Sunday, August 20, 2023

John Thomas: Christadelphians so believe in "Satan," the "devil" and "hell" "but not in the popular sense of these terms"

It is often said that Christadelphians do not believe in "Satan" or the "devil" simpliciter. It is also said that they (and other groups who hold to conditional immortality) do not believe in hell simpliciter. However, this is incorrect, and to be intellectually honest, critics of Christadelphians and other groups need to be more nuanced in their approach to the topics.


Consider the following from John Thomas himself when discussing what his group believes in:

 

17. They believe in the eternal punishment of the wicked, but not in their eternal tormentation; also in a devil and Satan, but not in the popular sense of these terms; in hell, but not as ordinarily expounded. They do not believe in going to heaven, but in heaven coming to them. – “the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth, much more the wicked and the sinner (Prov. xi. 31);” and “the meek shall inherit the earth;” and as kings and priests for God, reign with Christ a thousand years. (Matt. v. 5; Rev. v. 10 ; xx. 6) (John Thomas, Letter to the Editor of The Rock, December 4, 1869, repr., "Concerning 'This New Sect,' The Christadelphians," The Christadelphian 7, no. 67 [January 1870]:3)