Present Truth Magazine

Present Truth Magazine[1] is an evangelical Christian magazine, started by Robert Brinsmead, a former Seventh-day Adventist.

History

The magazine was started by Robert Brinsmead in 1972.[2] It was a free monthly publication.[3] Prior to the journal named "Present Truth" Robert Brinsmead published "Gems of Truth" edited by Tom Durst. Bob was not influenced to reject perfectionism by Heppenstall, LaRondelle or Ford. The change came when he was invited to discuss the issues of the Reformation on Australian radio when the Pope came to visit Australia. This forced Bob to do intensive study of the issues of the Reformation, especially Justification by Faith as taught by Luther. As a result of this intensive study of Luther and the Reformation, Bob came to better understand the truth of Original Sin and the Pauline epistle to the Romans. As a result he abandoned sinless perfectionism and began to teach that "Simil justus et pecator" (at the same time righteous and unrighteous) would be true even unto the coming of the Lord. When he made this change around 1971-72 most of the old-time perfectionistic traditional Adventists abandoned Brinsmead.

The magazine's name was later changed to Verdict in 1978, following Brinsmead's rejection of major Adventist teachings.[4] At that time, he stated in Verdict, as well, that this change was necessitated by the existence of a similarly titled Adventist periodical called "The Voice of Present Truth" (which began publication in 1863). Brinsmead's beliefs began to resemble liberal Christianity.[5] It has ISSN 0198-7488 (or ISSN 0895-9951?), and is published from Fallbrook, California by Verdict Publications. The fact is that Bob changed the name to Verdict because he wanted to distance himself from Seventh-day Adventism. The name Present Truth was originally the name of an old 19th century Adventist periodical edited by either by (A.T. Jones or James White?)

He wrote nothing for nearly ten years, until publishing Verdict again in 1998.[5] His new articles showed a rejection of many orthodox Christian beliefs.[5]

According to its charter, the Present Truth Magazine website is now "produced and sponsored by the 'Gospel Friends Christian Fellowship', an association of evangelical Seventh-day Adventists... These views do not reflect the current views of Robert Brinsmead."[6] This web site is edited by Bill Diehl in Julian, Ca who was one of the original business managers at the Fallbrook, Ca. office of Present Truth. Bob Brinsmead is no longer associated with the web site or Seventh-day Adventism. He is now a deist Darwinian humanist.

According to the library database www.worldcat.org, Present Truth had been published:

References

  1. ↑ Logo has capitalization of Present Truth magazine yet it is written as Present Truth Magazine in an article
  2. ↑ According to the date on the first issue. In contrast, Gary Land writes it was started by Robert and his older brother John in 1968. In the 1970s Brinsmead aimed the magazine towards other Christians, as well as just Adventists. This followed the rejection of his earlier perfectionist views, primarily from the influence of Desmond Ford, and also from Edward Heppenstall and Hans LaRondelle.
  3. ↑ Leaving the Adventist Ministry: A Study of the Process of Exiting by Peter H. Ballis, p103
  4. ↑ "Brinsmead, Robert David (1933- )" in Historical Dictionary of Seventh-day Adventists by Gary Land, p.47
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Where is Robert Brinsmead?" by Larry Pahl. Adventist Today 7:3
  6. ↑ Present Truth Magazine charter
  7. ↑ Present truth. [WorldCat.org]
  8. ↑ Present truth. [WorldCat.org]
  9. ↑ Present truth. [WorldCat.org]
  10. ↑ Present truth. [WorldCat.org]

External links