of the present state of American and European "Christendom," and that there will be a remnant for Christ at his appearing who will have believed and obeyed the truth, and be patiently waiting for him; and that their being brought to this acceptable position will result from the assistance they may obtain for understanding the scriptures through the press, and the reasonings of those who know the truth; and recognizing it as an apostolic precept binding on all believers to "contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints" according to their ability, and the means placed at their disposal-swayed by these considerations, I exercise myself as I am wont to do.

I visit Halifax to arouse the people from that intellectual and moral torpor into which they are thrown by the word-nullifying traditions of its State-Church and nonconformist clergy. Hither-to my endeavors have been crowned with some success. By opening the scriptures to the people with scarcely an allusion to their spiritual guides, their astonishment has been excited at the utter destitution of scriptural information characteristic of the ministrations of their pulpit incumbents.

They "go to church" from week to week, and with the exception of a few minutes' dissertation upon a "text" of a few words, or a verse, they hear prayers read for the ten-thousandth time which they nearly know by heart-prayers composed hundreds of years ago; so that as far as the church's teaching is concerned, the clerical flocks are no further advanced in spiritual knowledge than they were 300 years ago! The clergy know that stagnation pervades their system; and with a very few exceptions, they feel their absolute inability to do more than to try and prevent the dead and corrupting stillness of their whitened sepulchres from being disturbed.

They can give their flocks no light, a call for which even is highly inconvenient. Their policy therefore is to raise the old cry of "heresy" and "infidelity" against every disturbing influence; so as that, by creating a prejudice in the minds of their as yet unenlightened nurselings they may be deterred from hearing things dangerous to the hoodwinking ascendency over the public mind they have hitherto enjoyed. This is the policy of The Church Times. Its conductors are ignorant of the truth; and experiencing some inconvenience from Elpis Israel, the Herald, my lectures there, and the continued endeavors of our friends, all they can do is to "rail lustily," in the hope that "some" of their raillery "will stick."

I claim then that I am not guilty of "holding the truth in unrighteousness." I suspect, however, Alumnus Vindesoriensis in this accusation admits more than he intended. If I am charged with holding the truth in unrighteousness, it is at the same time an admission that I hold the truth; but that I make an unrighteous use of it. I do hold the truth then, Alumnus himself being judge; and because I hold the truth, I know that his church is a harlot, and do not fear to proclaim it in Britain and British America. Its institutions are defiling, and those who are the subject of them are defiled, and without part with the "redeemed from among men."

The sprinkling of unconscious babes in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is a mark upon his church's forehead, that proclaims her to all who know the word, a Defiling Woman of the Roman Family. She calls this "baptism!"-and it is the only baptism she practises. But it is no baptism; for no use of water is baptism, where there is no faith, or a wrong faith, in the subject. The Anglo-Hibernian woman is therefore a communion of unbaptized errorists; and being unbaptized, not buried with Christ, but dead in their sins and the uncircumcision of their flesh, not being circumcised in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Jesus Christ.

Talk of my being "an uncircumcised and infidel unitarian Jew!" The charge of uncircumcision recoils upon Alumnus, and upon those who nursed him. They stone me, they say, for blasphemy, because I do not shibbolize the Trinitarianism of their god Athanasius; but what greater blasphemy can be conceived than that of hiring Lambeth cabmen or watermen at a shilling apiece at Easter, to stand godfathers to babes they never saw before and may never see again, to enter into lying covenants to train up the children in the way they should go, preparatory to the priest sprinkling them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

This is notoriously practised under the shadow of the palace of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all England, and its ecclesiastical dependencies! If this be not blasphemy, then blasphemy is an impossible offence. It is only the ignorance of the people of what Christianity consists in that enables the Anglo-Hibernian woman to pass current among the respectabilities of the time. 

We may grant that she does not hold the truth in unrighteousness, for the very obvious reason, indeed, that she does not hold the truth at all; but that she is full of all unrighteousness and abomination every one must admit who knows her history, her constitution, her practices; and is not spoiled by the philosophy of her deceit.

Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, June 1854



20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:


God considers that in His works of creation He has given unmistakable and overwhelming evidence of His power and His divinity; that is, His supreme nature and position. Observing the works of creation, both within himself and around him, man has absolutely no excuse for not clearly recognizing the existence and the hand of God, and seeking knowledge of God, and submitting to God.

There is absolutely no excuse for the new, modern, man-centered superstition of "Evolution." It does not rate a moment's consideration, any more than the absurdities of "learned" platonic mythology. It is a tissue of impossibilities woven to obscure the reality and authority of the holy, sin-hating God who is everywhere obvious in His mighty works, staring man in the face. That is God's view, and it is conclusive, and we must thankfully recognize its truth and justice. On the strength of God's testimony here, we can be absolutely sure that anyone who is so abysmally blind as not to be able to see God in Creation has nothing of value to tell us about that Creation.

Daily, almost hourly, in this marvellous modern age of investigation, we are ever anew struck by the fantastic wonders of the infinite intricacies of created things. The deeper man probes into the construction of living things, the more wonderful are the things he finds in evidence of wisdom and power and design, and the more utterly impossible the superstition of evolution is shown to be.

Bro Growcott - BYT 1.11



God declares flatly that the world and the universe as we see it is positive evidence of His reality, power and divinity, and that men are absolutely WITHOUT EXCUSE, if they cannot perceive it (Rom. 1:20). And surely any intelligent man unspoiled by worldly wisdom and philosophy and the childish absurdities of Evolution must see that this is so.

And if there is a God, as the Creation positively proves, and if He has made an intelligent and responsible creature like man, it is a practically inevitable conclusion that there would be given a message from God to man: a message of revelation and instruction, exactly as we find the Bible to be.

For there not to be such a message, under the circumstances, would be a marvel indeed. Man has such a potential for good or for evil that it is incredible that an obviously wise and powerful Creator would just make him and then turn him loose without any guidance or instruction.

The Bible is the only book with any serious claim to be that message.

The modern pagan religion of Evolution asks us to believe on faith that marvellous and incredibly intricate and interwoven design has just happened by blind chance, countless millions of times over. This weird "explanation" to try to get rid of the reality and authority of God is just asking too much of credulity.

Consider the bee at work in the hive, each living but a few weeks, each born with the instinct to gather honey, not for itself but for others. Or the individual ant laboring in the vast anthill, doing its own specific and essential task for the whole. Or a rainbow, or a sunset. Or an atom of matter-any atom-an infinitesimal speck of matter, every one loaded with a bound-in concentration of almost incalculable energy. Or a star in the vast universe-

Then babble about blind, powerless, purposeless, futureless, hopeless "evolution" creating all these marvels! How can mankind be so thoroughly besotted? To the spiritual mind, the existence of one thing alone-beauty-brings the whole rickety contraption of evolution crashing down.

Evolution-cold, dead, robot, mindless evolution-has no place in its dark imaginary world for beauty. And the apex of all beauty is the "beauty of holiness," of which evolution knows and cares nothing.

"The fool has said in his heart, There is no God" (Ps. 14:1).

Bro Growcott



21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Such is the carnal mind, or thinking of the flesh, as illustrated by the works of the flesh: a hideous deformity, whose conception is referable to the infidelity and disobedience of our first parents; by whom "sin entered into the world and death by sin" (Rom. 5:12). It is the serpent mind; because, it was through his untruthful reasonings believed, that a like mode of thinking to his was generated in the heart of Eve and her husband.

The seed sown there by the serpent was corruptible seed. Hence, the carnal mind, or thinking of the flesh, unenlightened by the truth, is the serpent in the flesh. It was for this reason, that Jesus styled His enemies, "serpents, and a generation of vipers" (Matt. 23:33).

 Their actions all emanated from the serpent thinking of the flesh, which displayed "a wisdom not from above," which was at once "earthly, sensual, and devilish;" as opposed to that which "is from above," and which is

"first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy" (James 3:15-17).

Elpis Israel 1.3.




The Carnal Mind


Now, the law of God is given, that the thinking of the flesh, instead of being excited by the propensities within, and the world without, may be conducted according to its direction. So long as Adam and Eve yielded to its guidance, they were happy and contented. Their thoughts were the result of right thinking, and obedience was the consequence.

But when they adopted the serpent's reasonings as their own, these, being at variance with the truth, caused an "enmity" against it in their thinkings, which is equivalent to "enmity against God." When their sin was perfected, the propensities, or lusts, having been inflamed, became "a law in their members;" and because it was implanted in their flesh by transgression, it is styled "the law of sin;" and death being the wages of sin, it is also termed, "the law of sin and death;" but by philosophy, "the law of nature."

The thinking of the flesh, uninfluenced by the ameliorating agency of divine truth, is so degenerating in its effects, that it reduces man to savagism. There is nothing elevating or ennobling in fleshly thoughts; on the contrary, they tend to physical deterioration and death; for "to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Rom. 8:6).

If ferocious creatures become tame, or civilized, it is the result of what may be termed spiritual influences; which, operating from without the animal, call into exercise its higher powers, by which the more turbulent are subdued, or kept in check. It is unheard of that wild beasts, or savage men, ever tamed or civilized themselves; on the contrary, the law in the members when uncontrolled in its mental operations is so vicious in its influence as to endanger the continuance of the race.

If, therefore, God had abandoned Adam and his posterity to the sole guidance of the newly developed propensities, the earth would long ere this have been peopled by a population not a whit above the aborigines of New Holland, or the Ghelanes of Africa.

Notwithstanding the antagonism established between His law and the flesh, by which a wholesome conflict has been maintained in the world, a vast proportion of its people are "blind of heart" and "past feeling," in consequence of their intellect and sentiments having fallen into moral desuetude, or of being exercised upon the reasonings of the flesh, as were Eve's upon the speculations of the serpent.

The unilluminated thinking of the flesh gives birth to the

"works of the flesh; which are, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, dissensions, sects, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like" (Gal. 5:19).

Unchecked by the truth and judgments of God, the world would have been composed solely of such characters. Indeed, notwithstanding all His interference to save it from the ruinous consequences of its vicious enmity against His law, it seems to have attained a state of immorality in the apostolic age well nigh to reprobation. Rom 1. 20-31

Elpis Israel 1.3.



22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

If we walk in wisdom's ways

To walk in these ways requires that a man make up his mind meanwhile to be considered a fool; because the wisdom of God is esteemed foolishness by the world, and the man a fool who embraces it.

A truly enlightened man will be able to bear the reproach gladly, because he knows that in becoming a fool in the estimation of the wise of this world, it is as Paul puts it,

"that he may be wise."

True wisdom is all on the side of those who submit to God. When Paul speaks of the "foolishness of God," it is not that he admits foolishness as attaching to either: it is an accommodation to the language of men who think so. When he says,

"Where are the wise?"

he means the wise so-called, but who are really foolish; for as he quotes from the Scriptures,

"The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they are vain."

"He brings to nothing the understanding of the prudent."

When his advice concerning a man is, "Let him become a fool," he means a fool so-considered - not a fool in reality, for the man who becomes a fool in the estimation of the world by submission to the requirements of God as revealed in the Gospel, becomes, in reality, a wise man for the first time. Let the scorners scorn as they may, it is a fact that-

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

The man who does not fear God is a fool, however much he may know of the works of God; for his knowledge of the works of God is of no use to him if he know not God himself. To God, he is merely a presumptuous gossiper about God's property. His disappearance from the face of the universe is only a question of time - and that a very short time. Whereas, the man who knows God in the affectionate submission He requires, may be ignorant of the works of God in nature (and where is the man who knows the millionth part of these?) and he is yet a very wise man, for he is on the high road to the highest good.

Even the things on which the wise of this world plume themselves will become his unbounded possession. Endless life and boundless opportunity secured in Christ, he will have ample time in the ages to come to learn all the marvels of the universe, great and small, while he will have power to study and understand them to an extent that the wisest of mortals has not even dreamt of, and capacity to apply them, and develop their objects and resources in the delights of truly efficient life, such as mortal has never yet tasted.


Seasons 1.73.



24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

God gave them up

Let us ponder those words, and tremble. Where much is given, much is required, and we have been given very, very much of the goodness and revelation and condescension of God in these last days. Because they chose the first steps in a certain path, God gave them up to go all the way -- to uncleanness, to vile affection, and finally, to a mind void of judgment, hopeless of return. And these vile things are now lapping at the doors of the ecclesias.

It seems clear that many who bear the name Christadelphian are very shallowly rooted. Their thinking (or rather, feeling) flows with the vissicitudes of the world; they sway with the world's fashions, they sway with the world's morals. Things unknown and abhorred among us a generation ago now press at the doors, simply because the world's morals and manner have changed.

There is no safety except in complete, whole-hearted dedication and allegiance and service to God. Come ye out from among them and be ye separate, separate, SEPARATE! What does it mean? Does it mean anything to us? Do we tremble at the Word? Has it all become so commonplace and thoughtless?

God may give us till tomorrow to repent, to put away the thick clogging clay of worldly interests and lusts and pleasures and pursuits. He may give us till tomorrow to decide to give all our heart and soul and mind and spirit to Him. He may, and we fervently hope and pray that He will; but we have no assurance that He will. We dare not presume on it. He may give us UP." He is infinitely longsuffering when His wisdom so dictates, and He sees reason so to be; but He will not be mocked, and He is also a consuming fire.

Bro Growcott - BYT 1.11



25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

The dynasty of the Pharaohs is first brought to light in Bible history as associated with the call of Abraham, and his journeying through the nations to the Promised Land. Read Gen. 12:10, 20. Let it be remembered that what is called Lower Egypt, or the alluvial country of the Lower Nile, where the delta traverses the country from the "river of Egypt," on the east, to the borders of Cyrene on the west; and from the coast to above its capital city—the Memphis of Hosea 9:6. (Memphis according to Egyptian tradition was founded by Menes—supposed to be the Mizraim of the Scriptures)—and the Noph of Isaiah 19:13 (now the modern Cairo) is the Egypt of Scripture, the Rahab and Land of Goshen of the Bible, including the well-known cities of Zoar (Numb. 13:22), the scene of the Lord's wonders in Egypt. (Psalm 78:12, 43).

Sin or Pelusium and Tahpanes or Hanes, Upper Egypt, is not mentioned in the Mosaic record. A better understanding of the locality will be had by consulting a map of ancient Egypt, and the Scriptures having reference to them. The distinction as to the real Bible Egypt should be borne in mind as having an important bearing on the conclusions we arrive at.

1.—The monumental inscriptions prove that the grossest form of idolatry—image and creature worship—did not originate in Lower or most ancient Egypt; but that its people worshipped an invisible Spirit. They assert that image and creature worship originated in Thebes, Upper Egypt, many years after.

2.—In confirmation of this, we have the Bible record that the nations of the Canaanites, and the adjoining kingdom of Egypt were settled contemporaneously by the grandsons of Noah and their descendants in Mizraim and Canaan. Zoar (Tares), on the second branch of the Nile from the east, was built seven years after Hebron (Num. 13:22, ) in Canaan. This proves the settlement of the two countries to have been almost if not quite contemporaneous.

The gradual declension of the Canaanitish and Egyptian nations, as was undoubtedly the case with Assyria and Babylonian nations, seems to give a clearer understanding to the apostle Paul's argument on the inexcusable sin of the Gentiles in the worship of

"images made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things."

The apostle speaks of this class of the Gentiles as at one time "holding the truth in unrighteousness" (Rom. 1:18); and then shows the process of their declination to the abominations of verse 23,

"Because that when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God; but became vain in their own imaginations and their foolish hearts were darkened."

The apostle assured us that these Gentiles at some anterior time in their history "knew God." The query naturally arises, at what time? Scripture history remands us back to the times soon after the flood. In Gen. 10. we have a list of the descendants and families of Noah, with the first of the nations they founded, and it is added, verse 32,

"These are the families of Noah, after their generations in the nations; and by these were the the nations divided in the earth after the flood."

The whole habitable of the nations of that time was settled by Noah's immediate descendants who were contemporaneous in time, and equal in the knowledge of the Deity, and therefore all had equal opportunities for knowing and obeying Him, and were therefore equal in responsibility and guilt.

Bro. Sintzenich

The Christadelphian, Dec 1873



28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

There is a remarkable similarity in the language of Moses and Paul in their account of the modus operandi by which the declension of the antediluvians and the Gentiles of Paul's day from the knowledge of the Deity had been brought about. Moses says

"God saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth and every imagination (purpose, desire: margin) of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."—(Gen. 6:5.)

While Paul says that

"when they knew God . . . they became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened,"

or in other words, a prey to the conclusions and reasonings of sin's flesh, which unenlightened by Deity's wisdom, are devilish and sensual.

The knowledge of the worship of God bequeathed by Noah to his sons, grandsons, and descendants must have been the knowledge in wickedness for which mankind were destroyed by water; the knowledge of the worship of Yahweh by sacrificial atonement by shedding of blood, shadowing forth the condemnation of sin (Gen. 8:20), the mystery of the undeveloped promise to Eve as to the seed of the woman, the command to be fruitful and replenish the earth, in harmony with the will of the Deity, or in subjection to that will made known, the prohibition of life-taking except for sin sacrifice, and the rainbow covenant of blessing.

Now this knowledge was a legacy or national constitution to each of the primitive nations, and they were all placed alike under its provisions and blessings. Hence we see the propriety and truthfulness of the apostle's argument in Rom. 1; and the justice of the Deity's sentence, as Paul expresses it,

"We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles that they are both under sin . . . there is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that seeketh after knowledge."

Thus with the facts of history and the truths of Scripture, we may clearly understand the Deity's dealings with both Jews and Gentiles, and why it is that all are concluded under sin alike, although Gentiles have never been in specific national covenant relationship to the Deity, and why being "without the law" or covenant relationship to Deity, shall also "perish" without the law.

Bro. Sintzenich

The Christadelphian, Dec 1873




Again, a perfect description of modern, "evolutionary" man. What time has ever been like today in this respect of moral uncleanness and "vile affections?" Not that these abominations are new. From the days of Sodom -- and doubtless from before the Flood -- this has been the nature and bent of the common, grovelling, unclean human animal. Ancient Greece, the philosophical brains of the ancient world, with the marvelous, timeless beauty and splendour of its art and literature and architecture, is proverbial for vile abominations and immorality.

But with the rise of Christianity -- even a corrupted Christianity -- these vile things were relegated to darkness, and a veneer of respectability and religion was carefully laid over the "Christian" world. Men at least had a "form of godliness." Officially, these vile things of the flesh were condemned and proscribed. Laws were passed against them, as far as any public activity was concerned. And those laws have remained, and been enforced, up until very recently, well within memory.

But today, within the past twenty years or so, the holy laws of God against these abominations -- long recognized and outwardly accepted, if not actually obeyed -- have been cast aside. And foremost in the new Canaanitish trend are those so-called "Christian" religious bodies who claim the duty and privilege of teaching and upholding the pure and holy Word of God.

But there is a great and sobering lesson for us in these things, as we see the great churches of the world oozing and dripping with the leprosy of Canaanite immorality. There is a deep underlying principle that explains this phenomenon, and that comes much closer home. It is in that three-fold knell of hopeless doom of verses 24, 26, and 28: "God gave them up." Terrible words!


"God gave them up to uncleanness ..."

"God gave them up to vile affections ..."

"God gave them up to a mind void of judgment."

Let us ponder those words, and tremble. Where much is given, much is required, and we have been given very, very much of the goodness and revelation and condescension of God in these last days. Because they chose the first steps in a certain path, God gave them up to go all the way -- to uncleanness, to vile affection, and finally, to a mind void of judgment, hopeless of return. And these vile things are now lapping at the doors of the ecclesias.

It seems clear that many who bear the name Christadelphian are very shallowly rooted. Their thinking (or rather, feeling) flows with the vissicitudes of the world; they sway with the world's fashions, they sway with the world's morals. Things unknown and abhorred among us a generation ago now press at the doors, simply because the world's morals and manner have changed.

There is no safety except in complete, whole-hearted dedication and allegiance and service to God. Come ye out from among them and be ye separate, separate, SEPARATE! What does it mean? Does it mean anything to us? Do we tremble at the Word? Has it all become so commonplace and thoughtless?

God may give us till tomorrow to repent, to put away the thick clogging clay of worldly interests and lusts and pleasures and pursuits. He may give us till tomorrow to decide to give all our heart and soul and mind and spirit to Him. He may, and we fervently hope and pray that He will; but we have no assurance that He will. We dare not presume on it. He may give us UP." He is infinitely longsuffering when His wisdom so dictates, and He sees reason so to be; but He will not be mocked, and He is also a consuming fire. *

* Bro Growcott - God gave them up.


29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.