7. Privacy Policy & Copyright Notice. [1] In Phil. Forty times in Johns Gospel, Jesus refers to himself as sent by the Father, but never does he refer to himself as the Father who sent the Son, Further, Isaiah 9:6, is no help for Oneness advocates trying to prove Jesus is the Father- See Isaiah 9:6: Oneness Refuted, 1. Clarence L. Haynes Jr. Oneness theology rejects the doctrine of the Trinity, for they are unitarian (i.e., believes that God exists as one personunipersonal). . Trinitarians could easily affirm that they are one God, they share the same essence. Speaking in tongues, like all other gifts, is distributed sovereignly by the Holy Spirit to those He wills for the equipping and edification of the whole body of Christ (see 1 Cor. 5. The Son said that He *HAD* glory *before* timewith (para) the Father. Because I live, you also will live. 14:7, 10, 16; etc.). John 10:30: I and the Father are one. At the 1986 Oneness Symposium, Robert Sabin addresses the charge of whether the UPCI is Christian group or a cult. And no time did He refer to my Son or anything of the sort as distinct from Himself! 2. He was making claims that no mere human could make. Oneness Pentecostals honestly believe that their view of the Godhead is the true doctrine . (See the following verses affirming the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit: Luke 12:12; John 15:26; Acts 5:3-10; 13:2-4; 1 Cor. Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement that emphasizes direct personal experience of God through baptism with the Holy Spirit. [3] BDAG defines allos here as pert[aining] to that which is other than some other entity, other . McAlister of Toronto, Ont., began teaching that the Trinity doctrine was untrue and that baptism should be done correctly in Jesus name only-not in the traditional trinitarian formula. Oneness Pentecostalism constitutes one of the world's largest non-trinitarian expressions of Christianity. These arguments against Acts 2:38 demonstrate a holistic ignorance of how the OT is fulfilled in Jesus and the NT death, burial and resurrection is performed in repentance . Salvation is entirely based on grace through faith in Christ. 12:11; Eph. : And when did the Son have this glory? For the Son of Man in Oneness theology was not the Father, but the human Son who emerged not until Bethlehem, but here, the Son of Man came from heaven, that is, the Son (cf. Does the long ending of Mark vindicate the Oneness Pentecostal position about speaking in tongues? It is an attempt to get around what the text is saying so that their doctrine will prevail. The AmazonSmile Foundation will automatically donate 0.5% of the purchase price to your selected charitable organization. Please give me some verses that challenge this thought? As marked out below, Jesus also differentiates Himself from God the Holy Spirit. 1 Tim. UPCI: Apostolic Bible Institute-St. Paul, Minn. They take this to indicate that Jesus is the Father. (see above). Oneness Pentecostal churches are, therefore, cultic in nature and outside the theological parameters of historic Christianity. Scripture quotation marked NKJV is from The New King James Version. What's the best argument against oneness Pentecostals, people who believe Jesus is the father, son and Holy Spirit? The classic statement of Trinitarian doctrine is that there is One God who exists eternally in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Note: there are many places in the OT where God is presented as multi-personal (e.g., plural nouns, verbs, nouns, prepositions, and plural adjectives were used of God, i.e., Us, Our, in Gen. 1:26-27; 3:22; 11:7-9; Isa. 10. . 9. sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven" (Matthew 26:64). Please try again. If Oneness doctrine is biblically true, why then do the biblical authors use grammatical features that personally distinguish between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? He doesnt fully understand the Christology or Godhead. For this reason, many Christians have difficulty seeing anything wrong with the Oneness position. 1:6-7; etc.). Further, turning to 1 John 1:3, not only does John show that believers have fellowship with both the Father and the Son, but the Father and the Son are clearly distinguished as two persons by the repeated article tou (the) and the repeated preposition meta (with): We proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with [meta] us; and indeed our fellowship is with the [meta tou] Father and with [kai meta] His Son [tou huiou], Jesus Christ (see esp. 2:16-17; 1 John 2:22-23). 36: But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe., 38: For I have come down apo tou ouranou, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me, 41: Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, I am the bread that came down ek tou ouranou, 42: They were saying, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? This seems to disconfirm the idea that all believers speak in tongues. Trinitarian who is struggling with the Oneness doctrine. Oneness folks like yourself typically cherry-pick passages (esp. But that is not quite the point of the argument that I am making. By 1916, oneness views were being expounded by some ministers in the Assemblies of God (AOG) denomination. There is one God who is eternally present in three persons, and his name is YHWH. 5. Your confusing Jesus perfectly representing the Father with His identity. It is noticeably absent. Note: in passages such as John 1:3, 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 1:2, 10-12, the Son is clearly presented as agent of creation, the Creator Himself. And hey, while we're doing that, let's look at Southe. There are two basic strategies that Oneness Pentecostals use for arguing for the conclusion that Jesus is God and Father. 3. One of the key verses to which they will appeal is Mark 16:17, which tells us that those who have believed will speak in tongues. Pentecostals are Christians who believe that God is still doing the same things he did on the first Day of Pentecost after Jesus rose from his grave. He said that he and the Father are one. 14 and Johns theology. The following chapters are spent systematically refuting the Oneness doctrine of God as well as their arguments against the doctrine of the Trinity. So, you appeal to v. 9, to assume Jesus is the person of the Father, but a verses later (v. 23), Jesus clearly affirms His deity as Son in distinction from the Father: Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and MY FATHER will love him, and pros auton eleusometha [to him WE will come] and monn par autw poisometha [at home with him, WE will Make].. NOTE: the answers provided to the questions below are a simple and quick guide for the interested person wishing to compare Oneness theology with Trinitarian theology. Acts 2:38 must be read in context and in light of Jesus clear command in Matthew 28:19. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. Thus, they are often referred to as the Jesus Only Movement. Oneness Pentecostals are vehement anti-trinitarians who commonly maintain that the doctrine of the trinity states that there are three gods. So he broaches the subject from an intellectual concept. . 6:8; 54:5; Prov. Father) to glorify Him together with Him (para seaut, thus, a shared glorification, a glory that only God can have, Isa. This movement denies the Trinity, arguing instead that Jesus is himself the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That is why he went on to say in verses 19 and 20, Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. PAW: Aenon Bible School-Indianapolis, Ind. While they may be anti-trinitarians, they are committed to the truth that Jesus is God. How Can a Pastor Stay Engaged in Apologetics? Have a clear understanding of your faith and the Bible. The answers do not represent a *full exegetical presentationrather it simply and basically demonstrates (a) the fundamental Oneness unitarian assumptions (viz. so thre argument of development for the trinity is weak if it is already being defemnded in the church in different locations. Now, I want to use an argument that the Oneness Pentecostals use all the time in this vein of thought, who will often counter the argument opposing Acts 2:38 (Salvation) . The burden of proof is on the person making the claim. This case of marked distinction is also evident when Jesus differentiates Himself from God the Holy Spirit: I will ask the Father, and He will give you another [allon]3 Helper, that He may be with you forever (John 14:16; also see 14:7, 10, 26). If an individual believes that there are three gods, then they have, in effect, denied the doctrine of the trinity. The question that we need to ask is one what? Atlanta: Atlanta Christian Apologetics Project, 1994. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. The first two chapters of the text outline the basis for the Oneness Pentecostals' disbelief in the Holy Trinity - and their belief that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are simply . The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. Biblical Response: The Oneness Pentecostal view of God is similar to the ancient heresy of Modalism. 4:4-5; Eph. However, some advocates of Oneness Pentecostalism have responded to this point. Many Oneness churches especially the UPCI rejects justification through faith alone by teaching that one must be water baptized (in the name of Jesus only) to be savedwith the evidence, as the UPCI teaches, of speaking in other tongues. They refer first of all to the biblical passages that speak of this baptism, namely, John the Baptist's words about the work of Christ, Matthew 3:11 (cf. Any group or church that claims to be Christian yet deviates at any point from historical Christian faith is, by definition, a cult. Please try again. An Antichrist who denies the power thereof, that The Apostle Paul warned us to turn away from! Biblical Response: Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone (see Rom. One possessed the gift of tongues and the other possessed tongues for edification. But in spite of where or when it first appeared, it has been associated to a vast number of meanings through time. This interpretation is not an attempt to understand the text. 3:16; Jn. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. What does it mean, then? The block of Oneness ministers present urged against such a move but was overruled. Be prepared to cite (in context) and explain specific biblical passages supporting Christian doctrines, particularly the biblical basis for the Trinity, the historic understanding of the nature and work of Christ, and salvation by grace through faith. Rather the Son is biblically (exegetically) presented as the Creator of all things Himself. While pastors generally understand apologetics, we often misunderstand the apologist. 32 Jesus then said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread ek tou ouranou, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread ek tou ouranou. III. How do you know that your family members or your friends do not merely possess the gift of tongues? So what does this verse mean? 4:4). After all, he did not say, I am the Father, in this verse. 2022 Department of Christian Defense Of course, this is a mischaracterization. . "Michael Burgos has produced a brilliant blend of systematic theology and biblical exegesis with a detailed and thorough discussion of the main passages at the center of the dispute between. Is that the case? In conclusion, the Triquetra has been used historically by all kinds of groups to mean different things. Second, they argue that what is said about God the Father is also said of Jesus Christ. Mark 16:18 is part of a disputed portion of Marks text. Third, it may be that Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the one name under which we are baptized. Christian Outlook (PAW), AOHCG: Berean Christian Bible College-Birmingham, Ala. Further, the idiom in the name of does not always refer to a reciting of the name. Moreover, when it found its way in the twentieth century, departing from the Trinitarian Pentecostals, it was again rejected by the church. For if Jesus is the Father, then, between whom would He Mediate since by definition a mediator/intercessor represents two distinct parties, other than Himself. 42:8). 3:7.). 1. the parallels in Mk. Speaking in tongues is listed among several other practices, including casting out demons, resisting a snake bite and healing the sick. Hence, the Son emptied Himself by means of His incarnation (cf. 50 This is the bread which comes down ek tou ouranou, so that one may eat of it and not die. He who has seen Me has seen the Father. If you read on, however Jesus goes on to say, The Father is greater than I. clearly establishing the Trinitarian concept. v. 6), they could really see (i.e., know/recognize, cf. Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. It may also be that Father, Son, and Spirit is the name by which we know God. The UPCI was organized in 1945 with the union of two predominately white groups started earlier in the century. While this book may be helpful insofar as it rehearses typical Oneness Pentecostal views and arguments, it is far from providing a substantial treatment of Scripture or a meaningful interaction with trinitarianism. an outline of some early heresies in the Church. 12-14). This is far, far more plausible than thinking that Jesus switched between him and I.. 15-16), Jesus distinguishes Himself from His Father by using different prepositions. Indiana Bible College-Seymour, Ind. Use Amazon Smile for all your purchases to support the Department of Christian Defense. , Language Also, throughout chap 14 Jesus distinguishes Himself from the Father. Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW)-1,000,000 reported 5:13 et al. Modalism is the belief that one God existed in time in three distinct modes of being: first as the Father in heaven; second, bodily as the Son on earth; and finally as the Holy Spirit. But Jesus said, that flesh and blood didnt reveal this, but My Father which is in heaven. . Oneness Pentecostals are vehement anti-trinitarians who commonly maintain that the doctrine of the trinity states that there are three gods. In my opinion it is better than Burgos' Against Oneness Pentecostals, Boyd's Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity. He has exgsato [lead out, unfold, declare, Thayer, 1996: 223] Him (the Father). As a former Oneness Pentecostal (OP), Boyd was especially equipped to accurately describe Oneness beliefs about God and their arguments against the Trinity, and as a trained philosopher/theologian he was especially equipped to refute such views. Pentecostal Christianity has more than 700 denominations. 3. John 3:5: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Salvation is eternally assured for those who have accepted Christ as personal Lord and Savior (see John 1:12; 5:24; 1 John 5:13). Have a clear understanding of your faith and the Bible. Why is snake-handling not a criteria for salvation? plural nouns, adjectives, verbs, prepositions) to describe the one God? 4. For God does not share His glory with no one (cf. See what Christian leaders are saying about Against Oneness Pentecostalism: "Michael Burgos has produced a brilliant blend of systematic theology and biblical exegesis with a detailed and thorough discussion of the main passages at the center of the dispute between Oneness Pentecostalism and traditional trinitarianism. Is there any practical difference at all? But for a deeper understanding, please view my other posts on this important subject. This volume has practical implications beyond the debate that exists between trinitarians and Oneness Pentecostals because if popular piety is any indication, then many professing trinitarian Christians are Oneness in practice and Burgos' work will help to show how such thinking is wrong as well as offering an exegetical alternative that is Thus, in spite of the arguments of Oneness advocates against the triune God and the the person of Christ, it is the gospel that must be proclaimed to them-, which the power and ordained means of God for setting them free from the darkness of Oneness theology and bringing them to the true Jesus Christ, as He wills. It is certainly possible that various cultures developed the basic design arrangement independently. I also could see many of the arguments used against Praxeas by Tertullian . 42:8), which shows that the glory that the Son had was in together in the presence of the Father. Of course, this is a mischaracterization. also John 15:26; 16:28). Oneness Pentecostals declare that the Godhead consists of only one Person and deny the traditional doctrine of the Trinity. They are just continuing that long tradition. UCJC: Institute of Biblical Studies-Baltimore, Md. There are four exegetical features, which provide a cogent refutation to the Oneness handling of this passage. In Acts 4:31 and 8:17, people are filled with the Spirit and tongues are simply not mentioned. But these do suffice in showing that the Bible affirms that God is triune, and militates against Oneness unitarianism. Imagine that you heard two people speaking in tongues. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique. Its pagan, with pagan origins. They are one in being but distinct in person. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, an event that commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of . 1:1-13; Jude 1:1; Rev. Texas Bible College-Houston, Texas. The Holy Spirit is not regarded as a person at all, merely a manifestation of Jesus power or a synonym for Him. Why is drinking poison not a criteria for salvation? It is enough for the disciples to see Jesus because they share a divine essence. During the Last Supper, the disciples were distraught. Oneness Pentecostals take issue with the Trinity doctrine chiefly for its use of the term "person." Oneness adherents (along with Muslims and Jehovahs Witnesses) wrongly assume that the concept or word one when referring to God (e.g., Deut. (as seen above). They believe that God is ONE and not one in three persons. to the one sittingthe Father]) and the Lamb (kai t arnithe Son) are grammatically differentiated by the repeated article t (the), which precedes both nouns and are connected by the one conjunction kai (and). 32, 33, 41, 42, 50, 51-ek tou ouranou;verse 38 apo tou ouranou;and verse 58 came downex ouranou). John 14:23: Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and we will make Our abode with him [par aut]. 8:6; 12:4-6; 2 Cor. Virtually all of the great biblical scholars, theologians, and Greek grammarians, historically have been and presently are Trinitarian, not Onenessfor obvious reasons. John 14:9 Oneness people routinely quote this passage (usually in the same breath with John 10:30), as though it was part of the passage. In Ephesians 2:18, Paul teaches that by the agency of the Son, Christians have access to the Father by means of the Spirit: For through Him [di autouthe Son] we both have our access in [en] one Spirit to the Father [pros ton patera] (Eph. As a former Oneness Pentecostal Church member, Home Missionary, Assistant Pastor, Youth Director, and District Youth Board Member, I want to thank Pastor Michael Burgos for writing this fine book. After all, in John 17:11, the text says that the disciples are one in the same way that Jesus and the Father are one. . 2:5). Oneness Pentecostal churches are, therefore, cultic in nature and outside the theological parameters of historic Christianity. Paul, too, regularly uses different prepositions to clearly differentiate the Father from the Son. the subject who is speaking or who is logically understood. This is from where most Christians derive their baptismal formula, actually reciting the words, In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. However, Oneness Pentecostals think that in reciting those words, they are not obeying the command. Recently a well-known pastor, television preacher, and best-selling author was asked about his beliefs about God. 6. Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. Matthew 28:19 clearly reflects the trinitarian concept that the name (authority and characteristics) of the one God is incorporated in the three Persons of the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (see 1 Cor. Specifically, in John 1:3;1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2 and 2:10, the Greek preposition dia (though) is followed by a pronoun (autou, Him)in the *genitive* case (or possessive case). The proper mode is immersion in the triune name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Every time somebody is saved throughout the book of Acts, we will see them speaking in tongues. At the time Boyd was full of zeal and all sorts of emotion, which comes out on nearly every page of Oneness . Nevertheless, they are the same person, not two separate persons. A Concise Look at Oneness Theology | Department of Christian Defense, John 1:29: The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Please try again. One way white evangelical Protestants say their faith is against the vaccine is by talking of eternal life, like Mississippi Gov. 3:17; 17:5; John 3:35; 5:20; 2 Pet. Modalism rips the heart out of Christianityit denies Christ by misrepresenting Him. 1:21-22; 13:14; 1 Pet. Deuteronomy 6:4: Hear, O Israel! We work hard to protect your security and privacy. The assumption that Jesus is never referred to as the Father is incorrect. His insight is edifying. Since Oneness Pentecostalism maintains that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all different manifestations of the same person, it follows that Jesus is the Holy Spirit. Oneness Pentecostals believe that the trinity is ONLY one entity. However, like John 10:30, this verse also does not record Jesus as saying, I am the Father. It merely says, He who has seen Me has seen the Father. What is the best way to understand this verse? Answering A Few Common Oneness Pentecostal Arguments "Michael Burgos has produced a brilliant blend of systematic theology and biblical exegesis with a detailed and thorough discussion of the main passages at the center of the dispute between Oneness Pentecostalism and traditional trinitarianism. The name of the Holy Spirit is Jesus. In this theology, the Father embodies the divine attributes of the Godhead and the Son embodies the human aspects. Read the entire account. Several verses are quoted to establish this view, such as Colossians 2:9 (NKJV), For in Him (Jesus) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Oneness theologians would argue that if the Father and the Son were separate, then the Godhead could not fully dwell in Christ. How can tongues function as the sign of salvation if you do not even know the difference between tongues for edification and the gift of tongues? They believe that the name of the Lord Jesus is, under the new covenant . If there is anyone out there in a Oneness church who has questions in their mind about the truthfulness of Oneness doctrine and what the Scriptures actually teach, this is the book for them. 15:33? John 17:5: Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself [para seaut] with the glory which I had/possessed [eichon] with You before the world was., John 19:25: Therefore the soldiers did these things. But if Jesus expected him to understand his reference to living water, it follows that he was not teaching the doctrine that water baptism is necessary for salvation. 2. Oneness Pentecostals brand themselves apostolic. They will suggest that they are following the model of the earliest apostles. This is because in Acts 2:38, we see a manifestation of this command. When we hear a Oneness Pentecostal claiming that everybody speaks in tongues throughout the Bible, we immediately go to 1 Corinthians 12:29-31, for Paul recognizes that not everybody possesses all of the spiritual gifts, and tongues are listed among them. His will is one with the will of the Father. . They believe that Jesus and the Father are one essential person, though operating as different modes. 13:14; also cf. This view of the Trinity is connected with Oneness Pentecostals' Christology. Acquire a basic knowledge of Oneness Pentecostals' beliefs and practices. These are great questions and wonderful references. SeeWas the Trinity Conceived in the 4th Century? Noted Greek grammarian, A. T. Robertson says of the passage that This is not just ideal pre-existence, but actual and conscious existence at the Fathers side (para soi, with thee) which I had (h eichon, imperfect active of ech. They are not three distinct persons. More than 160 oneness ministers who were expelled from the AOG quickly formed their own alliances to promote their doctrines. The North American Mission Board is not affiliated with SEND International or its SEND events. Do not get sidetracked defending your denomination. Further, the Father is spirit. (for in Oneness theology *only Jesus as the Father mode existed prior to Bethlehem). Matthew 28:19 also affirms their views that Jesus commanded His disciples to baptize in the name (singular) of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Oneness Pentecostals will point to John 3:5 as evidence of that. 27 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.. If Oneness doctrine (or Modalism) is the so-called doctrine of the apostles, then, why was it universally condemned as *heretical* by the early church Fathers (some of who were disciples of the original apostles) and condemned by all the important church councils and creeds? 4. Important Question: If Jesus is the Father, why is there not a single passage that states this in the NT or the OT? : Note that while Boyd offers sound arguments against Oneness Pentecostalism in this book, he elsewhere expresses belief in open theism, an unorthodox view. 2. [4] This grammatical rule is also know as Granville Sharp rule #6: when multiple personal nouns in a clause are each preceded by the article ho (the) and linked by kai (and) each personal noun denotes a distinct person as in Matthew 28:19 (esp. 1:17), talk to each other (see John 11:41-42; 12:28; 17:1-26), and know each other (see Matt. But standing by the cross [para t staur] of Jesus were His mother, and His mothers sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.. This is an important text for Oneness Pentecostals because it seems to use parlance that they are familiar with. Phil. ' Note the first person plural verbs (eleusometha, We will come, and poisometha, We will make). Wallace, BBGG, 350-51; Robert Reymond, Systematic Theology, 263. He was making claims that no mere human could make. John 3:5 should not be read in a vacuum. However, this seems to be far too simplistic of a reading. Note the context indicating that the Father sent the person of the Son. Modalism is the belief that one God existed in time in three distinct modes of being: first as the Father in heaven; second, bodily as the Son on earth; and finally as the Holy Spirit. This is an excellent refutation of Oneness Pentecostals.