SeeWas the Trinity Conceived in the 4th Century? Further, how do you know that you do not merely possess the gift of tongues? 32, 33, 41, 42, 50, 51-ek tou ouranou;verse 38 apo tou ouranou;and verse 58 came downex ouranou). 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.. 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? Regardless, handling snakes or drinking poison is a misuse of that Scripture and has resulted in the deaths of many practitioners. Is there an argument that you would like to see addressed? 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. This seems to draw support from John 14:18. Oneness theology rejects the eternality of the Person of the Son. I found this web page, looked promising to refute Oneness theology. Michael R. Burgos is an American theologian, author, and pastor. The Oneness Pentecostal view of God is similar to the ancient heresy of Modalism. 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. Does The Old Testament Favor Oneness Pentecostalism? There are four exegetical features, which provide a cogent refutation to the Oneness handling of this passage. However, the Oneness Pentecostal could grant that it is not really Scripture. JWs, and unstudied Oneness advocates) chiefly utilize the pagan-triquetra arguments against it. Well, Oneness Pentecostalism has a lot of subtleties. 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.? This movement denies the Trinity, arguing instead that Jesus is himself the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The triquetra symbol has been found in Norwegian churches dating to the 11th century. ' Note the first person plural verbs (eleusometha, We will come, and poisometha, We will make). It is noticeably absent. Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability Accredited. He said that he and the Father are one. 36: But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe., 38: For I have come down apo tou ouranou, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me, 41: Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, I am the bread that came down ek tou ouranou, 42: They were saying, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? 2021 North American Mission Board, SBC. They were strongly rejected by the denominations council that year, and the AOG adopted a strong trinitarian stance in its statement of faith. Also, when Jesus prayed, it was His human nature praying to His divine nature-not to a separate Father in heaven. 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. Do not get sidetracked defending your denomination. An Antichrist who denies the power thereof, that The Apostle Paul warned us to turn away from! How would anybody understand what he is saying? The question that we need to ask is one what? Trinitarians could easily affirm that they are one God, they share the same essence. Michael Burgos, is a modern Pharisee. 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). In the Incarnation, God in his divine nature is the Father; the Son is the perfect man in whom God was incarnate; Jesus is the one God manifested in the flesh. 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. But you have the symbol!!! 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. 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. But what good reasons are there to think that? Is this even a good argument that Jesus was God? 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]. 6. Unlike Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, Oneness Pentecostals teach both that there is one God and that Jesus is fully God. A better work to understand the balance between " oneness" and "trinitiarisism" is the works of Thomas Fudge. Oneness Pentecostal Sources of Authority: Oneness Pentecostals of all branches affirm the authority of the Bible for doctrine. What arguments do they use to support this proposition? 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. The church has branded Oneness theology as heretical since the days of Noetus at the end of the second century. 1 Thess. 8:6; 12:4-6; 2 Cor. In verse 4, he writes that the person who speaks in tongues edifies himself. 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. Different prepositions: Throughout John chapter 14 (and chaps. Oneness Pentecostalism, or Jesus-only teaching, is a modern recycling of the old Sabellianism and modalism of ages past. Oneness Pentecostalism have discounted, distorted or dismissed the Three-in-One doctrine of the Trinity, as found in classical Christian theism. 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. He does so by using first person personal pronouns (I, Me, Mine) and verb references to refer to Himself and third person personal pronouns (He, Him, His) and verb references to refer to His Father. Oneness Pentecostals take issue with the Trinity doctrine chiefly for its use of the term "person." Today, however, the strongest anti-trinitarian movement known as the Oneness Pentecostals exists as self-proclaimed Evangelicals. Something went wrong. Oneness Pentecostals declare that the Godhead consists of only one Person and deny the traditional doctrine of the Trinity. 6:4). Oneness/Jesus-only proponents will often say that this is a new revelation that came sometime during or after the Azusa Street Revival of 1906, which is generally regarded to be the birth of modern Pentecostalism. In terms of the triquetra (Trinitarian symbol), you should not base an argument on ignorance, and unaccredited internet articles. Oneness Pentecostal churches are, therefore, cultic in nature and outside the theological parameters of historic Christianity. What does it mean, then? a. Spatial: near, beside, b. Pentecostals hold that believers do gain saving faith when they come to Christ. How To Implement Apologetics into the Church, The Differences Between the Prosperity Gospel and the Biblical Gospel. Some scholars believe it to be Celtic in origin, and it is sometimes called the Irish Trinity Knot. . (BDAG, 46). 1:21-22; 13:14; 1 Pet. (Robertson, Word Pictures, 5:275-76). Unable to add item to List. 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. 5:18). 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. But the Son, they say, was not really there with the Father before the world was. However, consider the following: First, note that the glory that the *Son* said that He possessed or shared (eichon) was when? All of the arguments both for and against Oneness beliefs seem valid and to me come down to se It is extremely well written, but wasn't the best choice for my needs. 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. It would be to cherry-pick the verse that fits into ones doctrine. It is never used apart from God's incarnation, however; it never refers to deity Wallace, BBGG, 630). Michael Burgos Jr., Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique (Winchester, CT: Church Militant, 2016). 2 John 1:3- Jesus is the Son of the Father). : Please try your request again later. In my opinion it is better than Burgos' Against Oneness Pentecostals, Boyd's Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity. He doesnt fully understand the Christology or Godhead. 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. Oneness theology rejects that the Son was the actual Creator. The Global Witness (UPCI) First and third person personal pronouns and verb references: Throughout John 14 and 16 Jesus clearly differentiates Himself from the Father. By promoting the Son as a temporary mode or a role of the unitarian deity whose life started in Bethlehem, denies the Son, as well as the Father. If Jesus were the Father, as Oneness believers contend, one would expect to find a clear example of thisat least one passage (cf. Now revised, updated, and expanded. 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. Other preachers, such as Frank J. Ewart and John G. Scheppe, joined McAlister in his non-trinitarian perspective. Your confusing Jesus perfectly representing the Father with His identity. "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. Why is drinking poison not a criteria for salvation? 13:14; also cf. Every time somebody is saved throughout the book of Acts, we will see them speaking in tongues. 12-14). : 6 Texas Bible College-Houston, Texas. Mark 16:17: These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will speak with new tongues (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. : However, some advocates of Oneness Pentecostalism have responded to this point. Thanks! It is certainly possible that various cultures developed the basic design arrangement independently. We dont share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we dont sell your information to others. The term *with* is para in Greek. This is an excellent refutation of Oneness Pentecostals. So what does this verse mean? Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Apostolic Missionary Institute-Oshawa, Ont. But in verse 5, he says that he wishes everybody spoke in tongues, indicating that everybody does not speak in tongues. 5. 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 The same can be said in Ecclesiastes 12:1, where the Hebrew literally reads, Remember also your Creators (plural in Heb.). Many trinitarians, unfortunately, have never heard of these arguments before. The largest oneness movements today are the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW). 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. However, since in Oneness theology Jesus is both Father and Son, Jesus cannot be properly Mediator between two partiesGod the Father and man. Is that the case? 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. [1] Glen Davidson, Questions Oneness Pentecostals Don . 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. 6. Does this not seem to vindicate Oneness theology? 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. In this article, I will be answering a few common Oneness Pentecostal arguments. What's the best argument against oneness Pentecostals, people who believe Jesus is the father, son and Holy Spirit? The Bible indeed teaches the existence of only one God (Deut. The Peoples Mouthpiece (AOHCG) 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. Sphere: in the sight of, before (someone), c. Association: with (someone/something) (BBGG). First they argue that certain prooftexts directly identify Jesus as the Father. 2:5). Nicodemus was perplexed by what Jesus said to him. , Dimensions John 6:38). Is there any practical difference at all? Trinitarian who is struggling with the Oneness doctrine. Let's look at the Foursquare Church and United Pentecostal Church International and see how hey differ. Preexistence of the Son - Is the Son pre-existing like the Father or did the Father become the Son. The participle describes the means or manner of the emptying. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. 15-16), Jesus distinguishes Himself from His Father by using different prepositions. 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. Note the context indicating that the Father sent the person of the Son. . , Item Weight Oneness Pentecostals are vehement anti-trinitarians who commonly maintain that the doctrine of the trinity states that there are three gods. 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. And you are pretexting the passage with no consideration of the context of chap. 6. For this reason, many Christians have difficulty seeing anything wrong with the Oneness position. 4:4). 5:13 et al. This is far, far more plausible than thinking that Jesus switched between him and I.. Well, there are a number of reasons that I think that interpretation is implausible. century, by a man named Praxeus, who is known from Tertullian's Against Praxeus. 3. 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 The proper mode is immersion in the triune name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 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 .