The Oneness Pentecostal is making the claim that everybody who was filled with the Spirit also spoke in tongues. 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. Oneness Pentecostalism constitutes one of the world's largest non-trinitarian expressions of Christianity. Oneness Pentecostal This is an important reminder of the need to respond to contemporary . 6. Answering A Few Common Oneness Pentecostal Arguments Oneness movements emphases on personal holiness and healthy lifestyles are commendable. Nearly twenty years ago a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed Greg Boyd wrote a book defending the doctrine of the Trinity against the objections of Oneness Pentecostals. That God the Father and Jesus are inseperably the same person/being/entity/substance/everything. For this reason, many Christians have difficulty seeing anything wrong with the Oneness position. . In Ephesians 2:18, Paul teaches that by the agency of the Son, Christians have access to the Father by means of the Spirit: For through Him [di autouthe Son] we both have our access in [en] one Spirit to the Father [pros ton patera] (Eph. 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? Please try again. They believe that Jesus and the Father are one essential person, though operating as different modes. Instead, you should focus on the biblical teachings within the text and not use non-biblical philosophy. Praxeus taught a doctrine know as patripassionisma belief that says that the Father died on the cross. "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. Cults - APOSTOLIC INFORMATION SERVICE - INDIANA BIBLE COLLEGE This is clearly a reference to baptism in water and baptism of the Spirit, right? Pentecostal Beliefs About Hair & Skirts - Synonym A better work to understand the balance between " oneness" and "trinitiarisism" is the works of Thomas Fudge. John 3:5 should not be read in a vacuum. If Oneness Pentecostalism is true, how do we avoid the absurd image of Jesus asking himself permission and then sending himself? How can you use Mark 16:17 to establish tongues as a criteria for salvation without using an absolute double-standard? Biblical Response: The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God (see 2 Tim. 3:11; 2 Thess. People who have had negative encounters with Oneness Pentecostals usually complain about: Legalism. He argues throughout for . Second, in 1 Corinthians 14:4-5, Paul speaks about tongues for edification. See what Christian leaders are saying about Against Oneness Pentecostalism: "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. This is because in Acts 2:38, we see a manifestation of this command. 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 Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2021. There are many more biblical objections that could be mentioned. 3. 12-14). also Walter Bauers, A Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament, 3rd ed. NOTE: the answers provided to the questions below are a simple and quick guide for the interested person wishing to compare Oneness theology with Trinitarian theology. T. D. Jakes and The Potter's House church | carm.org 7. AGAINST ONENESS PENTECOSTALISM. God is absolutely and unqualifiedly one. Trinitarian who is struggling with the Oneness doctrine. 4:4-5; Eph. Note the context indicating that the Father sent the person of the Son. 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. Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity - Greg Boyd - ReKnew Oneness Pentecostals will point to John 3:5 as evidence of that. Oneness Pentecostal churches are, therefore, cultic in nature and outside the theological parameters of historic Christianity. 1:2). Good works and holy living are the natural responses of salvation already received-not its cause (see Eph. 1:8; Lu. So they will use this proof-text that they think 15:33? , ISBN-13 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. Please try again. How To Implement Apologetics into the Church, The Differences Between the Prosperity Gospel and the Biblical Gospel. Behind this question lay a criticism of the commonly-held Trinitarian Pentecostal argument that the name of Jesus in baptismal texts from . 5. Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement that emphasizes direct personal experience of God through baptism with the Holy Spirit. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique by Michael Burgos Jr. - A second book by the author addressing Oneness beliefs, released in July 2016. John 14:18: I will not leave you as orphans. Acquire a basic knowledge of Oneness Pentecostals beliefs and practices. Number eight is this: "The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking . 9 Faith Groups That Reject the Trinity - Learn Religions - Guide to the To see our price, add these items to your cart. In this theology, the Father embodies the divine attributes of the godhead and the Son embodies the human aspects. [1] Glen Davidson, Questions Oneness Pentecostals Don . There is no doubt that there is some form of tongues in the Bible. 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). 3:16; Jn. 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). Research resources on religious movements, cults, sects, world religions and related issues . 8:6; 12:4-6; 2 Cor. And when did the Son have this glory? 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? Texas Bible College-Houston, Texas. The burden of proof is on the person making the claim. If God is unitarian, why is it that there are so many places in the Bible where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are clearly distinguished from each other in the same verse? In my opinion it is better than Burgos' Against Oneness Pentecostals, Boyd's Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity. Sphere: in the sight of, before (someone), c. Association: with (someone/something) (BBGG). : 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? 2. If God is unitarian, why are there so many plural descriptions in the OT (viz. Indiana Bible College-Seymour, Ind. 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. Phil. Previous page of related Sponsored Products. But what good reasons are there to think that? Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. There is only one true God. This use of different prepositions shows a relationship between them,5 and clearly denotes essential distinction, e.g., no one comes to [pros] the Father but through [dia] Me (John 14:6); he who believes in [eis] Me . I also recommend that you read the series that I linked to at the beginning of this article. John 3:5 does not explicitly say that one must be water baptized before entering the kingdom. Michael Burgos is a Bible teacher at Northwest Hills Community Church in Torrington, CT, and has a Master of Theological Studies from Andersonville Theological Seminary. And no time did He refer to my Son or anything of the sort as distinct from Himself! an outline of some early heresies in the Church. is a must-read for any serious-minded Christian who wants to be better informed and better equipped to sanctify Christ as Lord . . Baptism is not essential to ones reception of salvation. This is an important text for Oneness Pentecostals because it seems to use parlance that they are familiar with. There are two basic strategies that Oneness Pentecostals use for arguing for the conclusion that Jesus is God and Father. However, this seems to be far too simplistic of a reading. Why is drinking poison not a criteria for salvation? They were strongly rejected by the denominations council that year, and the AOG adopted a strong trinitarian stance in its statement of faith. Acts 2:38 must be read in context and in light of Jesus clear command in Matthew 28:19. They are one in being but distinct in person. This seems to disconfirm the idea that all believers speak in tongues. Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2018. They place much emphasis on the name of God. 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? This new anti-trinitarian belief needs to be understood and addressed, and it must be done so differently than Unitarianism of a by-gone day. Please try again. 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. John 1:14). Many, however, utilize only the King James Version to proof text their unique doctrines. ", ASIN This is agreed by recognized Greek Grammars and recognized Lexicons of the NT such as BDAG, 757. Example: in Isaiah 54:5, Maker is plural in Hebrew, lit., Makers; same with Psalm 149:2 where Maker is in the plural in Hebrew. 14 and Johns theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998. Nevertheless, they are the same person, not two separate persons. Melton, J. Gordon. Interacting with Oneness Pentecostals - Apologetics Index Oneness adherents (along with Muslims and Jehovahs Witnesses) wrongly assume that the concept or word one when referring to God (e.g., Deut. Is Oneness Pentecostalism a cult? Should it be considered a - reddit The block of Oneness ministers present urged against such a move but was overruled. Further, the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus should not be overlooked. This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt. 1:6-7; etc.). Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability Accredited. 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. So, what is Oneness Pentecostalism? Skylar McManus shares about being raised Oneness Pentecostal and moving from Oneness to Orthodoxy. Oneness Pentecostals are vehement anti-trinitarians who commonly maintain that the doctrine of the trinity states that there are three gods. 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. First, there are no good reasons to think that obedience to this command necessarily entails that those words are recited. ), we embrace the Christian significancenot its origin. . , Publisher In conclusion, the Triquetra has been used historically by all kinds of groups to mean different things. I have a friend who is try to understand he trinity. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique Hence When Jesus said, He who has seen Me has seen the Father, the only thing His disciples literally saw was Jesus physical body. There are tongues for edification (this one is necessary for salvation) and the gift of tongues (this one is not necessary for salvation). First and third person personal pronouns and verb references: Throughout John 14 and 16 Jesus clearly differentiates Himself from the Father. (see above). So, he establishes that he is speaking of tongues for edification. century, by a man named Praxeus, who is known from Tertullian's Against Praxeus. 27 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.. UPCI: Apostolic Bible Institute-St. Paul, Minn. 2. Thus, when He died, only His human nature died. John 1:18; Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. PDF Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity - isca-apologetics.org 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. 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. 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. Well, first, most Christians will point out that this verse is part of the long ending of Mark, and therefore it is not Scripture. Dan. Further, the Father is spirit. Bowman, Robert M., Jr. Oneness Pentecostals and the Name of Jesus, paper. Recently, a few evangelicals have tried to label Oneness Pentecostal churches as cultic. If you are going to claim that there is a pattern in the book of Acts wherein everybody who is filled with the Spirit also speaks in tongues, you have a problem, because that pattern is broken on two occasions. Modalism rips the heart out of Christianityit denies Christ by misrepresenting Him. The Trinitarians won the majority and a "Statement of Fundamental Truths" was adopted that affirmed the Trinity. But in spite of where or when it first appeared, it has been associated to a vast number of meanings through time. [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. Where in the Scripture does it say that God is unitarian? 8. 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. 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. . 'Jesus Only' Isn't Enough - Christianity Today Oneness Pentecostalism - Apologetics - North American Mission Board - Home Jesus asked in verse 11, Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? Nicodemus should have understood as the teacher of Israel. They maintain that the only real person in the Godhead is Jesus. 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. (for in Oneness theology *only Jesus as the Father mode existed prior to Bethlehem). Share your personal testimony of Gods grace and your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Pentecostalism: Spirit-filled Blessing or Dangerous Heresy? Many Oneness churches especially the UPCI rejects justification through faith alone by teaching that one must be water baptized (in the name of Jesus only) to be savedwith the evidence, as the UPCI teaches, of speaking in other tongues. Have a clear understanding of your faith and the Bible. If you were to join a Oneness Pentecostal church, what would your experience be? Answer: Before time. Second, it may be said that the name of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit is YHWH. The modern Pentecostal movement is generally regarded to have begun in 1901 in a chapel prayer meeting in Topeka, Kan., led by Charles Parham, a teacher at Bethel Bible College. John 9:39) the invisible Father (cf. 4. Mark 16:18 is part of a disputed portion of Marks text. Apostolic Missionary Institute-Oshawa, Ont. Assemblies of the Lord Jesus, Inc. (ALJI)-50,000 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.. Nicodemus was perplexed by what Jesus said to him. Focus the discussion on the essential elements of the Christian faith. 6:16). Historically, for Christians, the Triquetra represents the Trinity, not its supposedly pagan origins. Now revised, updated, and expanded. 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). As with other Christian symbols and Christian holidays (e.g., Christmas, Easter, cross, etc. The reason that I am doing that is because Oneness Pentecostalism is often not understood by trinitarian Christians. Oneness Pentecostal Sources of Authority: Oneness Pentecostals of all branches affirm the authority of the Bible for doctrine. Today scholars estimate there are between 1.5 and 5 million Oneness Pentecostals worldwide, and they make up . Oneness theology rejects the doctrine of the Trinity, for they are unitarian (i.e., believes that God exists as one personunipersonal). Clarence L. Haynes Jr. Deuteronomy 6:4: Hear, O Israel! What Is Pentecostal Oneness? - Christianity.com Wallace, GGBB, 368; Greenlee, A Concise Exegetical Grammar of New Testament Greek, 5th ed. The AmazonSmile Foundation will automatically donate 0.5% of the purchase price to your selected charitable organization. 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 . If the Son has not eternally existed with (personally distinct from) the Father why then is the Son presented as the agent of creation, that is, the Creator Himself? 2:5). 1. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). 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.. 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.? To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. In terms of the triquetra (Trinitarian symbol), you should not base an argument on ignorance, and unaccredited internet articles. Pentecostal Church of Apostolic Faith (PCAF)-25,000 biblical case against Oneness unitarianism. "When you believe in eternal life. Beisner, E. Cal. 5. While they may be anti-trinitarians, they are committed to the truth that Jesus is God. The assumption that Jesus is never referred to as the Father is incorrect. This volume has practical implications beyond the debate that exists between trinitarians and Oneness Pentecostals because if popular piety is any indication, then many professing trinitarian Christians are Oneness in practice and Burgos' work will help to show how such thinking is wrong as well as offering an exegetical alternative that is Christian Life College-Stockton, Calif. 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. , Paperback But that position seems untenable. 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. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. They do not know how to deal with the texts that are often cited. These are great questions and wonderful references. But its actual origins are unknown. Mark 16:17: These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will speak with new tongues plural nouns, adjectives, verbs, prepositions) to describe the one God? , Item Weight Oneness theology rejects that the Son was the actual Creator. With scholarly precision, Michael Burgos has provided an incisive evaluation of Oneness exegesis and theology while accurately representing the teachings of Oneness Pentecostals. 14. Thus, those churches adhering to its basic doctrines cannot be regarded as authentically Christian. Brother Burgos carefully and respectfully dismantles the misguided half truths of Oneness doctrine. 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. SeeWas the Trinity Conceived in the 4th Century? Please give me some verses that challenge this thought? But for a deeper understanding, please view my other posts on this important subject. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique Author Michael Burgos Publisher Church Militant Publications, 2016 ISBN 0692644067, 9780692644065 Length 246 pages Export. A Trinitarian's Struggle With the Oneness Doctrine "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. 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? United Pentecostals, also called Oneness Pentecostals, are known for their rejection of the Trinity, which is a hallmark doctrine in orthodox Christianity. 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. Biblical Response: Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone (see Rom. . 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. Oneness Pentecostals believe that the trinity is ONLY one entity. also John 15:26; 16:28). In this article, I will be answering a few common Oneness Pentecostal arguments. In spite of the (unclear) origins, the Triquetra has a rich meaning that has been used by the early church to signify the Trinity. He coyly answered that he believed in one God who manifests himself in three ways: the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. 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. Nowhere in the New Testament, however, is it said that Jesus sent the Son. No Christian used it as a pagan symbol, in the same way no Christian uses a calendar today on their wall to exalt the pagan gods of the days and months it representsthus, calendars were factually derived from pagan in origins. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. v. 6), they could really see (i.e., know/recognize, cf. Unlike Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, Oneness Pentecostals teach both that there is one God and that Jesus is fully God. 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. In point of fact, The triquetra is a very old symbol and dates back perhaps to around 500 BC. He also has a good section on . Be prepared to cite (in context) and explain specific biblical passages supporting Christian doctrines, particularly the biblical basis for the Trinity, the historic understanding of the nature and work of Christ, and salvation by grace through faith. II. No single translation or human interpretation can be regarded as infallible. 6:4). I. And hey, while we're doing that, let's look at Southe. Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity - Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth Oneness folks like yourself typically cherry-pick passages (esp. Both Oneness believers and Trinitarians agree that the Father is invisible and does not have a physical body. The name of the Holy Spirit is Jesus. : The answers do not represent a *full exegetical presentationrather it simply and basically demonstrates (a) the fundamental Oneness unitarian assumptions (viz. The term *with* is para in Greek.
arguments against oneness pentecostals