John Humphrey Noyes (1811–1886) was not only a minister but also a “perfectionist” who believed true Christians were free from all sin.
Declaring himself sinless, he found some other (supposedly) sinless people and formed a commune at Oneida, New York.
Noyes read Acts 2:44—“all who believe were together, and had all things in common”—and applied it to his “perfect” community. The people had all things in common—including spouses.
Noyes quoted Mark 12:25 and claimed his people had transcended normal marriage and were “like angels in heaven.” The commune (also know as the “Bible Communists”) prospered materially, but because of the group’s questionable morals, Noyes had to flee the U.S., and he died in Canada.
