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. 5. If an individual believes that there are three gods, then they have, in effect, denied the doctrine of the trinity. Is there an argument that you would like to see addressed? 6:8; 54:5; Prov. Oneness Pentecostal churches are, therefore, cultic in nature and outside the theological parameters of historic Christianity. This movement first emerged in America around 1914 as the result of doctrinal disputes within the nascent Pentecostal movement and claims . It is very well organized. Indiana Bible College-Seymour, Ind. 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. For an expanded exegetical refutation of Oneness unitarian theology see Oneness Theology (Modalism). 4. UPCI: Apostolic Bible Institute-St. Paul, Minn. 2. They believe that Jesus and the Father are one essential person, though operating as different modes. No one has ascended into heaven but He who descended from [the] heaven [ek tou ouranou]: the Son of Man (John 3:13). These are great questions and wonderful references. century, by a man named Praxeus, who is known from Tertullian's Against Praxeus. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique. 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? Let's look at the Foursquare Church and United Pentecostal Church International and see how hey differ. John 3:5 should not be read in a vacuum. All Rights Reserved. Unlike Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, Oneness Pentecostals teach both that there is one God and that Jesus is fully God. 45:6-7; Hos. 9. Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement that emphasizes direct personal experience of God through baptism with the Holy Spirit. Oneness Pentecostals believe that there is one God and God is one. Skylar McManus shares about being raised Oneness Pentecostal and moving from Oneness to Orthodoxy. First they argue that certain prooftexts directly identify Jesus as the Father. He disproves Oneness arguments and establishes Trinitarian truth. The name of the Holy Spirit is Jesus. Details; Description; The proper mode is immersion in the triune name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Was the Trinity Conceived in the 4th Century? 5:13 et al. Have a clear understanding of your faith and the Bible. God, according to United Pentecostals, is not three distinct persons, as in the Trinity doctrine, but three "manifestations" of the one God. 6 In verse 4, he writes that the person who speaks in tongues edifies himself. If you were to ask a Oneness Pentecostal to provide a proof-text for Oneness Theology, it is very likely that first passage that you will hear is Deuteronomy 6:4, which is Israels shema, essentially the thesis statement on the paper of the Jews. Yadon: and the Vanishing Theological Past in Oneness Pentecostalism, Our God is Triune: Essays in Biblical Theology. But that position seems untenable. (or that God exist as one person?). While many studies have been written to provide a critique of other heterodox Christian groups (e.g., Jehovah's Witnesses, the LDS Church), there is a general lack of careful scholarship examining the theological claims of Oneness Pentecostals. 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. They are just continuing that long tradition. Modalism rips the heart out of Christianityit denies Christ by misrepresenting Him. Is this even a good argument that Jesus was God? 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. They will see that because he lives (he was raised from the dead), they too will live (be raised from the dead). 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. In point of fact, for hundreds of years Christians have been using the triquetra a symbol that proclaims the doctrine of the Trinity. Oneness theology distorts and thus rejects the biblical concept of the Son being Mediator (Intercessor) between the Father and men (cf. 8. 2. the subject who is speaking or who is logically understood. 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 . Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2016. 7. 3:7.). The Oneness Pentecostal movements generally teach that to receive and maintain salvation, a person must adhere to four essential requirements. Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. Well, in verse 18, Jesus is talking about the resurrection. 14:7, 10, 16; etc.). Does the long ending of Mark vindicate the Oneness Pentecostal position about speaking in tongues? This interpretation is not an attempt to understand the text. 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. 4:4). Where in the Scripture does it say that God is unitarian? sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven" (Matthew 26:64). When somebody is born again, they will show the evidence of speaking with new tongues. For example, the Assemblies of God, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world, has 16 Fundamental Truths. 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. Many, however, utilize only the King James Version to proof text their unique doctrines. It may also be that Father, Son, and Spirit is the name by which we know God. There are four exegetical features, which provide a cogent refutation to the Oneness handling of this passage. To see our price, add these items to your cart. 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 Trinitarians won the majority and a "Statement of Fundamental Truths" was adopted that affirmed the Trinity. 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. , ISBN-13 [3] BDAG defines allos here as pert[aining] to that which is other than some other entity, other . He doesnt fully understand the Christology or Godhead. 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. Author: Michael R. Burgos Jr., Burgos Jr., Michael R. Format: Paperback. 13:14). The term *with* is para in Greek. During the Last Supper, the disciples were distraught. 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. Focus the discussion on the essential elements of the Christian faith. But Jesus said, that flesh and blood didnt reveal this, but My Father which is in heaven. Present the basic plan of salvation and encourage the Oneness Pentecostal to receive Jesus Christ as his or her personal Lord and Savior. These arguments against Acts 2:38 demonstrate a holistic ignorance of how the OT is fulfilled in Jesus and the NT death, burial and resurrection is performed in repentance . What Michael Burgos Jr. has produced in Against Oneness Pentecostalism is a helpful book for pastors or churchmen needing a polemical approach against the anti-Trinitarians embedded in our communities and occasionally, our churches. [4] This grammatical rule is also know as Granville Sharp rule #6: when multiple personal nouns in a clause are each preceded by the article ho (the) and linked by kai (and) each personal noun denotes a distinct person as in Matthew 28:19 (esp. Thus, they are often referred to as the Jesus Only Movement. 14 and Johns theology. Add to Wish List Link to this Book Add to Bookbag Sell this Book Buy it at Amazon Compare Prices. The same can be said in Ecclesiastes 12:1, where the Hebrew literally reads, Remember also your Creators (plural in Heb.). This seems to draw support from John 14:18. No amount of good works, moral living, or church membership guarantees salvation. However, this seems to be far too simplistic of a reading. In spite of the (unclear) origins, the Triquetra has a rich meaning that has been used by the early church to signify the Trinity. 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 Bible Way News Voice (Bible Way) While they may be anti-trinitarians, they are committed to the truth that Jesus is God. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. biblical case against Oneness unitarianism. 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 . Westminster Confession of Faith, 1:9. Of course, this is a mischaracterization. Jesus then says to His disciples, From now on you know Him, and have seen Him. Thus, by knowing Him they have known and have seen the Father (note the parallel: have known, have seen). They are not three distinct persons. "Michael Burgos has produced a brilliant blend of systematic theology and biblical exegesis with a detailed and thorough discussion of the main passages at the center of the dispute between Oneness Pentecostalism and traditional trinitarianism. 3. 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). Learn more. . Following these beginnings, Pentecostal preachers and churches spread rapidly coalescing into various denominations and factions. 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). One possessed the gift of tongues and the other possessed tongues for edification. Nonetheless, historic Christianity maintains that the doctrine of the Trinity (or tri-unity of God) is taught in Scripture.