christadelphian: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2specialised/religious, formal
Quick answer
What does “christadelphian” mean?
A member of a Christian religious group that denies the Trinity and awaits the establishment of Christ's earthly kingdom.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A member of a Christian religious group that denies the Trinity and awaits the establishment of Christ's earthly kingdom.
Pertaining to the Christadelphian religious denomination, which emerged in the 19th-century United States, rejects mainstream Christian doctrines of the Trinity and the immortality of the soul, and emphasises a return to early Christian beliefs and practices based on their interpretation of the Bible.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The denomination originated in America, so historical references often relate to the US, but the group exists and is referred to similarly in the UK.
Connotations
Neutral denominational identifier in both regions; implies specific theological beliefs.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general language. Slightly more likely to be encountered in American religious history contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “christadelphian” in a Sentence
[proper noun]a [noun] Christadelphianthe Christadelphian [noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “christadelphian” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Christadelphian understanding of baptism differs from most Protestant churches.
- He gave a talk at a Christadelphian hall in Birmingham.
American English
- The Christadelphian interpretation of prophecy is central to their faith.
- They follow Christadelphian teachings on pacifism.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in religious studies, history of religion, and sociology of religion contexts.
Everyday
Extremely rare outside of discussions of religious groups.
Technical
Specific term in theology/ecclesiology for a particular restorationist, non-trinitarian denomination.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “christadelphian”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “christadelphian”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “christadelphian”
- Spelling errors: 'Christadelfian', 'Christadelphian'.
- Using lowercase ('christadelphian').
- Using as a common adjective for anything related to Christ.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a proper noun referring to a specific religious group and should always be capitalised.
The primary difference is their non-trinitarian theology; they believe God is solely the Father, and Jesus is His literal, begotten son, not a co-eternal person of a Trinity.
The movement was founded by John Thomas, a British doctor who emigrated to America, in the mid-19th century (c. 1848).
They generally do not believe in an immortal soul going to heaven or hell upon death. Instead, they believe in 'conditional immortality' and await a future resurrection and judgment at Christ's return.
A member of a Christian religious group that denies the Trinity and awaits the establishment of Christ's earthly kingdom.
Christadelphian is usually specialised/religious, formal in register.
Christadelphian: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkrɪstəˈdɛlfɪən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkrɪstəˈdɛlfiən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Christ' + 'adelphian' (from Greek 'adelphos' meaning 'brother'). A 'brother in Christ' from a specific group.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELIGIOUS IDENTITY IS A LABEL; DOCTRINE IS A BOUNDARY.
Practice
Quiz
Which belief is central to Christadelphian theology?