arguments against oneness pentecostals

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? Why did I do this? Further, the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus should not be overlooked. In this article, I will be answering a few common Oneness Pentecostal arguments. 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. Just as they often say that God is one, Jesus also says that he and the Father are one. Note: In this beautiful passage (Jesus high priestly prayer) the Son (for Jesus says, Now, Father) says that He possessed or shared glory with the Father, before time. One possessed the gift of tongues and the other possessed tongues for edification. More than 160 oneness ministers who were expelled from the AOG quickly formed their own alliances to promote their doctrines. . 2:7, the participle labn,(taking as in taking the nature of a servant) is a participle of means (cf. The AmazonSmile Foundation will automatically donate 0.5% of the purchase price to your selected charitable organization. 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. 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). Baptism is not essential to ones reception of salvation. Oneness Pentecostals are vehement anti-trinitarians who commonly maintain that the doctrine of the trinity states that there are three gods. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. , Paperback Oneness movements emphases on personal holiness and healthy lifestyles are commendable. Following these beginnings, Pentecostal preachers and churches spread rapidly coalescing into various denominations and factions. Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW)-1,000,000 reported Scripture quotation marked NKJV is from The New King James Version. 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. It is never used apart from God's incarnation, however; it never refers to deity But what good reasons are there to think that? In my opinion it is better than Burgos' Against Oneness Pentecostals, Boyd's Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity. 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. He holds a BS in Bible and Theology from Lee University, an MA in Theology from the University of Chester (UK), an MA in Biblical and Theological Studies from Belhaven University, and a PhD in Polemical Theology from Forge Theological Seminary. Note the context indicating that the Father sent the person of the Son. In Ephesians 2:18, Paul teaches that by the agency of the Son, Christians have access to the Father by means of the Spirit: For through Him [di autouthe Son] we both have our access in [en] one Spirit to the Father [pros ton patera] (Eph. The reason that I am doing that is because Oneness Pentecostalism is often not understood by trinitarian Christians. John 9:39) the invisible Father (cf. 6. 4. Learn more. 6. If an individual believes that there are three gods, then they have, in effect, denied the doctrine of the trinity. 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). So there are good reasons to think that the disciples were not concerned with the words that were recited but with the power and authority of the Trinity. Several verses are quoted to establish this view, such as Colossians 2:9 (NKJV), For in Him (Jesus) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Oneness theologians would argue that if the Father and the Son were separate, then the Godhead could not fully dwell in Christ. 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? [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. , Dimensions 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. Other preachers, such as Frank J. Ewart and John G. Scheppe, joined McAlister in his non-trinitarian perspective. He argues throughout for . And you are pretexting the passage with no consideration of the context of chap. However, this doesn't fit with this passage, because these still hadn't received the Spirit at all. Paper. They believe that the name of the Lord Jesus is, under the new covenant . Because I live, you also will live. The above example is typical of Questions Oneness Pentecostals Don't ask. How would anybody understand what he is saying? Oneness Pentecostals believe that there is one God and God is one. However, since in Oneness theology Jesus is both Father and Son, Jesus cannot be properly Mediator between two partiesGod the Father and man. As with other Christian symbols and Christian holidays (e.g., Christmas, Easter, cross, etc. How do you know that your family members or your friends do not merely possess the gift of tongues? Throughout the passage, it is clear that Jesus is speaking of someone else. also John 15:26; 16:28). There is no doubt that there is some form of tongues in the Bible. (or that God exist as one person?). But typically, God became a man. The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! v. 6), they could really see (i.e., know/recognize, cf. Is this even a good argument that Jesus was God? This interpretation is not an attempt to understand the text. Pentecostal Church of Apostolic Faith (PCAF)-25,000 The Holy Spirit is not regarded as a person at all, merely a manifestation of Jesus power or a synonym for Him. 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. Throughout time God manifested himself in three ways or "forms" (not persons), as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In this theology, the Father embodies the divine attributes of the godhead and the Son embodies the human aspects. Its pagan, with pagan origins. They were strongly rejected by the denominations council that year, and the AOG adopted a strong trinitarian stance in its statement of faith. Oneness Pentecostals believe that the title "Son" only applied to Christ when he became flesh on earth, but that Christ was the Logos or Mind of the Father prior to his being made human, and not a separate person. [{"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"}]. John 3:5 does not explicitly say that one must be water baptized before entering the kingdom. Before time, with the Father. 3:17; 17:5; John 3:35; 5:20; 2 Pet. 8. This is far, far more plausible than thinking that Jesus switched between him and I.. 1:1-13; Jude 1:1; Rev. What does it mean that Jesus explains the Father? 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. . Of course, this is a mischaracterization. United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) (UCJC-A)-100,000 3:11; 2 Thess. [3] BDAG defines allos here as pert[aining] to that which is other than some other entity, other . The UPCI was organized in 1945 with the union of two predominately white groups started earlier in the century. 7. Historically, for Christians, the Triquetra represents the Trinity, not its supposedly pagan origins. Concerning the baptismal view of the most rigid Oneness Pentecostals, he states, "It is on this issue, theologians say, that Oneness Pentecostals have drifted dangerously toward spiritual elitism and heresy." 14 Indeed, the Oneness view of baptism is lethally flawed. 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. In the Gospels, Jesus referred to the Father over two hundred times as someone other than Himself, thus, as a distinct person. While pastors generally understand apologetics, we often misunderstand the apologist. What's the best argument against oneness Pentecostals, people who believe Jesus is the father, son and Holy Spirit? . Let's look at the Foursquare Church and United Pentecostal Church International and see how hey differ. 1. as well as found on early Germanic coins-with no religious significance at all. It says that one must be born of water. But what does it mean to be born of water? He had never heard anything of being born of water. But the Son, they say, was not really there with the Father before the world was. However, consider the following: First, note that the glory that the *Son* said that He possessed or shared (eichon) was when? Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are roles in God's plan of redemption, not intrinsic distinctions or distinct persons. Unlike Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, Oneness Pentecostals teach both that there is one God and that Jesus is fully God. : However, the Oneness Pentecostal could grant that it is not really Scripture. The Son said that He *HAD* glory *before* timewith (para) the Father. Further, the idiom in the name of does not always refer to a reciting of the name. : There is no grammatical way to disconnect tongues from the rest of the elements of that list. Is there an argument that you would like to see addressed? 15-16), Jesus distinguishes Himself from His Father by using different prepositions. 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. : With scholarly precision, Michael Burgos has provided an incisive evaluation of Oneness exegesis and theology while accurately representing the teachings of Oneness Pentecostals. 7. See what Christian leaders are saying about Against Oneness Pentecostalism: "Michael Burgos has produced a brilliant blend of systematic theology and biblical exegesis with a detailed and thorough discussion of the main passages at the center of the dispute between Oneness Pentecostalism and traditional trinitarianism. So they will use this proof-text that they think (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. 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. 4200 North Point Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30022, Employment Media & Public Relations NAMB Store. Today scholars estimate there are between 1.5 and 5 million Oneness Pentecostals worldwide, and they make up . Its headquarters and publishing firm, the Pentecostal Publishing House, is located at 8855 Dunn Road, Hazelwood, MO 63042. Brother Burgos carefully and respectfully dismantles the misguided half truths of Oneness doctrine. The proper mode is immersion in the triune name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They take this to indicate that Jesus is the Father. As marked out below, Jesus also differentiates Himself from God the Holy Spirit. Oneness Pentecostal churches are, therefore, cultic in nature and outside the theological parameters of historic Christianity. But in spite of where or when it first appeared, it has been associated to a vast number of meanings through time. The triquetra symbol has been found in Norwegian churches dating to the 11th century. Matthew 28:19 includes the marching orders for Christians. Why is drinking poison not a criteria for salvation? 6:4) has the strict denotative meaning of absolute solitude. At the 1986 Oneness Symposium, Robert Sabin addresses the charge of whether the UPCI is Christian group or a cult. 6. If Oneness Pentecostalism is true, how do we avoid the absurd image of Jesus asking himself permission and then sending himself? : Well, Oneness Pentecostalism has a lot of subtleties. The following chapters are spent systematically refuting the Oneness doctrine of God as well as their arguments against the doctrine of the Trinity. Privacy Policy & Copyright Notice. dual nature of Christ," but my heart sank when I found nothing which properly explained these things against a Trinitarian argument. If the Son has not eternally existed with (personally distinct from) the Father why then is the Son presented as the agent of creation, that is, the Creator Himself? If we were in the Court of Law, it would be dismissed as evidence. Again, in its proper sense, a mediator is one who is other than or distinct from the parties, which are being mediated. He said that God the Father was the One True God of the Old Testament. But in verse 5, he says that he wishes everybody spoke in tongues, indicating that everybody does not speak in tongues. Where in the Scripture does it say that God is unitarian? 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) . 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) 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. distinguished fr. Further, turning to 1 John 1:3, not only does John show that believers have fellowship with both the Father and the Son, but the Father and the Son are clearly distinguished as two persons by the repeated article tou (the) and the repeated preposition meta (with): We proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with [meta] us; and indeed our fellowship is with the [meta tou] Father and with [kai meta] His Son [tou huiou], Jesus Christ (see esp. They place much emphasis on the name of God. However, there are only a few places throughout the book of Acts wherein people speak in tongues. Share your personal testimony of Gods grace and your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. 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. 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. "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. I wont give him this web page..too bad. Today it is predominately African-American and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Third, it may be that Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the one name under which we are baptized. $22.00. Behind this question lay a criticism of the commonly-held Trinitarian Pentecostal argument that the name of Jesus in baptismal texts from . There are three problems with this worth pointing out. He says in verse 14 that he will ask the Father, and the Father will send the Holy Spirit. UPCI: Apostolic Bible Institute-St. Paul, Minn. [hereafter BDAG], 225). Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability Accredited. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. But standing by the cross [para t staur] of Jesus were His mother, and His mothers sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.. (as seen above). Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Do not get sidetracked defending your denomination. No single translation or human interpretation can be regarded as infallible. In point of fact, for hundreds of years Christians have been using the triquetra a symbol that proclaims the doctrine of the Trinity. Bowman, Robert M., Jr. Oneness Pentecostals and the Name of Jesus, paper. Oneness theology rejects the doctrine of the Trinity, for they are unitarian (i.e., believes that God exists as one personunipersonal). Oneness theology is the doctrine that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are not distinct persons. The question that we need to ask is one what? Acts 2:38 must be read in context and in light of Jesus clear command in Matthew 28:19. It is the final authority for the Christian on all matters of faith and doctrine. 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. 3. 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. Christian Life College-Stockton, Calif. 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. 2:16-17; 1 John 2:22-23). The Oneness Pentecostal view of God is similar to the ancient heresy of Modalism. 32 To illustrate their arguments against Oneness groups, the following quotes from a book on cults by Bruce Tucker, an evangelical author, are In verse 4, he writes that the person who speaks in tongues edifies himself. 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. 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. The Pattern In The Book of Acts Establishes Our Doctrine 4. I found this web page, looked promising to refute Oneness theology. There is one God who is eternally present in three persons, and his name is YHWH. 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? 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. Modalism rips the heart out of Christianityit denies Christ by misrepresenting Him. I am beginning to suspect that, since Christianity is unique in . Mark 16:18 is part of a disputed portion of Marks text. 2:18). His knowledge of living water from the Old Testament (Jeremiah 2:13, Isaiah 12:3, 58:11, etc) should have informed him. And hey, while we're doing that, let's look at Southe. Most of them encourage their members to dress and live modestly, but do not have specific teachings about hair and skirts. (3rd Edition) is a thoroughly researched critique of Oneness Pentecostalism. 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. But that position seems untenable. It may be that is the name under which we are baptized. He coyly answered that he believed in one God who manifests himself in three ways: the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. There are some who are trained very well in Oneness theology and know how to maneuver through the various arguments and counter-arguments. These false doctrines can affect teachings about justification, sanctification, the role and work of the cross and an understanding of the nature of God. They are manifestations that one God takes on, sometimes simultaneously. 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 . 32, 33, 41, 42, 50, 51-ek tou ouranou;verse 38 apo tou ouranou;and verse 58 came downex ouranou). After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. . By 1916, oneness views were being expounded by some ministers in the Assemblies of God (AOG) denomination. The PAW formed in 1918, but split along racial lines in 1924. Note that while Boyd offers sound arguments against Oneness Pentecostalism in this book, he elsewhere expresses belief in open theism, an unorthodox view. This is agreed by recognized Greek Grammars and recognized Lexicons of the NT such as BDAG, 757. That may be the case. In response, Oneness Pentecostals will tell us that there are different kinds of tongues. Biblical Response: Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone (see Rom. . Today, however, the strongest anti-trinitarian movement known as the Oneness Pentecostals exists as self-proclaimed Evangelicals. 8. 13:14). Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. 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. 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.. Westminster Confession of Faith, 1:9. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1990. 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. They are one in being but distinct in person. 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. . Important Question: If Jesus is the Father, why is there not a single passage that states this in the NT or the OT? Also, throughout chap 14 Jesus distinguishes Himself from the Father. They accomplish this by adhering to modalism, more commonly referred to as oneness theology. How Can a Pastor Stay Engaged in Apologetics? 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? 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. John 3:5 should not be read in a vacuum. 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. 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. 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 . The largest oneness movements today are the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW). Atlanta: Atlanta Christian Apologetics Project, 1994. Thus Saith Putin: Christianity Invaded by the Religious Right, Church Is Not Seminary: Why Young Theologically-Informed 20-Somethings Should Manage Their Expectations of Their Pastors, Why Jesus looked and acted like me, not you, Minimizing The Maximally Great Argument For Arminianism, How apologetics bloggers caused the downfall of the United States, Why Christians should apologize for using apologetics, Why apologetics is not necessary to evangelism, Something Greater Than The Crucifixion Is Here: How Jesus Shocked The Pharisees, Social Issues, Politics & Biblical Ethics. That specific doctrine was foreign to the Old Testament. Acquire a basic knowledge of Oneness Pentecostals' beliefs and practices. They are not three distinct persons. Speaking in tongues, like all other gifts, is distributed sovereignly by the Holy Spirit to those He wills for the equipping and edification of the whole body of Christ (see 1 Cor. 5:13 et al. 12:11; Eph. After all, he did not say, I am the Father, in this verse. What does it mean, then? Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. One way white evangelical Protestants say their faith is against the vaccine is by talking of eternal life, like Mississippi Gov. [1] Glen Davidson, Questions Oneness Pentecostals Don . Many Oneness churches especially the UPCI rejects justification through faith alone by teaching that one must be water baptized (in the name of Jesus only) to be savedwith the evidence, as the UPCI teaches, of speaking in other tongues. 4:4). What arguments do they use to support this proposition? Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 2020. 2:6-11). The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. Publish Date: Jul 20, 2016. As a former Oneness Pentecostal Church member, Home Missionary, Assistant Pastor, Youth Director, and District Youth Board Member, I want to thank Pastor Michael Burgos for writing this fine book. He doesnt fully understand the Christology or Godhead. UCJC: Institute of Biblical Studies-Baltimore, Md. 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. 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. an outline of some early heresies in the Church. 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. 1:2). Beisner, E. Cal. Sphere: in the sight of, before (someone), c. Association: with (someone/something) (BBGG).

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