In 1848 Dr. John Thomas visited Britain and travelled from one end of the United Kingdom to the other, speaking upon the Gospel of the Kingdom of God as the occasion offered. Out of the visit came a book called “Elpis Israel,” or the “Hope of Israel.”
In the preface of this book the author wrote this : “It is a gratification to the author to be able to say that he has left his home four thousand miles to the southwest; that he has travelled twice through Britain: delivered 170 addresses to the people ; sat up early and late conversing with them on the things of the kingdom, and written this work, that he may leave testimony behind him; and received no more than four shillings above his travelling expenses. He mentions this that the reader may be able to acquit him of being a trader in religion.”
The interest created in thousands who listened to the author’s discourses has originated the work now offered to the world. A request was made to him publicly, that what had been spoken should be printed. We would like to point out here that the doctor was ever a seeker of the truth. So, 17 years later, when he published the fourth edition of “Elpis Israel,” he wrote this in the preface : “It was reasonable to suppose that a longer and maturer study of the Holy Word might render him dissatisfied with much originally written, and that he would have to strike out many pages that could not now be endorsed. The author had few corrections to make, probably 12 to 15, the most important one being on the resurrection.”
The doctor returned to America and continued his work of proclaiming the truth wherever he could find listeners. In 1852 a small community of believers established themselves into an organized meeting, the first to be established in America. On this matter the doctor commented that even a bad organisation with good materials is better than a good one with self-willed, heady, factious and self-glorifying people. These believers of the truth first called themselves the “Royal Association of Believers.”
In 1862 the doctor revisited Britain and found that, notwithstanding the fact that “Elpis Israel” had in many cases been burned in disgust upon its receipt by subscribers, small communities of believers of the Gospel had arisen.
During the progress of the American Civil War, due to the brethren of Christ found in both opposing camps, and conscientious objections, it was found necessary to adopt some official and uniform name for their organisation. In picking a name they wanted something expressing human affinities. Anything similar to the Corinthian disunion was to be rejected. Let no man say, “I am of Paul” as against another saying, “I am of Cephas.” Let us all say, “I am of Christ.”
But how could they do this in a manner that would be Scriptural and yet distinguish them from the masses of Christendom ? The answer was in the word “Christadelphian.” This answered all the requirements of the case. It is the anglicized form of the Greek phrase “Christov Adelphoi,” brethren of Christ, and is unmistakably distinctive, having never before been employed in the English tongue to designate those who are Christ’s.
“Christadelphian” reveals the fact that the disciples of Christ are not merely His servants but His friends. “Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth, I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth, but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you” (John 15:15).
Jesus testified in Matthew 12: 49,50, as to who his brethren were : “And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples and said Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Thus we have given a brief resume of how the Christadelphians came into being. We wish to emphasise once again that we do not wish to praise any man. The doctor is not so important to us as the truth of God’s Word. We do not claim to be of anyone else but our Lord Jesus Christ. We have elaborated upon the doctor’s life because, by diligent and devoted study of God’s word, he rediscovered what was already there; hidden from the wise and prudent of this world but revealed unto babes.
He is like the scientist who studies and explores, then formulates his findings into scientific truths. He does not invent, but merely discovers certain principles that God has put into His creation and puts them to work for man. God has not changed, He is from everlasting to everlasting. Therefore, His Word has not changed—it is the same today as yesterday.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One