What do Christadelphians believe? What is Christadelphianism?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Christadelphians are a religious group founded by John Thomas in 1838 in the United States. Seeking to avoid the sectarian church of his homeland in England, this physician sought to restore Christian beliefs by following the practices of the early church in the Bible. Though John Thomas originally intended to base his beliefs upon the Bible, many of the established doctrines of the Christadelphian movement directly contradict biblical teachings. Their non-orthodox teachings include rejecting the trinity, rejecting the deity of Jesus Christ and teaching that man does not have an immortal soul. They also teach that salvation is based on personal merit (works) and that death is either unconsciousness (believers) or annihilation (unbelievers).

Instead, the Bible teaches that God exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14); that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man (John 1:1, 14; John 20:28; Colossians 2:9); and that humans possess an eternal soul and are accountable to God (Matthew 10:28; Ecclesiastes 12:7). Scripture also affirms that salvation is by grace alone through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5), that there is conscious existence after death (Luke 16:22–25; Philippians 1:23), and that all people will face a future resurrection and judgment, with eternal life promised to those who trust in Christ (John 5:28–29; Daniel 12:2; Revelation 20:11–15).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• From the Fall onward (Genesis 3), sin brings judgment, not moral neutrality or salvation by merit.
• Israel’s confession, “The LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4), affirms monotheism but does not deny complexity within God’s nature; later revelation clarifies what Christadelphians reject.
• The Messiah is called Mighty God and Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6) and is worshiped as King (Psalm 45:6–7), challenging the denial of Christ’s deity.
• The Old Testament contradicts works-based salvation, telling us that all our good deeds are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).
• Old Testament points to conscious existence beyond death and future judgment (1 Samuel 28:15; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Daniel 12:2). Therefore, death is not the end of accountability.
• Daniel speaks of a resurrection to everlasting life or everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2), opposing annihilationism.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The Bible clearly presents Jesus as divine and eternal, not created (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16). Christadelphians claim that Jesus is not God and was just a man. This directly contradicts Jesus' words "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30).
• The Holy Spirit is referred to as God (Acts 5:1-4). As such, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist as one, eternal, Triune God in three Persons (Matthew 28:18-19). Christadelphians reject the doctrine of the trinity.
• The Bible teaches that salvation is a free gift, accepted through faith, and it is not based on our works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Christadelphians incorrectly teach that we must merit our salvation through our own efforts.
• First Thessalonians 4:17 promises that believers will be with Christ forever, which is not what Christadelphians teach.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

It is estimated that more than 50,000 people follow Christadelphianism globally. Though no central body leads this movement, local congregations share a common statement of faith. However, Christadelphian teachings are so incompatible with biblical teaching that they cannot be accepted as a Protestant Christian denomination. Rather, they are a Christian sect that does not hold to traditionally accepted, biblical Christian beliefs.

UNDERSTAND

• Christadelphians are a 19th-century sect founded by John Thomas.
• Christadelphianism denies the Trinity and the deity of Jesus Christ.
• Christadelphianism teaches a works-based salvation, contradicting biblical Christianity.

REFLECT

• How do you personally ground your understanding of who Jesus is in the Bible?
• Where are you tempted to rely on your own efforts or good works instead of fully trusting in God’s grace?
• How does the truth that Jesus is fully God shape your worship, obedience, and confidence in eternal life?

ENGAGE

• How can we lovingly but clearly explain the biblical teachings of the Trinity and the deity of Christ to those who do not believe?
• Why is salvation by grace alone so central to the gospel, and what is lost when salvation becomes works-based?
• How should Christians discern whether a movement that claims to follow the Bible is truly aligned with biblical Christianity?