Summary
Christadelphians
To the Bible, then, all must come at last if they would be truly wise in spiritual things...John Thomas, founder of the Christadelphians, Elpis Israel, 1848
The Christadelphian logo
The Christadelphians are a non-Trinitarian, millennial Christian group whose fellowship is linked by a common understanding of the Bible and Christianity.
Christadelphians aim to get as close as possible to the faith and practice of the early Christian church. They describe themselves as "a lay community patterned after first century Christianity".
Their name comes from a Greek phrase, Christou adelphoi, which means 'brothers (and sisters) in Christ'.
Organisation
Christadelphians have no priests, paid ministers, or central leadership, and the leadership of local ecclesias (churches) is shared by senior members.
Christadelphians do not have elaborate churches, robes or ceremonies.
Statistics
Reliable statistics are hard to come by, but one estimate is that there are about 50,000 members in 120 countries worldwide, 6,500 of them in the USA. Another source suggests that there are 20,000 members in the UK and 300 ecclesias.
Way of life
Christadelphians are not totally exclusive but they do regard themselves as set apart to serve God.
Because of this they try to live to the highest moral standards and avoid activities that they regard as 'of the world'.
They only marry within the faith. Christadelphians do not join the armed forces or the police, nor do they vote or take part in politics.
Beliefs
Christadelphians regard themselves as Christians but don't accept some mainstream Christian doctrine.
For example, they believe that God is not a Trinity but the single being God the Father.
They believe that Jesus Christ was (and is) the Son of God, but was also a man as he was born of a woman, though this birth was miraculous.
They believe that the Holy Spirit is the power of God.
They believe that Jesus now lives in Heaven, but will literally return to the earth to set up God's Kingdom. All those who have believed and been baptised will be raised to be judged by Jesus. Those who are found worthy will live in the Kingdom for ever; those who are not, or those who have not been raised, will stay dead forever.
They are a millennial church and believe that Jesus will co-exist on earth with his followers for a thousand years (the millennium) before the final battle of Armageddon.
Due to their interpretation of prophecies and in particular the Olivet Prophecy, they believe that the day of Jesus' return will be soon.
The Olivet Prophecy describes the signs that Christadelphians believe indicate the return of Jesus. The signs are described by Jesus in Matthew 24 and 25, Mark 13 and Luke 21 and include war, famine, "men's hearts failing them for fear" and people being more interested in themselves than in God. Christadelphians believe these signs have been fulfilled and, consequently, that Jesus will soon return.
Holy books
Christadelphians base their faith on the Bible and nothing else. They regard the Bible as inspired by God and completely free of error, and the only source of knowledge about God and his plans.
They believe that the Bible should be read as a whole, and understood through the plain meaning of its words.