Bereans

Bereans were the inhabitants of the ancient city of Berea, also known in the Bible as Beroea and now known as Veria.

Biblical context

According to the Book of Acts, Chapter 17 verse 11, Paul of Tarsus 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. [Acts 17:11 King James Bible] ", and many of them believed.

Historical context

Many churches and ministries, predominantly evangelical Protestant in the USA, that have an emphasis on the primacy of scripture, have adopted the name Berean in allusion to this account. The Catholic Diocese of Lincoln describes one particular affiliation, the Berean Church, as comprising about 60 independent U.S. congregations of similar beliefs with features in common with Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians. Their central emphasis on scriptural authority, "sola scriptura", puts their beliefs in particular conflict with Roman Catholicism as well as Eastern Orthodoxy.

Historically, the Bereans (also called Beroeans, Barclayans or Barclayites) were a Protestant sect following former Scottish Presbyterian 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 1850's 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 tenant of orthodox Christianity, and this refusal to recognize the triune nature of God has resulted in a major impasse between the Christadelphians/Berean Christadelpians and the Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox Churches.

References

*"Bereans" and "John Barclay" in cite book | last = Livingstone | first = E. A., ed. | title = The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church | publisher = Oxford University Press | location = London | year = 2006 | isbn = 019861442X

External links

* [http://www.thebereanchronicles.com/index.html The Berean Chronicles]
* [http://www.ccel.org/e/easton/ebd/ebd/T0000500.html#T0000530 Berea] , [http://www.ccel.org/e/easton/ebd/ebd.html Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary]
* [http://www.bartleby.com/65/be/Bereans.html Bereans] , The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001.
* [http://www.lincolnberean.org Lincoln Berean Church, one of the Berean Fellowship of Churches]
* [http://www.bereanbeacon.org/ The Berean Beacon] Evangelistic ministry that "places particular emphasis on the evangelization and conversion of Catholics".
* [http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1997/9703fea3.asp Catholic Answers article] : "Why the Bereans rejected "sola scriptura"
* [http://www.dioceseoflincoln.org/purple/denominations/deno8.htm Diocese of Lincoln Q&A] (Catholic POV).
* [http://www.thebereancall.org The Berean Call]
* [http://www.thenobleberean.org The Noble Berean]
* [http://www.thebereanbaptistchurch.com/ Berean Baptist Church of Orange Park, FL]
* [http://www.bereanway.org The Berean Way]