Separation from the (evil) world on the basis of 2 Tim 2:19–21 is a defining characteristic of the Exclusive Brethren. In this seminar Dr Philip Church examines this text in its context and then critically assesses John Nelson Darby’s reading of it, working from his translation and comments elsewhere in his writings. Phil concludes that Darby misread the text as separation from “evil” people rather than avoidance of wrongdoing. The savage application of this misunderstood text over almost 200 years has caused and continues to cause untold damage and hurt to numerous people and their families to this day.

About the Speaker

Dr Philip Church is a Senior Research Fellow for Laidlaw’s School of Theology. Philip completed an MCS from Regent College in 1983 and an ACT MTh in 1996, both in New Testament studies. Philip has a PhD in New Testament from Otago University and a revised version of his PhD thesis was published by Brill in 2017 as Hebrews and the Temple