Christendom Astray

Christendom Astray From the Bible (commonly: Christendom Astray) is a polemic work by the Christadelphian Robert Roberts that claims to demonstrate that the main doctrines shared by most Christian denominations are at variance with the teachings of the Bible. In the preface to the book the author states the rationale of Christendom Astray From the Bible as follows:

THE enlightened reader will bear with the seeming arrogance of the title. It is a proposition-not an invective. The question proposed for consideration is a question for critical investigation. Attention is invited to the evidence and the argument. They are strictly within the logical sphere. They can be examined and dismissed if found wanting. What the title affirms is that Christendom, the ostensible repository of revealed truth, is away from that truth.

The contents of Christendom Astray was first published as a series of fortnightly lectures in Huddersfield, and then under the title of Twelve Lectures on the Teaching of the Bible in 1862. It was expanded to 18 chapters and republished as Christendom Astray From the Bible in 1884.

Christendom Astray covers topics such as The Bible—What it is, and how to interpret it (chapter 1), The Dead Unconscious till the Resurrection, and consequent error of popular belief in heaven and hell (chapter 3), The Devil not a personal supernatural being, but the scriptural personification of sin in its manifestations among men (chapter 7) and The Promises made to the Fathers (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), yet to be fulfilled in the setting up of the Kingdom of God upon earth (chapter 9).

The last section of the book is a summary of the preceding chapters comparing and contrasting, in table form, Roberts' understanding of the Bible against the beliefs of mainstream Christendom. This is followed by a brief introduction to the Christadelphian community, which Roberts claims are 'a body of people ... who hold the views advocated in this book of lectures'.

1899 Edition - paragraphs on resurrection revised. (1899 edition p.79, 1951 modern p.130) Following his debate with John James Andrew in 1894, Roberts revised two paragraphs which originally left open the possibility that unbaptised but responsible rejectors of the Gospel might not be raised and judged till the end of the millennium.

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