arguments against oneness pentecostals arguments against oneness pentecostals

Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW)-1,000,000 reported 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? [{"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"}]. Thanks! 30:3; John 14:23]; Yahweh to Yahweh and Elohim (God) to Elohim correspondences in passages such as Gen. 19:24; Ps. So there are good reasons to think that the disciples were not concerned with the words that were recited but with the power and authority of the Trinity. 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). 12:11; Eph. What does it mean that Jesus explains the Father? Church of Our Lord Jesus of the Apostolic Faith (COLJF)-30,000 Well, Oneness Pentecostalism has a lot of subtleties. He was making claims that no mere human could make. Nicodemus was perplexed by what Jesus said to him. ; and there is a Japanese form, again with no religious significance. But what good reasons are there to think that? Is that the case? What is Oneness doctrine? | GotQuestions.org Oneness Pentecostals believe that there is one God and God is one. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are roles in God's plan of redemption, not intrinsic distinctions or distinct persons. [3] BDAG defines allos here as pert[aining] to that which is other than some other entity, other . If we were in the Court of Law, it would be dismissed as evidence. However, to early Christians (and many today), the triquetra symbolized the Trinity (one God, three persons). 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. The Son said that He *HAD* glory *before* timewith (para) the Father. 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. Oneness Theology - Explaining the differences between their beliefs and ours. Mark 16:17: These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will speak with new tongues Nonetheless, historic Christianity maintains that the doctrine of the Trinity (or tri-unity of God) is taught in Scripture. 14 and Johns theology. They could also cite many of the various declarations of monotheism throughout the Old Testament, thus establishing that there is only one God. I am going to [pros] the Father (v. 12; cf. 6. 2 John 1:3- Jesus is the Son of the Father). including terms like Trinity, Unitarianism, Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2017. Thus, because God is tri-personal He can be described as both Maker and Makers and as Creator and Creators. He is one Being, not one persona point that is repeatedly brought to bear by the OT authors. Michael R. Burgos is an American theologian, author, and pastor. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 2020. 9. In the Gospels, Jesus referred to the Father over two hundred times as someone other than Himself, thus, as a distinct person. Nevertheless, they are the same person, not two separate persons. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. His insight is edifying. 9 Faith Groups That Reject the Trinity - Learn Religions - Guide to the . 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. 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) . To be sure, Modalism embraces another Jesus, another Gospel, and another Spirit. The question that we need to ask is one what? A better work to understand the balance between " oneness" and "trinitiarisism" is the works of Thomas Fudge. John 1:18; Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. History of Heresies - History always repeats itself when no one is paying attention. 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. Regardless, handling snakes or drinking poison is a misuse of that Scripture and has resulted in the deaths of many practitioners. This doctrine is called Oneness of God or Jesus Only. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique How can you use Mark 16:17 to establish tongues as a criteria for salvation without using an absolute double-standard? Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2016. Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity - Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth Matthew 28:19 includes the marching orders for Christians. But typically, God became a man. The Global Witness (UPCI) 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. 6 Why Oneness Pentecostals have Salvation Wrong (Acts 2:38) and you 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? In the book of Isaiah, he was targeting polytheists; pagan idolaters. 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. 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). If he and the Father are one, does that necessarily mean that he is the Father? Oneness Pentecostalism | Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth Historically, for Christians, the Triquetra represents the Trinity, not its supposedly pagan origins. A Trinitarian's Struggle With the Oneness Doctrine : 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. Hence, the Son emptied Himself by means of His incarnation (cf. the God)], and [kai] the fellowship of the [tou] Holy Spirit be with you all. . . Therefore, we may conclude that Deuteronomy 6:4 and the multiple proof-texts for monotheism do not represent a good argument against the trinity. 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. The only thing that keeps me from fully accepting Oneness at this point is Christology. Is there an argument that you would like to see addressed? 2. 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). Pentecostals are so certain of this logic that many consider it to be a key teaching of the Christian faith. . Again, in its proper sense, a mediator is one who is other than or distinct from the parties, which are being mediated. Oneness Pentecostals brand themselves apostolic. They will suggest that they are following the model of the earliest apostles. Wallace, GGBB, 368; Greenlee, A Concise Exegetical Grammar of New Testament Greek, 5th ed. , Language How is that clear at all? John 17:5: Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself [para seaut] with the glory which I had/possessed [eichon] with You before the world was., John 19:25: Therefore the soldiers did these things. They had come to love their Messiah over the years. 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. Please try again. The Paradox of Sonship: Christology in the Epistle to the Hebrews (Studies in Chris We Become What We Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry, Neo-Calvinism: A Theological Introduction, Why We're Catholic: Our Reasons for Faith, Hope, and Love, Oneless Oneness: Tao as an Existential Remedy (Unlock Tao), Bridges Between US: A Pathway to Unity Through Faith, Empathy & Mutual Understanding, Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, $28.30 Shipping & Import Fees Deposit to India. Oneness Pentecostal Wallace, BBGG, 350-51; Robert Reymond, Systematic Theology, 263. Speaking in tongues, like all other gifts, is distributed sovereignly by the Holy Spirit to those He wills for the equipping and edification of the whole body of Christ (see 1 Cor. Answering A Few Common Oneness Pentecostal Arguments. Oneness Pentecostalism - Wikipedia If there is anyone out there in a Oneness church who has questions in their mind about the truthfulness of Oneness doctrine and what the Scriptures actually teach, this is the book for them. Your confusing Jesus perfectly representing the Father with His identity. Charles R. Koester . In response, Oneness Pentecostals will tell us that there are different kinds of tongues. 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. Oneness Pentecostals take issue with the Trinity doctrine chiefly for its use of the term "person." Baptism is not essential to ones reception of salvation. 2:7, the participle labn,(taking as in taking the nature of a servant) is a participle of means (cf. So, if you are going to mount an argument on the basis of Mark 16:17 for the necessity of tongues, you would have to mount an argument for the necessity of resisting a snake bite. They believe that God is ONE and not one in three persons. 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. 2021 North American Mission Board, SBC. 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. dual nature of Christ," but my heart sank when I found nothing which properly explained these things against a Trinitarian argument. Wallace, BBGG, 630). Please try your request again later. Many small Oneness groups formed after 1916, though many have remained independent. Suppose that modalism is true about the Son. Brother Burgos carefully and respectfully dismantles the misguided half truths of Oneness doctrine. In this article, I will be answering a few common Oneness Pentecostal arguments. 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. However, the Oneness Pentecostal could grant that it is not really Scripture. asserting that God is one person) and (b) the basic theological errors of Oneness theology (e.g., denying the deity of the Son). Bishop Thomas Dexter "T.D." Jakes (born in 1957) is a popular black preacher and evangelist who is the main pastor of The Potter's House church in Dallas, Texas (founded in 1996), with a congregation of over thirty thousand members. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique They believe that Jesus and the Father are one essential person, though operating as different modes. It is an idiom for authority, like if I say in the name of the king. This is firmly established in Acts 4:4, which reads, By what power or what name did you do this? Power and name are parallel. He has exgsato [lead out, unfold, declare, Thayer, 1996: 223] Him (the Father). Of course, this is a mischaracterization. Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ World Wide, Inc. (Bible Way)-250,000 If an individual believes that there are three gods, then they have, in effect, denied the doctrine of the trinity. He claims the symbol used by trinitarians is demonic. First, there are no good reasons to think that obedience to this command necessarily entails that those words are recited. Paper. The above example is typical of Questions Oneness Pentecostals Don't ask. Answering Oneness arguments - Let Us Reason , Publisher distinguished fr. I found this web page, looked promising to refute Oneness theology. 5. Second, it may be said that the name of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit is YHWH. These are great questions and wonderful references. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. UCJC: Institute of Biblical Studies-Baltimore, Md. John 6:38). 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. PDF Oneness and Trinity 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].. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. There are many other passages where this construction applies clearly denoting distinction between the persons in the Trinity (e.g., 1 Thess. If you are interested in learning, I recommend you view my series Oneness Pentecostal Heresy. At the 1986 Oneness Symposium, Robert Sabin addresses the charge of whether the UPCI is Christian group or a cult. Biblical Response: Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone (see Rom. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Modern Oneness Pentecostals garner support for their modalistic view by interpreting Matthew28:19 in conjunction with Acts2:38. . John 3:5 should not be read in a vacuum. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). That specific doctrine was foreign to the Old Testament. 7. Of course, this is a mischaracterization. Try again. 32 To illustrate their arguments against Oneness groups, the following quotes from a book on cults by Bruce Tucker, an evangelical author, are also Walter Bauers, A Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament, 3rd ed. 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. 6. The term *with* is para in Greek. Share your personal testimony of Gods grace and your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. 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. 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. 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? The Son is speaking of something that He had, that He shared with the Father; the Son is not speaking of something that the Father had (in view). 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 . References of the Son coming down from the heavenappear eight times in John chapter 6 alone! Further, the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus should not be overlooked. What's the best argument against oneness Pentecostals, people who believe Jesus is the father, son and Holy Spirit? For example in the late 8th cent. He had never heard anything of being born of water. 9. It is knowing The Bible endorses slavery and oppression. Has anyone ever heard this before? Though, this would also be too simplistic of a reading. For the Son of Man in Oneness theology was not the Father, but the human Son who emerged not until Bethlehem, but here, the Son of Man came from heaven, that is, the Son (cf. Oneness Pentecostalism: Heresy, Not Hairsplitting II. No one has ascended into heaven but He who descended from [the] heaven [ek tou ouranou]: the Son of Man (John 3:13). (for in Oneness theology *only Jesus as the Father mode existed prior to Bethlehem). The same can be said in Ecclesiastes 12:1, where the Hebrew literally reads, Remember also your Creators (plural in Heb.). There is only one true God. Oneness Pentecostalism have discounted, distorted or dismissed the Three-in-One doctrine of the Trinity, as found in classical Christian theism. 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). 15-16), Jesus distinguishes Himself from His Father by using different prepositions. 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. Thus, those churches adhering to its basic doctrines cannot be regarded as authentically Christian. This is because in Acts 2:38, we see a manifestation of this command. 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. "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. The PAW formed in 1918, but split along racial lines in 1924. 3. If an individual believes that there are three gods, then they have, in effect, denied the doctrine of the trinity. They accomplish this by adhering to modalism, more commonly referred to as oneness theology. 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. The Holy Spirit is not regarded as a person at all, merely a manifestation of Jesus power or a synonym for Him. ' Note the first person plural verbs (eleusometha, We will come, and poisometha, We will make). 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? Be prepared to explain biblically why you do not believe these are necessary ingredients for salvation or eternal security. Is Oneness Pentecostalism a cult? Should it be considered a - reddit 7. That the Son of Man was in heaven prior to Bethlehem creates a theological problem for Oneness doctrine. Salvation is entirely based on grace through faith in Christ. Focus the discussion on the essential elements of the Christian faith. Something went wrong. 6:4) has the strict denotative meaning of absolute solitude. 1:20-21). But these do suffice in showing that the Bible affirms that God is triune, and militates against Oneness unitarianism. . Deuteronomy 6:4: Hear, O Israel! How To Implement Apologetics into the Church, The Differences Between the Prosperity Gospel and the Biblical Gospel. Jesus is a perfect representation of the person of the Father. 2022 Department of Christian Defense 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 An Antichrist who denies the power thereof, that The Apostle Paul warned us to turn away from! Thus, they are often referred to as the Jesus Only Movement. 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. Today it is predominately African-American and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Behind this question lay a criticism of the commonly-held Trinitarian Pentecostal argument that the name of Jesus in baptismal texts from . How Can a Pastor Stay Engaged in Apologetics? 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. Trinitarians could easily affirm that they are one God, they share the same essence. 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 . The reason that I am doing that is because Oneness Pentecostalism is often not understood by trinitarian Christians. 5:18). If the Father and the Son are the same person, then the Oneness teachers have a difficult job explaining how the Father and the Son can love each other (See Matt. They believe that the name of the Lord Jesus is, under the new covenant . ISBN-13: 9780692644065. Second, when did the Son have this glory (which only God has, Isa, 42:8)? But again Only by removing this passage from the document and immediate context can Oneness teachers posit a modalistic Oneness understanding. Recently a well-known pastor, television preacher, and best-selling author was asked about his beliefs about God. 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. 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. "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. 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. . 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. Christian Life College-Stockton, Calif. United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) (UCJC-A)-100,000 The Holy Spirit is God applying A Definitive Look at Oneness Theology: In the Light of Biblical The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! When somebody is born again, they will show the evidence of speaking with new tongues. So what does this verse mean? While this book may be helpful insofar as it rehearses typical Oneness Pentecostal views and arguments, it is far from providing a substantial treatment of Scripture or a meaningful interaction with trinitarianism. The Oneness Pentecostal movements generally teach that to receive and maintain salvation, a person must adhere to four essential requirements. Author: Michael R. Burgos Jr., Burgos Jr., Michael R. Format: Paperback. 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. Preexistence of the Son - Is the Son pre-existing like the Father or did the Father become the Son. 3. All Rights Reserved. Trinitarian vs Oneness Pentecostals (Foursquare vs UPCI) +BONUS Seek to build a personal and respectful relationship with the Oneness Pentecostal. 42:8), which shows that the glory that the Son had was in together in the presence of the Father. 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. In Acts 4:31 and 8:17, people are filled with the Spirit and tongues are simply not mentioned. . This interpretation is not an attempt to understand the text. 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.. In this piece he critically interacts with the following argument of mine ( from this blog post ). Other preachers, such as Frank J. Ewart and John G. Scheppe, joined McAlister in his non-trinitarian perspective. podcast 274 - McManus on Oneness Pentecostal Christology Oneness author W. L. Vincent writes "The argument against the "Son being his own Father" is a red herring. 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. . Moreover, when it found its way in the twentieth century, departing from the Trinitarian Pentecostals, it was again rejected by the church.