. (BDAG, 46). This is because in Acts 2:38, we see a manifestation of this command. 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. What's the best argument against oneness Pentecostals, people who believe Jesus is the father, son and Holy Spirit? 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. 7. Well, Oneness Pentecostalism has a lot of subtleties. Third, it may be that Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the one name under which we are baptized. 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. 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. 6:16). 3:11; 2 Thess. After that time, a number of oneness sects formed, most of which were predominately African-American. Nevertheless, the requirements for outward adherence to a strict moral code in order to maintain salvation inevitably leads to legalism and a lack of assurance of eternal life. 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. "When you believe in eternal life. In terms of the triquetra (Trinitarian symbol), you should not base an argument on ignorance, and unaccredited internet articles. Description: While most Pentecostals are orthodox, there is a segment within this movement of "Oneness" or "Jesus-Only" Pentecostals who are not. Pentecostalism is a Spirit-emphasizing movement that is characterized by several unique doctrines and practices, including baptism in the Spirit for Christians after conversion, speaking in tongues as evidence of that Spirit-baptism, and the exercise of all the spiritual gifts. As with other Christian symbols and Christian holidays (e.g., Christmas, Easter, cross, etc. 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). Skylar McManus shares about being raised Oneness Pentecostal and moving from Oneness to Orthodoxy. I have a friend who is try to understand he trinity. Good works and holy living are the natural responses of salvation already received-not its cause (see Eph. The North American Mission Board is not affiliated with SEND International or its SEND events. 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.. Have a clear understanding of your faith and the Bible. Please try again. Dan. The proper mode is immersion in the triune name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Have a clear understanding of your faith and the Bible. , Paperback In conclusion, the Triquetra has been used historically by all kinds of groups to mean different things. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. For an expanded exegetical refutation of Oneness unitarian theology see Oneness Theology (Modalism). 2:16-17; 1 John 2:22-23). 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. Throughout the passage, it is clear that Jesus is speaking of someone else. The block of Oneness ministers present urged against such a move but was overruled. Well, first, most Christians will point out that this verse is part of the long ending of Mark, and therefore it is not Scripture. 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. Oneness Theology - Explaining the differences between their beliefs and ours. He was making claims that no mere human could make. At the time Boyd was full of zeal and all sorts of emotion, which comes out on nearly every page of Oneness . Salvation is entirely based on grace through faith in Christ. 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? Privacy Policy & Copyright Notice. If Jesus were the Father, as Oneness believers contend, one would expect to find a clear example of thisat least one passage (cf. Phillip asked him, Show us the Father, Lord, and it will be enough for us. Jesus replied that Phillip should not need to ask this question, because, He who has seen me has seen the Father. Oneness Pentecostals will argue that Jesus was saying that he is the Father. If we were in the Court of Law, it would be dismissed as evidence. 7. 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. Read the entire account. 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). Hence, Jesus could not have meant that by seeing Him they were literally seeing the Father. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique. Official Names and Membership (estimates): Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church of God (AOHCG)-13,000 Atlanta: Atlanta Christian Apologetics Project, 1994. 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. The same grammatical distinctions are observed in 2 Corinthians 13:14:The grace of the [tou] Lord Jesus Christ, and [kai] the love of God [tou theou (lit. the parallels in Mk. 4. Paul was referring to the latter, not the former. Witnessing to Oneness Pentecostals: 1. The same can be said in Ecclesiastes 12:1, where the Hebrew literally reads, Remember also your Creators (plural in Heb.). I will come to you. John 6:38). It is enough for the disciples to see Jesus because they share a divine essence. 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. We now consider and refute all Pentecostal Objections to the fact that the Bible teaches spiritual gifts ceased at the end of the apostolic age around 100AD Conclusion Summary: No longer any need for gifts: Apostles have been led into all truth: Jn 16:13 + Jude 3 The Bible has been written and confirmed to be inspired Every time somebody is saved throughout the book of Acts, we will see them speaking in tongues. 9. Oneness Pentecostals are vehement anti-trinitarians who commonly maintain that the doctrine of the trinity states that there are three gods. They believe that the name of the Lord Jesus is, under the new covenant . Throughout time God manifested himself in three ways or "forms" (not persons), as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. United Pentecostals, also called Oneness Pentecostals, are known for their rejection of the Trinity, which is a hallmark doctrine in orthodox Christianity. In Acts 4:31 and 8:17, people are filled with the Spirit and tongues are simply not mentioned. (Robertson, Word Pictures, 5:275-76). 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). 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) . Second, it may be said that the name of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit is YHWH. It would be to cherry-pick the verse that fits into ones doctrine. : What does it mean, then? If you were to join a Oneness Pentecostal church, what would your experience be? Modalism rips the heart out of Christianityit denies Christ by misrepresenting Him. Further, how do you know that you do not merely possess the gift of tongues? But Jesus said, that flesh and blood didnt reveal this, but My Father which is in heaven. For this reason, many Christians have difficulty seeing anything wrong with the Oneness position. The church has branded Oneness theology as heretical since the days of Noetus at the end of the second century. I also could see many of the arguments used against Praxeas by Tertullian . Please give me some verses that challenge this thought? 13:14). Michael Burgos Jr., Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique (Winchester, CT: Church Militant, 2016). Its pagan, with pagan origins. They are Acts 2:4, 10:44-46, and 19:6. The name of the Holy Spirit is Jesus. They were strongly rejected by the denominations council that year, and the AOG adopted a strong trinitarian stance in its statement of faith. 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. the subject who is speaking or who is logically understood. Church of Our Lord Jesus of the Apostolic Faith (COLJF)-30,000 . This interpretation is not an attempt to understand the text. This is far, far more plausible than thinking that Jesus switched between him and I.. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique. Note: in passages such as John 1:3, 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 1:2, 10-12, the Son is clearly presented as agent of creation, the Creator Himself. The Pentecostal arguments defending this special blessing are interesting and important. 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. 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. Oneness theology rejects the personhood of the Holy Spirit. . 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. Publish Date: Jul 20, 2016. When somebody is born again, they will show the evidence of speaking with new tongues. God is absolutely and unqualifiedly one. No one has ascended into heaven but He who descended from [the] heaven [ek tou ouranou]: the Son of Man (John 3:13). 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2018. The Pattern In The Book of Acts Establishes Our Doctrine : 12:11; Eph. 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. Nicodemus was perplexed by what Jesus said to him. The Hidden Cult of Oneness Pentecostalism. His insight is edifying. For God does not share His glory with no one (cf. 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). . To see our price, add these items to your cart. Jesus and the Father are both God. 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. This seems to disconfirm the idea that all believers speak in tongues. 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. Primarily, KJV Onlyists and anti-Trinitarian groups (esp. . The Global Witness (UPCI) One possessed the gift of tongues and the other possessed tongues for edification. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Biblical Response: Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone (see Rom. so thre argument of development for the trinity is weak if it is already being defemnded in the church in different locations. For if Jesus is the Father, then, between whom would He Mediate since by definition a mediator/intercessor represents two distinct parties, other than Himself. 2 Cor. In this article, I will be answering a few common Oneness Pentecostal arguments. They believe that God is ONE and not one in three persons. At the 1986 Oneness Symposium, Robert Sabin addresses the charge of whether the UPCI is Christian group or a cult. That God the Father and Jesus are inseperably the same person/being/entity/substance/everything. Oneness Pentecostals are vehement anti-trinitarians who commonly maintain that the doctrine of the trinity states that there are three gods. 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 His knowledge of living water from the Old Testament (Jeremiah 2:13, Isaiah 12:3, 58:11, etc) should have informed him. Salvation is eternally assured for those who have accepted Christ as personal Lord and Savior (see John 1:12; 5:24; 1 John 5:13). 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. 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. John 1:14). Biblical Response: The Oneness Pentecostal view of God is similar to the ancient heresy of Modalism. is a must-read for any serious-minded Christian who wants to be better informed and better equipped to sanctify Christ as Lord . He says in verse 14 that he will ask the Father, and the Father will send the Holy Spirit. 14 and Johns theology. After all, he did not say, I am the Father, in this verse. 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). That may be the case. PAW: Aenon Bible School-Indianapolis, Ind. 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. Answering A Few Common Oneness Pentecostal Arguments Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. We dont share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we dont sell your information to others. Modern Oneness Pentecostals garner support for their modalistic view by interpreting Matthew28:19 in conjunction with Acts2:38. . Further, the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus should not be overlooked. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Grammatically, when dia is followed by the genitive (as in these passages), the preposition indicates agency (cf. He also has a good section on . The answers do not represent a *full exegetical presentationrather it simply and basically demonstrates (a) the fundamental Oneness unitarian assumptions (viz. 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. Texas Bible College-Houston, Texas. Christian Life College-Stockton, Calif. How Can a Pastor Stay Engaged in Apologetics? 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. 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. 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) also Walter Bauers, A Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament, 3rd ed. This is an important text for Oneness Pentecostals because it seems to use parlance that they are familiar with. the God)], and [kai] the fellowship of the [tou] Holy Spirit be with you all. . In 1918, Oneness adherents, needing to develop their own organization after effectively being ousted from Pentecostalism, founded the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, headed by African . However, the Oneness Pentecostal could grant that it is not really Scripture. John 14:23: Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and we will make Our abode with him [par aut]. Check out John 14:8-9, Philip said, Show us the Father and that will be enough. Jesus said to him, Have I been with you such a long time, and yet you have not known Me Philip? 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. Regardless, handling snakes or drinking poison is a misuse of that Scripture and has resulted in the deaths of many practitioners. In John 1:18, John wrote, No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. Jesus is the only begotten God and he is at the Fathers side, and he explains him. 6. PO Box 2128 Winnetka, CA 91396 | 818-377-5272 | edward@christiandefense.org, Site Prepared and Built by ChurchWebPresence. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Consider this, Trinitarians, not Oneness believers, conducted all of the major revivals worldwide. Father) to glorify Him together with Him (para seaut, thus, a shared glorification, a glory that only God can have, Isa. Let's look at the Foursquare Church and United Pentecostal Church International and see how hey differ. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. Does the long ending of Mark vindicate the Oneness Pentecostal position about speaking in tongues? But that is not quite the point of the argument that I am making. Clarence L. Haynes Jr. 50 This is the bread which comes down ek tou ouranou, so that one may eat of it and not die. v. 6), they could really see (i.e., know/recognize, cf. In point of fact, for hundreds of years Christians have been using the triquetra a symbol that proclaims the doctrine of the Trinity. biblical case against Oneness unitarianism. 14:7, 10, 16; etc.). Hence, the Son emptied Himself by means of His incarnation (cf. There are tongues for edification (this one is necessary for salvation) and the gift of tongues (this one is not necessary for salvation). including terms like Trinity, Unitarianism, Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2017. 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. Was the Trinity Conceived in the 4th Century? Detroit: Gale Research, 1999.Dictionary of Christianity in America. This movement denies the Trinity, arguing instead that Jesus is himself the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Well, in verse 18, Jesus is talking about the resurrection. For example, many in UPCI consider the writings of Frank Ewart and John G. Scheppe as authoritative. 6. Oneness Pentecostals will point to John 3:5 as evidence of that. ; and there is a Japanese form, again with no religious significance. 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. 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 . And no time did He refer to my Son or anything of the sort as distinct from Himself! 4:4-5; Eph. This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt. Further, almost one hundred and eighty times, Jesus is presented as referring to the Father, My Father, or your Father in the Gospels as distinct from Himself, and at no time does Jesus refer to my Son. Forty times, in the Gospel of John, Jesus refers to Himself as Sent by the Father, but never does Jesus refer to Himself as the Father who sent the Son (cf. It is knowing The Bible endorses slavery and oppression. Has anyone ever heard this before? 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. 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. . It is a symbol of ones identification with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Tim. Oneness movements emphases on personal holiness and healthy lifestyles are commendable. , ISBN-13 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. SeeWas the Trinity Conceived in the 4th Century? 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). First and third person personal pronouns and verb references: Throughout John 14 and 16 Jesus clearly differentiates Himself from the Father. 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. Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2016. 6:8; 54:5; Prov. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. 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. 3:11; 1 John 1:3; 2:22-23; Rev. 2:5). 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. Is there an argument that you would like to see addressed? 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). You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. 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. 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. The reason that I am doing that is because Oneness Pentecostalism is often not understood by trinitarian Christians.
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