Who are the Plymouth Brethren, and what do they believe?

Question: "Who are the Plymouth Brethren, and what do they believe?"

Answer: The various churches of the Brethren movement are independent, conservative, and evangelical. While it is difficult to come up with solid numbers, it is estimated that there are about one million people who identify themselves as Brethren. Some prefer to just be known as Christians, to avoid any connotation of denominationalism.

The Brethren movement was the result of concern over the prevailing condition of the existing church. In the winter of 1827-1828, four men—John Nelson Darby, Edward Cronin, John Bellett, and Francis Hutchinson—gathered together to pray and read Scripture. The first meeting was held in Dublin, Ireland, and other meetings followed. Soon there were assemblies gathering in several locations. The most well-known group was in Plymouth, and the name “Plymouth Brethren” has since become a default name for others.

Brethren churches vary somewhat in their practices and beliefs due to their independent nature, but there are a number of things that would characterize most of them. The recognition of all believers as part of the body of Christ and the priesthood of all believers are key starting points. Another important pattern is the plurality of overseers and the absence of clergy/laity distinctions in the body. Though they do not use salaried pastors, they do recognize that certain men have been gifted for leadership ministry within the church. Brethren churches typically partake of the Lord's Supper weekly. Most Brethren churches are also pre-tribulational and dispensational.

There have been a number of Brethren who have attained distinction in their Christian service. Among these are F. F. Bruce, Jim Elliot, H. A. Ironside, George Muller, W. E. Vine, and William MacDonald. Publishers associated with the Brethren movement include Loizeaux Brothers and Bible Truth Publishers. Emmaus Bible College in Dubuque, Iowa, and Kawartha Lakes Bible College in Ontario are two examples of Brethren schools.

Recommended Resources: Logos Bible Software and Complete Guide to Christian Denominations: Understanding the History, Beliefs, and Differences by Ron Rhodes.

While he is not the author of every article on GotQuestions.org, for citation purposes, you may reference our CEO, S. Michael Houdmann.