Nonetheless, historic Christianity maintains that the doctrine of the Trinity (or tri-unity of God) is taught in Scripture. Please try again. 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. In Acts 4:31 and 8:17, people are filled with the Spirit and tongues are simply not mentioned. In addition, many Oneness advocates rely on the unbiblical revelations received by various Oneness leaders whom they regard as divinely inspired or anointed interpreters of the Bible. century, by a man named Praxeus, who is known from Tertullian's Against Praxeus. Something went wrong. This movement first emerged in America around 1914 as the result of doctrinal disputes within the nascent Pentecostal movement and claims . He does so by using first person personal pronouns (I, Me, Mine) and verb references to refer to Himself and third person personal pronouns (He, Him, His) and verb references to refer to His Father. Grammatically, when dia is followed by the genitive (as in these passages), the preposition indicates agency (cf. Today scholars estimate there are between 1.5 and 5 million Oneness Pentecostals worldwide, and they make up . Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability Accredited. 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. dual nature of Christ," but my heart sank when I found nothing which properly explained these things against a Trinitarian argument. . Modalism rips the heart out of Christianityit denies Christ by misrepresenting Him. 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. Though, this would also be too simplistic of a reading. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. Customize your subscription to get the latest of what matters most to you! Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. For example, many in UPCI consider the writings of Frank Ewart and John G. Scheppe as authoritative. Also, throughout chap 14 Jesus distinguishes Himself from the Father. 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].. [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. 4:30; Heb. Oneness author W. L. Vincent writes "The argument against the "Son being his own Father" is a red herring. 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 Oneness Pentecostals believe that the trinity is ONLY one entity. . (BDAG, 46). In point of fact, for hundreds of years Christians have been using the triquetra a symbol that proclaims the doctrine of the Trinity. This is far, far more plausible than thinking that Jesus switched between him and I.. Thus, any objection to the triquetra as use by Christians would be inconsistent and historically ignorant lacking any meaningful basic research on the triquetra and its origins in religious and non-religious usage. Biblical Response: The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God (see 2 Tim. Indiana Bible College-Seymour, Ind. What arguments do they use to support this proposition? 32 To illustrate their arguments against Oneness groups, the following quotes from a book on cults by Bruce Tucker, an evangelical author, are People who have had negative encounters with Oneness Pentecostals usually complain about: Legalism. 1:33): 'I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he . First, it is not an assumption- For nowhere did Jesus ever state that He was the same person as the Father, nor did anyone in the NT ever call him Father. 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) Because I live, you also will live. There was a problem loading your book clubs. In John 4:14, talking to the woman at the well, Jesus said, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. In John 7:38, Jesus referred to Rivers of living water. This is a theme throughout the book of John. 42:8), which shows that the glory that the Son had was in together in the presence of the Father. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 2020. There are four exegetical features, which provide a cogent refutation to the Oneness handling of this passage. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. This is the greatest weakness of the Oneness position: For if the Son created, then, He eternally existed with the Father. an outline of some early heresies in the Church. Virtually all of the great biblical scholars, theologians, and Greek grammarians, historically have been and presently are Trinitarian, not Onenessfor obvious reasons. Therefore, when they see Jesus, they see the only way to, and an exact representation of, the invisible unseen Father, for Jesus makes Him known, He explains or exegetes Him. The classic statement of Trinitarian doctrine is that there is One God who exists eternally in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 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. the God)], and [kai] the fellowship of the [tou] Holy Spirit be with you all. . In spite of the (unclear) origins, the Triquetra has a rich meaning that has been used by the early church to signify the Trinity. Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2016. 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? Biblically, only Jesus, God the Son, can rightfully represent the Father (because He is God a distinct person from the the Father), and represent man because He is fully man. No Christian used it as a pagan symbol, in the same way no Christian uses a calendar today on their wall to exalt the pagan gods of the days and months it representsthus, calendars were factually derived from pagan in origins. Does the long ending of Mark vindicate the Oneness Pentecostal position about speaking in tongues? Oneness Theology - Explaining the differences between their beliefs and ours. That God the Father and Jesus are inseperably the same person/being/entity/substance/everything. 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. The Son is and has been eternally subsisting as the perfect and exact representation (charaktr) of the very nature (hupostases) of Him (autou, of Him, not as Him; Heb. Well, first, most Christians will point out that this verse is part of the long ending of Mark, and therefore it is not Scripture. 7:9-14; John 1:1, 18; 6:37-39, 44; 14:23; 17:5; 2 John 1:3; 2:22; Heb. Further, the idiom in the name of does not always refer to a reciting of the name. Please try again. Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. 2:5). 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? 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. Thanks! But again Only by removing this passage from the document and immediate context can Oneness teachers posit a modalistic Oneness understanding. AGAINST ONENESS PENTECOSTALISM. In Isaiah 9:6, the text says, His name shall be mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace, wonderful counselor. This is his name, despite that Oneness Pentecostals would identify them as titles. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. 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. In point of fact, The triquetra is a very old symbol and dates back perhaps to around 500 BC. How can you use Mark 16:17 to establish tongues as a criteria for salvation without using an absolute double-standard? Preexistence of the Son - Is the Son pre-existing like the Father or did the Father become the Son. Well, this would be to ignore all of the prepositions of this passage. Oneness Pentecostals are vehement anti-trinitarians who commonly maintain that the doctrine of the trinity states that there are three gods. . the subject who is speaking or who is logically understood. Its pagan, with pagan origins. 3:7.). Jesus is a perfect representation of the person of the Father. , Dimensions So they will use this proof-text that they think 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. One could be baptized in the name of Jesus without actually reciting the words In the name of Jesus. For the Oneness Pentecostal to read a deep concern of baptismal formulas into the text is to retroject their situation onto the apostles. 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. To be sure, Modalism embraces another Jesus, another Gospel, and another Spirit. [{"displayPrice":"$24.99","priceAmount":24.99,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"24","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"99","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"MxOZDAU1BM3oO3G4F%2BCtYP9qq0KgtF35LSLxTDj%2FZkLKjLEWTC2zoYxG%2BjsG5GdXQmEMn%2FvxuhpKGOvcBcFOdka0PXEu6xoyQMfBfOKUEILpCC90qFvRcgkCAwt3TFW6ij0eD4l%2BfdSw6ayv8kPjlg%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW"}]. Biblical Response: The Oneness Pentecostal view of God is similar to the ancient heresy of Modalism. I also could see many of the arguments used against Praxeas by Tertullian . 10. ", ASIN John 1:14). 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 . I. Baptism is not essential to ones reception of salvation. 6:4) has the strict denotative meaning of absolute solitude. Today it is predominately African-American and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Pentecostals hold that believers do gain saving faith when they come to Christ. Thus, those churches adhering to its basic doctrines cannot be regarded as authentically Christian. Number eight is this: "The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking . Recently a well-known pastor, television preacher, and best-selling author was asked about his beliefs about God. There are some who are trained very well in Oneness theology and know how to maneuver through the various arguments and counter-arguments. 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. 14:7, 10, 16; etc.). . 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 . . (for in Oneness theology *only Jesus as the Father mode existed prior to Bethlehem). If an individual believes that there are three gods, then they have, in effect, denied the doctrine of the trinity. It does not seem at all implausible that Jesus was referring to living water in John 3:5. Other preachers, such as Frank J. Ewart and John G. Scheppe, joined McAlister in his non-trinitarian perspective. Michael Burgos Jr., Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique (Winchester, CT: Church Militant, 2016). The name of the Holy Spirit is Jesus. The Son is speaking of something that He had, that He shared with the Father; the Son is not speaking of something that the Father had (in view). 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). As with other Christian symbols and Christian holidays (e.g., Christmas, Easter, cross, etc. With scholarly precision, Michael Burgos has provided an incisive evaluation of Oneness exegesis and theology while accurately representing the teachings of Oneness Pentecostals. While this is not a good argument that Jesus is the Father, it is a good argument that Jesus is God. Michael R. Burgos is an American theologian, author, and pastor. After all, he did not say, I am the Father, in this verse. With thanks to Baker Academic for this review copy! 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 . Moreover, when it found its way in the twentieth century, departing from the Trinitarian Pentecostals, it was again rejected by the church. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998. They are one in being but distinct in person. 14. a. Spatial: near, beside, b. Read the entire account. This book is well researched and more than enough to satisfy any challenges to the Trinitarian position. Be prepared to explain biblically why you do not believe these are necessary ingredients for salvation or eternal security. But you have the symbol!!! In the Gospels, Jesus referred to the Father over two hundred times as someone other than Himself, thus, as a distinct person. 12:11; Eph. Nevertheless, they are the same person, not two separate persons. 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? [5] Beisner, Jesus Only Churches, 34. It is knowing The Bible endorses slavery and oppression. Has anyone ever heard this before? But the argument that Jesus Christ is the secret answer to the riddle, "What is the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy . Oneness Pentecostal churches are, therefore, cultic in nature and outside the theological parameters of historic Christianity. 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) . Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Behind this question lay a criticism of the commonly-held Trinitarian Pentecostal argument that the name of Jesus in baptismal texts from . Now I will switch gears from Oneness to their view of water baptism. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. When they see Jesus raised from the dead, they will realize that he is in the Father and the Father is in him. 4. Hence, the Son emptied Himself by means of His incarnation (cf. Christian Outlook (PAW), AOHCG: Berean Christian Bible College-Birmingham, Ala. And over two hundred times, Scripture speaks of the Holy Spirit and Jesus as distinct persons- and Never once does Scripture call Jesus the Father or the Holy Spirit.. 2. 6th ed. Acquire a basic knowledge of Oneness Pentecostals beliefs and practices. Zen is the ultimate self-help because it helps you see that the self does not exist. Please try again. . Acquire a basic knowledge of Oneness Pentecostals' beliefs and practices. 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 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. Official Names and Membership (estimates): Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church of God (AOHCG)-13,000 Disagreement over the Trinity vs. Oneness of God and water baptism caused the original split of Oneness Pentecostals from the Assemblies of God in 1916. So Christians should strive to do the objective research, in order that they not provide bad untruthful arguments and appear unread. 7. Please give me some verses that challenge this thought? . His insight is edifying. 45:6-7; Hos. They are manifestations that one God takes on, sometimes simultaneously. SeeWas the Trinity Conceived in the 4th Century? Skylar McManus shares about being raised Oneness Pentecostal and moving from Oneness to Orthodoxy. 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. II. Some scholars believe it to be Celtic in origin, and it is sometimes called the Irish Trinity Knot. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique Paperback - March 17, 2020 by Michael R. Burgos (Author) 15 ratings Hardcover $35.00 1 New from $35.00 Paperback $24.99 1 Used from $19.04 2 New from $22.99 Oneness Pentecostalism constitutes one of the world's largest non-trinitarian expressions of Christianity. This seems to disconfirm the idea that all believers speak in tongues. It is noticeably absent. Oneness Pentecostalism have discounted, distorted or dismissed the Three-in-One doctrine of the Trinity, as found in classical Christian theism. In conclusion, the Triquetra has been used historically by all kinds of groups to mean different things. Trinitarians could easily affirm that they are one God, they share the same essence. . Suppose that modalism is true about the Son. Is there an argument that you would like to see addressed? And when did the Son have this glory? Oneness theology distorts and thus rejects the biblical concept of the Son being Mediator (Intercessor) between the Father and men (cf. The Apostle John was very concerned as to the false beliefs and teachings of Jesus Christ, as he gives this warning: Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also (1 John 2:23). The triquetra symbol is also found in Norse Viking artifacts such as combs and saddles; found on a Norwegian coin from around the 11th cent. Matthew 28:19 includes the marching orders for Christians. 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. If Jesus is the Father, why is it that Jesus is explicitly referred to as the Son over two hundred times in the NT, and never once is he called 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. Thus, the person of the Son of Man was in heaven prior to being sent. This movement denies the Trinity, arguing instead that Jesus is himself the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Publish Date: Jul 20, 2016. They believe that God is ONE and not one in three persons. 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.? 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. Biblical Response: Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone (see Rom. He was making claims that no mere human could make. 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. This interpretation is not an attempt to understand the text. Matthew 28:19 and Acts 2:38 Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The answers do not represent a *full exegetical presentationrather it simply and basically demonstrates (a) the fundamental Oneness unitarian assumptions (viz. 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). (or that God exist as one person?). Instead, you should focus on the biblical teachings within the text and not use non-biblical philosophy. Michael Burgos builds upon his book "Kiss the Son" and provides an almost exhaustive study, and refutation, of the Oneness (Jesus Only) movement. 2 John 1:3- Jesus is the Son of the Father). That the Son was the Creator clearly disproves the Oneness position. All Rights Reserved. Apostolic Missionary Institute-Oshawa, Ont. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Michael Burgos, is a modern Pharisee. 3. 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. Also, John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17; and Hebrews 1:10-12 teach exegetically that the Son was God, the agent of creation, the Creator, thus preexisting with the Father. Salvation is entirely based on grace through faith in Christ. Oneness movements emphases on personal holiness and healthy lifestyles are commendable. 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. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. There are two basic strategies that Oneness Pentecostals use for arguing for the conclusion that Jesus is God and Father. 5:18). Jesus Only Churches. The Bible indeed teaches the existence of only one God (Deut. Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW)-1,000,000 reported Paul said these things are spiritually discerned. 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. 5. Isa. . 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. 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.. Pray and trust the Holy Spirit to lead you as you share. 2:10). John 3:13; 6:38, 46, 62; 8:23, 38, 42; 16:28). However, to early Christians (and many today), the triquetra symbolized the Trinity (one God, three persons). the Father (in the vocative case, Pater. 8:6; 12:4-6; 2 Cor. If you are interested in learning, I recommend you view my series Oneness Pentecostal Heresy. When it comes to implementing apologetics into the local church, it is important to know that Charles Spurgeon said, Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. 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? He comes from a United Pentecostal, or Oneness Pentecostal, background. The North American Mission Board is not affiliated with SEND International or its SEND events. The Global Witness (UPCI) First, there are no good reasons to think that obedience to this command necessarily entails that those words are recited. In many debates and particularly in his book The Oneness of God, Dr. David K. Bernard argued that the declarations in the Old Testament are so powerful that they dismiss any conception of plurality within the Godhead. [3] BDAG defines allos here as pert[aining] to that which is other than some other entity, other . Second, when did the Son have this glory (which only God has, Isa, 42:8)? 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. 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). Deuteronomy 6:4: Hear, O Israel! PAW: Aenon Bible School-Indianapolis, Ind. Second, it may be said that the name of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit is YHWH. Acts 2:38 must be read in context and in light of Jesus clear command in Matthew 28:19. But they gain the "Spirit baptism" in order to be used powerfully in ministry. On that first day, something looking like split tongues of fire fell from the sky onto the followers of Jesus. 6:16). 2:16-17; 1 John 2:22-23). Of course, this is a mischaracterization. Recall what I said regarding what Oneness Pentecostals believe about being born again. However, since in Oneness theology Jesus is both Father and Son, Jesus cannot be properly Mediator between two partiesGod the Father and man. 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. 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. 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. 50 This is the bread which comes down ek tou ouranou, so that one may eat of it and not die. 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 . I always say at the onset to one like yourself, who make the incorrect uninformed assertion regarding the triquetra symbol being derived from Wicca, paganism, etc.
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