[3] BDAG defines allos here as pert[aining] to that which is other than some other entity, other . But in spite of where or when it first appeared, it has been associated to a vast number of meanings through time. In addition, many Oneness advocates rely on the unbiblical revelations received by various Oneness leaders whom they regard as divinely inspired or anointed interpreters of the Bible. 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. What does it mean, then? Pray and trust the Holy Spirit to lead you as you share. Biblical Response: The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God (see 2 Tim. Oneness folks like yourself typically cherry-pick passages (esp. 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. Note the context indicating that the Father sent the person of the Son. 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. 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. 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. . Suppose that modalism is true about the Son. Throughout time God manifested himself in three ways or "forms" (not persons), as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Oneness Pentecostalism (also known as Apostolic or Jesus' Name Pentecostalism [citation needed]) refers to a grouping of denominations and believers within Pentecostal Christianity, all of whom subscribe to the nontrinitarian theological doctrine of Oneness. In Acts 4:31 and 8:17, people are filled with the Spirit and tongues are simply not mentioned. John 1:14). However, this seems to be far too simplistic of a reading. But these do suffice in showing that the Bible affirms that God is triune, and militates against Oneness unitarianism. The block of Oneness ministers present urged against such a move but was overruled. The Contender for the Faith (COLJF) Beisner, E. Cal. He was making claims that no mere human could make. I also recommend that you read the series that I linked to at the beginning of this article. Jesus was claiming absolute unity with the Father. 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. 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. : 1. Against the Oneness notion (and v. 9), Jesus specifically used two first person PLURAL indicative verbs (eleusometha, We will come and poisometha, We will make Our) abode with him. This is part of chap. 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. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. Of course, this is a mischaracterization. dual nature of Christ," but my heart sank when I found nothing which properly explained these things against a Trinitarian argument. Well, there are a number of reasons that I think that interpretation is implausible. How can they ask him to Show us the Father when he is the Father? Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. 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. Be prepared to explain biblically why you do not believe these are necessary ingredients for salvation or eternal security. 4:4). 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. Trinitarians could easily affirm that they are one God, they share the same essence. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 2020. 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. PO Box 2128 Winnetka, CA 91396 | 818-377-5272 | edward@christiandefense.org, Site Prepared and Built by ChurchWebPresence. as well as found on early Germanic coins-with no religious significance at all. I found this web page, looked promising to refute Oneness theology. He said that he and the Father are one. 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. Third, how could we recognize tongues for edification as opposed to the gift of tongues? In point of fact, The triquetra is a very old symbol and dates back perhaps to around 500 BC. Second, they argue that what is said about God the Father is also said of Jesus Christ. All modern writings or revelations must be analyzed in light of sound principles of biblical interpretation. 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. 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. Col. 1:15) who brings out, that is, exegetes the Father: He [Jesus] has made known or brought news of (the invisible God) (Bauer, 2000: 349). Assemblies of the Lord Jesus, Inc. (ALJI)-50,000 However, there are only a few places throughout the book of Acts wherein people speak in tongues. 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. ISBN-13: 9780692644065. Because I live, you also will live. With scholarly precision, Michael Burgos has provided an incisive evaluation of Oneness exegesis and theology while accurately representing the teachings of Oneness Pentecostals. 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. Unlike Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, Oneness Pentecostals teach both that there is one God and that Jesus is fully God. Mark 16:17: These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will speak with new tongues sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven" (Matthew 26:64). Yadon: and the Vanishing Theological Past in Oneness Pentecostalism, Our God is Triune: Essays in Biblical Theology. While pastors generally understand apologetics, we often misunderstand the apologist. Oneness movements emphases on personal holiness and healthy lifestyles are commendable. Privacy Policy & Copyright Notice. Thus, in spite of the arguments of Oneness advocates against the triune God and the the person of Christ, it is the gospel that must be proclaimed to them-, which the power and ordained means of God for setting them free from the darkness of Oneness theology and bringing them to the true Jesus Christ, as He wills. It is noticeably absent. The church has branded Oneness theology as heretical since the days of Noetus at the end of the second century. There is no indication that it, or any other spiritual gift, is required to receive Gods gift of salvation by grace or to be filled with His Holy Spirit (see Eph. Instead, you should focus on the biblical teachings within the text and not use non-biblical philosophy. Wallace, BBGG, 350-51; Robert Reymond, Systematic Theology, 263. One of the key verses to which they will appeal is Mark 16:17, which tells us that those who have believed will speak in tongues. These false doctrines can affect teachings about justification, sanctification, the role and work of the cross and an understanding of the nature of God. Further, how do you know that you do not merely possess the gift of tongues? And when did the Son have this glory? They are Acts 2:4, 10:44-46, and 19:6. United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) (UCJC-A)-100,000 including terms like Trinity, Unitarianism, Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2017. 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. The Oneness Pentecostal is making the claim that everybody who was filled with the Spirit also spoke in tongues. Witnessing to Oneness Pentecostals: 1. (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. 4. In doing so, they will think that they have mounted a proper argument against trinitarian theology because they believe that the doctrine of the trinity states that there are three gods. 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. This movement denies the Trinity, arguing instead that Jesus is himself the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 42:8). However, to early Christians (and many today), the triquetra symbolized the Trinity (one God, three persons). Better books written by an ex UPC theologian, Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2018. So he broaches the subject from an intellectual concept. The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! Though, this would also be too simplistic of a reading. 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. In many debates and particularly in his book The Oneness of God, Dr. David K. Bernard argued that the declarations in the Old Testament are so powerful that they dismiss any conception of plurality within the Godhead. Charles R. Koester . In conclusion, the Triquetra has been used historically by all kinds of groups to mean different things. 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 History of Heresies - History always repeats itself when no one is paying attention. If Oneness Pentecostalism is true, how do we avoid the absurd image of Jesus asking himself permission and then sending himself? However, since in Oneness theology Jesus is both Father and Son, Jesus cannot be properly Mediator between two partiesGod the Father and man. 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. Pentecostals are so certain of this logic that many consider it to be a key teaching of the Christian faith. . : Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Thanks! So they will use this proof-text that they think The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. It is enough for the disciples to see Jesus because they share a divine essence. He claims the symbol used by trinitarians is demonic. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique Author Michael Burgos Publisher Church Militant Publications, 2016 ISBN 0692644067, 9780692644065 Length 246 pages Export. 6. He argues throughout for . 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. v. 6), they could really see (i.e., know/recognize, cf. 6:16). They will see that because he lives (he was raised from the dead), they too will live (be raised from the dead). In 1913, one popular teacher, R.E. is a must-read for any serious-minded Christian who wants to be better informed and better equipped to sanctify Christ as Lord . 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. 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. Deuteronomy 6:4: Hear, O Israel! Isa. But in verse 5, he says that he wishes everybody spoke in tongues, indicating that everybody does not speak in tongues. 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? Hence When Jesus said, He who has seen Me has seen the Father, the only thing His disciples literally saw was Jesus physical body. Jesus is said to have two natures: human and divine. 3. If he and the Father are one, does that necessarily mean that he is the Father? Leave a comment. How is that clear at all? The term *with* is para in Greek. , Dimensions . (BDAG, 46). No single translation or human interpretation can be regarded as infallible. Oneness Pentecostals believe that the trinity is ONLY one entity. God is absolutely and unqualifiedly one. This doctrine is called Oneness of God or Jesus Only. . plural nouns, adjectives, verbs, prepositions) to describe the one God? In the book of Isaiah, he was targeting polytheists; pagan idolaters. During the Last Supper, the disciples were distraught. Well, this would be to ignore all of the prepositions of this passage. This seems to draw support from John 14:18. This is an important reminder of the need to respond to contemporary . Preexistence of the Son - Is the Son pre-existing like the Father or did the Father become the Son. 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. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1990. 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. Publish Date: Jul 20, 2016. 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. It is the final authority for the Christian on all matters of faith and doctrine. 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. But Jesus said, that flesh and blood didnt reveal this, but My Father which is in heaven. 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. Is there an argument that you would like to see addressed? ' Note the first person plural verbs (eleusometha, We will come, and poisometha, We will make). Oneness Pentecostals take issue with the Trinity doctrine chiefly for its use of the term "person." 1:17), talk to each other (see John 11:41-42; 12:28; 17:1-26), and know each other (see Matt. John 3:5 does not explicitly say that one must be water baptized before entering the kingdom. Try again. This is agreed by recognized Greek Grammars and recognized Lexicons of the NT such as BDAG, 757. Many trinitarians, unfortunately, have never heard of these arguments before. , Language If an individual believes that there are three gods, then they have, in effect, denied the doctrine of the trinity. : Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability Accredited. Is that the case? Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique Paperback - March 17, 2020 by Michael R. Burgos (Author) 15 ratings Hardcover $35.00 1 New from $35.00 Paperback $24.99 1 Used from $19.04 2 New from $22.99 Oneness Pentecostalism constitutes one of the world's largest non-trinitarian expressions of Christianity. 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. Oneness Theology - Explaining the differences between their beliefs and ours. After all, he did not say, I am the Father, in this verse. Please try your request again later. Oneness Pentecostals will point to John 3:5 as evidence of that. Again, in its proper sense, a mediator is one who is other than or distinct from the parties, which are being mediated. It is our duty to go into the world, preach the gospel to all nations, make disciples, and baptize those disciples in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. There is only one true God. Scripture quotation marked NKJV is from The New King James Version. 9. What does it mean that Jesus explains the Father? Details; Description; 3:17; 17:5; John 3:35; 5:20; 2 Pet. ISBN-10: 0692644067. The Pattern In The Book of Acts Establishes Our Doctrine 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? 14:7, 10, 16; etc.). 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. 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. Christian Life College-Stockton, Calif. asserting that God is one person) and (b) the basic theological errors of Oneness theology (e.g., denying the deity of the Son). Edited by Daniel G. Reid. The reason that I am doing that is because Oneness Pentecostalism is often not understood by trinitarian Christians. Some scholars believe it to be Celtic in origin, and it is sometimes called the Irish Trinity Knot. Oneness Pentecostals declare that the Godhead consists of only one Person and deny the traditional doctrine of the Trinity. an outline of some early heresies in the Church. Read the entire account. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Noted Greek grammarian, A. T. Robertson says of the passage that This is not just ideal pre-existence, but actual and conscious existence at the Fathers side (para soi, with thee) which I had (h eichon, imperfect active of ech. Thus, they are often referred to as the Jesus Only Movement. In verse 17, he refers to the Holy Spirit as he and him. Is it really coherent to think that in the next verse, he would refer to the Holy Spirit as himself? Most of them encourage their members to dress and live modestly, but do not have specific teachings about hair and skirts. Example, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:14, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Also see passages such as Matthew 3:17-17; 28:19;Luke 10:21-22; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 2:18; 1 Thessalonians 1:3-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Titus 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:2-3; and Jude 1:20-21 where all three persons of the Trinity are referredin the same verse or context. 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 . But that position seems untenable. The same can be said in Ecclesiastes 12:1, where the Hebrew literally reads, Remember also your Creators (plural in Heb.). Oneness Pentecostals honestly believe that their view of the Godhead is the true doctrine . 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. Oneness Pentecostal churches are, therefore, cultic in nature and outside the theological parameters of historic Christianity. Read the entire account. The context is obvious: by knowing and seeing Jesus (as the only way to the Father; cf. How Can a Pastor Stay Engaged in Apologetics? It says that one must be born of water. But what does it mean to be born of water? For God does not share His glory with no one (cf. [{"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"}]. Nonetheless, historic Christianity maintains that the doctrine of the Trinity (or tri-unity of God) is taught in Scripture. 2:5). Author: Michael R. Burgos Jr., Burgos Jr., Michael R. Format: Paperback. The Global Witness (UPCI) The argument over whether God is three-in-one or one-in-three is a moot point for the average layman, who tends to view the doctrine of the Trinity as an unexplainable mystery. 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. : Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Of course, this is a mischaracterization. Michael R. Burgos is an American theologian, author, and pastor. Official Names and Membership (estimates): Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church of God (AOHCG)-13,000 Oneness adherents (along with Muslims and Jehovahs Witnesses) wrongly assume that the concept or word one when referring to God (e.g., Deut. In this theology, the Father embodies the divine attributes of the godhead and the Son embodies the human aspects. 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. 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. UPCI: Apostolic Bible Institute-St. Paul, Minn. Indiana Bible College-Seymour, Ind. 2:10). If we were in the Court of Law, it would be dismissed as evidence. Christian Outlook (PAW), AOHCG: Berean Christian Bible College-Birmingham, Ala. There are three problems with this worth pointing out. Baptism is not essential to ones reception of salvation. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Add to Wish List Link to this Book Add to Bookbag Sell this Book Buy it at Amazon Compare Prices. United Pentecostals, also called Oneness Pentecostals, are known for their rejection of the Trinity, which is a hallmark doctrine in orthodox Christianity. But you have the symbol!!! They believe that God is ONE and not one in three persons. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique Michael R. Burgos 16 Paperback 1 offer from $24.99 Christianity without the Cross: A History of Salvation in Oneness Pentecostalism Thomas A. Fudge 51 Paperback 16 offers from $22.99 This movement first emerged in America around 1914 as the result of doctrinal disputes within the nascent Pentecostal movement and claims . John 3:5 should not be read in a vacuum. At the 1986 Oneness Symposium, Robert Sabin addresses the charge of whether the UPCI is Christian group or a cult. The arguments can get a bit technical for people who do not know Greek, but Dalcour communicates so well that one is able to follow him. Why is drinking poison not a criteria for salvation? As marked out below, Jesus also differentiates Himself from God the Holy Spirit. 12-14). : Paul, too, regularly uses different prepositions to clearly differentiate the Father from the Son. Specifically, in John 1:3;1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2 and 2:10, the Greek preposition dia (though) is followed by a pronoun (autou, Him)in the *genitive* case (or possessive case). 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.