"A biography of Alexander Campbell, one of the founders of the Stone-Campbell Movement"--

The first critical biography of Alexander Campbell, one of the founders of the Stone-Campbell Movement A Life of Alexander Campbell examines the core identity of a gifted and determined reformer to whom millions of Christians around the globe today owe much of their identity—whether they know it or not. Douglas Foster assesses principal parts of Campbell’s life and thought to discover his significance for American Christianity and the worldwide movement that emerged from his work. He examines Campbell’s formation in Ireland, his creation and execution of a reform of Christianity beginning in America, and his despair at the destruction of his vision by the American Civil War. A Life of Alexander Campbell shows why this important but sometimes misunderstood and neglected figure belongs at the heart of the American religious story.

Eva Jean Wrather devoted seventy years to writing a biography of Alexander Campbell, the Scots-born founder of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the only Protestant denomination to originate in the United States. Her work, which she was still revising when she died, is a literary biography, without scholarly documentation.

Two nineteenth-century men, Alexander Campbell and Joseph Smith, each launched restoration movements in the United States, pejoratively called Campbellites and Mormonites. In post-revolutionary America, characterized by the Second Great Awakening and disestablishment, they vied for seekers and dissatisfied mainstream Christians, which led to conflict in northeastern Ohio. Both were searching for the primordial beginning of Christianity: Campbell looking back to the Christian church described in the New Testament epistles, and Smith looking even further back to the time of Adam and Eve as the first Christians. Campbell took a rational approach to reading the Bible, emphasizing the New Testament and began by advocating reform among the Baptists. Smith took a revelatory approach to reading the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, and adding new scriptures. Campbell was most focused on restoring to the church ordinances and practices of the apostolic church that had been neglected¿whereas Smith was restoring ancient doctrines, practices, ordinances, and covenants to a church that had ceased to exist shortly after the time of the Apostles.

This brand-new collection opens with a brief biography about Campbell, and from there on out, it's all him. We have chosen some of his most influential writings here, including his best-known sermon dealing with the Law of Moses, his brilliant destruction of the "annihilation" doctrine, his taking the government to task over capital punishment, and his own translation of the book of Acts.Alexander Campbell did not start the church. He did not start any church. His entire life was dedicated to simply serving Christ in Jesus' church, and helping that church to come back to the biblical standard. It would be wonderful if we had more men like him in the church today.Extra care had been given in correcting any typographical errors, as well as adding footnotes to explain any unfamiliar words and phrases. In all, well over a hundred hours of work has gone into the production of this collection, with the goal of making it as reader-friendly as possible!Contents include:* Alexander Campbell: Matchless Defender of the Protestant Faith. * Sermon on the Law * Life and Death * Instrumental Music in Worship * Is Capital Punishment Sanctioned by Divine Authority? * Confession Unto Salvation * The Bible * God has Spoken to Man in the Bible * Principles of Interpretation * Musings on a Christmas Morning * Acts of the Apostles (translation)