Christendom Astray from the Bible
Encyclopedia
Christendom Astray From the Bible (commonly: Christendom Astray) is a polemic work by the Christadelphian Robert Roberts
that claims to demonstrate that the main doctrines shared by most Christian denominations are at variance with the teachings of the Bible
. In the preface
to the book the author states the rationale of Christendom Astray From the Bible as follows:
, and then under the title of Twelve Lectures on the Teaching of the Bible in 1862. It was expanded to 18 chapters and republished as Christendom Astray From the Bible in 1884.
The last section of the book is a summary of the preceding chapters comparing and contrasting, in table form, Roberts' understanding of the Bible against the beliefs of mainstream Christendom. This is followed by a brief introduction to the Christadelphian community, which Roberts claims are 'a body of people ... who hold the views advocated in this book of lectures'.
(1899 edition p.79, 1951 modern p.130)
Following his debate with John James Andrew in 1894, Roberts revised two paragraphs which originally left open the possibility that unbaptised but responsible rejectors of the Gospel might not be raised and judged till the end of the millennium
.
1951 Edition - chapter removed.
In the 1951 Edition published by the Christadelphian Office, Chapter 16 called 'Evidence that the End is Near' was deleted because the start of the millennium age did not start as predicted by 1910. As the editor wrote, 'the suggested time of the Lord's appearing proved to be premature. Two world wars and worldwide changes could not go unnoticed in an adequate treatment of the subject, but this would have entailed an entire rewriting of the chapter'. '
Robert Roberts (Christadelphian)
Robert Roberts is the man generally considered to have continued the work of organising and establishing the Christadelphian movement founded by Dr. John Thomas...
that claims to demonstrate that the main doctrines shared by most Christian denominations are at variance with the teachings of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. In the preface
Preface
A preface is an introduction to a book or other literary work written by the work's author. An introductory essay written by a different person is a foreword and precedes an author's preface...
to the book the author states the rationale of Christendom Astray From the Bible as follows:
History
The contents of Christendom Astray was first published as a series of fortnightly lectures in HuddersfieldHuddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
, and then under the title of Twelve Lectures on the Teaching of the Bible in 1862. It was expanded to 18 chapters and republished as Christendom Astray From the Bible in 1884.
Content
Christendom Astray covers topics such as The Bible—What it is, and how to interpret it (chapter 1), The Dead Unconscious till the Resurrection, and consequent error of popular belief in heaven and hell (chapter 3), The Devil not a personal supernatural being, but the scriptural personification of sin in its manifestations among men (chapter 7) and The Promises made to the Fathers (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), yet to be fulfilled in the setting up of the Kingdom of God upon earth (chapter 9).The last section of the book is a summary of the preceding chapters comparing and contrasting, in table form, Roberts' understanding of the Bible against the beliefs of mainstream Christendom. This is followed by a brief introduction to the Christadelphian community, which Roberts claims are 'a body of people ... who hold the views advocated in this book of lectures'.
Editions
1899 Edition - paragraphs on resurrection revised.(1899 edition p.79, 1951 modern p.130)
Following his debate with John James Andrew in 1894, Roberts revised two paragraphs which originally left open the possibility that unbaptised but responsible rejectors of the Gospel might not be raised and judged till the end of the millennium
Millennium
A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years —from the Latin phrase , thousand, and , year—often but not necessarily related numerically to a particular dating system....
.
1951 Edition - chapter removed.
In the 1951 Edition published by the Christadelphian Office, Chapter 16 called 'Evidence that the End is Near' was deleted because the start of the millennium age did not start as predicted by 1910. As the editor wrote, 'the suggested time of the Lord's appearing proved to be premature. Two world wars and worldwide changes could not go unnoticed in an adequate treatment of the subject, but this would have entailed an entire rewriting of the chapter'. '
External links
- Christendom Astray From the Bible, by Robert Roberts.
- Christendom Astray 1884 version PDF, by Robert Roberts