arguments against oneness pentecostals arguments against oneness pentecostals

Oneness Pentecostals are vehement anti-trinitarians who commonly maintain that the doctrine of the trinity states that there are three gods. If the Son did not eternally exist with the Father as a distinct person why is it that the Son is said to be sent from the Father out of heaven? Where in the Scripture does it say that God is unitarian? : 1986 Oneness Symposium Tape 7- "UPCI: Christian or a Cult?" Robert Sabin Watch on 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? Following these beginnings, Pentecostal preachers and churches spread rapidly coalescing into various denominations and factions. . Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique Author Michael Burgos Publisher Church Militant Publications, 2016 ISBN 0692644067, 9780692644065 Length 246 pages Export. Acts 2:38 must be read in context and in light of Jesus clear command in Matthew 28:19. Good works and holy living are the natural responses of salvation already received-not its cause (see Eph. . 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. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are roles in God's plan of redemption, not intrinsic distinctions or distinct persons. That God the Father and Jesus are inseperably the same person/being/entity/substance/everything. The participle describes the means or manner of the emptying. Church of Our Lord Jesus of the Apostolic Faith (COLJF)-30,000 It is a symbol of ones identification with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Oneness Pentecostals believe that the trinity is ONLY one entity. 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. Oneness author W. L. Vincent writes "The argument against the "Son being his own Father" is a red herring. 2:6-11). They could also cite many of the various declarations of monotheism throughout the Old Testament, thus establishing that there is only one God. "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. Anyways, I would change that symbol. Other preachers, such as Frank J. Ewart and John G. Scheppe, joined McAlister in his non-trinitarian perspective. the Father (in the vocative case, Pater. But these do suffice in showing that the Bible affirms that God is triune, and militates against Oneness unitarianism. as well as found on early Germanic coins-with no religious significance at all. References of the Son coming down from the heavenappear eight times in John chapter 6 alone! With scholarly precision, Michael Burgos has provided an incisive evaluation of Oneness exegesis and theology while accurately representing the teachings of Oneness Pentecostals. Many small Oneness groups formed after 1916, though many have remained independent. All Rights Reserved. Is there an argument that you would like to see addressed? 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 . 9. In sum, John 17:5 the Son first commands/asks (doxason, aorist impart.) [hereafter BDAG], 225). Try again. 12-14). 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. 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. 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. A better work to understand the balance between " oneness" and "trinitiarisism" is the works of Thomas Fudge. The PAW formed in 1918, but split along racial lines in 1924. As a former Oneness Pentecostal (OP), Boyd was especially equipped to accurately describe Oneness beliefs about God and their arguments against the Trinity, and as a trained philosopher/theologian he was especially equipped to refute such views. 5:13).As NT scholar Harold Greenly points out, When the article is used before each member, each is to be considered separately (Greenlee, Exegetical Grammar, 23). Note that the emptying did not involve His deity, for Paul safeguards against such an assertion in verse 6: hos en morph theou huparchn (who [Christ] always and continually subsisting in the very nature and substance God; authors translation). It is the final authority for the Christian on all matters of faith and doctrine. 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. This book is well researched and more than enough to satisfy any challenges to the Trinitarian position. asserting that God is one person) and (b) the basic theological errors of Oneness theology (e.g., denying the deity of the Son). Some Pentecostal denominations, often referred to as Apostolic Pentecostals, Oneness Pentecostals or Jesus-Only Pentecostals, take the . Instead, you should focus on the biblical teachings within the text and not use non-biblical philosophy. The Peoples Mouthpiece (AOHCG) Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability Accredited. 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]. 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. Leave a comment. 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. 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 . Isa. Oneness Pentecostal churches are, therefore, cultic in nature and outside the theological parameters of historic Christianity. 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. God is absolutely and unqualifiedly one. That may be the case. Mark 16:18 is part of a disputed portion of Marks text. He said that he and the Father are one. 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. Read the entire account. 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. This view of the Trinity is connected with Oneness Pentecostals' Christology. asserting that God is one person) and (b) the basic theological errors of Oneness theology (e.g., denying the deity of the Son). 1:17), talk to each other (see John 11:41-42; 12:28; 17:1-26), and know each other (see Matt. 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. 7. 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? If he and the Father are one, does that necessarily mean that he is the Father? At the 1986 Oneness Symposium, Robert Sabin addresses the charge of whether the UPCI is Christian group or a cult. Read the entire account. Historically, for Christians, the Triquetra represents the Trinity, not its supposedly pagan origins. Beisner, E. Cal. Why is snake-handling not a criteria for salvation? It would be to cherry-pick the verse that fits into ones doctrine. 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 . 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. John 3:5: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, an event that commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of . v. 6), they could really see (i.e., know/recognize, cf. 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. Focus the discussion on the essential elements of the Christian faith. Throughout time God manifested himself in three ways or "forms" (not persons), as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. John 14:18: I will not leave you as orphans. Author: Michael R. Burgos Jr., Burgos Jr., Michael R. Format: Paperback. But the argument that Jesus Christ is the secret answer to the riddle, "What is the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy . More than 160 oneness ministers who were expelled from the AOG quickly formed their own alliances to promote their doctrines. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. He was making claims that no mere human could make. 1:1-13; Jude 1:1; Rev. Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. 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. Note that while Boyd offers sound arguments against Oneness Pentecostalism in this book, he elsewhere expresses belief in open theism, an unorthodox view. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. To see our price, add these items to your cart. Its headquarters and publishing firm, the Pentecostal Publishing House, is located at 8855 Dunn Road, Hazelwood, MO 63042. John 14:9: He who has seen Me has seen the Father. That specific doctrine was foreign to the Old Testament. No amount of good works, moral living, or church membership guarantees salvation. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. (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. 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. They are Acts 2:4, 10:44-46, and 19:6. Apostolic Missionary Institute-Oshawa, Ont. Acquire a basic knowledge of Oneness Pentecostals beliefs and practices. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. 1:21-22; 13:14; 1 Pet. Exegetically, it cannot refer to the Father thinking of the Son or having the Son in view or in His mind, for Jesus uses the imperfect tense [eichon, *had*), which shows that the Son had or possessed it, not in the Fathers mind. If God is unitarian, how do you explain passages such as Genesis 19:24 where Yahweh (LORD), rained brimstone and fire from Yahweh out of heaven? Yadon: and the Vanishing Theological Past in Oneness Pentecostalism, Our God is Triune: Essays in Biblical Theology. The Global Witness (UPCI) Oneness Pentecostals believe that there is one God and God is one. Previous page of related Sponsored Products. It is certainly possible that various cultures developed the basic design arrangement independently. 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. Sphere: in the sight of, before (someone), c. Association: with (someone/something) (BBGG). His insight is edifying. 1. 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. ISBN-13: 9780692644065. 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. Oneness Pentecostalism, or Jesus-only teaching, is a modern recycling of the old Sabellianism and modalism of ages past. 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). What does it mean, then? 4. 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. including terms like Trinity, Unitarianism, Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2017. 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 . . But standing by the cross [para t staur] of Jesus were His mother, and His mothers sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.. 3:16; Jn. Paul said these things are spiritually discerned. Detroit: Gale Research, 1999.Dictionary of Christianity in America. 1:3). For example, the Assemblies of God, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world, has 16 Fundamental Truths. 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.