Around 1798 the New Testament Church started to appear and return to the principles of New Testament teachings. Note with the help of these men, wanting to only teach what is taught in their individual churches: James O’Kelly, Abner Jones, Elias Smith, Barton Warren Stone, Thomas Campbell, and Alexander Campbell, the New Testament was on its way of reappearing.
As the 18th century closed certain men had the strong desire to get back to just what the New Testament taught James O’Kelly (1757 to 1826).
His followers took the name Christian, and the Bible as their only guide in 1794, acknowledging Christ as the only head of the church.
Elias Smith and Abner Jones Launched a Restoration Movement Among the Baptists in New England. In 1803 they took the name Christian, and the Bible as their only guide rejected Calvinism and were involved in founding independent churches.
Barton W Stone, (1772 to 1844) Involved himself in a back-to-the-bible movement, in Central Kentucky in 1801.
They took the name Christian and used the Bible as their only guide. Breaking with Presbyterianism a movement was launched which spread over the adjoining states. A journal called the Christian Messenger was edited by Stone.
The Restoration kept moving along with the true church growing when Thomas Campbell arrived in North America in 1806, He became well known for his engaging promotion of the New Testament Church.
A famous quote of his was, “Speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.”
In 1808, Thomas Campbell was joined in America by his family and his son Alexander Campbell. Alexander was 20 years old when the reunion occurred.
The major star of The Restoration Alexander Campbell (1788 to 1866)
Alexander Campbell was a phenomenon in teaching only what was between the pages of the New Testament.
He read and spoke fluently: Greek, French, and Latin as a young man. Naturally committing to memory voluminous amounts of information from literature and history. He became the most outstanding figure in the restoration movement:
With his powerful preaching, he was Recognized as an outstanding orator.
In June 1850, he preached before both houses of Congress in Washington, Henry Clay, James Madison, and other notables traveled many miles to hear him preach.
James Madison fourth President of the United States, and father of the Constitution, was quoted as saying “I regard him as the ablest and most original expounder of Scripture I ever heard.”
Alexander Campbell was very intellectually productive and energetically worked hard at giving a hand at what needed to be done for the Church of Christ. Much credit is given to him for his intellectual ability of adding authenticity to the church.
Campbell had become the most outstanding leader of the restoration. Noted for his capacity on the knowledge of many subjects, with
his powerful preaching he average four sermons a week, he, wrote sixty books during his lifetime and was involved in numerous debates.
With his almost unlimited capacity that he had for work, Alexander edited a monthly paper, lectured on agriculture, successful at farming, and the list goes on and on.
This new movement, the Restoration brought the Church of Christ back into the open, involving its members into the promoting and spread of New Testament teachings.
Hopefully, viewers will take away knowledge gained and stimulate in others to become viewers too, spreading this site’s offer of New Testaments guidance.
Here’s a favorite verse from Revelation 2:7 (KJV)
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.