Sphere: in the sight of, before (someone), c. Association: with (someone/something) (BBGG). 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. First and third person personal pronouns: Throughout chapter 14, Jesus clearly differentiates Himself from the Father by using first person personal pronouns (I, Me, Mine) to refer to Himself and third person personal pronouns (He, Him, His) to refer to His Father (e.g., John 14:7, 10, 16). 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. 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. 2:5). He said that he and the Father are one. 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. After all, he did not say, I am the Father, in this verse. The above example is typical of Questions Oneness Pentecostals Don't ask. The Trinitarians won the majority and a "Statement of Fundamental Truths" was adopted that affirmed the Trinity. 1 Thess. 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.. ISBN-13: 9780692644065. Modalism rips the heart out of Christianityit denies Christ by misrepresenting Him. This book is well researched and more than enough to satisfy any challenges to the Trinitarian position. Learn more. 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. While pastors generally understand apologetics, we often misunderstand the apologist. Present the basic plan of salvation and encourage the Oneness Pentecostal to receive Jesus Christ as his or her personal Lord and Savior. 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. They believe that Jesus and the Father are one essential person, though operating as different modes. John 3:13; 6:38, 46, 62; 8:23, 38, 42; 16:28). 1:1-13; Jude 1:1; Rev. Westminster Confession of Faith, 1:9. That the Son of Man was in heaven prior to Bethlehem creates a theological problem for Oneness doctrine. They place much emphasis on the name of God. "When you believe in eternal life. So Christians should strive to do the objective research, in order that they not provide bad untruthful arguments and appear unread. Oneness theology rejects that the Son was the actual Creator. Oneness theology rejects the eternality of the Person of the Son. 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? Because I live, you also will live. If Oneness doctrine (or Modalism) is the so-called doctrine of the apostles, then, why was it universally condemned as *heretical* by the early church Fathers (some of who were disciples of the original apostles) and condemned by all the important church councils and creeds? John 3:5 should not be read in a vacuum. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique. Is this even a good argument that Jesus was God? 32, 33, 41, 42, 50, 51-ek tou ouranou;verse 38 apo tou ouranou;and verse 58 came downex ouranou). Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are roles in God's plan of redemption, not intrinsic distinctions or distinct persons. They believe that the name of the Lord Jesus is, under the new covenant . The Bible teaches that the one God exists eternally in three separate and distinct Persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. , Publisher But that is not quite the point of the argument that I am making. However, to early Christians (and many today), the triquetra symbolized the Trinity (one God, three persons). Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique. 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. 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 only thing that keeps me from fully accepting Oneness at this point is Christology. This is agreed by recognized Greek Grammars and recognized Lexicons of the NT such as BDAG, 757. ISBN-10: 0692644067. 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. Hence, it is God the Son who is the very image of the invisible Father (cf. asserting that God is one person) and (b) the basic theological errors of Oneness theology (e.g., denying the deity of the Son). The reason that I am doing that is because Oneness Pentecostalism is often not understood by trinitarian Christians. comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment . The Pattern In The Book of Acts Establishes Our Doctrine We work hard to protect your security and privacy. To see our price, add these items to your cart. Following these beginnings, Pentecostal preachers and churches spread rapidly coalescing into various denominations and factions. What arguments do they use to support this proposition? 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. 1:20-21). It is certainly possible that various cultures developed the basic design arrangement independently. If they do not do that, then they are probably not saved. "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. Its pagan, with pagan origins. So I want to provide a resource for understanding Oneness Pentecostalism, some of the arguments that they will use and how to respond to them. Use Amazon Smile for all your purchases to support the Department of Christian Defense. I am beginning to suspect that, since Christianity is unique in . Throughout the passage, it is clear that Jesus is speaking of someone else. v. 6), they could really see (i.e., know/recognize, cf. 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? Have a clear understanding of your faith and the Bible. Note the Context: In verse 6 Jesus says, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. In verse 7, He explains to His disciples that if they had known Him they would have known the Father also. Indiana Bible College-Seymour, Ind. Oneness Pentecostal churches are, therefore, cultic in nature and outside the theological parameters of historic Christianity. If we were in the Court of Law, it would be dismissed as evidence. 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. His knowledge of living water from the Old Testament (Jeremiah 2:13, Isaiah 12:3, 58:11, etc) should have informed him. 2:16-17; 1 John 2:22-23). 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? 2021 North American Mission Board, SBC. Please try again. He was making claims that no mere human could make. In this piece he critically interacts with the following argument of mine ( from this blog post ). Oneness folks like yourself typically cherry-pick passages (esp. Oneness Pentecostals have a distorted notion of the Trinity and need someone to show them the scriptural teaching of the Trinity, David Kowalski writes. The Oneness Pentecostal movements generally teach that to receive and maintain salvation, a person must adhere to four essential requirements. If Jesus were the Father, as Oneness believers contend, one would expect to find a clear example of thisat least one passage (cf. In sum, John 17:5 the Son first commands/asks (doxason, aorist impart.) 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). This Belief Bulletin presents basic Oneness Pentecostal history and doctrines and provides a biblical analysis and response. After all, in John 17:11, the text says that the disciples are one in the same way that Jesus and the Father are one. 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). The PAW formed in 1918, but split along racial lines in 1924. 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. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique Author Michael Burgos Publisher Church Militant Publications, 2016 ISBN 0692644067, 9780692644065 Length 246 pages Export. That specific doctrine was foreign to the Old Testament. Is that the case? distinguished fr. Unlike Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, Oneness Pentecostals teach both that there is one God and that Jesus is fully God. It is an attempt to get around what the text is saying so that their doctrine will prevail. The block of Oneness ministers present urged against such a move but was overruled. is a must-read for any serious-minded Christian who wants to be better informed and better equipped to sanctify Christ as Lord . Oneness Theology - Explaining the differences between their beliefs and ours. The classic statement of Trinitarian doctrine is that there is One God who exists eternally in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Just as they often say that God is one, Jesus also says that he and the Father are one. But its actual origins are unknown. 3. McAlister of Toronto, Ont., began teaching that the Trinity doctrine was untrue and that baptism should be done correctly in Jesus name only-not in the traditional trinitarian formula. An Antichrist who denies the power thereof, that The Apostle Paul warned us to turn away from! Mark 16:18 is part of a disputed portion of Marks text. Christian Outlook (PAW), AOHCG: Berean Christian Bible College-Birmingham, Ala. And when did the Son have this glory? Moreover, when it found its way in the twentieth century, departing from the Trinitarian Pentecostals, it was again rejected by the church. 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].. For God does not share His glory with no one (cf. Third, how could we recognize tongues for edification as opposed to the gift of tongues? But you have the symbol!!! In terms of the triquetra (Trinitarian symbol), you should not base an argument on ignorance, and unaccredited internet articles. 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. Any group or church that claims to be Christian yet deviates at any point from historical Christian faith is, by definition, a cult. Its headquarters and publishing firm, the Pentecostal Publishing House, is located at 8855 Dunn Road, Hazelwood, MO 63042. He has exgsato [lead out, unfold, declare, Thayer, 1996: 223] Him (the Father). Most of them encourage their members to dress and live modestly, but do not have specific teachings about hair and skirts. 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. the Father (in the vocative case, Pater. The doctrine of the trinity states that there is one God who is eternally present in three persons. 4. 6th ed. biblical case against Oneness unitarianism. the subject who is speaking or who is logically understood. But they gain the "Spirit baptism" in order to be used powerfully in ministry. Great book with in depth analysis about the Oneneness movement faults both historically and biblically. 3. Brother Burgos carefully and respectfully dismantles the misguided half truths of Oneness doctrine. Wallace, BBGG, 350-51; Robert Reymond, Systematic Theology, 263. 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. 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. Trinitarian who is struggling with the Oneness doctrine. God, according to United Pentecostals, is not three distinct persons, as in the Trinity doctrine, but three "manifestations" of the one God. They were strongly rejected by the denominations council that year, and the AOG adopted a strong trinitarian stance in its statement of faith. Paul, too, regularly uses different prepositions to clearly differentiate the Father from the Son. 6:8; 54:5; Prov. Deuteronomy 6:4: Hear, O Israel! This movement denies the Trinity, arguing instead that Jesus is himself the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Hence, the Son emptied Himself by means of His incarnation (cf. 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. He coyly answered that he believed in one God who manifests himself in three ways: the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Leave a comment. While they may be anti-trinitarians, they are committed to the truth that Jesus is God. The following chapters are spent systematically refuting the Oneness doctrine of God as well as their arguments against the doctrine of the Trinity. 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. If you were to join a Oneness Pentecostal church, what would your experience be? Father) to glorify Him together with Him (para seaut, thus, a shared glorification, a glory that only God can have, Isa. 11:27; Luke 10:22; John 7:29). Why is snake-handling not a criteria for salvation? Something went wrong. Biblical Response: The Oneness Pentecostal view of God is similar to the ancient heresy of Modalism. 2. 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. Mark 16:17: These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will speak with new tongues 1 Tim. : 2:18). Oneness Pentecostals honestly believe that their view of the Godhead is the true doctrine . 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. Recently a well-known pastor, television preacher, and best-selling author was asked about his beliefs about God. The church has branded Oneness theology as heretical since the days of Noetus at the end of the second century. If an individual believes that there are three gods, then they have, in effect, denied the doctrine of the trinity. 5. They could also cite many of the various declarations of monotheism throughout the Old Testament, thus establishing that there is only one God. They accomplish this by adhering to modalism, more commonly referred to as oneness theology. Baptism is not essential to ones reception of salvation. [3] BDAG defines allos here as pert[aining] to that which is other than some other entity, other . They refer first of all to the biblical passages that speak of this baptism, namely, John the Baptist's words about the work of Christ, Matthew 3:11 (cf. Read the entire account. Beisner, E. Cal. Do not get sidetracked defending your denomination. 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. 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. (3rd Edition) is a thoroughly researched critique of Oneness Pentecostalism. Oneness Pentecostalism constitutes one of the world's largest non-trinitarian expressions of Christianity. Privacy Policy & Copyright Notice. If God is unitarian, why are there so many plural descriptions in the OT (viz. And those (like yourself) who object (due to a mass of misinformation) to the Trinitarian symbol, since they do not have a problem with pagan-origins calendars in their homes, do they have a problem with the Apostle Pauls quotations of pagans writers to make a biblical pointnamely, Epimenides of Crete in Titus 1:12 and Acts 17:28 (referring to Zeus); Aratus of Cilicia in Acts 17:28 (also referring to Zeus); and Menander in 1 Cor.