Bereans
Encyclopedia
In ancient times, the Bereans were the inhabitants of the city of Berea, also known in the Bible
as Beroea, and now known as Veria
in what is today northern Greece. The name has been taken up by certain Protestant groups.
and Silas
preached at Berea
, and the inhabitants "... received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.", and many of them believed.
minister John Barclay (1734-1798)
. Founded in Edinburgh
in 1773, the Berean Church followed a modified form of Calvinism
. It had congregations in Scotland
, London
and Bristol
, but mainly merged with the Congregationalists after Barclay's death.
Some groups among the Bible Student movement
also adopted the name, such as the Berean Bible Students and the Berean Bible Institute.
A new Protestant Christian group began in the 1850s in the United States under the tutelage of Dr. John Thomas. The name "Christadelphian" was chosen as it is believed that those who believe and obey the Commandments of Christ and the Bible as the inspired word of God, are "Brethren in Christ". The original group split, with one group continuing with the name "The Christadelphians" and the second group adding the word "Berean" to become the "Berean Christadelphians
". The word "Berean" was chosen to reflect the words in Acts 17, "These (Berea) were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so." Christadelphians, and Berean Christadelphians believe in the promises given to Abraham
, Isaac
, and David
concerning the Kingdom of God. They deny the Doctrine of the Trinity, a central tenet of orthodox Christianity
, and this refusal to recognize the triune nature of God has resulted in a major impasse between the Christadelphians/Berean Christadelphians and the Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
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...
as Beroea, and now known as Veria
Veria
Veria is a city built at the foot of Vermion Mountains in Greece. It is a commercial center of Macedonia, the capital of the prefecture of Imathia, the province of Imathia and the seat of a bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church...
in what is today northern Greece. The name has been taken up by certain Protestant groups.
Biblical context
According to the Book of Acts, Chapter 17 verse 11, Paul of TarsusPaul of Tarsus
Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...
and Silas
Silas
Saint Silas or Saint Silvanus was a leading member of the Early Christian community, who later accompanied Paul in some of his missionary journeys....
preached at Berea
Berea (Bible)
Berea is mentioned in the book of Acts in the Bible, for the ancient city of Beroea, now known as Veria .It is a small city on the eastern side of Vermion Mountains , where Paul of Tarsus preached, and where the people examined the Scriptures to see if his preaching was true .-Biblical role:Paul...
, and the inhabitants "... received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.", and many of them believed.
Modern use
Historically, the Bereans (also called Beroeans, Barclayans or Barclayites) were a Protestant sect following former Scottish PresbyterianPresbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
minister John Barclay (1734-1798)
John Barclay (1734-1798)
John Barclay was a Scottish minister of religion, and founder of the Bereans.He was born in Perthshire and died in Edinburgh. He graduated at St. Andrews, and after being licensed became assistant to the parish minister of Errol in Perthshire. Owing to differences with the minister, he left in...
. Founded in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 1773, the Berean Church followed a modified form of Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
. It had congregations in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, but mainly merged with the Congregationalists after Barclay's death.
Some groups among the Bible Student movement
Bible Student movement
The Bible Student movement is the name adopted by a Millennialist Restorationist Christian movement that emerged from the teachings and ministry of Charles Taze Russell, also known as Pastor Russell...
also adopted the name, such as the Berean Bible Students and the Berean Bible Institute.
A new Protestant Christian group began in the 1850s in the United States under the tutelage of Dr. John Thomas. The name "Christadelphian" was chosen as it is believed that those who believe and obey the Commandments of Christ and the Bible as the inspired word of God, are "Brethren in Christ". The original group split, with one group continuing with the name "The Christadelphians" and the second group adding the word "Berean" to become the "Berean Christadelphians
Berean Christadelphians
The Berean Christadelphians are a Christian denomination that separated from the main Christadelphian denomination in the 1920s, withdrawing congregational fellowship in the process...
". The word "Berean" was chosen to reflect the words in Acts 17, "These (Berea) were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so." Christadelphians, and Berean Christadelphians believe in the promises given to Abraham
Abraham
Abraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
, Isaac
Isaac
Isaac as described in the Hebrew Bible, was the only son Abraham had with his wife Sarah, and was the father of Jacob and Esau. Isaac was one of the three patriarchs of the Israelites...
, and David
David
David was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
concerning the Kingdom of God. They deny the Doctrine of the Trinity, a central tenet of orthodox Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, and this refusal to recognize the triune nature of God has resulted in a major impasse between the Christadelphians/Berean Christadelphians and the Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
External links
- The Berean Chronicles
- Berea, Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
- Bereans, The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001.
- Catholic Answers article : "Why the Bereans rejected sola scripturaSola scripturaSola scriptura is the doctrine that the Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness. Consequently, sola scriptura demands that only those doctrines are to be admitted or confessed that are found directly within or indirectly by using valid logical deduction or valid...
"