The History of the Church of Christ, Lesson 9

The Campbells and the Restoration of New Testament Christianity

As we near the close of our study of church history, we turn our attention to two men whose influence was pivotal in shaping the Lord’s church in America—Thomas Campbell and his son Alexander Campbell. Like Barton W. Stone, whom we studied earlier, these men were leaders in what became known as the Restoration Movement, calling believers back to the Bible alone as the sole authority for faith and practice.

Background and Early Divisions in the Presbyterian Church

Thomas and Alexander Campbell were from Great Britain and grew up in the Presbyterian Church, one of the dominant religious groups in frontier America. However, they witnessed firsthand the deep divisions within that denomination. The Presbyterian Church at the time was fractured into numerous factions—Seceder and non-Seceder, Burgher and anti-Burgher, Old Light and New Light—each differing on matters ranging from how preachers were appointed to whether new revelation existed. These endless divisions deeply troubled both father and son, convincing them that such disputes were contrary to the unity Christ desired for His church.

The Call for Unity Based on Scripture Alone

Remarkably, both men—separated by an ocean—came to the same conclusion without consulting one another: the only way to restore unity among believers was to lay aside creeds, traditions, and human organizations, and to return solely to the teaching of the Bible. When Thomas emigrated to America in 1807, he found the same divisions there. Frustrated, he left the Presbyterian Church. Meanwhile, Alexander, still in Britain, saw the same problems. When he later joined his father in America, they united in their conviction that the church must be built on the Word of God alone.

The Declaration and Address

In 1809, Thomas Campbell wrote the Declaration and Address, one of the most important documents of the Restoration Movement. Its first point declared that the Church of Christ on earth is constitutionally one, consisting only of those who profess faith in Christ and obey Him according to the Scriptures. It emphasized that nothing should be required as terms of faith or communion except what is expressly taught in the Word of God. Another key principle was the necessity of distinguishing between the Old and New Testaments for matters of authority—a truth often ignored in denominationalism.

Rejection of Unscrip­tural Practices

Alexander Campbell made his own stand against unscriptural traditions. At a Presbyterian “close communion” service, where only those deemed worthy by elders received a token for participation, Alexander returned his token publicly, signaling his rejection of such human barriers. Later, both he and Thomas, after studying the Scriptures, rejected sprinkling and were immersed for the remission of their sins by a Baptist preacher. This further separated them from Presbyterianism.

The Sermon on the Law and Break with the Baptists

In 1816, Alexander preached his famous “Sermon on the Law,” teaching that the Old Testament was given for our learning but not as the source of authority for Christian practice. Many Baptists opposed this, as they often used the Old Testament to justify their practices. The Campbells’ insistence on New Testament authority eventually led to their separation from Baptist associations.

Debates and Writings

Alexander became known for his public debates, which drew large crowds and influenced many to leave denominationalism. Topics included baptism (immersion vs. sprinkling, believer’s baptism vs. infant baptism), the existence of God, and Catholicism. His writings, particularly in The Christian Baptist and later The Millennial Harbinger, spread restoration principles across the nation.

Influence on Others and Church Growth

The Campbells worked alongside men like “Raccoon” John Smith, who baptized thousands in Kentucky. In 1832, Smith, Stone, and Campbell publicly joined hands in fellowship, uniting their efforts in the Restoration Movement. The Campbells also promoted education, founding schools and colleges to train preachers and equip Christians.

Approaching the Civil War

From the early 1800s until the Civil War, the church grew rapidly and remained largely united. However, in the latter part of the 19th century, divisions would arise over issues such as slavery, the Missionary Society, and the introduction of instrumental music in worship. These challenges, which we will examine next week, would leave a lasting mark on the Lord’s church.

The History of the Church of Christ, Lesson 9 Sermon Outline:

• I. Introduction to Thomas and Alexander Campbell

  • Origin in Great Britain

  • Background in Presbyterianism and exposure to division

• II. Division within the Presbyterian Church

  • Seceder vs. non-Seceder

  • Burgher vs. anti-Burgher

  • Old Light vs. New Light

  • Impact of such divisions on the Campbells’ thinking

• III. The Call to Unity

  • Separate convictions reached independently by father and son

  • Sole reliance on the Bible for unity

  • Rejection of creeds, catechisms, and traditions

• IV. The Declaration and Address

  • One church of Christ based solely on obedience to Scripture

  • No terms of communion beyond what is in the Bible

  • Distinction between Old and New Testaments for authority

• V. Public Stand Against Tradition

  • Alexander’s rejection of “close communion” token practice

  • Baptism by immersion after rejecting sprinkling

• VI. The Sermon on the Law

  • Old Testament for learning, not authority

  • Conflict with Baptist associations

• VII. Debates and Publications

  • Topics debated: baptism, sprinkling, infant baptism, atheism, Catholicism

  • Influence of The Christian Baptist and The Millennial Harbinger

• VIII. Partnerships and Growth

  • Influence of “Raccoon” John Smith and others

  • Unity meeting of 1832

  • Educational work and college founding

• IX. Prelude to Division

  • Growth and unity until the Civil War

  • Issues leading to later divisions: slavery, missionary societies, instrumental music

Call to Action:
We must learn from history. The unity Christ desires will never come through man-made traditions, creeds, or organizations. It can only be found when believers submit wholly to the authority of the New Testament. Let us speak where the Bible speaks, be silent where the Bible is silent, and unite on God’s Word alone.

Key Takeaways:

• Division in religion comes from adding to or taking away from God’s Word (Revelation 22:18–19).

• True unity is possible only by following the Bible alone (John 17:20–21).

• The Old Testament was for our learning, but authority comes from the New Testament (Hebrews 8:6–13).

• Public stands for truth can influence many to leave error (2 Timothy 4:2).

• God’s people must reject practices not found in the New Testament (Colossians 3:17).

Scripture Reference List:

• John 17:20–21 – Jesus’ prayer for unity.

• Colossians 3:17 – Authority in Christ for all we do.

• 2 Timothy 4:2 – Preach the word.

• Revelation 22:18–19 – Warning against altering God’s Word.

• Hebrews 8:6–13 – The superiority of the New Covenant.

Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO