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Do not fill this in! {{short description|Nontrinitarian religious movement}} {{good article}} {{Christianity|expand-nontrinitarian=yes}} '''Oneness Pentecostalism''' (also known as '''Apostolic''', '''Jesus' Name Pentecostalism''', or the '''Jesus Only movement''') is a [[Nontrinitarianism|nontrinitarian]] [[New religious movement|religious movement]] within the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Christianity|Christian]] family of churches known as [[Pentecostalism]].<ref name="Chryssides 2012">{{cite book |last=Chryssides |first=George D. |author-link=George Chryssides |year=2012 |title=Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements |chapter="Jesus Only" Pentecostalism |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WA12nHRtmAwC&pg=PA189 |location=[[Lanham, Maryland]] |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |edition=2nd |series=Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements Series |pages=189–190 |isbn=978-0-8108-6194-7 |lccn=2011028298}}</ref><ref name="Reed 2018">{{cite book |last=Reed |first=David A. |year=2018 |origyear=2008 |title="In Jesus' Name": The History and Beliefs of Oneness Pentecostals |chapter=From Issue to Doctrine: The Revelation of God and the Name, One Lord and One Baptism |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rAD1DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA175 |location=[[Leiden]] and [[Boston]] |publisher=[[Brill Publishers]] |series=Journal of Pentecostal Theology: Supplement Series |volume=31 |pages=175–205 |isbn=978-90-04-39708-8 |issn=0966-7393}}</ref><ref name="EGPO">{{cite encyclopedia |author1-last=Reed |author1-first=David A. |author2-last=Barba |author2-first=Lloyd |year=2019 |title=Oneness Pentecostalism |editor-last1=Wilkinson |editor-first1=Michael |editor-last2=Au |editor-first2=Connie |editor-last3=Haustein |editor-first3=Jörg |editor-last4=Johnson |editor-first4=Todd M. |encyclopedia=Brill's Encyclopedia of Global Pentecostalism Online |location=[[Leiden]] and [[Boston]] |publisher=[[Brill Publishers]] |doi=10.1163/2589-3807_EGPO_COM_041662 |issn=2589-3807}}</ref> It derives its name from its teaching on the [[Godhead in Christianity|Godhead]], a form of [[Modalistic Monarchianism]] commonly referred to as the Oneness doctrine.<ref name=fp123-4>{{cite book |last1=Patterson |first1=Eric |last2=Rybarczyk |first2=Edmund |title=The Future of Pentecostalism in the United States |publisher=Lexington Books |year=2007 |location=New York |pages=123–4 |isbn=978-0-7391-2102-3 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Modalism {{!}} Definition of Modalism by Oxford Dictionary on Lexico.com also meaning of Modalism|url=https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/modalism|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413025359/https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/modalism|archive-date=April 13, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=13 April 2021|website=Lexico Dictionaries {{!}} English|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{cite book|last1=Bernard|first1=David|url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch10.htm|title=The Oneness of God|chapter=Oneness Believers in Church History|publisher=Word Aflame Press|year=1993|isbn=978-0-912315-12-6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130145231/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch10.htm|archive-date=30 November 2007}}</ref> The doctrine states that there is one God―a singular divine spirit with no distinction of persons―who manifests himself in many ways, including as [[God the Father|Father]], [[Son of God|Son]], and [[Holy Spirit (Christianity)|Holy Spirit]].<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":12" /> This stands in sharp contrast to the doctrine of three distinct, eternal persons posited by [[Trinitarianism|Trinitarian]] theology.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|title=What the Early Church Believed: God in Three Persons|url=https://www.catholic.com/tract/god-in-three-persons|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929014304/https://www.catholic.com/tract/god-in-three-persons|archive-date=29 September 2021|access-date=13 April 2021|website=Catholic Answers}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Blessed Trinity|url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15047a.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929014448/https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15047a.htm|archive-date=29 September 2021|access-date=29 September 2021|website=Catholic Encyclopedia|publisher=New Advent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC - Religions - Christianity: The Trinity|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/trinity_1.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929015021/https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/trinity_1.shtml|archive-date=29 September 2021|access-date=29 September 2021|website=British Broadcasting Corporation|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title=Trinity - ReligionFacts |url=https://religionfacts.com/trinity |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109041633/https://religionfacts.com/trinity |archive-date=9 January 2022 |access-date=9 January 2022 |website=religionfacts.com}}</ref> Oneness Pentecostals differ from most other [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostals]] and [[Evangelicalism|Evangelicals]] in their views on [[soteriology]], believing that true saving faith is demonstrated by [[Repentance in Christianity|repentance]], [[Immersion baptism|full-submersion water baptism]], and [[Baptism with the Holy Spirit|baptism in the Holy Spirit]] with the evidence of [[Glossolalia|speaking in other tongues]].<ref name="Bernard Grace and Faith"/><ref>{{Cite book|last=Bernard|first=David|url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/New-Ch9.htm|title=The New Birth|publisher=Word Aflame Press|chapter=Speaking in Tongues|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316084346/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/New-Ch9.htm|archive-date=16 March 2009}}</ref> Oneness believers also solely [[Baptism in the name of Jesus|baptize in the name of Jesus Christ]],<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last1=Slick |first1=Matt |date=8 December 2008 |title=What is Oneness Pentecostal theology? |url=https://carm.org/oneness-pentecostal-theology |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119015348/https://carm.org/oneness-pentecostal-theology |archive-date=19 November 2020 |access-date=19 November 2020 |website=Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry |language=en}}</ref> rejecting the mainstream Trinitarian formulas.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|title=What the Early Church Believed: Trinitarian Baptism|url=https://www.catholic.com/tract/trinitarian-baptism|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929022050/https://www.catholic.com/tract/trinitarian-baptism|archive-date=29 September 2021|access-date=13 April 2021|website=Catholic Answers}}</ref> Many Oneness Pentecostal groups―especially the [[United Pentecostal Church International]]―tend to emphasize strict holiness standards in dress, grooming, and other areas of personal conduct.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Holiness |url=https://upci.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Holiness.pdf |website=United Pentecostal Church International |publisher=General Board of the United Pentecostal Church International}}</ref> This teaching is shared with traditional [[Holiness Pentecostal]]s, but not with other [[Finished Work Pentecostal]] groups―or at least not to the degree that is generally found in some Oneness Pentecostal (and Holiness Pentecostal) churches that say holiness is to be set apart to God.<ref name="Synan1975">{{cite book |last1=Synan |first1=Vinson |title=Aspects of Pentecostal-charismatic Origins |date=1975 |publisher=Logos International |isbn=978-0-88270-110-3 |page=221 |language=en}}</ref> The Oneness Pentecostal movement first emerged in [[North America]] around 1914 as the result of a [[Schism in Christianity|schism]] following the doctrinal disputes within the nascent Finished Work Pentecostal movement (which itself had broken from Holiness Pentecostalism)<ref name="Anderson2004"/>—specifically within the [[Assemblies of God]].<ref name="EGPO"/> The movement claims an estimated 30 million adherents worldwide.<ref name="French">{{cite book |last1=French |first1=Talmadge L. |title=Early Inter-racial Oneness Pentecostalism: G.T. Haywood and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (1901-1931) |date=2014 |publisher=The Lutterworth Press |location=Eugene, Or |isbn=978-0-227-17477-7 |page=6 |edition=1 |url=https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1cgf8cm |access-date=8 February 2024 |quote=The number of Oneness Pentecostals, above and beyond the hard data of 27.4 million reported for specific groups by the Oneness Studies Institute in 2009, now exceeds an estimated thirty million.}}</ref> It was often referred to as the Jesus Only movement in its early days—referring to its baptismal formula—which may be misleading as it does not deny the existence of the Father or Holy Spirit.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Vinson |last1=Synan |title=The Century of the Holy Spirit: 100 Years of Pentecostal and Charismatic Renewal, 1901–2001 |location=Nashville |publisher=Thomas Nelson |year=2001 |page=141|isbn=9780785245506 }}</ref> ==History== The first Pentecostals were [[Holiness Pentecostal]]s, who teach three works of grace (the [[Born again|new birth]], [[Christian perfection|entire sanctification]], and Spirit baptism accompanied by glossolalia); [[Finished Work|Finished Work Pentecostals]] broke off and became partitioned into Trinitarian and nontrinitarian branches, the latter being known as Oneness Pentecostalism.<ref name="Anderson2004">{{cite book |last1=Anderson |first1=Allan |title=An Introduction to Pentecostalism: Global Charismatic Christianity |date=13 May 2004 |location=[[Cambridge]] |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-0-521-53280-8 |page=47 |language=English|quote=Those who resisted Durham's teaching and remained in the 'three-stage' camp were Seymour, Crawford and Parham, and Bishops Charles H. Mason, A.J. Tomlinson and J.H. King, respectively leaders of the Church of God in Christ, the Church of God (Cleveland) and the Pentecostal Holiness Church. Tomlinson and King each issued tirades against the 'finished work' doctrine in their periodicals, but by 1914 some 60 percent of all North American Pentecostals had embraced Durham's position. ... The 'Finished Work' controversy was only the first of many subsequent divisions in North American Pentecostalism. Not only did Pentecostal churches split over the question of sanctification as a distinct experience, but a more fundamental and acrimonious split erupted in 1916 over the doctrine of the Trinity. ... The 'New Issue' was a schism in the ranks of the 'Finished Work' Pentecostals that began as a teaching that the correct formula for baptism is 'in the name of Jesus' and developed into a dispute about the Trinity. It confirmed for Holiness Pentecostals that they should have no further fellowship with the 'Finished Work' Pentecostals, who were in 'heresy'.}}</ref><ref name="Levinson1996">{{cite book |last=Levinson |first=David |year=1996 |title=Religion: A Cross-cultural Encyclopedia |location=[[Santa Barbara, California]] |publisher=[[ABC-Clio]] |isbn=978-0-87436-865-9 |page=151 |language=English |quote=The Finished Work Pentecostals believed that conversion and sanctification were a single act of grace. The Assemblies of God, created in 1914, became the first Finished Work denomination.}}</ref> The Oneness Pentecostal movement began in 1913 as the result of doctrinal disputes within the nascent Pentecostal movement,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Gill|first=Kenneth|title=Dividing Over Oneness|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-58/dividing-over-oneness.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119024652/https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-58/dividing-over-oneness.html|archive-date=19 November 2020|access-date=19 November 2020|website=Christianity Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.namb.net/apologetics/resource/oneness-pentecostalism/|title=Oneness Pentecostalism|first1=Tal|last1=Davis|website=North American Mission Board|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119020648/https://www.namb.net/apologetics/resource/oneness-pentecostalism/|archive-date=19 November 2020|access-date=19 November 2020|language=en-US}}</ref> specifically within the Assemblies of God, the first Finished Work Pentecostal denomination.<ref name="EGPO"/><ref name="Levinson1996"/> ===Beginnings of the Oneness movement=== [[File:Urshan-andrew-fig1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Andrew David Urshan|Andrew D. Urshan]], an early leader in the Oneness Pentecostal movement.]] In April 1913, at the Apostolic Faith Worldwide Camp Meeting held in [[Arroyo Seco (Los Angeles County)|Arroyo Seco]], CA, conducted by [[Maria Woodworth-Etter]], organizers promised that God would "deal with them, giving them a unity and power that we have not yet known."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Warner |first1=Wayne |date=Spring 1983 |title=World-Wide Apostolic Faith Camp Meeting |url=https://archives.ifphc.org/pdf/Heritage/1983_01.pdf |website=The Assemblies of God Archives |publisher=Asseblies of God Heritage}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first1=Edith Waldvogel |last1=Blumhofer |year=1993 |chapter=Baptism and the Trinity |chapter-url={{Google books|tKuTIfCPeJwC|page=127|plainurl=yes}} |page=127 |title=Restoring the Faith: The Assemblies of God, Pentecostalism, and American Culture |isbn=978-0-252-06281-0 }}</ref> Canadian [[R.E. McAlister|R. E. McAlister]] preached a "new revelation" that a baptismal formula in the name of Jesus only was to be preferred over the three-part formula "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" found in [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] [[Matthew 28:19|28:19]], pointing to [[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] [[Acts 2:38|2:38]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Weaver |first1=C. Douglas |author1-link=Doug Weaver |title=The healer-prophet, William Marrion Branham: a study of the prophetic in American Pentecostalism |date=2000 |publisher=[[Mercer University Press]] |location=Macon, GA |isbn=9780865547100 |page=16 |edition=2 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Healer_prophet/0mQUxz82-08C?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA16&printsec=frontcover |access-date=3 November 2023 |quote=In 1913, at a World Wide Pentecostal Camp Meeting in Los Angeles, a well-known Canadian Pentecostal, Robert T. McAlister, preached a sermon in which he declared that the baptismal formula of Acts 2:38 (in the name of Jesus Christ) was to be preferred over the trinitarian formula of Matthew 28:19 (in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost), because the former was the one used by the early Church.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Oneness Pentecostalism |url=https://religionfacts.com/oneness-pentecostalism |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109041333/https://religionfacts.com/oneness-pentecostalism |archive-date=9 January 2022 |access-date=9 January 2022 |website=ReligionFacts}}</ref> This revelation immediately caused controversy when Frank Denny—a Pentecostal missionary to China—jumped on the platform and tried to censor McAlister.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Barba |first=Lloyd |last2=Johnson |first2=Andrea Shan |date=2018 |title=The new issue: A pproaches to oneness P entecostalism in the U nited S tates |url=https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rec3.12288 |journal=Religion Compass |language=en |volume=12 |issue=11 |doi=10.1111/rec3.12288 |issn=1749-8171}}</ref> A young minister named John G. Schaepe was so moved by McAlister's new revelation, that after praying and reading the Bible all night, he ran through the camp the following morning shouting that he'd received a revelation against Trinitarian baptism.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Reckart|first1=Sr. Gary P.|title=Great Cloud Of Witnesses|publisher=Apostolic Theological Bible College|page=124}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=[[Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements]]|first1=C. M. Jr.|last1=Rabic|chapter=John G. Schaepe|last2=Burgess|last3=McGee|pages=768–769}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first1=J.|last1=Schaepe|title=A Remarkable Testimony|journal=Meat in Due Season|date=21 August 1917|page=4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=French |first=Talmadge L. |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1cgf8cm |title=Early Inter-racial Oneness Pentecostalism: G.T. Haywood and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (1901-1931) |date=2014 |publisher=The Lutterworth Press |isbn=978-0-227-17477-7 |edition=1 |pages=63 |quote=John Schaepe, who received Spirit baptism at Azusa, February 23, 1907, received a "revelation" six years later of Jesus' Name baptism at Arroyo Seco. Many, including Harry Morse, heard him shouting the news throughout the camp in the early morning hours, persuading many of the new doctrine, and impacting Ewart himself, with whom Schaepe's Los Angeles ministry was associated.}}</ref> This conclusion was accepted by several others in the camp and given further theological development by a minister named [[Frank Ewart]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bernard|first1=David|title=A History of Christian Doctrine, Volume Three: The Twentieth Century A.D. 1900–2000|date=1999|publisher=Word Aflame Press|location=Hazelwood, MO|page=87|isbn=978-1567222210}}</ref> On April 15, 1914, Frank Ewart and Glenn Cook publicly baptized each other specifically in "the name of the Lord Jesus Christ" in a tank set up in Ewart's Crusade tent.<ref name="Ewart and Cook Rebaptized">{{cite book |last1=Tyson |first1=James L. |title=The Early Pentecostal Revival |date=1992 |publisher=Word Aflame Press |location=Hazelwood, Missouri |isbn=0-932581-92-7 |page=171}}</ref><ref name="Ewart and Cook Rebaptisms2">{{cite book |last1=Bernard |first1=David |title=A History of Christian Doctrine 1900-2000 Volume 3 |date=1999 |publisher=Word Aflame Press |location=Hazelwood, Missouri |isbn=0-932581-91-9}}</ref> This is considered to be the historical point when Oneness Pentecostalism emerged as a distinct movement.<ref name="fp123-4" /> A number of ministers claimed they were baptized in Jesus' name before 1914, including Frank Small and [[Andrew David Urshan|Andrew D. Urshan]]. Urshan claimed to have baptized others in Jesus Christ's name as early as 1910.<ref>Andrew D. Urshan, ''Pentecost As It Was in the Early 1900s'' (by the author, 1923; revised edition Portland, OR: ApostolicBook Publishers, 1981, 77)</ref><ref>''The Life Story of Andrew Bar David Urshan: An Autobiography of the Author's First Forty Years'' (Apostolic Book Publishers, 1967), 102</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first1=E. N. |last1=Bell |title=The Sad New Issue |journal=Weekly Evangel |year=1915 |issue=93 |pages=3 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Anderson |first1=Robert |title=Vision of the Disinherited: The Making of American Pentecostalism |date=July 1, 1980 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-1565630000}}</ref> In addition, [[Charles Parham]], the founder of the modern Pentecostal movement, was recorded baptizing using a [[Christology|Christological]] formula during the Azusa Street revival;<ref>{{cite book |last1=Johnston |first1=Robin |title=Howard A. Goss: A Pentecostal Life |date=24 September 2010 |publisher=Word Aflame Press |language=English|isbn=978-0757740299 }}</ref> and until 1914, both Parham and [[William J. Seymour]] baptized in this Christological formula but repudiated the new movement's nontrinitarian teachings amidst the controversy as they baptized as Christocentric Trinitarians.<ref>{{Cite book |last=French |first=Talmadge L. |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1cgf8cm |title=Early Inter-racial Oneness Pentecostalism: G.T. Haywood and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (1901-1931) |date=2014 |publisher=The Lutterworth Press |isbn=978-0-227-17477-7 |edition=1 |pages=57–58}}</ref> In the Assemblies of God, the re-baptisms in Jesus' name caused a backlash from many Trinitarians. In October 1916, the issue finally came to a head at the Fourth General Council: the mostly Trinitarian leadership—fearing that the new issue of Oneness might overtake their organization—drew up a doctrinal statement affirming the truth of Trinitarian dogma, among other issues. When the resulting [[Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths]] was adopted, a third of the fellowship's ministers left to form Oneness fellowships.<ref name="Magist">{{cite journal |doi=10.1163/157007403776113224 |title=An Emerging Magisterium? The Case of the Assemblies of God |journal=[[Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies]]|volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=164–215 |year=2003 |last1=Robeck |first1=Cecil }}</ref> After this separation, most Oneness believers became relatively isolated from other Pentecostals and [[Nicene Christianity|mainstream Christendom]].<ref name="fp123-4" /> ===Forming Oneness organizations=== {{Main|Pentecostalism#Early controversies}}Several small Oneness ministerial groups formed after 1914. Many of these ultimately merged into the [[Pentecostal Assemblies of the World]], while others remained independent, like [[Apostolic Faith Mission Church of God|AFM Church of God]]. Divisions occurred within the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World over the role of women in ministry, usage of wine or grape juice for [[Eucharist|communion]], divorce and remarriage, and the proper mode of water [[baptism]]. There were also reports of racial tension in the organization. African Americans were joining the church in great numbers, and many held significant leadership positions.<ref>Clayton, Arthur L. "United We Stand," Pentecostal Publishing House, 1970, p. 28-29</ref> In particular, the African American pastor [[Garfield Thomas Haywood|G. T. Haywood]] served as the church's general secretary, and signed all ministerial credentials. In 1925, three new organizations were formed: the Apostolic Churches of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel's Church in Jesus Christ and the Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance (1924 - 1932) |url=https://www.thearda.com/us-religion/group-profiles/groups?D=1205 |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Association of Religion Data Archives}}</ref> The first two later merged to become the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ,<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ|url=https://www.acjcii.org/history|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119011948/https://www.acjcii.org/history|archive-date=19 November 2020|access-date=19 November 2020|website=ACJC International|language=en}}</ref> and the second became the Pentecostal Church, Inc. In 1945 a merger of two predominantly-white Oneness groups, the Pentecostal Church, Inc. and the [[Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ]], resulted in the formation of the [[United Pentecostal Church International]], or UPCI.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the UPCI |url=https://upci.org/about-the-upci/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=United Pentecostal Church International |language=en-US}}</ref> Beginning with 521 churches, it has become the largest and most influential Oneness Pentecostal organization through its evangelism and publishing efforts, reporting a membership of over 5.6 million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 UPCI Statistics |url=https://upci.org/stats/ |access-date=23 September 2023 |website=United Pentecostal Church International}}</ref> ==Oneness theology== Oneness Pentecostalism has a historical precedent in the [[Modalistic Monarchianism]] of the fourth century.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Modalistic Monarchianism|url=https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/modalistic-monarchianism/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119015708/https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/modalistic-monarchianism/|archive-date=November 19, 2020|access-date=19 November 2020|website=Ligonier Ministries|language=en}}</ref> This earlier movement affirmed the two central aspects of current Oneness belief: #There is one indivisible God with no distinction of persons in God's eternal essence, and #Jesus Christ is the manifestation, human personification, or incarnation of the one God.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Wolfgang |last1=Vondey |title=Pentecostalism, A Guide for the Perplexed |publisher=T&T Clark |year=2012 |page=77 }}</ref> They contend that, based on Colossians 2:9, the concept of God's personhood is reserved for the immanent and incarnate presence of Jesus only.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Kerry D. |last1=McRoberts |chapter=The Holy Trinity |title=Systematic Theology |editor1-first=Stanley M. |editor1-last=Horton |location=Springfield, MO |publisher=Logion |year=2007 |page=173 }}</ref> ===Characteristics of God=== Oneness theology specifically maintains that God is a singular spirit who is absolutely and indivisibly one (not three persons, individuals, or minds).<ref>{{cite book |first1=David |last1=Bernard |url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216034825/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-date=February 16, 2008 |title=The Oneness of God |publisher=Word Aflame Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-912315-12-6 |page=10}}</ref><ref>Talmadge French, ''Our God is One'', Voice and Vision Publishers, 1999, {{ISBN|978-1-888251-20-3}}.{{page needed|date=September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Norris |first1=David |title=I AM: A Oneness Pentecostal Theology |date=4 September 2009 |publisher=Word Aflame Press |isbn=978-1565630000 |page=5 |chapter=Oneness Pentecostalism |quote=On the other hand, Oneness adherents decry any ontological distinction between persons "in the Godhead."}}</ref> They contend that the terms "[[God the Father|Father]]," "[[Son of God|Son]]," and "[[Holy Ghost]]" (or "Holy Spirit") are merely ''titles'' reflecting the different personal manifestations of God in the universe.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=10 June 2009|title=Oneness Pentecostalism: Heresy, Not Hairsplitting|url=https://www.equip.org/article/oneness-pentecostalism-heresy-not-hairsplitting/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119015133/https://www.equip.org/article/oneness-pentecostalism-heresy-not-hairsplitting/|archive-date=19 November 2020|access-date=19 November 2020|website=Christian Research Institute}}</ref> When Oneness believers speak of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, they see these as three personal manifestations of ''one'' being, one personal God.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oneness Pentecostalism|url=http://www.religionfacts.com/oneness-pentecostalism|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119024500/http://www.religionfacts.com/oneness-pentecostalism|archive-date=19 November 2020|access-date=19 November 2020|website=ReligionFacts|language=en}}</ref> Oneness teachers often quote a phrase used by early pioneers of the movement: "God was manifested as the Father in creation, the Son in redemption, and the Holy Ghost in emanation,"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.upcbaypoint.com/onegodtruth.html |title=The Truth About One God |website=United Pentecostal Church of Bay Point |access-date=21 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817001820/http://www.upcbaypoint.com/onegodtruth.html |archive-date=17 August 2015}}</ref> though Oneness theologian Dr. David Norris points out that this does not mean that Oneness Pentecostal believe that God can only be one of those manifestations at a time, which may be suggested in the quote.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Norris |first1=David |title=I AM: A Oneness Pentecostal Theology |date=4 September 2009 |publisher=Word Aflame Press |isbn=978-1565630000 |page=238 |chapter=Epilogue |quote=Sometimes, in a kind of echo of Haywood's profession, one will encounter a Pentecostal preacher offering a sound byte about God: "He is the Father in creation, Son in redemption, and Holy Spirit in sanctification." But they do not mean (as Haywood did not) that there is some sort of "dilation" where the Father became the Son (without remainder and ceased to be the Father) and then, subsequently the Son became the Spirit (and ceased to be the Son).}}</ref> According to Oneness theology, the Father and the Holy Spirit are one and the same personal God. It teaches that the term "Holy Spirit" is a descriptive title for God manifesting himself through the Christian Church and in the world.<ref name=":12">{{cite book|last1=Bernard|first1=David|url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch6.htm|title=The Oneness of God|publisher=Word Aflame Press|year=1993|isbn=978-0-912315-12-6|chapter=The Father is the Holy Ghost|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209202633/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch6.htm|archive-date=February 9, 2008}}</ref><ref name=":16">{{cite book|first1=David| last1=Bernard| title=A Handbook of Basic Doctrines|publisher=Word Aflame Press|date= 1 September 1988|isbn=978-0932581372}}{{page needed|date=September 2017}}</ref> These two titles—as well as others—do not reflect separate persons within the Godhead, but rather two different ways in which the one God reveals himself to his creatures. Thus, when the Old Testament speaks of "The Lord God and his Spirit" in {{bibleverse|Isaiah|48:16|KJV}}, it does not indicate two persons, according to Oneness theology. Rather, "The Lord" indicates God in all of his glory and transcendence, while "his Spirit" refers to his own Spirit that moved upon and spoke to prophets. Oneness theologian Dr. [[David K. Bernard]] teaches that this passage does not imply two persons any more than the numerous scriptural references to a man and his spirit or soul (such as in {{bibleverse|Luke|12:19|KJV}}) imply two "persons" existing within one body.<ref>{{cite book |first1=David |last1=Bernard |chapter=The Lord God and His Spirit |chapter-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212180425/http://ourworld.compuserve.com:80/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch7.htm |url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216034825/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-date=16 February 2008 |title=The Oneness of God |publisher=Word Aflame Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-912315-12-6 }}{{page needed|date=September 2017}}</ref> Bernard asserts that it is unbiblical to describe God as a plurality of persons in any sense of the word, "regardless of what persons meant in ancient church history."<ref>{{cite book |first1=David |last1=Bernard |chapter=Trinitarianism: An Evaluation |chapter-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212180425/http://ourworld.compuserve.com:80/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch7.htm |url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216034825/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-date=16 February 2008 |title=The Oneness of God |publisher=Word Aflame Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-912315-12-6 |page=287 |quote=Speaking of God as a plurality of persons further violates the biblical concept of God. Regardless of what persons meant in ancient church history, today the word definitely connotes a plurality of individuals, personalities, minds, wills and bodies. Even in ancient church history, we have shown that the vast majority of believers saw it as a departure from biblical monotheism.}}</ref> ===Son of God=== According to Oneness theology, the Son of God did not exist (in any substantial sense) prior to the incarnation of [[Jesus of Nazareth]] except as the Logos (or Word) of God the Father. They believe that humanity of Jesus did not exist before the [[Incarnation (Christianity)|Incarnation]], although Jesus (i.e. the Spirit of Jesus) [[Pre-existence of Christ|pre-existed]] in his deity as the eternal God. This belief is supported by the lack of Jesus' incarnate presence anywhere in the Old Testament.<ref name=":5">{{cite book|last1=Bernard|first1=David|url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch5.htm|title=The Oneness of God|publisher=Word Aflame Press|year=1993|isbn=978-0-912315-12-6|chapter=Begotten Son or Eternal Son?|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411183805/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch5.htm|archive-date=11 April 2008}}</ref> Thus, Oneness Pentecostals believe that the title "Son" only applied to Christ when he became flesh on earth. In this theology, the Father embodies the divine attributes of the Godhead and the Son embodies the human aspects. They believe that Jesus and the Father are one essential person, though operating in different modes.<ref name=":4" /> Oneness author W. L. Vincent writes, "The argument against the 'Son being his own Father' is a red herring. It should be evident that Oneness theology acknowledges a clear distinction between the Father and Son–in fact this has never been disputed by any Christological view that I am aware of."<ref name=":12" /> ====The Word==== Oneness theology holds that "the Word" in [[John 1:1]] was the mind or plan of God. Oneness Pentecostals believe that the Word was not a separate person from God but that it was the plan of God and was God Himself. Bernard writes in his book ''The Oneness View of Jesus Christ'', {{Blockquote|In the Old Testament, God's Word (dabar) was not a distinct person but was God speaking, or God disclosing Himself (Psalm 107:20; Isaiah 55:11). To the Greeks, the Word (logos) was not a distinct divine person, but reason as the controlling principle of the universe. The noun logos could mean thought (unexpressed word) as well as speech or action (expressed word). In John 1, the Word is God's self-revelation or self-disclosure. Before the Incarnation, the Word was the unexpressed thought, plan, reason, or mind of God.<ref name=":OnenessJesus">{{cite book|last1=Bernard|first1=David|title=The Oneness View of Jesus Christ|publisher=Word Aflame Press|year=1994|isbn=1-56722-020-7}}</ref>}} Additionally, Bernard claims that the Greek word ''pros'' (translated "with" in John 1:1) could also be translated as "pertaining to," meaning that John 1:1 could also be translated as (in his view), "The Word pertained to God and the Word was God."<ref name="The Oneness of God">{{cite book |first1=David |last1=Bernard |url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216034825/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |pages=60–61 |archive-date=16 February 2008 |title=The Oneness of God |publisher=Word Aflame Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-912315-12-6}}</ref> In the incarnation, Oneness believers hold that God put the Word (which was His divine plan) into action by manifesting Himself in the form of the man Jesus, and thus "the Word became flesh" ({{bibleverse|John|1:14|KJV}}). In this, Oneness believers say that the incarnation is a singular event, unlike anything God has done prior or will ever do again.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Norris |first1=David |title=I AM: A Oneness Pentecostal Theology |date=4 September 2009 |publisher=Word Aflame Press |isbn=978-1565630000 |page=161 |chapter=The Man Who Preexisted |quote=...and of course, the Incarnation is one of a kind-it is unique, as it is expressed in the rest of the verse.}}</ref> Oneness Pentecostals believe that the Word of John 1:1 does not imply a second pre-existent, divine person, but that the Word is simply the plan of God, which was put into action through the incarnation.<ref name="The Oneness of God"/> ====The dual nature of Christ==== {{Main|Hypostatic union}} When discussing the [[Incarnation (Christianity)|Incarnation]], Oneness theologians and authors often refer to a concept known as the dual nature of Christ, which is understood as the union of human and divine natures in the man Jesus. Bernard describes this concept in his book ''The Oneness of God'', stating that Jesus "is both Spirit and flesh, God and man, Father and Son. On his human side He is the Son of man; on his divine side He is the Son of God and is the Father dwelling in the flesh."<ref>{{cite book |first1=David |last1=Bernard |url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216034825/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-date=February 16, 2008 |title=The Oneness of God |chapter=Jesus is God |publisher=Word Aflame Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-912315-12-6 |pages=69–70}}</ref> They see this not as two persons in one body but rather as two natures united in one person: Jesus Christ.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dulle |first1=Jason |title=The Dual Nature of Christ |url=https://www.onenesspentecostal.com/dualnature.htm |website=Institute for Biblical Studies |access-date=6 November 2021 |quote=...Jesus' natures never worked independent of one another. His two natures exist "without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the difference of the natures having been in no wise taken away by reason of the union, but rather the properties of each being preserved...."}}</ref> Oneness believers see the mystery referred to in [[1 Timothy 3:16]] as referencing this concept of two natures being united in the one person of Jesus Christ.<ref>{{cite book |first1=David |last1=Bernard |url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216034825/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-date=February 16, 2008 |title=The Oneness of God |publisher=Word Aflame Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-912315-12-6 |pages=63–64 |chapter=Jesus is God}}</ref> Although the Oneness belief in the union of the divine and human into one person in Christ is similar to the [[Chalcedonian]] formula, Chalcedonians disagree sharply with them over their opposition to Trinitarian dogma. Chalcedonians see Jesus Christ as a single person uniting God the Son—the eternal second person of the Trinity—with human nature. Oneness believers, on the other hand, see Jesus as one single person uniting the one God himself with human nature as the Son of God. ===Scripture=== Oneness Pentecostalism subscribes to the doctrine of [[Sola Scriptura]] in common with mainstream Pentecostals and other Protestants.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pentecostals and Sola Scriptura|url=https://www.apostolictheology.org/2008/10/pentecostals-and-sola-scriptura.html|access-date=13 April 2021|language=en-GB|date=30 October 2008|website=Apostolic Theology}}</ref> They view the Bible as the [[Biblical inspiration|inspired]] Word of God, and as absolutely [[Biblical inerrancy|inerrant]] in its contents (though not necessarily in every translation). They specifically reject the conclusions of church councils such as the [[First Council of Nicaea|Council of Nicaea]] and the [[Nicene Creed]]. They believe that mainstream Christians have been misled by long-held and unchallenged "traditions of men."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1lord1faith.org/wm/Oneness/1TrinDebate.htm|last1=Raddatz|first1=Tom|title=A Response to the Oneness-Trinity Debate|date=20 March 2005|access-date=31 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050320000616/http://www.1lord1faith.org/wm/Oneness/1TrinDebate.htm |archive-date=20 March 2005}}</ref> ===The name of Jesus=== The overwhelming emphasis on the person of Jesus shapes the content of a theology based on experience among both Oneness and Trinitarian Pentecostals. In principle, the doctrinal emphasis on Jesus attributes all divine qualities and functions to Christ. What might therefore be called a 'Christological maximalism' in the Pentecostal doctrine of God leads among Oneness Pentecostals to a factual substitution of the three divine persons with the single person of Jesus, while Trinitarian Pentecostals typically elevate Christ from the 'second' person of the Trinity to the central figure of Christian faith and worship.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Wolfgang |last1=Vondey |title=Pentecostalism, A Guide for the Perplexed |publisher=Bloomsbury |year=2013 |page=84|isbn=978-0567522269 }}</ref> Critics of Oneness theology commonly refer to its adherents as "[[Baptism in the name of Jesus|Jesus Only]]," implying that they deny the existence of the Father and Holy Spirit.<ref name=fp123-4/> Most Oneness Pentecostals consider that term to be pejorative, and a misrepresentation of their true beliefs on the issue.<ref name=":History59">{{cite book|last1=Bernard|first1=David|title=A History of Christian Doctrine, Volume Three: The Twentieth Century A.D. 1900–2000|date=1999|publisher=Word Aflame Press|location=Hazelwood, MO|page=59|isbn=978-1567222210 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/pentecostal_1.shtml| title=Pentecostalism |website=BBC |access-date=18 October 2021 |date=2 July 2009 |quote="The Oneness movement is sometimes referred to as the "Jesus Only" churches, but this is a somewhat derogatory name and should be avoided." }}</ref> Oneness believers insist that while they do indeed believe in baptism only in the name of Jesus Christ, to describe them as "Jesus Only Pentecostals" implies a denial of the Father and Holy Spirit.<ref name=":History59" /> ===View of the Trinity=== Oneness Pentecostals believe that the Trinitarian doctrine is a "tradition of men" and is neither scriptural nor a teaching of God, citing the absence of the word "Trinity" from the Bible as one evidence of this. They—alongside the nontrinitarian [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]—generally believe the doctrine was gradually developed over the first four centuries AD, culminating with the [[First Council of Nicaea|Council of Nicaea]] and later councils which made the doctrine as believed today orthodox;<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=The Jesus Name Movement |url=https://www.apostolicarchives.com/articles/article/8795236/172416.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119023034/https://www.apostolicarchives.com/articles/article/8795236/172416.htm |archive-date=19 November 2020 |access-date=19 November 2020 |website=www.apostolicarchives.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first1=David |last1=Bernard |url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216034825/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-date=February 16, 2008 |title=The Oneness of God |publisher=Word Aflame Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-912315-12-6 |page=263|chapter=Trinitarianism: Definition and Historical Development|quote=There is no question that Christian trinitarianism developed over several centuries of time after the New Testament was written.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Plain Speaking About Nicaea and the Trinity|url=https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1964445?q=Council+of+Nicaea&p=doc|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113231657/https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1964445?q=Council+of+Nicaea&p=doc|archive-date=2022-01-13|access-date=2022-01-13|website=Watchtower Online Library}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Should You Believe in the Trinity?|url=https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/g201308/trinity/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113231544/https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/g201308/trinity/|archive-date=2022-01-13|access-date=2022-01-13|website=Jehovah's Witnesses}}</ref> most [[Nicene Christianity|mainstream Christian]] scholars have rejected these assertions and some have rebutted alleged misinterpretations of Trinitarians seeming to support those assertions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Doctrine of the Trinity at Nicaea and Chalcedon|url=https://www.str.org/w/the-doctrine-of-the-trinity-at-nicaea-and-chalcedon|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109040544/https://www.str.org/w/the-doctrine-of-the-trinity-at-nicaea-and-chalcedon|archive-date=9 January 2022|access-date=9 January 2022|website=www.str.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Wayne|first=Luke|date=7 January 2017|title=The Trinity before Nicea|url=https://carm.org/doctrine-and-theology/the-trinity-before-nicea/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109040812/https://carm.org/doctrine-and-theology/the-trinity-before-nicea/|archive-date=9 January 2022|access-date=9 January 2022|website=Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Jehovah's Witnesses: Masters of Misquotation|url=https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/the-witnesses-masters-of-misquotation|access-date=2022-01-13|website=Catholic Answers}}</ref> Oneness Pentecostals insist that their conception of the Godhead is true to early Christianity's allegedly strict [[monotheism]], contrasting their views not only with Trinitarianism, but equally with the theology espoused by the [[Latter-day Saints]] (who believe that Christ was a separate god from the Father and the Spirit) and Jehovah's Witnesses (who see him as the first-begotten Son of God, and as a subordinate deity to the Father). Oneness theology is similar to historical [[Modalism]] or [[Sabellianism]], although it cannot be exactly characterized as such.<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sabellianism|last1=Akin|first1=Jimmy|date=1 January 1994|url=https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/sabellianism|access-date=13 April 2021|website=Catholic Answers}}</ref> The Oneness position as [[Nontrinitarianism|nontrinitarians]] places them at odds with the members of most [[List of Christian denominations|Christian denominations]], some of whom have accused Oneness Pentecostals of being Modalists and derided them as [[cult]]ists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=J. Stephen |date=1 April 2002 |title='Jesus Only' Isn't Enough |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/april1/22.60.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119024127/https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/april1/22.60.html |archive-date=19 November 2020 |access-date=19 November 2020 |website=Christianity Today |language=en}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite journal|title=The Other Pentecostals|last1=Grady|first1=J.|work=Charisma Magazine|date=June 1997}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=S|first1=Fred|last2=On|first2=Ers|date=3 May 2014|title=Oneness Pentecostalism: An Analysis|url=https://scriptoriumdaily.com/oneness-pentecostalism-an-analysis/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109042320/https://scriptoriumdaily.com/oneness-pentecostalism-an-analysis/|archive-date=9 January 2022|access-date=9 January 2022|website=The Scriptorium Daily|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>Burgos Jr., Michael R., ''Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique'', 2nd Ed., (Winchester, CT: Church Militant Pub., 2016), {{ISBN|978-0692644065}}, 181-191; Hindson, Ed, Caner, Ergun eds., ''The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics'', (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Pub., 2008), 371-376, {{ISBN|978-0736920841}}; Nichols, Larry A., Mather, George A., Schmidt, Alvin J., ''Encyclopedic Dictionary of Cults, Sects, and World Religions'', Rev. and Updated Ed., (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006), 221-225, {{ISBN|978-0310239543}}.</ref> Oneness clergy consecrated into the [[J. Delano Ellis#Joint College of Bishops|Joint College of Bishops]] are also at odds on grounds of their claims to [[apostolic succession]] (being that documented consecrators in succession were Trinitarian from the [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]], [[Anglicanism|Anglican]], and [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern churches]], alongside contradicting records).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ellis|first=J. Delano|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6JMuxEE63BUC&q=Burgess|title=The Bishopric: A Handbook on Creating Episcopacy in the African-American Pentecostal Church|date=2003|publisher=Trafford Publishing|isbn=978-1-55395-848-2|language=en|quote=Archbishop Schlossberg, who resides in Jerusalem, Israel, sent Bishop Robert Woodward Burgess, II, a descendant of the "Eastern (Church) Stream," who, having received consecration from the hands of Archbishop Schlossberg, to the Holy Convocation of the United Pentecostal Churches of Christ. His Grace was mandated to assist us in the consecration of our Second College of Bishops and to impart each of our sons that coveted Apostolic Succession from the Eastern Stream, while we imparted the same Succession from the Western Stream.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Apostolic Succession of Robert W. Burgess, Jr |url=https://dioceseofstthomas.org/apostolic-succession |access-date=29 September 2021 |website=Diocese of St. Thomas |language=en-US}}</ref> ==== Accusations of Modalism and Arianism ==== Oneness believers are often accused of being Modalistic.<ref name="Bernard The Council of Nicea">{{cite book |first1=David |last1=Bernard |chapter=The Council of Nicea |chapter-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130181956/http://ourworld.compuserve.com:80/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch11.htm |url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216034825/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-date=16 February 2008 |title=The Oneness of God |publisher=Word Aflame Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-912315-12-6 }}{{page needed|date=September 2017}}</ref> They have also occasionally been accused of [[Arianism]] or [[Semi-Arianism]], usually by isolated individuals rather than church organizations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Exchanged Life Outreach |url=http://www.exchangedlife.com/Sermons/topical/trinity.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710211315/http://www.exchangedlife.com/Sermons/topical/trinity.shtml |archive-date=10 July 2011 |access-date=20 May 2009}}</ref> While Bernard indicates that [[Modalistic Monarchianism]] and Oneness are essentially the same, and that Sabellius was basically correct (so long as one does not understand Modalism to be the same as [[patripassianism]]),<ref name=":7"/> and while Arius also believed that God is a singular person, Bernard vehemently denies any connection to Arianism or [[Subordinationism]] in Oneness teaching.<ref name="Bernard The Council of Nicea"/> ===Oneness views on the early church=== Scholars within the movement differ in their views on [[church history]]. Some church historians, such as Dr. Curtis Ward, Marvin Arnold, and William Chalfant, hold to a [[Successionism|Successionist view]], arguing that their movement has existed in every generation from the original day of [[Pentecost]] to the present day.<ref>{{cite book |first1= William |last1= Johnson |title= The Church Through the Ages |publisher= Bethesda |year= 2005 |page= 25 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Arnold |first= Marvin M |title= Pentecost Before Azusa: The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter Two; Fanning the Flames of International Revival for Over 2000 Years |year= 2002 |publisher= Bethesda Ministries |isbn= 978-1-58169-091-0}}{{page needed|date= September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first1= William B. |last1= Chalfant |title= Ancient champions of oneness: an investigation of the doctrine of God in church history |publisher= Word Aflame Press |year= 2001 |isbn= 978-0-912315-41-6 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=4oOXAAAACAAJ }}{{page needed|date= September 2017}}</ref> Ward has proposed a theory of an unbroken Pentecostal church lineage, claiming to have chronologically traced its perpetuity throughout the church's history.<ref>{{cite book |first1= William |last1= Johnson |title= The Church Through the Ages |publisher= Bethesda Books |year= 2005 |page= 27 }} </ref> Others hold to a [[Restorationism|Restorationist]] view, believing that while the [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]] and their church clearly taught Oneness doctrine and the Pentecostal experience, the early apostolic church went into [[apostasy in Christianity|apostasy]] and ultimately evolved into the [[Roman Catholic church|Roman Catholic Church]]. For them, the contemporary Oneness Pentecostal movement came into existence in America in the early 20th century during the latter days of the [[Azusa Street Revival]]. Restorationists such as Bernard and Norris deny any direct link between the church of the [[Apostolic age|Apostolic Age]] and the current Oneness movement, believing that modern Oneness Pentecostalism is a total restoration originating from a step-by-step separation within Protestantism culminating in the final restoration of the early apostolic church.<ref name=":1">{{cite book|last1=Bernard|first1=David|url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm|title=The Oneness of God|publisher=Word Aflame Press|year=1993|isbn=978-0-912315-12-6|chapter=Oneness Believers In Church History|chapter-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130145231/http://ourworld.compuserve.com:80/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch10.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216034825/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm|archive-date=16 February 2008}}{{page needed|date=September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Norris |first1=David |title=I AM: A Oneness Pentecostal Theology |date=4 September 2009 |publisher=Word Aflame Press |isbn=978-1567227307 |pages=224–225 |chapter=Rediscovering Covenant}}</ref> Both Successionists and Restorationists among Oneness Pentecostals assert that the early apostolic church believed in the Oneness and [[Baptism in the name of Jesus|Jesus name baptism]] doctrines. Oneness theologian David K. Bernard claims to trace Oneness adherents back to the first converted [[Jewish Christians|Jews]] of the Apostolic Age. He asserts that there is no evidence of these converts having any difficulty comprehending the [[Christian Church]]'s teachings and integrating them with their existing [[Judaism|Judaic beliefs]]; however in the post-Apostolic Age, Bernard claims that [[Hermas of Dalmatia|Hermas]], [[Clement of Rome]], [[Polycarp]], [[Polycrates of Ephesus|Polycrates]], [[Ignatius of Antioch|Ignatius]] (who lived between 90 and 140 A.D.), and [[Irenaeus]] (who died about 200 A.D.) were either Oneness, modalist, or at most a follower of an "economic Trinity," that is, a temporary Trinity and not an eternal one.<ref name=":7" /> He also asserts that Trinitarianism's origin was pagan, quoting [[Anti-Catholicism|anti-Catholic]] [[Alexander Hislop]], a [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] minister;<ref name=":13">{{Cite book|last=Bernard|first=David|url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch11.htm|title=The Oneness of God|publisher=Word Aflame Press|year=1993|isbn=978-0-912315-12-6|chapter=Trinitarianism: Definition and Historical Development|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130181956/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch11.htm|archive-date=30 November 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> but none of Hislop's arguments have been confirmed by historians in contemporary scholarship.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Grabbe|first=Lester L.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K2hIY_E_ngYC&pg=PA28|title=Can a 'history of Israel' be Written?|date=1997-01-01|publisher=A&C Black|isbn=978-1-85075-669-9|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Blind Spot: A Tale of Two Babylons|url=https://www.historicalblindness.com/blogandpodcast//blind-spot-a-tale-of-two-babylons|access-date=7 November 2021|website=Historical Blindness|language=en-US|date=26 March 2019|first1=Nathaniel|last1=Lloyd}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=23 April 2021|title=No, Easter wasn't named after a Mesopotamian goddess|url=https://www.aap.com.au/factcheck/no-easter-wasnt-named-after-a-mesopotamian-goddess/|access-date=9 January 2022|website=Australian Associated Press|language=en|quote=Church historian and emeritus professor of history at Massey University in Auckland, Peter Lineham, told AAP FactCheck: "Hislop's tendency was to think if it sounds the same it must be connected. That was the logic he used. It's a wonderful book because it's full of imagination and nonsense. It's fantastic but utterly misconceived."}}</ref> Bernard theorizes that the majority of all believers were Oneness adherents until the time of [[Tertullian]],<ref name=":13"/> whom he and many mainstream Christian scholars believe was the first prominent exponent of Trinitarianism (though [[Theophilus of Antioch]] was the first to use the term).<ref>{{Cite web|last=McAllister|first=Brannon|title=T is for Trinity (and Tertullian)|url=https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/t-is-for-trinity-and-tertullian/|url-status=live|date=25 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119022204/https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/t-is-for-trinity-and-tertullian/|archive-date=19 November 2020|access-date=19 November 2020|website=5 Minutes in Church History|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Trinity > History of Trinitarian Doctrines|url=https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/trinity/trinity-history.html#Tertul|url-status=live|first1=Dale|last1=Tuggy|date=November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119022720/https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/trinity/trinity-history.html|archive-date=19 November 2020|access-date=19 November 2020|website=Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy}}</ref><ref>Theophilus of Antioch. "Book II.15". ''Apologia ad Autolycum''. [[Patrologiae Graecae|Patrologiae Graecae Cursus Completus]] (in Greek and Latin). '''6'''. <q>Ὡσαύτως καὶ αἱ τρεῖς ἡμέραι τῶν φωστήρων γεγονυῖαι τύποι εἰσίν τῆς Τριάδος, τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ τοῦ Λόγου αὐτοῦ, καὶ τῆς Σοφίας αὐτοῦ.</q></ref> In support of his allegation, Bernard quotes Tertullian as writing against [[Praxeas]]: {{Blockquote|The simple, indeed (I will not call them unwise or unlearned), who always constitute the majority of believers, are startled at the dispensation (of the Three in One), on the very ground that their very Rule of Faith withdraws them from the world's plurality of gods to the one only true God; not understanding that, although He is the one only God, He must yet be believed in with His own economy. The numerical order and distribution of the Trinity, they assume to be a division of the Unity.<ref>{{cite web|author=Tertullian|title=Sundry Popular Fears and Prejudices. The Doctrine of the Trinity in Unity Rescued from These Misapprehensions|url=http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf03.v.ix.iii.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119022850/https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf03.v.ix.iii.html|archive-date=19 November 2020|work=Against Praxeas}}</ref>}} In contrast to Bernard's theory, mainstream Christian scholars suggest the writings of Ignatius and Irenaeus teach an eternal Trinity,<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hanson |first1=Mark |title=Tracing the Thread of Trinitarian Thought from Ignatius to Origen |url=https://www.mbu.edu/seminary/tracing-the-thread-of-trinitarian-thought-from-ignatius-to-origen/ |website=Maranatha Baptist Seminary |access-date=30 September 2021 |date=30 December 2011 }}</ref> though Norris disagrees with them in his book ''I AM: A Oneness Pentecostal Theology'', writing, "While Ignatius can on occasion utilize the language of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, he does not have three persons in mind."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Norris |first1=David |title=I AM: A Oneness Pentecostal Theology |date=4 September 2009 |publisher=Word Aflame Press |isbn=978-1565630000 |page=161 |chapter=Moving Away from Orthodoxy}}</ref> ==Oneness soteriology== Oneness theology does not represent a monolithic [[Soteriology|soteriological]] view; however, there are general characteristics that tend to be held in common by those who hold to a Oneness-view of God. In common with most [[Protestant]] denominations, Oneness Pentecostal soteriology maintains that all people are born with a sinful nature, sin at a young age, and remain lost without hope of [[salvation]] unless they embrace the Gospel; that Jesus Christ made a complete [[Atonement in Christianity|atonement]] for the sins of all people, which is the sole means of man's redemption; and that salvation comes solely by [[Divine grace|grace]] through [[Faith in Christianity|faith]] in Jesus Christ.<ref name=fp123-4/><ref>{{cite book |chapter=Only through faith in Jesus Christ |first1=David |last1=Bernard |title=A Handbook of Basic Doctrines |publisher=Word Aflame Press |year=1988 |pages=31–2 }}</ref> Oneness doctrine also teaches that true faith has the fruit of obedience, and that true salvation is not only to profess faith, but to demonstrate it as well in action.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Salvation is through faith |first1=David |last1=Bernard |title=A Handbook of Basic Doctrines |publisher=Word Aflame Press |year=1988 |pages=31–5 }}</ref> Oneness churches, while exhibiting variations, generally teach the following as the foundation of Christian conversion: * [[repentance]]; * [[water baptism]] in the name of Jesus Christ ([[Acts 2:38]]; [[Acts 10:48]]); * [[baptism in the Holy Spirit]] with the evidence of [[speaking in tongues]] ({{bibleverse|Acts|2:4|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Acts|10:46|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Acts|19:6|KJV}}).<ref name=fp123-4/> Oneness Pentecostals generally accept that these are the minimal requirements of conversion.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=9 August 2020 |title=The "Oneness" Heresy Exposed |url=https://thebereans.net/2020/08/09/the-oneness-heresy-exposed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119014839/https://thebereans.net/2020/08/09/the-oneness-heresy-exposed/ |archive-date=19 November 2020 |access-date=19 November 2020 |website=The Bereans Apologetics Research Ministry |language=en-US}}</ref> ===Grace and faith=== Oneness Pentecostals maintain that no good works or obedience to law can save anyone, apart from God's grace. Furthermore, salvation comes solely through faith in Jesus Christ; there is no salvation through any name or work other than his ([[Acts 4:12]]). Oneness teaching rejects interpretations that hold that [[Predestination|salvation is given automatically to the elect]]; they believe that all men are called to salvation, and "whosoever will, may come" ([[Revelation 22:17]]).<ref name=":8" /><ref name="Bernard Grace and Faith">{{cite book|last1=Bernard|first1=David|url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/New-Ch2.htm|title=The New Birth|publisher=Word Aflame Press|chapter=Grace and Faith|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318090455/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/New-Top.htm|archive-date=18 March 2009}}</ref> While salvation is indeed a gift in Oneness belief, it must be ''received''.<ref name="Bernard Grace and Faith"/> This reception of salvation is generally what is considered conversion, and is accepted in the majority of evangelical Protestant churches. The first mandate is true faith in Jesus Christ, demonstrated by obedience to God's commands, and a determination to submit to his will in every aspect of one's life. Oneness adherents reject the notion that one may be saved through what they call ''mental faith'': mere belief in Christ, without life-changing repentance or obedience. Thus, they emphatically reject the idea that one is saved through praying the [[Sinner's Prayer|sinner's prayer]], but rather the true saving faith and change of life declared in scripture. Oneness Pentecostals have no issue with the prayer itself, but deny that it alone represents saving faith, believing the Bible accordingly mandates repentance, baptism by water and spirit with receipt of the Holy Spirit as a ''manifestation'' of the spirit part of the rebirth experience and the true, godly faith obeyed and done by the early Church believers. Thus, one who has truly been saved will gladly submit to the biblical conditions for conversion. According to these believers, Jesus and the apostles taught that the [[Born again (Christianity)|new birth]] experience includes repentance (the true Sinner's Prayer) and baptism in both water and God's Spirit.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bernard|first1=David|url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/New-Ch12.htm|title=The New Birth|chapter=Those Who Profess Christ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230163246/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/New-Ch12.htm|archive-date=30 December 2008}}</ref> ===Repentance=== Oneness Pentecostals maintain that salvation is not possible without repentance. While repentance is in part godly sorrow for sin, it is as much as complete change of heart and mind toward God and his word. This is why Oneness churches expect a complete reformation of life in those who have become Christians.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Hidden Cult of Oneness Pentecostalism|url=http://www.marketfaith.org/the-hidden-cult-of-oneness-pentecostalism/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119011745/http://www.marketfaith.org/the-hidden-cult-of-oneness-pentecostalism/|archive-date=19 November 2020|access-date=19 November 2020|website=www.marketfaith.org}}</ref> ===Water baptism=== Oneness Pentecostals believe that water baptism is essential to salvation and not merely symbolic in nature. They also believe that one must have faith and repent before being baptized, therefore deeming baptisms of infants or by compulsion unacceptable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cooljc.org/AboutUs/StatementofFaith/tabid/70/language/en-US/Default.aspx|title=Church of our Lord Jesus Christ Statement of Faith|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824233306/http://www.cooljc.org/AboutUs/StatementofFaith/tabid/70/language/en-US/Default.aspx|archive-date=24 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://aljc.org/doctrine-statement/|title=Doctrine Statement|work=ALJC|access-date=5 March 2015}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> ====Baptismal mode==== {{Main|Immersion baptism}} Oneness Pentecostal theology maintains the literal definition of baptism as being completely [[Immersion baptism|immersed]] in water. They believe that other modes either have no biblical basis or are based upon inexact Old Testament rituals and that their mode is the only one described in the New Testament. The Articles of Faith of the UPCI state that "the scriptural mode of baptism is immersion and is only for those who have fully repented."<ref>{{cite book|title=Manual, United Pentecostal Church International|chapter=Articles of Faith|page=33|date=2017|url=http://www.pentecostalsofdadeville.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2017upcimanual.pdf|access-date=13 January 2022}}</ref> ====Baptismal formula==== {{Main|Baptism in the name of Jesus}} Oneness adherents believe that for water baptism to be valid, one must be baptized "in the name of Jesus Christ,"<ref name=":10">See "The Baptismal Formula: in the Name of Jesus" and "The One Name in Matthew 28:19, in David Bernard, A Handbook of Basic Doctrines, Word Aflame Press, 1988, pp. 43-45.</ref> rather than the Trinitarian baptismal formula "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."<ref name=":9" /> This is referred to as the Jesus' name doctrine. "Jesus' name" is a description used to refer to Oneness Pentecostals and their baptismal beliefs.<ref name=fp123-4/> This conviction is mainly centered around the baptismal formula mandated in [[Acts 2:38]]: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Oneness Pentecostals insist that there are no New Testament references to baptism by any other formula–save in [[Matthew 28:19]], which most hold to be simply another reference to baptism in the name of Jesus.<ref name=":16" /> Although Matthew 28:19 seems to mandate a Trinitarian formula for baptism, Oneness theology avows that since the word "name" in the verse is ''singular'', it must refer to Jesus, whose name they believe to be that of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.<ref name=":6">{{cite book|last1=Bernard|first1=David|url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/New-Ch7.htm|title=The New Birth|chapter=The Singular Name|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301203217/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/New-Ch7.htm|archive-date=1 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first1=David |last1=Bernard |url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216034825/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |pages=136–137 |archive-date=16 February 2008 |title=The Oneness of God |publisher=Word Aflame Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-912315-12-6|chapter=Father, Son, and Holy Ghost|quote=In this passage, Jesus commanded His disciples to baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." However, this verse of Scripture does not teach that Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate persons. Rather, it teaches that the titles of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost identify one name and therefore one being. The verse expressly says "in the name," not "in the names." ... Jehovah or Yahweh was the revealed name of God in the Old Testament, but Jesus is the revealed name of God in the New Testament... Father, Son, and Holy Ghost all describe the one God, so the phrase in Matthew 28:19 simply describes the one name of the one God. The Old Testament promised that there would come a time when Jehovah would have one name and that this one name would be made known (Zechariah 14:9; Isaiah 52:6). We know that the one name of Matthew 28:19 is Jesus, for Jesus is the name of the Father (John 5:43; Hebrews 1:4), the Son (Matthew 1:21), and the Holy Ghost (John 14:26).}}</ref> Oneness believers insist that all Bible's texts on the subject must be in full agreement with each other; thus, they say that either the apostles disobeyed the command they had been given in [[Matthew 28:19]] or they correctly fulfilled it by using the name of Jesus Christ. Some Oneness believers consider that the text of Matthew 28:19 is not original, quoting various scholars and the early Church historian [[Eusebius]], who referred to this passage at least eighteen times in his works.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Matthew 28:19 Corruption |url=http://www.teliacarriermap.com/tag/matthew_2819_corruption/index.html |access-date=13 April 2021 |website=The Apostolic Voice}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Historical Evidence in favour of Matthew 28:19 and Response to Claims of Inauthenticity|url=https://www.asitreads.com/blog/2018/2/22/historical-evidence-in-favour-of-matthew-chapter-2819-and-response-to-claims-of-inauthenticity|access-date=13 April 2021|website=As It Reads|date=22 February 2018|last1=Valiant|first1=Brendan|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Willis |first1=Clinton D. |title=A Collection of Evidence Against the Traditional Wording of Matthew 28:19 |url=https://www.onenesspentecostal.com/matt2819-willis.htm |website=Institute for Biblical Studies |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref> Eusebius' text reads: "go and make disciples of all nations in my name, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Burgos|first1=Michael R. Jr.|title=Against Oneness Pentecostalism, 2nd Ed.|publisher=Winchester, CT: Church Militant Pub.|date=2016|pages=101–112}}</ref> However, most Oneness believers accept the full Matthew 28:19 as an authentic part of the original text.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kilmon |first1=Bobby |title=Is the longer reading of Matthew 28:19 a trinitarian Insertion? Should the text read "in my name" instead of "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost"? |url=https://ibcperspectives.com/answer-forum-vol-31-no-10/ |website=IBC Perspectives |publisher=Indiana Bible College |access-date=18 October 2021 |date=14 October 2021 }}</ref> Oneness Pentecostals assert that all of the five mentions of baptism in the Book of Acts were performed in the name of Jesus ([[Acts 2:38]]; [[Acts 8:16]]; [[Acts 10:48]]; {{bibleverse|Acts|19:3-5|KJV}}; and [[Acts 22:16]]), and that no Trinitarian formula is ever referred to therein.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Schoolcraft|first1=Ron|date=11 July 2009|title=The Name in Matthew 28:19|url=https://www.apostolic.edu/the-name-in-matthew-2819/|access-date=13 April 2021|website=Apostolic Information Service}}</ref> In addition, {{bibleverse|1 Corinthians|1:13|9}} is taken by Oneness Pentecostals to indicate baptism in Jesus' name as well;<ref name=":6" /> Oneness author William Arnold III explains their reasoning: "If we follow Paul's train of thought, his obvious implication is 'No, Christ was the one crucified for you and so you were baptized in the name of Christ.' So the believers at Corinth as well as those in Rome were baptized in Jesus' name."<ref name="Arnold Baptism">{{cite web |last1=Arnold |first1=William |title=Baptism in Jesus' Name |url=https://www.onenesspentecostal.com/name.htm |website=Institute for Biblical Studies |access-date=7 November 2021}}</ref> Hence, Oneness believers claim that this constitutes proof that the Jesus name formula was the original one and that the Trinitarian invocation was erroneously substituted for it later. As additional support for their claim, Oneness Pentecostals also cite editions of [[Encyclopædia Britannica|Britannica]], the [[Catholic Encyclopedia]], [[Interpreter's Bible series|Interpreter's Bible]] and various scholars to justify this claim;<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Baptism in Jesus' Name|url=https://www.apostolicarchives.com/articles/article/8801925/180090.htm|access-date=7 November 2021|website=Apostolic Archives International Inc.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Trapasso|first=Michael|date=8 October 2009|title=History Authenticates That the Early Church Baptized In The Name of Jesus: Part V|url=https://www.apostolic.edu/history-authenticates-that-the-early-church-baptized-in-the-name-of-jesus-part-v/|access-date=9 January 2022|website=Apostolic Information Service|language=en-US}}</ref> Norris teaches that "there is a strong scholarly consensus that the earliest Christian baptism was practiced in Jesus' name."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Norris |first1=David |title=I AM: A Oneness Pentecostal Theology |date=4 September 2009 |publisher=Word Aflame Press |isbn=978-1565630000 |page=193}}</ref> In contrast, the ''[[Didache]]''—a [[Jewish Christian]] text generally dated to the first century AD—cites the Trinitarian formula.<ref>{{Cite book|last=O'Loughlin|first=Thomas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IfpqBgAAQBAJ|title=The Didache: A window on the earliest Christians|date=15 February 2011|publisher=SPCK|isbn=978-0-281-06493-9|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Didache|url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04779a.htm|access-date=7 November 2021|website=Catholic Encyclopedia|publisher=New Advent|quote=This (vii-x) begins with an instruction on baptism, which is to be conferred "in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost" in living water, if it can be had — if not, in cold or even hot water.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Brickley|first=Ralph|date=24 October 2018|title=Schisms: Baptism in Jesus Name or…|url=https://dividetheword.blog/2018/10/24/schisms-baptism-in-jesus-name-or/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107222101/https://dividetheword.blog/2018/10/24/schisms-baptism-in-jesus-name-or/|archive-date=7 November 2021|access-date=7 November 2021|website=DivideTheWord.blog|language=en|quote=Now concerning baptism, baptize thus: Having first taught all these things, baptize ye into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. And if thou hast not living water, baptize into other water; and if thou canst not in cold, then in warm (water). But if thou hast neither, pour [water] thrice upon the head in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.}}</ref> In response, some Oneness Pentecostals deride the text and support the now less-common assertion of it being a second-century text;<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ritchie|first=Steven|date=22 October 2016|title=The Didache – Can We Trust It?|url=https://www.apostolicchristianfaith.com//post/2016/10/22/the-didache-can-we-trust-it|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109044830/https://www.apostolicchristianfaith.com//post/2016/10/22/the-didache-can-we-trust-it|archive-date=9 January 2022|access-date=9 January 2022|website=Apostolic Christian Faith|language=en|quote=Falsely Called "The Teaching(s) of the Twelve Apostles." The only manuscript we have of the Didache (which means "Teaching") was discovered in 1873 in Constantinople (modern day Turkey). The manuscript is signed, "Leon, notary and sinner," and bears the date, A.D. 1056.}}</ref> they also consider it untrustworthy, citing one manuscript existing (though a Latin manuscript was discovered in 1900).<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle= Didache |volume= 4 |last= Chapman |first= Henry Palmer |author-link= |short=1 |quote= see second sentence - It was rediscovered in 1883 by Bryennios, Greek Orthodox metropolitan of Nicomedia, in the codex from which, in 1875, he had published the full text of the Epistles of St. Clement. The title in the MS. is Didache kyriou dia ton dodeka apostolon ethesin, but before this it gives the heading Didache ton dodeka apostolon. The old Latin translation of cc. i-v, found by Dr. J. Schlecht in 1900, has the longer title, omitting "twelve", and has a rubric De doctrin' Apostolorum. }}</ref> Mainstream (or Nicene/Trinitarian) Christians exegete "in the name of Jesus Christ" as by the "authority of Jesus" which denotes baptism in the name of the three persons of the Trinity.<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 December 2008|title=Must baptism be "in Jesus' name"?|url=https://carm.org/oneness-pentecostal/must-baptism-be-in-jesus-name-baptize/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109044313/https://carm.org/oneness-pentecostal/must-baptism-be-in-jesus-name-baptize/|archive-date=9 January 2022|access-date=9 January 2022|website=Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Why Don't We Baptize in the Name of Jesus? |url=https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/why-dont-we-baptize-in-the-name-of-jesus |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Catholic Answers}}</ref> In response, Oneness Pentecostals have claimed that the wording of Acts 22:16 requires an oral invocation of the name of Jesus during baptism ("calling on the name of the Lord"). They also assert that the way one exercises the authority of Jesus is by using his name, pointing to the healing of the lame man at the Gate Beautiful in Acts 3 as an example of this.<ref>{{cite book |first1=David |last1=Bernard |url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216034825/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |pages=137–138 |archive-date=16 February 2008 |title=The Oneness of God |publisher=Word Aflame Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-912315-12-6|chapter=Father, Son, and Holy Ghost|quote=Acts 22:16 says, "Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." The Amplified Bible says, "Rise and be baptized, and by calling upon His name wash away your sins." The Interlinear Greek-English New Testament says, "Invoking the name." Therefore this verse of Scripture indicates the name Jesus was orally invoked at baptism. James 2:7 says, "Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?" The Greek phrasing indicates that the name was invoked over the Christians at a specific time. Thus, TAB says, "Is it not they who slander and blaspheme that precious name by which you are distinguished and called [the name of Christ invoked in baptism]?" (brackets in original). For an example of what "in the name of Jesus" means, we need only look at the story of the lame man's healing in Acts 3. Jesus said to pray for the sick in His name (Mark 16:17-18), and Peter said the lame man was healed by the name of Jesus (Acts 4:10). How did this happen? Peter actually uttered the words "in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 3:6). The name Jesus invoked in faith produced the result. The name signifies power or authority, but this signification does not detract from the fact that Peter orally invoked the name of Jesus in effecting the healing.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Arnold III |first1=William |title=More On Baptism In Jesus' Name |url=https://www.onenesspentecostal.com/morebaptism.htm |website=Institute for Biblical Studies |access-date=12 January 2022 |quote=Jesus is the one who personally commissioned the disciples to go and baptize and they went "on behalf of him," or "in his name." He also sent them to heal people and work miracles. When Peter healed the man at the Gate Beautiful in Jesus' name, scripture tells us that he actually spoke the words "in the name of Jesus Christ" when he did it (Acts 3:6). Even when Trinitarian Christians pray for someone for healing they speak the words "in Jesus' name." They realize that they are doing it "on behalf of" or "in the name of" Christ. Why would baptism be any different? Jesus said that when we pray we are to ask the Father in him name (John 14:13; 15:16; 16:23, 26). And so when many Christians pray, they end their prayer with the actual words "in Jesus name."}}</ref> ===Baptism of the Holy Spirit=== Oneness Pentecostals believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a free gift, commanded for all.<ref name="Bernard 1988 The Baptism of the Holy Ghost: Promise and Command">{{cite book |chapter=The Baptism of the Holy Ghost: Promise and Command |first1=David |last1=Bernard |title=A Handbook of Basic Doctrines |publisher=Word Aflame |year=1988 |pages=45–6 }}</ref> Pentecostals—both Oneness and Trinitarian—maintain that the Holy Spirit experience denotes the genuine Christian Church and empowers the believer to accomplish God's will. As do most Pentecostals, Oneness believers maintain that the initial sign of the infilling Holy Spirit is [[speaking in tongues]] and that the New Testament mandates this as a minimal requirement. They equally recognize that speaking in tongues is a sign to unbelievers of the Holy Spirit's power, and is to be actively sought after and utilized, most especially in prayer. However, this initial manifestation of the Holy Spirit ({{bibleverse|1 Corinthians|12:7|9}}) is seen as distinct from the gift of divers kinds of tongues mentioned in {{bibleverse|1 Corinthians|12:10|9}}, which is given to selected spirit-filled believers as the Holy Spirit desires. Oneness adherents assert that receipt of the Holy Spirit (manifested by speaking in tongues) is necessary for salvation.<ref name="Bernard 1988 The Baptism of the Holy Ghost: Promise and Command" /> ==Practices== ===Worship=== In common with other Pentecostals, Oneness believers are known for their [[Charismatic movement|charismatic]] style of [[Christian worship|worship]]. They believe that the [[spiritual gifts]] found in the [[New Testament]] are still active in the church; hence, services are often spontaneous, being punctuated at times with acts of [[speaking in tongues]], [[interpretation of tongues]], [[prophecy|prophetic messages]], and the [[laying on of hands]] for the purposes of [[faith healing|healing]].<ref>{{cite web |title=How We Worship |url=https://apcstl.org/about/how-we-worship |website=Apostolic Pentecostal Church |access-date=5 February 2024}}</ref> Oneness believers, like all Pentecostals, are characterized by their practice of speaking in other tongues.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gabriel |first1=Andrew |title=Tales of Visiting a Oneness United Pentecostal Church |url=https://www.andrewkgabriel.com/2019/05/07/oneness-united-pentecostal/ |website=Andrew K. Gabriel - Pentecostal-Charismatic Theologian |access-date=16 November 2022}}</ref> In such ecstatic experiences a Oneness believer may vocalize fluent unintelligible utterances ([[glossolalia]]), or articulate a natural language previously unknown to them ([[xenoglossy]]). Some Oneness Pentecostals practice [[Maundy (foot washing)|foot washing]], often in conjunction with their celebration of [[Holy Communion]], as Jesus Christ did with his disciples at the Last Supper.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thornton |first1=James |title=Foot Washing Service |url=https://everyonesapostolic.com/foot-washing-service/ |website=Everyone's Apostolic |access-date=16 November 2022 |date=2021}}</ref> ===Holiness standards=== Oneness Pentecostals believe that a Christian's lifestyle should be characterized by [[sanctity|holiness]].<ref name=fp123-4/> This holiness begins at baptism, when the [[blood of Christ]] washes away all [[sin]] and a person stands before God truly holy for the first time in his or her life. After this, a separation from the world in both practical and moral areas is essential to spiritual life.<ref name="Bernard 1988 Holiness and Christian Living">{{cite book |chapter=Holiness and Christian Living |first=David |last=Bernard |title=A Handbook of Basic Doctrines |publisher=Word Aflame |year=1988 |pages=61–100 }}</ref> Moral or inward holiness consists of righteous living, guided and powered by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Practical or [[outward holiness]] for many Oneness believers involves certain holiness standards that dictate, among other things, modest apparel and gender distinction. Oneness Pentecostals believe wholeheartedly in dressing modestly. They believe that there is a distinct deference in modesty (shunning indecency) and moderation (avoiding excesses and extremes). They justify this belief by using 1 Timothy 2:9 ("In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel") and Philippians 4:5 ("Let your moderation be known unto all men").<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bernard |first1=David |last2=Bernard |first2=Loretta |author1-link=David K. Bernard |title=In Search of Holiness |date=1981 |publisher=Word Aflame Press |isbn=0912315407 |page=38 |chapter=The Christian Life}}</ref> Some Oneness organizations, considering current social trends in fashion and dress to be immoral, have established dress codes for their members. These guidelines are similar to those used by all Pentecostal denominations for much of the first half of the 20th century.<ref name=fp123-4/> According to UPCI standards, women are generally expected not to wear pants, make-up, form fitting clothing, jewelry, or to cut their hair; while men are expected to be clean-shaven, short-haired, and are expected to wear long sleeve shirts (women are also expected to wear long sleeve dresses or blouses) and long-legged pants, as opposed to shorts.<ref name=":15" /> Additionally, some Oneness organizations strongly admonish their members not to watch secular movies or television. Many of these standards have roots in the larger [[Holiness movement]]. However, the precise degree to which these standards are enforced varies from church to church and even from individual to individual within the movement. In the early days of the Oneness movement standards, holiness was not a held belief nor required bylaw for congregants. In fact, holiness or sanctification was actually shared with that of the Wesleyan viewpoint.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Goss |first1=Ethel E. |year=1977 |title=The Winds of God: The Story of the Early Pentecostal Movement (1901-1914) in the Life of Howard A. Goss |publisher=Word Aflame |isbn=978-0-912315-26-3 }}{{page needed|date=September 2017}}</ref> Due to the comparative strictness of their standards, Oneness Pentecostals are often accused of legalism by other Christians.<ref>See, for instance, {{cite web|url=https://www.namb.net/apologetics/resource/oneness-pentecostalism/|title=Oneness Pentecostalism|first1=Tal|last1=Davis|access-date=9 June 2011|website=North American Mission Board}} as an example of a website in which Oneness Pentecostals are accused of this.</ref> Oneness denominations respond by saying that holiness is commanded by God and that it ''follows'' salvation, rather than causes it.<ref name="Bernard 1988 Holiness and Christian Living"/> They say holiness proceeds from love rather than duty and is motivated by the holy nature imparted by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. While the Christian life is indeed one of liberty from rules and laws, that liberty does not negate one's responsibility to follow scriptural teachings on moral issues, many of which were established by the apostles themselves. ==Notable adherents==<!-- Any unsourced additions may be subject to immediate removal. --> *[[David K. Bernard]] – minister, theologian, general superintendent of the [[United Pentecostal Church International]], and founding president of [[Urshan College]] and [[Urshan Graduate School of Theology]] *[[Irvin Baxter Jr.]] – minister, founder and president of [[Endtime Ministries]], seen on various Christian television channels<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dallasobserver.com/2012-10-18/news/apocalypse-now-ish-irvin-baxter-s-end-times-empire/2/|title=Apocalypse Now(ish): Irvin Baxter's End Times Empire|first1=Anna|last1=Merlan|date=18 October 2012|website=Dallas Observer|access-date=30 June 2021}}</ref> *[[Kim Davis]] – clerk of [[Rowan County, Kentucky]] who gained national media attention after defying a federal court order requiring that she issue same-sex marriage licenses following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in [[Obergefell v. Hodges]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=McFarlan Miller|first1=Emily|title=What's an Apostolic Christian and why is Kim Davis's hair so long?|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/09/30/whats-an-apostolic-christian-and-why-is-kim-daviss-hair-so-long/|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|access-date=1 March 2018|date=30 September 2015}}</ref> *[[Garfield Thomas Haywood]] – first presiding bishop of the [[Pentecostal Assemblies of the World]] (1925–31); also the author of many tracts and composer of many gospel songs<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qq-kWdqNJVEC&pg=PT462|title= Century Of The Holy Spirit: 100 Years Of Pentecostal And Charismatic Renewal, 1901-2001|year=2001|author= Vinson Synan|publisher=[[Thomas Nelson (publisher)|Thomas Nelson]]|isbn= 978-0785245506|page=462}}</ref> *Pastor [[Gino Jennings]] – founder of the First Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc<ref>{{Cite web |title=First Church of our Lord Jesus Christ: Growing and serving the community |url=https://www.phillytrib.com/religion/first-church-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-growing-and-serving-the-community/article_20102296-156d-593d-9362-e68eb6851cc2.html |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=The Philadelphia Tribune |language=en}}</ref> *Bishop [[Robert C. Lawson]] – protege of Bishop G. T. Haywood and founder of the [[Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith]] from 1919 to his death in 1961<ref name=EAAR/> *Bishop Sherrod C. Johnson – founder and chief apostle of the [[Church of the Lord Jesus Christ]] of the Apostolic Faith<ref name=EAAR>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fxsmAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA591|title= Encyclopedia of African American Religions|editor=Murphy, Melton and Ward|isbn= 978-0815305002|publisher=[[Routledge]]|year=1993|page=591}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=v2yiyLLOj88C&pg=PA716|year=2010|title= Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]|editor=Melton and Baumann|isbn= 978-1598842036 |page=716}}</ref> *[[Hailemariam Desalegn]] – former [[Prime Minister of Ethiopia]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kweschn.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/ethiopia-first-lady-roman-tesfaye-profile/|title=Ethiopia: First Lady Roman Tesfaye (Profile)|work=Kweschn|access-date=5 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129151146/http://kweschn.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/ethiopia-first-lady-roman-tesfaye-profile/|archive-date=29 November 2014}}</ref> *[[Tommy Tenney]] – a minister and best-selling author<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.charismamag.com/blogs/134-j15/peopleevents/people-events/374-some-christian-bookstores-pull-best-sellers-by-author-tommy-tenney|title=Some Christian Bookstores Pull Best Sellers by Author Tommy Tenney|publisher=[[Charisma (magazine)|Charisma]]|access-date=10 July 2014}}</ref> *Bishop [[J. Delano Ellis|Jesse Delano Ellis II]] – first presiding prelate of the [[United Pentecostal Churches of Christ]] and [[Pentecostal Churches of Christ]]; founder of the Joint College of Bishops<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bishop J. Delano Ellis II Biography|url=https://www.jdellisministries.com/about|access-date=20 September 2020|website=J.D. Ellis Ministries|language=en}}</ref> ==See also== * [[Global Alliance of Affirming Apostolic Pentecostals]] * [[Apostolic School of Theology]] * [[Second blessing]] * [[William M. Branham]] * [[United Pentecostal Church International]] * [[Jesus Miracle Crusade|Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry]] * [[List of Christian denominations#Oneness Pentecostalism|List of Oneness Pentecostal denominations]] ==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} ==Further reading== *{{cite journal |last1=Reed |first1=David Arthur |title=Origins and Development of the Theology of Oneness Pentecostalism in the United States |journal=[[Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies]]|volume=1 |pages=31–7 |year=1979 |doi=10.1163/157007479X00046 }} *{{cite journal |last1=Del Colle |first1=Ralph |title=Oneness and Trinity: a Preliminary Proposal for Dialogue With Oneness Pentecostalism |journal=Journal of Pentecostal Theology |volume=5 |pages=85–110 |issue=10 |year=1997 |doi=10.1177/096673699700501004 }} *{{cite book |last1=Burgos |first1= Michael R. Jr. |year=2020 |title= Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological Critique |publisher=3rd Ed., Church Militant Publications |isbn=9798602918410 }} *{{cite book |last1=Fudge |first1=Thomas A. |year=2003 |title=Christianity Without the Cross: A History of Salvation in Oneness Pentecostalism |publisher=Universal Publishers |isbn=978-1-58112-584-9 }} *{{cite book |last1=Boyd |first1=Gregory |year=1992 |title=Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity |isbn=978-1-4412-1496-6 }} *{{cite book |last1=Reed |first1=David A. |chapter=Then and Now: The Many Faces of Global Oneness Pentecostalism |chapter-url={{Google books|HSwDBAAAQBAJ|page=52|plainurl=yes}} |pages=52–70 |editor1-first=Cecil M. |editor1-last=Robeck |editor2-first=Amos |editor2-last=Yong |year=2014 |title=The Cambridge Companion to Pentecostalism |isbn=978-1-107-00709-3 }} {{Apostolic Church}} {{New Religious Movements}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Christian fundamentalism]] [[Category:Nontrinitarian denominations]] [[Category:Oneness Pentecostalism| ]] [[Category:Nature of Jesus Christ]] Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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