arguments against oneness pentecostals

Primarily, KJV Onlyists and anti-Trinitarian groups (esp. 32, 33, 41, 42, 50, 51-ek tou ouranou;verse 38 apo tou ouranou;and verse 58 came downex ouranou). 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. For God does not share His glory with no one (cf. Please try again. Oneness Pentecostals are vehement anti-trinitarians who commonly maintain that the doctrine of the trinity states that there are three gods. How would anybody understand what he is saying? There are many other passages where this construction applies clearly denoting distinction between the persons in the Trinity (e.g., 1 Thess. Assemblies of the Lord Jesus, Inc. (ALJI)-50,000 So, what is Oneness Pentecostalism? He was making claims that no mere human could make. The Bible Way News Voice (Bible Way) In 1913, one popular teacher, R.E. 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. 31; A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures, 4:478-79; and cf. Many small Oneness groups formed after 1916, though many have remained independent. That God the Father and Jesus are inseperably the same person/being/entity/substance/everything. Hence, it is God the Son who is the very image of the invisible Father (cf. How do you know that your family members or your friends do not merely possess the gift of tongues? But these do suffice in showing that the Bible affirms that God is triune, and militates against Oneness unitarianism. United Pentecostals, also called Oneness Pentecostals, are known for their rejection of the Trinity, which is a hallmark doctrine in orthodox Christianity. [1] Glen Davidson, Questions Oneness Pentecostals Don . 2:18). Scripture quotation marked NKJV is from The New King James Version. 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) . . 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. Christian Outlook (PAW), AOHCG: Berean Christian Bible College-Birmingham, Ala. Throughout time God manifested himself in three ways or "forms" (not persons), as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For an expanded exegetical refutation of Oneness unitarian theology see Oneness Theology (Modalism). Pentecostals are Christians who believe that God is still doing the same things he did on the first Day of Pentecost after Jesus rose from his grave. Is there an argument that you would like to see addressed? 6 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. After all, it says that one must be born of water and Spirit. Oneness Pentecostalism constitutes one of the world's largest non-trinitarian expressions of Christianity. Answering A Few Common Oneness Pentecostal Arguments. Note that while Boyd offers sound arguments against Oneness Pentecostalism in this book, he elsewhere expresses belief in open theism, an unorthodox view. The Bible indeed teaches the existence of only one God (Deut. 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. 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. II. 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. 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. 5. So, he establishes that he is speaking of tongues for edification. , Dimensions Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2021. Note, of all the times para is followed by the dative in Johns literature (10 times), not once does para indicate with/in the mind, but rather, a literal association or in the presence of someone else or others, unless one (as Oneness advocates do) makes John 17:5 the exception to Johns usage: John 1:39: He *said to them, Come, and you will see. So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him [par aut] that day, for it was about the tenth hour, John 8:38: I speak the things which I have seen with My Father [para t patri]; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.. They take this to indicate that Jesus is the Father. 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. They accomplish this by adhering to modalism, more commonly referred to as oneness theology. 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. Note: Nowhere in Scripture is God defined as one person, but rather as one Being: mono (from monos, meaning, alone or only one) and theism (from theos, meaning, God). Modern Oneness Pentecostals garner support for their modalistic view by interpreting Matthew28:19 in conjunction with Acts2:38. . 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. Something went wrong. This doctrine is called Oneness of God or Jesus Only. 1:8; Lu. Isa. 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. 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. John 14:18: I will not leave you as orphans. For example in the late 8th cent. Paul said these things are spiritually discerned. The same can be said in Ecclesiastes 12:1, where the Hebrew literally reads, Remember also your Creators (plural in Heb.). Where in the Scripture does it say that God is unitarian? Beisner, E. Cal. , Language 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? Any group or church that claims to be Christian yet deviates at any point from historical Christian faith is, by definition, a cult. What does it mean, then? The only thing that keeps me from fully accepting Oneness at this point is Christology. It may be that is the name under which we are baptized. Speaking in tongues is listed among several other practices, including casting out demons, resisting a snake bite and healing the sick. The answers do not represent a *full exegetical presentationrather it simply and basically demonstrates (a) the fundamental Oneness unitarian assumptions (viz. century, by a man named Praxeus, who is known from Tertullian's Against Praxeus. , Publisher 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.? [1] In Phil. That may be the case. 4. How is that clear at all? Thus, they are often referred to as the Jesus Only Movement. Now I will switch gears from Oneness to their view of water baptism. 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. He claims the symbol used by trinitarians is demonic. 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. 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). Praxeus taught a doctrine know as patripassionisma belief that says that the Father died on the cross. 10. The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! He argues throughout for . This movement first emerged in America around 1914 as the result of doctrinal disputes within the nascent Pentecostal movement and claims . Oneness theology rejects the personhood of the Holy Spirit. The Nicene Creed has defined historical orthodoxy for centuries. Some scholars believe it to be Celtic in origin, and it is sometimes called the Irish Trinity Knot. Detroit: Gale Research, 1999.Dictionary of Christianity in America. They maintain that God exists in two modes, as the Father in heaven, and as Jesus the Son on earth. 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. The church has branded Oneness theology as heretical since the days of Noetus at the end of the second century. Second, when did the Son have this glory (which only God has, Isa, 42:8)? Oneness theology distorts and thus rejects the biblical concept of the Son being Mediator (Intercessor) between the Father and men (cf. [hereafter BDAG], 225). 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].. Acts 2:38 must be read in context and in light of Jesus clear command in Matthew 28:19. 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. . : . 1:17), talk to each other (see John 11:41-42; 12:28; 17:1-26), and know each other (see Matt. They are Acts 2:4, 10:44-46, and 19:6. 3:7.). 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. 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. At the 1986 Oneness Symposium, Robert Sabin addresses the charge of whether the UPCI is Christian group or a cult. John 14:9: He who has seen Me has seen the Father. : Further, in the Gospels, almost one hundred and eighty times, Jesus referred to the Father as the Father, my Father, or your Father- thus, as a distinct person from Himself. Please try again. The term *with* is para in Greek. I am beginning to suspect that, since Christianity is unique in . Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! 14:7, 10, 16; etc.). Michael Burgos builds upon his book "Kiss the Son" and provides an almost exhaustive study, and refutation, of the Oneness (Jesus Only) movement. No single translation or human interpretation can be regarded as infallible. 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. Though, this would also be too simplistic of a reading. 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 . Pray and trust the Holy Spirit to lead you as you share. His will is one with the will of the Father. 3. 3:17; 17:5; John 3:35; 5:20; 2 Pet. The doctrine of the trinity states that there is one God who is eternally present in three persons. 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. Instead, you should focus on the biblical teachings within the text and not use non-biblical philosophy. 6:8; 54:5; Prov. distinguished fr. Share your personal testimony of Gods grace and your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. There are two basic strategies that Oneness Pentecostals use for arguing for the conclusion that Jesus is God and Father. However, some advocates of Oneness Pentecostalism have responded to this point. 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. First, there are no good reasons to think that obedience to this command necessarily entails that those words are recited. The first two chapters of the text outline the basis for the Oneness Pentecostals' disbelief in the Holy Trinity - and their belief that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are simply . ' Note the first person plural verbs (eleusometha, We will come, and poisometha, We will make). They are just continuing that long tradition. The North American Mission Board is not affiliated with SEND International or its SEND events. "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. 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. Additionally, the repetition of the preposition distinguishes the Father and the Son as two distinct self-aware Subjects (e.g., 1 John 1:3). Please try again. Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2016. Please try your request again later. Paper. 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 the final authority for the Christian on all matters of faith and doctrine. 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). The participle describes the means or manner of the emptying. The above example is typical of Questions Oneness Pentecostals Don't ask. Was the Trinity Conceived in the 4th Century? [3] BDAG defines allos here as pert[aining] to that which is other than some other entity, other . 12:11; Eph. 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 . 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. 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. They are one in being but distinct in person. They had come to love their Messiah over the years. 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. 6. 2. 32 Jesus then said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread ek tou ouranou, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread ek tou ouranou. : He says in verse 14 that he will ask the Father, and the Father will send the Holy Spirit. An Antichrist who denies the power thereof, that The Apostle Paul warned us to turn away from! Well, this would be to ignore all of the prepositions of this passage. This is an important reminder of the need to respond to contemporary . 1986 Oneness Symposium Tape 7- "UPCI: Christian or a Cult?" Robert Sabin Watch on (as seen above). . Jesus and the Father are both God. 6:4) has the strict denotative meaning of absolute solitude. 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. 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). 4:30; Heb. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. That specific doctrine was foreign to the Old Testament. A Definitive Look at Oneness Theology: In the Light of Biblical Trinitarianism, Christianity without the Cross: A History of Salvation in Oneness Pentecostalism, In Jesus Name - The History and Beliefs of Oneness Penecostals, C.H. 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. Pentecostals hold that believers do gain saving faith when they come to Christ. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Moreover, significant Christian church councils affirmed the Trinity and explicitly rejected Oneness doctrine: e.g., Council of Nicaea (325); Chalcedon Creed (A.D. 451); Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381); etc. Oneness Pentecostal churches are, therefore, cultic in nature and outside the theological parameters of historic Christianity. First, that seems to be an ad hoc measure to circumvent the meaning of the text. . 42:8), which shows that the glory that the Son had was in together in the presence of the Father. Throughout the passage, it is clear that Jesus is speaking of someone else. For example, many in UPCI consider the writings of Frank Ewart and John G. Scheppe as authoritative. But that position seems untenable. 4. Clarence L. Haynes Jr. 4:4-5; Eph. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique Author Michael Burgos Publisher Church Militant Publications, 2016 ISBN 0692644067, 9780692644065 Length 246 pages Export. There is no grammatical way to disconnect tongues from the rest of the elements of that list. 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. Focus the discussion on the essential elements of the Christian faith. God, according to United Pentecostals, is not three distinct persons, as in the Trinity doctrine, but three "manifestations" of the one God. Use Amazon Smile for all your purchases to support the Department of Christian Defense. Colossians 2:9 does not teach that the totality of the Godhead was in the body of Jesus, but rather that Jesus embodied the totality of the divine nature and God is totally revealed in Him. This movement denies the Trinity, arguing instead that Jesus is himself the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One way white evangelical Protestants say their faith is against the vaccine is by talking of eternal life, like Mississippi Gov. So what does this verse mean? Well, in verse 18, Jesus is talking about the resurrection. Oneness Pentecostals brand themselves apostolic. They will suggest that they are following the model of the earliest apostles. 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. 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). 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. Baptism is not essential to ones reception of salvation. There is only one true God. 3:16; Jn. 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. Of course, this is a mischaracterization. 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. 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]. The triquetra symbol has been found in Norwegian churches dating to the 11th century. Also, when Jesus prayed, it was His human nature praying to His divine nature-not to a separate Father in heaven. Tate Reeves did in late August. Every time somebody is saved throughout the book of Acts, we will see them speaking in tongues. In Acts 4:31 and 8:17, people are filled with the Spirit and tongues are simply not mentioned.

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