To be sure, Modalism embraces another Jesus, another Gospel, and another Spirit. For this reason, many Christians have difficulty seeing anything wrong with the Oneness position. . Salvation is entirely based on grace through faith in Christ. Is this even a good argument that Jesus was God? Example: in Isaiah 54:5, Maker is plural in Hebrew, lit., Makers; same with Psalm 149:2 where Maker is in the plural in Hebrew. The Bible Way News Voice (Bible Way) Answering A Few Common Oneness Pentecostal Arguments The argument isn't against modesty, but that the descriptions the New Testament gives are examples from the first century and aren't universal prohibitions for every time and culture . Oneness Pentecostals will point to John 3:5 as evidence of that. Charles R. Koester . distinguished fr. Acts 2:38 must be read in context and in light of Jesus clear command in Matthew 28:19. 7. So, if you are going to mount an argument on the basis of Mark 16:17 for the necessity of tongues, you would have to mount an argument for the necessity of resisting a snake bite. It is our duty to go into the world, preach the gospel to all nations, make disciples, and baptize those disciples in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 4200 North Point Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30022, Employment Media & Public Relations NAMB Store. Unlike Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, Oneness Pentecostals teach both that there is one God and that Jesus is fully God. 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 - Schisms and Sects But in verse 5, he says that he wishes everybody spoke in tongues, indicating that everybody does not speak in tongues. He claims the symbol used by trinitarians is demonic. In point of fact, The triquetra is a very old symbol and dates back perhaps to around 500 BC. Thus, those churches adhering to its basic doctrines cannot be regarded as authentically Christian. ' Note the first person plural verbs (eleusometha, We will come, and poisometha, We will make). [5] Beisner, Jesus Only Churches, 34. 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 But these do suffice in showing that the Bible affirms that God is triune, and militates against Oneness unitarianism. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. 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? 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. Acquire a basic knowledge of Oneness Pentecostals' beliefs and practices. Every time somebody is saved throughout the book of Acts, we will see them speaking in tongues. 45:6-7; Hos. If God is unitarian, why are there so many plural descriptions in the OT (viz. Witnessing to Oneness Pentecostals: 1. 42:8), which shows that the glory that the Son had was in together in the presence of the Father. 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.. Pentecostals hold that believers do gain saving faith when they come to Christ. There are many other passages where this construction applies clearly denoting distinction between the persons in the Trinity (e.g., 1 Thess. Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2018. 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. Thus, the person of the Son of Man was in heaven prior to being sent. In my opinion it is better than Burgos' Against Oneness Pentecostals, Boyd's Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity. 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. [1] In Phil. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Michael R. Burgos is an American theologian, author, and pastor. 1:3). Still not understanding (i.e., by knowing Jesus they know and see the Father), Philip says to Jesus, Show us the Father (v. 8). The Other Pentecostals - Rick Alan Ross Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Bowman, Robert M., Jr. Oneness Pentecostals and the Name of Jesus, paper. 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. As marked out below, Jesus also differentiates Himself from God the Holy Spirit. the subject who is speaking or who is logically understood. Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability Accredited. How Can a Pastor Stay Engaged in Apologetics? They maintain that God exists in two modes, as the Father in heaven, and as Jesus the Son on earth. Interacting with Oneness Pentecostals - Apologetics Index Further, how do you know that you do not merely possess the gift of tongues? Grammatically, when the preposition para (with) is followed by the dative case (as in this verse: para seaut, para soi), especially in reference to persons, it indicates near, beside, or in the presence of.. that that calendar in your office and/or house and/or in the rooms of your children, are filled with symbols of pagan gods (all days and names of months were named after pagan gods). Also, only that the Son was God can He God make this request/command to the Father, not mere man. 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? 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. Third, how could we recognize tongues for edification as opposed to the gift of tongues? Therefore, we may conclude that Deuteronomy 6:4 and the multiple proof-texts for monotheism do not represent a good argument against the trinity. Oneness Pentecostalism have discounted, distorted or dismissed the Three-in-One doctrine of the Trinity, as found in classical Christian theism. Answer: Before time. It is noticeably absent. Great book with in depth analysis about the Oneneness movement faults both historically and biblically. First, that seems to be an ad hoc measure to circumvent the meaning of the text. In 1913, one popular teacher, R.E. Oneness Pentecostal articles - Let Us Reason (see above). 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. Contributing Writer 2022 13 Jun Second, they argue that what is said about God the Father is also said of Jesus Christ. There is one God who is eternally present in three persons, and his name is YHWH. Good works and holy living are the natural responses of salvation already received-not its cause (see Eph. Of course, this is a mischaracterization. It is never used apart from God's incarnation, however; it never refers to deity Virtually all Oneness churches reject that water baptism should be done in the *triune* formal as instructed by Jesus in Matthew 28:19, rather, as they insist, it should be dome in the name of Jesus only. If an individual believes that there are three gods, then they have, in effect, denied the doctrine of the trinity. Further, the triquetra has been found on Indian heritage sites that are over 5,000 years old; found on carved stones in Northern Europe dating from A.D. 8th cent. He said that God the Father was the One True God of the Old Testament. But for a deeper understanding, please view my other posts on this important subject. 1986 Oneness Symposium Tape 7- "UPCI: Christian or a Cult?" Robert Sabin Watch on 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. Christian Outlook (PAW), AOHCG: Berean Christian Bible College-Birmingham, Ala. The Bible teaches that the one God exists eternally in three separate and distinct Persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Let's look at the Foursquare Church and United Pentecostal Church International and see how hey differ. Oneness theology distorts and thus rejects the biblical concept of the Son being Mediator (Intercessor) between the Father and men (cf. This movement first emerged in America around 1914 as the result of doctrinal disputes within the nascent Pentecostal movement and claims . 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. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique by Michael Burgos Jr. - A second book by the author addressing Oneness beliefs, released in July 2016. They are manifestations that one God takes on, sometimes simultaneously. He argues throughout for . , Publisher Was the Trinity Conceived in the 4th Century? Biblical Response: The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God (see 2 Tim. Modern Oneness Pentecostals garner support for their modalistic view by interpreting Matthew28:19 in conjunction with Acts2:38. . No amount of good works, moral living, or church membership guarantees salvation. Does The Old Testament Favor Oneness Pentecostalism? 2. 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.? 4. (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. plural nouns, adjectives, verbs, prepositions) to describe the one God? the God)], and [kai] the fellowship of the [tou] Holy Spirit be with you all. . 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] BDAG defines allos here as pert[aining] to that which is other than some other entity, other . 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. (as seen above). 5. Please try again. Acquire a basic knowledge of Oneness Pentecostals beliefs and practices. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Well, in verse 18, Jesus is talking about the resurrection. The trinity is found even earlier especially the writings of Jesus being God as the son pof God.The trinity was udsed before Tertullian or Irenaeus debated with Oneness . 1:17), talk to each other (see John 11:41-42; 12:28; 17:1-26), and know each other (see Matt. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. The proper mode is immersion in the triune name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. A Definitive Look at Oneness Theology: In the Light of Biblical Other preachers, such as Frank J. Ewart and John G. Scheppe, joined McAlister in his non-trinitarian perspective. Oneness movements emphases on personal holiness and healthy lifestyles are commendable. It is a symbol of ones identification with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 3. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. Oneness theology rejects the personhood of the Holy Spirit. Just as they often say that God is one, Jesus also says that he and the Father are one. It would be to cherry-pick the verse that fits into ones doctrine. Is there any practical difference at all? His will is one with the will of the Father. Well, Oneness Pentecostalism has a lot of subtleties. If we were in the Court of Law, it would be dismissed as evidence. Have a clear understanding of your faith and the Bible. Hence, exegetically these passages do not indicate that the Son was a mere instrument of creation (as Jehovahs Witnesses and Mormons believe), nor, as Oneness teachers argue, these passages indicate that the Son was only a thought or plan in the Fathers mind when the Father (Jesus divine nature) created all things. John 1:18; Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. As with other Christian symbols and Christian holidays (e.g., Christmas, Easter, cross, etc. 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 . . Be prepared to explain biblically why you do not believe these are necessary ingredients for salvation or eternal security. Grammatically, when dia is followed by the genitive (as in these passages), the preposition indicates agency (cf. Oneness theology is the doctrine that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are not distinct persons. Thus, when He died, only His human nature died. In this piece he critically interacts with the following argument of mine ( from this blog post ). 2:16-17; 1 John 2:22-23). I have a friend who is try to understand he trinity. One cannot have the Father except through the Son, Jesus Christ: Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also (1 John 2:23; see also John 17:3). Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2021. Oneness objections, to the Trinity, Department of Christian Defense Use Amazon Smile for all your purchases to support the Department of Christian Defense. There are tongues for edification (this one is necessary for salvation) and the gift of tongues (this one is not necessary for salvation). In the book of Isaiah, he was targeting polytheists; pagan idolaters. 3:11; 1 John 1:3; 2:22-23; Rev. 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. . 6. However, there are only a few places throughout the book of Acts wherein people speak in tongues. So, he establishes that he is speaking of tongues for edification. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique : Closed-Mindedness How To Be A Good Agnostic Skepticism is Not Worthy of Belief Faith Has Its Reasons A Balanced Perspective on Reason and Faith Investigating Faith: Placing Religious Truth Back Into the Arena of Knowledge Eternity is Not Forever: An Argument for Theism Responding to the Jesus' Words Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. The Oneness Pentecostal is making the claim that everybody who was filled with the Spirit also spoke in tongues. He doesnt fully understand the Christology or Godhead. 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. Trinitarians could easily affirm that they are one God, they share the same essence. If he and the Father are one, does that necessarily mean that he is the Father? Oneness Pentecostalism: Heresy, Not Hairsplitting On that first day, something looking like split tongues of fire fell from the sky onto the followers of Jesus. They are not three distinct persons. Moreover, when it found its way in the twentieth century, departing from the Trinitarian Pentecostals, it was again rejected by the church. 31; A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures, 4:478-79; and cf. The following chapters are spent systematically refuting the Oneness doctrine of God as well as their arguments against the doctrine of the Trinity. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. 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 . 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. Oneness Pentecostals have a distorted notion of the Trinity and need someone to show them the scriptural teaching of the Trinity, David Kowalski writes. Oneness Versus Trinity - Spiritual Abuse Well, first, most Christians will point out that this verse is part of the long ending of Mark, and therefore it is not Scripture. So they will use this proof-text that they think Of course, this is a mischaracterization. Pentecostal Church of Apostolic Faith (PCAF)-25,000 I am beginning to suspect that, since Christianity is unique in . 1:1-13; Jude 1:1; Rev. If you were to ask a Oneness Pentecostal to provide a proof-text for Oneness Theology, it is very likely that first passage that you will hear is Deuteronomy 6:4, which is Israels shema, essentially the thesis statement on the paper of the Jews. This is an important text for Oneness Pentecostals because it seems to use parlance that they are familiar with. ), we embrace the Christian significancenot its origin. 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. Note also that in 14:10, Jesus clearly differentiates Himself from the Father when He declares: The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. To reiterate, the undisputable fact is this: not one time in the New Testament does Jesus (or any other person) state that He Himself is the Father. 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. 6:16). 2 John 1:3- Jesus is the Son of the Father). No one has ascended into heaven but He who descended from [the] heaven [ek tou ouranou]: the Son of Man (John 3:13). The block of Oneness ministers present urged against such a move but was overruled. Does the long ending of Mark vindicate the Oneness Pentecostal position about speaking in tongues? 6 In spite of the (unclear) origins, the Triquetra has a rich meaning that has been used by the early church to signify the Trinity. Isa. I will come to you. 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? 8. 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. This view of the Trinity is connected with Oneness Pentecostals' Christology. But I thought that it would be useful to assimilate many of the arguments into one post so that you may have a quick reference. All modern writings or revelations must be analyzed in light of sound principles of biblical interpretation. Further, the Father is spirit. "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. 3. The term *with* is para in Greek. 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.. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Oneness/Jesus-only proponents will often say that this is a new revelation that came sometime during or after the Azusa Street Revival of 1906, which is generally regarded to be the birth of modern Pentecostalism. Well, I think so. Its pagan, with pagan origins. Some scholars believe it to be Celtic in origin, and it is sometimes called the Irish Trinity Knot. The church has branded Oneness theology as heretical since the days of Noetus at the end of the second century. 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. ISBN-10: 0692644067. As we read through the New Testament, we will encounter what boggled on Why Calvinists And Catholics Share The Nicene Faith, on Why Charismatics Should Cut Glossolalia (Tongues) Out of Their Theology, on Why Christians Should Empty Themselves of Kenotic Christology, The Shortcoming of Christian Apologetics From An Apologist. Pentecostal Theology - The Gospel Coalition 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. They were strongly rejected by the denominations council that year, and the AOG adopted a strong trinitarian stance in its statement of faith. It may be that is the name under which we are baptized. Atlanta: Atlanta Christian Apologetics Project, 1994. Publish Date: Jul 20, 2016. Hence, it is God the Son who is the very image of the invisible Father (cf. Over fifty times, the Father, and Jesusare presented as explicitly distinct in the same passages (cf. Bishop Thomas Dexter "T.D." Jakes (born in 1957) is a popular black preacher and evangelist who is the main pastor of The Potter's House church in Dallas, Texas (founded in 1996), with a congregation of over thirty thousand members. 2:6-11). 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. Further, the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus should not be overlooked. . : The Son said that He *HAD* glory *before* timewith (para) the Father. Pentecostal Christianity has more than 700 denominations. Note that while Boyd offers sound arguments against Oneness Pentecostalism in this book, he elsewhere expresses belief in open theism, an unorthodox view. Throughout the passage, it is clear that Jesus is speaking of someone else. They accomplish this by adhering to modalism, more commonly referred to as oneness theology. After all, it says that one must be born of water and Spirit. Oneness Pentecostal 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. 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). It is certainly possible that various cultures developed the basic design arrangement independently. The Hidden Cult of Oneness Pentecostalism - MarketFaith Ministries First and third person personal pronouns and verb references: Throughout John 14 and 16 Jesus clearly differentiates Himself from the Father. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique. Oneness Pentecostalism constitutes one of the world's largest non-trinitarian expressions of Christianity. Nonetheless, historic Christianity maintains that the doctrine of the Trinity (or tri-unity of God) is taught in Scripture. Oneness Pentecostal Sources of Authority: Oneness Pentecostals of all branches affirm the authority of the Bible for doctrine. Melton, J. Gordon. 1:2). Now I will switch gears from Oneness to their view of water baptism. If an individual believes that there are three gods, then they have, in effect, denied the doctrine of the trinity. However, this doesn't fit with this passage, because these still hadn't received the Spirit at all. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique , ISBN-13 Is Jesus the Father and the Holy Spirit? - Christian Research Institute The name of the Holy Spirit is Jesus. 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. comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment . ", ASIN Trinity Versus Baptism In Jesus Name? How To Talk To Oneness Pentecostals Many trinitarians, unfortunately, have never heard of these arguments before. 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. 5. 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. Is Oneness Pentecostalism a cult? Should it be considered a - reddit Westminster Confession of Faith, 1:9. Baptism is not essential to ones reception of salvation. To see our price, add these items to your cart. Tate Reeves did in late August. A Definitive Look at Oneness Theology: In the Light of Biblical The only thing that keeps me from fully accepting Oneness at this point is Christology. Following these beginnings, Pentecostal preachers and churches spread rapidly coalescing into various denominations and factions. Apostolic Missionary Institute-Oshawa, Ont. 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 Pentecostals and the Trinity - Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth Share your personal testimony of Gods grace and your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. I also could see many of the arguments used against Praxeas by Tertullian . 10 Questions to ask Oneness PENTECOSTALS - Department of Christian Defense There are three problems with this worth pointing out. 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.