The Lords

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Restoring the teaching of the Lords Gospel,
and the characteristics of His church,
after centuries of abuse and alteration
33 A.D.
The Lords original teaching about
His church, the body of the saved
Distorted and corrupted through the
centuries by human weakness,
ignorance and rebellion
against Gods revealed will
The Lords original teaching about
His church, the body of the saved
Do not go beyond what is written. - 1 Cor 46
2007 A.D.
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The appeals to apostolic authority by Stone,
Campbell, and others were not innovations they
were a continuation of the thoughts and
statements of many before them, men who strongly
professed a determination to accept only the
writings of the New Testament as the one standard
of authority for all Christians.
Thomas Alexander Campbell, 1800s
There is a strong continual historical record of
believers who affirmed the basic principle that
teaches we must base everything we do solely on
what is revealed in the Scriptures an appeal to
apostolic authority and a rejection of all
doctrines practices which originated from
uninspired men.
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Early Christian writers appealed to apostolic
authority
Clement of Rome (late 1st century) an elder in
the church in Rome quote is from his letter to
the Corinthians, widely circulated among early
saints. Wherefore let us forsake idle and vain
thoughts and let us conform to the glorious and
venerable rule which hath been handed down to us
The Apostles received the Gospel for us from
the Lord Jesus Christ Jesus Christ was sent
forth from God. So then Christ is from God, and
the Apostles are from Christ. (1Clem. 71-3
1Clem. 421-5) Origen (185-254) prolific
writer of great influence That alone is to be
accepted as truth which differs in no respect
from ecclesiastical and apostolic
tradition. Polycarp of Smyrna (69-155) a
disciple of the apostle John Let us then serve
Him in fear, and with all reverence, even as He
Himself has commanded us, and as the apostles
who preached the gospel unto us, and the
prophets who proclaimed beforehand the coming of
the Lord have alike taught us
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Early Christian writers appealed to apostolic
authority
Cyril of Jerusalem (315-386) a bishop in
Jerusalem For concerning the divine and sacred
Mysteries of the Faith, we ought not to deliver
even the most casual remark without the Holy
Scriptures nor be drawn aside by mere
probabilities and the artifices of argument. Do
not then believe me because I tell thee these
things, unless thou receive from the Holy
Scriptures the proof of what is set forth for
this salvation, which is of our faith, is not by
ingenious reasonings, but by proof from the Holy
Scriptures.
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Early Christian writers appealed to apostolic
authority
5th Century and onward The history of
Christianity is filled with heterodox groups,
some of them large enough to be persecuted by the
state churches, and to leave behind some record
of their beliefs and practices, including the
Bogomils, Cathars, and the Albigensians beginning
in the 10th century. The existence of these
heretical groups establishes 2
principles. 1st local regional groups of
Christians throughout the centuries divorced
themselves from Catholic or other national
religious groups and followed independent
courses. 2nd these movements uniformly
justified their independence by appealing to
apostolic authority.
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Early Christian writers appealed to apostolic
authority
The Reformation Movement, launched by Martin
Luther, was a broad and diverse movement that is
generally divided into 4 streams 1. Moderate
reforms led by Luther 2. The center of the
movement, led by Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin.
3. The radical reformation associated with the
anabaptists who called for adult baptism,
separation of church state, and independent
local congregations 4. The English reformation,
influenced by all of these but with its own
unique history. The wing of the English
reformation that most influenced American
churches was the Puritan movement. For our
purposes, it is enough to note that all of these
reforms embraced apostolic authority. Their
appeals to the N.T. authority evidence the
historical continuity of the idea. For
Example The Waldensians, 1174-1560 The
movement was marked by deep love for the bible
and passionate desire to understand and obey it.
They were committed to a believers church
ecclesiology, where the local congre-gation
ordered its life together, and they were
determined to submit to biblical authority alone.
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Early Christian writers appealed to apostolic
authority
John Wycliffe (1329-1384) the Lollards
Wycliffe was the first person to give a complete
translation of the Bible into English. He founded
the Lollard movement, a precursor movement to the
Protestant Reformation The Lollards used
their new English versions of the Bible to
contrast the simplicity of the early church with
the formalism and complexity of contemporary
church life. They rejected the distinction
between between clergy and laity,The true church
was a congregation of true believers. Martin
Luther (1483-1546) introduced the German
Reformation, anchored by the principle of by
Scripture alone. While his reforms fell short
of those urged by other leaders, his commitment
to the principle of apostolic authority was the
alarm that set off the broad movement known as
the Reformation. At his trial at the Diet of
Worms, he said Unless I am convinced by
scripture and plain reason- I do not accept the
authority of the popes and councils, for they
have contradicted each other- my conscience is
captive to the Word of God.
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Early Christian writers appealed to apostolic
authority
Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531), from
Zurich Virtually every Reformation writer
vigorously embraced the principle of apostolic
authority, but they differed significantly in the
application of the principle. Few were more
unswerving than Zwingli. They therefore, who
refer all things to His purpose, and examined
all Things by the standard of His thought, do not
set up a new standard, but go back to the old,
old oneYou see that rest will be found in the
old standard, not in the new one. (1522) Away
with human ceremonies and regulations, we want
only the Word of God. (1528)
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Early Christian writers appealed to apostolic
authority
The Anabaptist movement, a term that describes
the diverse radical wing of the Reformation, was
united by a common commitment to adult baptism,
the independence of local churches, and appeals
to apostolic authority. It was, in many
respects, a restorationist movement. Because of
persecution, many began to call themselves simply
Baptists. Many came to America and became what
we know as Quakers, Baptists, and
Mennonites. Bernard Rothmann (1495-1535) a
leader of the church in Munster, Germany at a
meeting of protestant ministers, said It is
essential that everything required or desired by
men should be done in the name and at the command
of God through the positive word of God as Peter
affirms 1 Peter 421.
prophecy never had its origin in the will of
man, but men spoke from God as they were carried
along by the Holy Spirit
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Early Christian writers appealed to apostolic
authority
English Reformation and Puritanism The Puritans
A Puritan of 16th and 17th century England was
any person seeking "purity" of worship and
doctrine, especially the parties that rejected
the Reformation of the Church of England.
They believed that all existing churches had
become corrupted by practice, by contact
with pagan civilizations, and by the impositions
of kings and popes. They argued for a
restructuring and "purifying" of church practice
through biblical supremacy and the doctrine
of the priesthood of all believers.
Because the puritans were simply relatively
radical Protestants, they wanted the Church
of England to resemble more closely the
Protestant churches of Europe, especially
the church of Geneva (Presbyterian). John Hooper
(1495-1555), a Puritan bishop disciple of
Zwingli Nothing should be used in the church
which has not either the express Word of God to
support it, or otherwise is a thing indifferent
in itself, which brings no profit when done or
used, but no harm when not done or omitted.
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Early Christian writers appealed to apostolic
authority
English Reformation and Puritanism John a Lasco
(1499-1691), leader of the Reformation in Poland
preached 10 years in London There is one way
of safety if we altogether turn to repentance
believe the gospel of Christ, walk in innocence
of life, and retain nothing in the church which
does not either have the express word of God, or
else takes its infallible origin from that
source. Richard Baxter (1615-1591), influential
English Puritan preacher What man dare go in a
way which has neither precept nor example to
warrant it? For my part, I will not fear that
God will be angry with me for doing no more than
He has commanded me, and for sticking close to
the rule of His word in matters of worship but I
should tremble to add or diminish.
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Early Christian writers appealed to apostolic
authority
Westminster Confession (1646), the most important
English creedal statement of the entire
Reformation period In 1643, the English
Parliament called on protestant religious leaders
to meet at Westminster Abbey in order to provide
advice on worship, doctrine, government and
discipline of Church of England. The purpose was
to provide official documents for the reformation
of the Church of England. After 5 years they
produced the Confession of Faith. It was
Calvinistic, being heavily influenced by
Presbyterian Calvinists from Scotland and 121
Puritan bishops who helped write it. One of its
guiding principles The whole counsel of God
concerning all things necessary for His own
glory, mans salvation, faith and life, is either
expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and
necessary consequence may be deduced from
Scripture unto which nothing at any time is to
be added, whether by new revelations of the
Spirit, or traditions of men.
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Appeal to apostolic authority in the American
Colonies
Most of the settlers coming to America in the
1600s were well versed in the Puritans ideas.
The assumption that the church should be restored
to its apostolic purity was widely accepted
throughout the colonies. They used names like
Christian Church, Church of Christ, and Disciples
of Christ. When Stone Campbell came along
about 200 years later, the use of such
descriptions already had been well established
and cannot be credited to them in the 1800s.
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Appeal to apostolic authority in the American
Colonies
American Puritans established independent
congregations (generally called church of
Christ). They insisted that the work and
worship of these churches be justified by
apostolic authority, as seen in some of their
early congregational covenants. Salem Covenant
of 1629 We covenant with the Lord and one
with another and doe bynd our selves in the
presence of God, to walke together in all his
waies, according as he is pleased to reveal
himself unto us in his blessed word of
truth. Watertown Covenant, July 30, 1630 we
do all,renounce all Idolatry and Superstition,
Will-Worship, all Humane Traditions and
Inventions whatsoever, in the Worship of God and
forsaking all evil ways, do give ourselves wholly
unto the Lord Jesus, to do him faithful Service,
observing and keeping all his Statutes, Commands,
and Ordinances, in all Matters concerning our
Reformation his Worshipas he hath prescribed in
his Holy Word. Further swearing to cleave unto
that alone, and the true Sense and meaning
thereof to the utmost of our power.
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Disciples of Christ/Churches of Christ
Restoration Movement
The appeal to restore the original teaching
practice of the N.T. reached its peak with the
powerful preaching of men like Barton W. Stone
and Thomas Alexander Campbell, in the 19th
century. The following quotes are from 3 basic
documents from those 19th C. teachers. The
appeals to apostolic authority in these documents
were not a new thing they were continuing what
many before them had urged accepting the
writings of the N.T. as the only standard of
authority for all Christians.
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Disciples of Christ/Churches of Christ
Restoration Movement
Thomas Campbell, Declaration and Address,
1809. PROP. 1. THAT the church of Christ upon
earth is essentially, intentionally, and
constitutionally one consisting of all those in
every place that profess their faith in Christ
and obedience to him in all things according to
the scriptures,as none else can be truly and
properly called christians. 2. they
ought all to walk by the same rule, to mind and
speak the same thing and to be perfectly joined
together in the same mind, and in the same
judgment. 3. nothing ought to be
inculcated upon christians as articles of faith
nor required of them as terms of communion but
what is expressly taught, and enjoined upon them,
in the word of God. Nor ought any-thing be
admitted, as of divine obligation, in their
church constitution and managements, but what is
expressly enjoined by the authority of our Lord
Jesus Christ and his Apostles upon the New
Testament church either in express terms, or by
approven precedent. we declare
ourselves ready to relinquish, whatever we have
hitherto received as matter of faith or practice,
not expressly taught and enjoined in the word of
God so that wereturn together to the original
constitu-tional unity of the christian church
and dwell together in peace and charity.
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Disciples of Christ/Churches of Christ
Restoration Movement
Barton Stone (1772-1844) The Last Will and
Testament of the Springfield Presbytery Item We
will, that the people henceforth take the Bible
as the only sure guide to heaven and as many as
are offended with other books, which stand in
competition with it, may cast them into the fire
if they choose for it is better to enter into
life having one book, than having many to be cast
into hell. Alexander Campbell, The Christian
System in Reference to the Union of Christians
and a Restoration of Primitive Christianity
(1839) The second proposition, viz.That the word
or testimony of the Apostles is itself
all-sufficient, and alone sufficient, to the
union of all Christians, cannot be rationally
doubted by any person acquainted with that
testimony, or who admits the competency of their
inspiration to make them infallible teachers of
the Christian institution Therefore, all the
defences of creeds, ancient and modern, while
they assert that the Bible alone is the only
perfect and infallible rule of faith and morals
not only concede that these symbols called
creeds, are imperfect and fallible,-but, also,
that these creeds never can achieve what the
Bible, without them, can accomplish.
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Restoring the teaching of the Lords Gospel,
and the characteristics of His church,
after centuries of abuse and alteration
33 A.D.
The Lords original teaching about
His church, the body of the saved
Distorted and corrupted through the
centuries by human weakness,
ignorance and rebellion
against Gods revealed will
The Lords original teaching about
His church, the body of the saved
Do not go beyond what is written. - 1 Cor 46
2007 A.D.
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