The Christian System

book by Campbell

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June 17, 2026

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The Christian System (1835) by Alexander Campbell is a foundational text for the Disciples of Christ. Campbell's theology, as outlined in the book, emphasizes a commonsense approach to biblical doctrine, prioritizing the Bible as the ultimate source of authority. He rejected mystical or subjective religious experiences, instead grounding faith in historical events and objective evidence found in Scripture, influenced by John Locke. This led him to oppose concepts like miraculous conversion and the damnation of unbaptized infants, positioning his views as anti-Calvinist. The Disciples' core belief centered on the unity of Christians, advocating for adherence to the New Testament's teachings and rejecting human-made creeds as tests of fellowship.

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Disciples of Christ
Teachings
…Campbell summarized his theology in The Christian System (1835), the most influential book in shaping Disciples thought. In it he outlined a commonsense biblical doctrine against the complex theories of the schools and the sects. He emphasized reliance on the Bible and insisted on going to the sources. Relying on…
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…Campbell summarized his theology in The Christian System (1835), the most influential book in shaping Disciples thought. In it he outlined a commonsense biblical doctrine against the complex theories of the schools and the sects. He emphasized reliance on the Bible and insisted on going to the sources. Relying on…
Read More