1:1-13; Jude 1:1; Rev. 2022 Department of Christian Defense . I found this web page, looked promising to refute Oneness theology. 4. In 1906, the Pentecostal experience of speaking in tongues burst on the scene during a revival in an African-American Baptist church on Azuza Street in Los Angeles, Calif. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 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. Wallace, BBGG, 350-51; Robert Reymond, Systematic Theology, 263. . After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. 2. There is no doubt that there is some form of tongues in the Bible. Oneness Pentecostal Sources of Authority: Oneness Pentecostals of all branches affirm the authority of the Bible for doctrine. 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.. Further, how do you know that you do not merely possess the gift of tongues? The context is obvious: by knowing and seeing Jesus (as the only way to the Father; cf. Instead, you should focus on the biblical teachings within the text and not use non-biblical philosophy. [hereafter BDAG], 225). Pentecostalism - Wikipedia It would be to cherry-pick the verse that fits into ones doctrine. God, according to United Pentecostals, is not three distinct persons, as in the Trinity doctrine, but three "manifestations" of the one God. 2. Oneness theology is the doctrine that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are not distinct persons. Oneness Pentecostals are vehement anti-trinitarians who commonly maintain that the doctrine of the trinity states that there are three gods. 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.. ; and there is a Japanese form, again with no religious significance. And hey, while we're doing that, let's look at Southe. The answers do not represent a *full exegetical presentationrather it simply and basically demonstrates (a) the fundamental Oneness unitarian assumptions (viz. But that position seems untenable. Oneness movements emphases on personal holiness and healthy lifestyles are commendable. Against the Oneness notion (and v. 9), Jesus specifically used two first person PLURAL indicative verbs (eleusometha, We will come and poisometha, We will make Our) abode with him. This is part of chap. In this article, I will be answering a few common Oneness Pentecostal arguments. John 9:39) the invisible Father (cf. Today it is predominately African-American and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Well, Oneness Pentecostalism has a lot of subtleties. 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. (for in Oneness theology *only Jesus as the Father mode existed prior to Bethlehem). Biblical Response: The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God (see 2 Tim. , Dimensions Note, that over two hundred times, the Father is referred to by Jesus or someone else as being clearly distinct from Jesus. John 3:5 does not explicitly say that one must be water baptized before entering the kingdom. Thus, when He died, only His human nature died. Over fifty times, the Father, and Jesusare presented as explicitly distinct in the same passages (cf. 3:11; 1 John 1:3; 2:22-23; Rev. Also, only that the Son was God can He God make this request/command to the Father, not mere man. Also, throughout chap 14 Jesus distinguishes Himself from the Father. If Jesus were the Father, as Oneness believers contend, one would expect to find a clear example of thisat least one passage (cf. 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). . 7:9-14; John 1:1, 18; 6:37-39, 44; 14:23; 17:5; 2 John 1:3; 2:22; Heb. Let's look at the Foursquare Church and United Pentecostal Church International and see how hey differ. The Oneness-Trinitarian Pentecostal Dialogue: Exploring the Diversity Oneness Pentecostal churches are, therefore, cultic in nature and outside the theological parameters of historic Christianity. 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. Witnessing to Oneness Pentecostals: 1. 3. 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. In doing so, they will think that they have mounted a proper argument against trinitarian theology because they believe that the doctrine of the trinity states that there are three gods. As with other Christian symbols and Christian holidays (e.g., Christmas, Easter, cross, etc. What sets Oneness Pentecostalism apart from other anti-Trinitarian heresies is its seeming orthodoxy. How does He now say, I have come down ek tou ouranou?. How To Implement Apologetics into the Church, The Differences Between the Prosperity Gospel and the Biblical Gospel. Jesus is said to have two natures: human and divine. However, the Oneness Pentecostal could grant that it is not really Scripture. (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. ' Note the first person plural verbs (eleusometha, We will come, and poisometha, We will make). In this theology, the Father embodies the divine attributes of the godhead and the Son embodies the human aspects. as well as found on early Germanic coins-with no religious significance at all. 5. First, there are no good reasons to think that obedience to this command necessarily entails that those words are recited. Again, in its proper sense, a mediator is one who is other than or distinct from the parties, which are being mediated. Oneness Pentecostalism, or Jesus-only teaching, is a modern recycling of the old Sabellianism and modalism of ages past. Do not get sidetracked defending your denomination. Second, in 1 Corinthians 14:4-5, Paul speaks about tongues for edification. Therefore, we may conclude that Deuteronomy 6:4 and the multiple proof-texts for monotheism do not represent a good argument against the trinity. After all, it says that one must be born of water and Spirit. Its headquarters and publishing firm, the Pentecostal Publishing House, is located at 8855 Dunn Road, Hazelwood, MO 63042. : 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. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theologic Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. There are two basic strategies that Oneness Pentecostals use for arguing for the conclusion that Jesus is God and Father. They accomplish this by adhering to modalism, more commonly referred to as oneness theology. This use of different prepositions shows a relationship between them,5 and clearly denotes essential distinction, e.g., no one comes to [pros] the Father but through [dia] Me (John 14:6); he who believes in [eis] Me . An Antichrist who denies the power thereof, that The Apostle Paul warned us to turn away from! The doctrine of the trinity states that there is one God who is eternally present in three persons. 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. Many, however, utilize only the King James Version to proof text their unique doctrines. 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. dual nature of Christ," but my heart sank when I found nothing which properly explained these things against a Trinitarian argument. Melton, J. Gordon. 10. 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. Leave a comment. The name of the Holy Spirit is Jesus. Modern Oneness Pentecostals garner support for their modalistic view by interpreting Matthew28:19 in conjunction with Acts2:38. . 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. His will is one with the will of the Father. Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement that emphasizes direct personal experience of God through baptism with 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. 1:20-21). But these do suffice in showing that the Bible affirms that God is triune, and militates against Oneness unitarianism. Author: Michael R. Burgos Jr., Burgos Jr., Michael R. Format: Paperback. Book of Kells was an exemplified manuscript book in Latin containing all four Gospels together with various prefatory texts contained also figures of triquetras. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. (as seen above). Oneness Pentecostals have a distorted notion of the Trinity and need someone to show them the scriptural teaching of the Trinity, David Kowalski writes. 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 I am beginning to suspect that, since Christianity is unique in . He was making claims that no mere human could make. Indiana Bible College-Seymour, Ind. 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. Today scholars estimate there are between 1.5 and 5 million Oneness Pentecostals worldwide, and they make up . 4. The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! He said that he and the Father are one. Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability Accredited. How would you be able to tell the difference? But typically, God became a man. 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. Salvation is entirely based on grace through faith in Christ. distinguished fr. Different prepositions: Throughout John chapter 14 (and chaps. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ World Wide, Inc. (Bible Way)-250,000 However, this doesn't fit with this passage, because these still hadn't received the Spirit at all. biblical case against Oneness unitarianism. 12:11; Eph. . [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. In 1918, Oneness adherents, needing to develop their own organization after effectively being ousted from Pentecostalism, founded the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, headed by African . Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. All modern writings or revelations must be analyzed in light of sound principles of biblical interpretation. Further, almost one hundred and eighty times, Jesus is presented as referring to the Father, My Father, or your Father in the Gospels as distinct from Himself, and at no time does Jesus refer to my Son. Forty times, in the Gospel of John, Jesus refers to Himself as Sent by the Father, but never does Jesus refer to Himself as the Father who sent the Son (cf. 2:5). A Definitive Look at Oneness Theology: In the Light of Biblical They are not three distinct persons. For God does not share His glory with no one (cf. According to the Scriptures, apologetics is Download the Quick Takes with Kevin Podcast to hear NAMB president Kevin Ezell talk with pastors across the country about how to navigate diverse ministry challenges. Any group or church that claims to be Christian yet deviates at any point from historical Christian faith is, by definition, a cult. Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW)-1,000,000 reported How Can a Pastor Stay Engaged in Apologetics? Many small Oneness groups formed after 1916, though many have remained independent. . 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 . a. Spatial: near, beside, b. asserting that God is one person) and (b) the basic theological errors of Oneness theology (e.g., denying the deity of the Son). Jesus and the Father are both God. 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. Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. Note that the emptying did not involve His deity, for Paul safeguards against such an assertion in verse 6: hos en morph theou huparchn (who [Christ] always and continually subsisting in the very nature and substance God; authors translation). 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. 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. Official Names and Membership (estimates): Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church of God (AOHCG)-13,000 Why did I do this? The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all (2 Cor. Oneness Pentecostalism have discounted, distorted or dismissed the Three-in-One doctrine of the Trinity, as found in classical Christian theism. There Are Different Kinds of Tongues Phillip asked him, Show us the Father, Lord, and it will be enough for us. Jesus replied that Phillip should not need to ask this question, because, He who has seen me has seen the Father. Oneness Pentecostals will argue that Jesus was saying that he is the Father. If you are going to claim that there is a pattern in the book of Acts wherein everybody who is filled with the Spirit also speaks in tongues, you have a problem, because that pattern is broken on two occasions. Though, this would also be too simplistic of a reading. 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. He coyly answered that he believed in one God who manifests himself in three ways: the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Pray and trust the Holy Spirit to lead you as you share. What Is Pentecostal Oneness? - Christianity.com The Trinitarians won the majority and a "Statement of Fundamental Truths" was adopted that affirmed the Trinity. Many trinitarians, unfortunately, have never heard of these arguments before. 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. Oneness Pentecostals are vehement anti-trinitarians who commonly maintain that the doctrine of the trinity states that there are three gods. Trinity Versus Baptism In Jesus Name? How To Talk To Oneness Pentecostals asserting that God is one person) and (b) the basic theological errors of Oneness theology (e.g., denying the deity of the Son). Noted Greek scholar Daniel Wallace provides the precise meaning of the preposition para followed by the dative: In general, the dative uses suggest proximity or nearness. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique UPCI: Apostolic Bible Institute-St. Paul, Minn. 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. Pentecostals are so certain of this logic that many consider it to be a key teaching of the Christian faith. References of the Son coming down from the heavenappear eight times in John chapter 6 alone! It is certainly possible that various cultures developed the basic design arrangement independently. [2] Cf. There is one God who is eternally present in three persons, and his name is YHWH. , Paperback People who have had negative encounters with Oneness Pentecostals usually complain about: Legalism. 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? The classic statement of Trinitarian doctrine is that there is One God who exists eternally in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. : They maintain that the only real person in the Godhead is Jesus. However, since in Oneness theology Jesus is both Father and Son, Jesus cannot be properly Mediator between two partiesGod the Father and man. They believe that Jesus and the Father are one essential person, though operating as different modes. Books Refuting Oneness Pentecostal Beliefs - Spiritual Abuse Consider this, Trinitarians, not Oneness believers, conducted all of the major revivals worldwide. If you are interested in learning, I recommend you view my series Oneness Pentecostal Heresy. Oneness View Seriously Flawed with v. 9) out and then pretext into them a modalistic understandingwe call this eisegesis. What is Oneness doctrine? | GotQuestions.org In point of fact, for hundreds of years Christians have been using the triquetra a symbol that proclaims the doctrine of the Trinity. 4200 North Point Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30022, Employment Media & Public Relations NAMB Store. They are Acts 2:4, 10:44-46, and 19:6. Mark 16:17: These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will speak with new tongues Present the basic plan of salvation and encourage the Oneness Pentecostal to receive Jesus Christ as his or her personal Lord and Savior. Interacting with Oneness Pentecostals - Apologetics Index Oneness theology distorts and thus rejects the biblical concept of the Son being Mediator (Intercessor) between the Father and men (cf. Third, how could we recognize tongues for edification as opposed to the gift of tongues? is a must-read for any serious-minded Christian who wants to be better informed and better equipped to sanctify Christ as Lord . In Revelation 5:13, the Lamb and the Father are presented as two distinct objects of divine worship, as they are clearly differentiated by the repetition of the article t: To Him who sits (t kathmen [lit. That the Son was the Creator clearly disproves the Oneness position. Moreover, significant Christian church councils affirmed the Trinity and explicitly rejected Oneness doctrine: e.g., Council of Nicaea (325); Chalcedon Creed (A.D. 451); Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381); etc. In this episode I interact with " A Solution to Dale Tuggy's Argument against Oneness Pentecostal Christology " - a blog post by Skylar McManus. 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). 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). These are great questions and wonderful references. comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment . If you were to join a Oneness Pentecostal church, what would your experience be? If we were in the Court of Law, it would be dismissed as evidence. Edited by Daniel G. Reid. His insight is edifying. What Michael Burgos Jr. has produced in Against Oneness Pentecostalism is a helpful book for pastors or churchmen needing a polemical approach against the anti-Trinitarians embedded in our communities and occasionally, our churches. At the time Boyd was full of zeal and all sorts of emotion, which comes out on nearly every page of Oneness . 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. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998. By 1916, oneness views were being expounded by some ministers in the Assemblies of God (AOG) denomination. Both Oneness believers and Trinitarians agree that the Father is invisible and does not have a physical body. Unlike Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, Oneness Pentecostals teach both that there is one God and that Jesus is fully God. Oneness folks like yourself typically cherry-pick passages (esp. Zen is the ultimate self-help because it helps you see that the self does not exist. Michael Burgos, is a modern Pharisee. the God)], and [kai] the fellowship of the [tou] Holy Spirit be with you all. . This is an important reminder of the need to respond to contemporary . arguments against oneness pentecostals - bmc.org.za 1:21-22; 13:14; 1 Pet. : Trinitarian who is struggling with the Oneness doctrine. . Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. Oneness Pentecostals declare that the Godhead consists of only one Person and deny the traditional doctrine of the Trinity. In my opinion it is better than Burgos' Against Oneness Pentecostals, Boyd's Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity. The UPCI was organized in 1945 with the union of two predominately white groups started earlier in the century. Paul, too, regularly uses different prepositions to clearly differentiate the Father from the Son. Second, they argue that what is said about God the Father is also said of Jesus Christ. But that is not quite the point of the argument that I am making. 'Jesus Only' Isn't Enough - Christianity Today 50 This is the bread which comes down ek tou ouranou, so that one may eat of it and not die. The Distortion of the Trinity: An Investigation of the Trinity as God is absolutely and unqualifiedly one. Paul said these things are spiritually discerned. . Paper. For example, many in UPCI consider the writings of Frank Ewart and John G. Scheppe as authoritative. Now, I recognize that this may be vulnerable to the counter-strike that the author simply did not record them speaking in tongues, but they probably still did. Atlanta: Atlanta Christian Apologetics Project, 1994. This is clearly a reference to baptism in water and baptism of the Spirit, right? John 3:5 should not be read in a vacuum. Christian Outlook (PAW), AOHCG: Berean Christian Bible College-Birmingham, Ala. 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. In conclusion, the Triquetra has been used historically by all kinds of groups to mean different things. The Contender for the Faith (COLJF) Significantly, there are two instances in which that pattern is broken. Please try again. 6. 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. There are many more biblical objections that could be mentioned. v. 6), they could really see (i.e., know/recognize, cf. 8:6; 12:4-6; 2 Cor. By promoting the Son as a temporary mode or a role of the unitarian deity whose life started in Bethlehem, denies the Son, as well as the Father. 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 . 4:4). In point of fact, The triquetra is a very old symbol and dates back perhaps to around 500 BC. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique II. There is only one true God. Regardless, handling snakes or drinking poison is a misuse of that Scripture and has resulted in the deaths of many practitioners. John 10:30: I and the Father are one. The assumption that Jesus is never referred to as the Father is incorrect. Oneness Pentecostals brand themselves apostolic. They will suggest that they are following the model of the earliest apostles. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are roles in God's plan of redemption, not intrinsic distinctions or distinct persons. The block of Oneness ministers present urged against such a move but was overruled. 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. 1986 Oneness Symposium Tape 7- "UPCI: Christian or a Cult?" Robert Sabin Watch on Colossians 2:9 does not teach that the totality of the Godhead was in the body of Jesus, but rather that Jesus embodied the totality of the divine nature and God is totally revealed in Him. The Hidden Cult of Oneness Pentecostalism. Oneness theology rejects the personhood of the Holy Spirit. If he and the Father are one, does that necessarily mean that he is the Father? Read the entire account. They are one in being but distinct in person. However, there are only a few places throughout the book of Acts wherein people speak in tongues. That may be the case. 6:4) has the strict denotative meaning of absolute solitude. It says that one must be born of water. But what does it mean to be born of water? 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 . 6. Oneness Pentecostalism: Heresy, Not Hairsplitting Thus, they are often referred to as the Jesus Only Movement. 2. The above example is typical of Questions Oneness Pentecostals Don't ask. It is enough for the disciples to see Jesus because they share a divine essence. They were strongly rejected by the denominations council that year, and the AOG adopted a strong trinitarian stance in its statement of faith. It is very well organized. After that time, a number of oneness sects formed, most of which were predominately African-American. In the Gospels, Jesus referred to the Father over two hundred times as someone other than Himself, thus, as a distinct person. Dan. Church of Our Lord Jesus of the Apostolic Faith (COLJF)-30,000 also Walter Bauers, A Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament, 3rd ed. When Peter obeyed the command of Matthew 28:19, he recited the words, In the name of Jesus. From this cross-reference, it will follow that the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is Jesus. In verse 17, he refers to the Holy Spirit as he and him. Is it really coherent to think that in the next verse, he would refer to the Holy Spirit as himself? Some scholars believe it to be Celtic in origin, and it is sometimes called the Irish Trinity Knot. Scripture presents in plain and normal language that the preexistent person of the Son was sent from the Father (e.g., John 3:13; 16-17; 6:33, 38, 44, 46, 50-51; 62; 8:23, 38, 42, 57-58; 16:28; Gal. Oneness Theology - Explaining the differences between their beliefs and ours. 9780692644065: Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical
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