To be sure, Modalism embraces another Jesus, another Gospel, and another Spirit. He disproves Oneness arguments and establishes Trinitarian truth. The Pentecostal arguments defending this special blessing are interesting and important. There are four exegetical features, which provide a cogent refutation to the Oneness handling of this passage. They believe that the name of the Lord Jesus is, under the new covenant . Therefore, we may conclude that Deuteronomy 6:4 and the multiple proof-texts for monotheism do not represent a good argument against the trinity. 12-14). Scripture quotation marked NKJV is from The New King James Version. Oneness theology rejects the doctrine of the Trinity, for they are unitarian (i.e., believes that God exists as one personunipersonal). Book of Kells was an exemplified manuscript book in Latin containing all four Gospels together with various prefatory texts contained also figures of triquetras. Is this even a good argument that Jesus was God? 3. I wont give him this web page..too bad. The block of Oneness ministers present urged against such a move but was overruled. [5] Beisner, Jesus Only Churches, 34. Recently a well-known pastor, television preacher, and best-selling author was asked about his beliefs about God. 6:4). They were strongly rejected by the denominations council that year, and the AOG adopted a strong trinitarian stance in its statement of faith. 8. Many, however, utilize only the King James Version to proof text their unique doctrines. Modalism rips the heart out of Christianityit denies Christ by misrepresenting Him. This seems to disconfirm the idea that all believers speak in tongues. Regardless, handling snakes or drinking poison is a misuse of that Scripture and has resulted in the deaths of many practitioners. Paul, too, regularly uses different prepositions to clearly differentiate the Father from the Son. 5. Nevertheless, they are the same person, not two separate persons. 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 . Notice John 14:16: I will ask [kag erts, first person] the Father, and He will give [dsei, third person] you another Helper, that He may be with you forever (John 14:16; also cf. Pentecostal Oneness, also known as the Jesus Only movement, is a particular charismatic Christian movement that combines some sound doctrines with ideas that are close to right but create problems. This interpretation is not an attempt to understand the text. Christian Outlook (PAW), AOHCG: Berean Christian Bible College-Birmingham, Ala. This argument can be deflected simply by explaining that the trinity is strictly monotheistic, claiming that there is one God who is eternally present in three persons. Oneness movements emphases on personal holiness and healthy lifestyles are commendable. with v. 9) out and then pretext into them a modalistic understandingwe call this eisegesis. : 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? In the Incarnation, God in his divine nature is the Father; the Son is the perfect man in whom God was incarnate; Jesus is the one God manifested in the flesh. The doctrine of the trinity states that there is one God who is eternally present in three persons. Unless you are going to say that Jesus only had one disciple, I do not think this can be used as a proof-text for Oneness theology. . In this theology, the Father embodies the divine attributes of the godhead and the Son embodies the human aspects. If the Son did not eternally exist with the Father as a distinct person why is it that the Son can say, Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had [or shared, eichon] with You before the world was.? Just as they often say that God is one, Jesus also says that he and the Father are one. It is noticeably absent. In speaking of the coming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus tells them, I will come to you. Is this not a clear identification of the Holy Spirit with himself? ), we embrace the Christian significancenot its origin. The Trinitarians won the majority and a "Statement of Fundamental Truths" was adopted that affirmed the Trinity. If an individual believes that there are three gods, then they have, in effect, denied the doctrine of the trinity. Before time. This new anti-trinitarian belief needs to be understood and addressed, and it must be done so differently than Unitarianism of a by-gone day. . Oneness Pentecostals are vehement anti-trinitarians who commonly maintain that the doctrine of the trinity states that there are three gods. as well as found on early Germanic coins-with no religious significance at all. 4. While pastors generally understand apologetics, we often misunderstand the apologist. But they would simply amend their argument by saying, But this is clearly what early Christians believed because it is here. So I am willing to grant the long ending of Mark for the same of argument. 7. Every time somebody is saved throughout the book of Acts, we will see them speaking in tongues. There is no indication that it, or any other spiritual gift, is required to receive Gods gift of salvation by grace or to be filled with His Holy Spirit (see Eph. I. 4:30; Heb. This is an excellent refutation of Oneness Pentecostals. 13:14; also cf. This is because in Acts 2:38, we see a manifestation of this command. 4:4). If the Son did not eternally exist with the Father as a distinct person why is it that the Son is said to be sent from the Father out of heaven? Oneness Pentecostalism (also known as Apostolic or Jesus' Name Pentecostalism [citation needed]) refers to a grouping of denominations and believers within Pentecostal Christianity, all of whom subscribe to the nontrinitarian theological doctrine of Oneness. If the Father and the Son are the same person, then the Oneness teachers have a difficult job explaining how the Father and the Son can love each other (See Matt. The Hidden Cult of Oneness Pentecostalism. Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. 4. But these do suffice in showing that the Bible affirms that God is triune, and militates against Oneness unitarianism. 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. Tate Reeves did in late August. , Dimensions Acts 2:38 must be read in context and in light of Jesus clear command in Matthew 28:19. "Against Oneness Pentecostalism -- An Exegetical-Theological Critique," by Michael Burgos, is a must-read for any serious-minded Christian who wants to be better informed and better equipped to sanctify Christ as Lord whenever the opportunity is presented to defend the biblical doctrine of Trinitarianism. However, this doesn't fit with this passage, because these still hadn't received the Spirit at all. Recall what I said regarding what Oneness Pentecostals believe about being born again. [1] In Phil. . Biblical Response: The Oneness Pentecostal view of God is similar to the ancient heresy of Modalism. The modern Pentecostal movement is generally regarded to have begun in 1901 in a chapel prayer meeting in Topeka, Kan., led by Charles Parham, a teacher at Bethel Bible College. Now I will switch gears from Oneness to their view of water baptism. The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! After that time, a number of oneness sects formed, most of which were predominately African-American. While this is not a good argument that Jesus is the Father, it is a good argument that Jesus is God. We dont share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we dont sell your information to others. They are manifestations that one God takes on, sometimes simultaneously. Third, how could we recognize tongues for edification as opposed to the gift of tongues? Granville Sharps grammaticalrule #6: Specifically, the repetition of the article tou (the) before each noun and the conjunction kai (and) that connects the nouns clearly denote a distinction between all three persons named.4 Note Matthew 28:19: in the name of the [tou] Father and of the [kai tou] Son and of the [kai tou] Holy Spirit. Further, Paul clearly presents the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, not as three modes of a unipersonal deity, but rather as three distinct persons. [3] BDAG defines allos here as pert[aining] to that which is other than some other entity, other . Nonetheless, historic Christianity maintains that the doctrine of the Trinity (or tri-unity of God) is taught in Scripture. Throughout time God manifested himself in three ways or "forms" (not persons), as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Description: While most Pentecostals are orthodox, there is a segment within this movement of "Oneness" or "Jesus-Only" Pentecostals who are not. Any group or church that claims to be Christian yet deviates at any point from historical Christian faith is, by definition, a cult. Try again. No amount of good works, moral living, or church membership guarantees salvation. Most of them encourage their members to dress and live modestly, but do not have specific teachings about hair and skirts. History of Heresies - History always repeats itself when no one is paying attention. Following these beginnings, Pentecostal preachers and churches spread rapidly coalescing into various denominations and factions. Apostolic Missionary Institute-Oshawa, Ont. God, according to United Pentecostals, is not three distinct persons, as in the Trinity doctrine, but three "manifestations" of the one God. Something went wrong. 1:3). 30:3; John 14:23]; Yahweh to Yahweh and Elohim (God) to Elohim correspondences in passages such as Gen. 19:24; Ps. Boyd's arguments are dependant mainly on Scripture but he does take some time to delve into the writings of the early Church Fathers (chapter 7) in order to show that the early church was far . If you have a friend who is trying to understand the Trinity, first the worst thing you can you is to confuse him with unclear and erroneous information. The Bible teaches that the one God exists eternally in three separate and distinct Persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 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. , Language 11:27; Luke 10:22; John 7:29). 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? As Hebrews 1:3 tells us, The Son is the radiance of Gods glory and the exact representation of his being If we want to know who God is, then we need to look to Jesus Christ. 51: I am the living bread that came down ek tou ouranou, 58: This is the bread which came down ex ouranou; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.. Modern Oneness Pentecostals garner support for their modalistic view by interpreting Matthew28:19 in conjunction with Acts2:38. . Hence, the Son emptied Himself by means of His incarnation (cf. The Son said that He *HAD* glory *before* timewith (para) the Father. Read the entire account. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down ek tou ouranou, and gives life to the world. 34 Then they said to Him, Lord, always give us this bread., 35: Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. In verse 4, he writes that the person who speaks in tongues edifies himself. There are many more biblical objections that could be mentioned. Jesus is a perfect representation of the person of the Father. It is certainly possible that various cultures developed the basic design arrangement independently. 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. To see our price, add these items to your cart. 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 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. God is absolutely and unqualifiedly one. The Pentecostalism Controversy This study was published by the Central Bureau Press, 3835 Westminster Place, St. Louis, MO 63108, in 1973 with the Imprimatur of the Most Rev. (Robertson, Word Pictures, 5:275-76). But they gain the "Spirit baptism" in order to be used powerfully in ministry. 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. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique by Michael Burgos Jr. - A second book by the author addressing Oneness beliefs, released in July 2016. ", ASIN also Walter Bauers, A Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament, 3rd ed. 1:21-22; 13:14; 1 Pet. : 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. While they may be anti-trinitarians, they are committed to the truth that Jesus is God. Clarence L. Haynes Jr. 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. One possessed the gift of tongues and the other possessed tongues for edification. 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. They maintain that the only real person in the Godhead is Jesus. Note the Context: In verse 6 Jesus says, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. In verse 7, He explains to His disciples that if they had known Him they would have known the Father also. Leave a comment. Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout. The reason that I am doing that is because Oneness Pentecostalism is often not understood by trinitarian Christians. Melton, J. Gordon. ' Note the first person plural verbs (eleusometha, We will come, and poisometha, We will make). Exegetically, it cannot refer to the Father thinking of the Son or having the Son in view or in His mind, for Jesus uses the imperfect tense [eichon, *had*), which shows that the Son had or possessed it, not in the Fathers mind. So Christians should strive to do the objective research, in order that they not provide bad untruthful arguments and appear unread. , Item Weight The Global Witness (UPCI) the subject who is speaking or who is logically understood. Moreover, when it found its way in the twentieth century, departing from the Trinitarian Pentecostals, it was again rejected by the church. Before time, with the Father. 2. How did the Son have (literally, actively possessed) glory with (para) the Father before time if the Son did not exist before Bethlehem? Assemblies of the Lord Jesus, Inc. (ALJI)-50,000 The Oneness Pentecostal view of God is similar to the ancient heresy of Modalism. United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI)-500,000 (1.5 million worldwide), Other Designations: Jesus Only churches; Apostolic Pentecostals; The Oneness Movement; The Jesus Name Movement, Pentecostal Herald (UPCI) Oneness Theology - Explaining the differences between their beliefs and ours. The Oneness Pentecostal movements generally teach that to receive and maintain salvation, a person must adhere to four essential requirements. : John 3:5 should not be read in a vacuum. Oneness Pentecostals have an anti-trinitarian view of God, an unbiblical doctrine of Jesus Christ, and unbiblical requirements for salvation (speaking in tongues, water baptism in Jesus name, and a legalistic moral code). Does this not seem to vindicate Oneness theology? In John 1:18, we read: No one has seen God [the Father] at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him (lit. Example, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:14, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Also see passages such as Matthew 3:17-17; 28:19;Luke 10:21-22; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 2:18; 1 Thessalonians 1:3-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Titus 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:2-3; and Jude 1:20-21 where all three persons of the Trinity are referredin the same verse or context. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. Contributing Writer 2022 13 Jun Present the basic plan of salvation and encourage the Oneness Pentecostal to receive Jesus Christ as his or her personal Lord and Savior. 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. 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. Also, throughout chap 14 Jesus distinguishes Himself from the Father. 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. (3rd Edition) is a thoroughly researched critique of Oneness Pentecostalism. And hey, while we're doing that, let's look at Southe. 2. 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.. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. Jesus is said to have two natures: human and divine. On that first day, something looking like split tongues of fire fell from the sky onto the followers of Jesus. Well, first, you need to be baptized with the baptismal formula, In the name of Jesus. They will re-baptize you if you were baptized In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Second, you will need to receive the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues. Both of these are essential ingredients to salvation. 5:13 et al. The Holy Spirit is not regarded as a person at all, merely a manifestation of Jesus power or a synonym for Him. Have a clear understanding of your faith and the Bible. First and third person personal pronouns and verb references: Throughout John 14 and 16 Jesus clearly differentiates Himself from the Father. 3:7.). There is not a single case in which the prophets repudiated anything like the doctrine of the trinity, nor is there any case in which rebellious Israel believed it and convoked the wrath of God. 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. Learn more. These false doctrines can affect teachings about justification, sanctification, the role and work of the cross and an understanding of the nature of God. PO Box 2128 Winnetka, CA 91396 | 818-377-5272 | edward@christiandefense.org, Site Prepared and Built by ChurchWebPresence. so thre argument of development for the trinity is weak if it is already being defemnded in the church in different locations. In Acts 4:31 and 8:17, people are filled with the Spirit and tongues are simply not mentioned. Is there an argument that you would like to see addressed? In the book of Isaiah, he was targeting polytheists; pagan idolaters. 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. But you have the symbol!!! Lastly, There has never been a recognized biblical scholar, commentator, NT Greek grammar, nor Lexical source that has ever interpreted John 14:9 in a Oneness-unitarian way as you do.- because neither this text, nor Johns entire theology supports the Oneness idea that Jesus is the same person as the Father. Because I live, you also will live. Check out John 14:8-9, Philip said, Show us the Father and that will be enough. Jesus said to him, Have I been with you such a long time, and yet you have not known Me Philip? I also could see many of the arguments used against Praxeas by Tertullian . Paul was referring to the latter, not the former. 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? Consider this, Trinitarians, not Oneness believers, conducted all of the major revivals worldwide. The fact is, in the NT, Jesus is explicitly referred to as the Son over two hundred times in the NT and never as Father or Holy Spirit. He was making claims that no mere human could make. Please try again. Oneness theology rejects the personhood of the Holy Spirit. He coyly answered that he believed in one God who manifests himself in three ways: the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. 6. 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. Nearly twenty years ago a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed Greg Boyd wrote a book defending the doctrine of the Trinity against the objections of Oneness Pentecostals. 9. And when did the Son have this glory? 32 To illustrate their arguments against Oneness groups, the following quotes from a book on cults by Bruce Tucker, an evangelical author, are How does He now say, I have come down ek tou ouranou?. The participle describes the means or manner of the emptying. Throughout the passage, it is clear that Jesus is speaking of someone else. I am beginning to suspect that, since Christianity is unique in . ISBN-13: 9780692644065. Both Oneness believers and Trinitarians agree that the Father is invisible and does not have a physical body. Many small Oneness groups formed after 1916, though many have remained independent. The *Son* said that He possessed (note the imperfect of ech) the glory WITH (para, in the presence of) the Father (not in the Fathers mind, for eh Son had it). The argument over whether God is three-in-one or one-in-three is a moot point for the average layman, who tends to view the doctrine of the Trinity as an unexplainable mystery. 6th ed. "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 above example is typical of Questions Oneness Pentecostals Don't ask. Revelation 2:13: I know where you dwell, where Satans throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you [par humin], where Satan dwells (cf. Customize your subscription to get the latest of what matters most to you! [hereafter BDAG], 225). The North American Mission Board is not affiliated with SEND International or its SEND events. Oneness author W. L. Vincent writes "The argument against the "Son being his own Father" is a red herring.

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