The Teaching of the So-called Plymouth Brethren: Is it Scriptural?

What is the proper place of symbolism and ritual in the Church? What is the role of the clergy? According to the Plymouth Brethren in the nineteenth century, ritual has no place in the church, and the very notion of clergy—in the words of John Darby, one of the movement’s founders—is heretical. Their skeptical assessment of scripture and tradition raised the ire of not a few church leaders, among them A. H. Strong. After Strong penned a damning indictment of the Plymouth Brethren movement, H. A. Ironside weighed in on the controversy at the request of a congregant, and, in doing so, brought needed clarity to a hotly debated topic.

In this volume, Ironside examines each of Strong’s sixteen objections to the Plymouth Brethren movement, using Scripture as his model and tradition as his guide. Although the controversy has subsided—thanks, in part, to Ironside’s thoughtful engagement—the core issues still remain, and the relevance of Ironside’s analysis continues to address issues the modern church faces. Decades later, this important book still has the capacity to teach, guide, and inspire.