Do oneness united Pentecostals believe in the Trinity?

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Do oneness united Pentecostals believe in the Trinity? No, they don’t believe in what Christians have always thought about the Trinity. Oneness Pentecostals, also known as “Jesus Only” Pentecostals, reject the Christian concept of the Trinity and adhere to different beliefs. Oneness Pentecostalism is a branch of Pentecostalism that developed in the early 20th century and based its views on a strictly literal reading of passages. The experience of being saved and being baptized in water in Jesus’ name is highly valued by Oneness Pentecostals.

They also believe in the Holy Spirit’s miraculous abilities, such as tongues, prophesy, and healing. It’s important to remember that not all Pentecostals or Christians hold to the oneness doctrine. This problem has sparked heated theological debate and disagreement among Christians throughout the ages. Let’s discuss Do oneness united Pentecostals believe in the Trinity?

Which Pentecostals follow Oneness?

Oneness theology, modalism or Sabellianism, is a Christian doctrine that holds that the triune God takes on three different forms but is ultimately one being. Oneness Pentecostals are a subset of the Pentecostal movement that adheres to the Oneness doctrine. Founded in 1945, the United Pentecostal Church International is the biggest Oneness Pentecostal denomination.  Christians, known as “Oneness Pentecostals,” reject the traditional belief of the Trinity because they think it wrongly breaks God down into three individuals. They believe that there is only one God and that God is Jesus Christ, as opposed to the Trinity.

The Beginning of Oneness Pentecostalism:

In the early 20th century, the United States became the birthplace of Oneness Pentecostalism, also known as Apostolic or Jesus Name Pentecostalism. During the Pentecostal revival of the early 1900s, a belief that the traditional doctrine of the Trinity was flawed and that there was only one person in the Godhead who showed himself in various modes or manifestations gave birth to a movement known as oneness Pentecostalism.

There is only one individual in the Godhead, but God reveals himself to humans in various guises or manifestations. The expansion of the movement throughout the 1910s and 1920s led to the formation of several Oneness Pentecostal organizations, which can be seen as a direct consequence of that expansion.

Oneness Pentecostal schools:

  • Since its inception in the first century CE, the New Testament Church has believed in the Trinity – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  • Oneness Pentecostalism, and the denominations that adhere to it, differ from mainstream Christianity by rejecting the doctrine of the Trinity.
  • The United Pentecostal Church International is one denomination supporting Oneness Pentecostalism’s theology.

Are Orthodox and Oneness Pentecostals friends?

Oneness Pentecostals, who deny the traditional understanding of the Godhead and believe in the oneness of God, do not usually fellowship with orthodox Pentecostals who accept the doctrine of the Trinity. It is often difficult for the two groups to completely fellowship together due to significant theological differences, despite the fact that there may be some collaboration between individual members or local churches of the two groups. Relationships between groups may be impacted because individuals within a religion may have different views and practices.

What is the difference between Pentecostal Oneness and Trinity?

The following is a chart that provides a summary of some of the most important distinctions between Pentecostal Oneness and Trinity:

Pentecostal Oneness Trinity
Holds that God is a triune deity who has manifested Himself at various times and places. According to the Holy Trinity

, God is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Traditional Christian teaching This view rejects the traditional Christian teaching of the Trinity.
They frequently refer to their faith as “Jesus Only” or “Oneness Pentecostalism.” We are not identifying as “Jesus Only” or “Oneness” in any way.
Believes that speaking in tongues is evidence of the Holy Spirit baptism. Believes that speaking in tongues is one of many possible gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Why do Oneness Pentecostals reject the Trinity?

Oneness Pentecostals

reject the traditional teaching of the Trinity because they see it as a manifestation of polytheism. The doctrine of the oneness of God is central to the teachings of Oneness Pentecostalism, which holds that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not three distinct people but rather various manifestations or roles that God plays at different times. They say that the concept of God as a single entity is at odds with using the word “persons,” which suggests three distinct beings. Instead, they believe in a monotheistic God, denying the existence of a Godhead composed of three divine beings equal in power and eternity.

How do Oneness groups and churches define God?

In Oneness theology, the doctrine of God is carefully articulated to represent the belief that the three manifestations of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are all aspects of the same person. For instance, the doctrinal declaration of the UPCI reads as follows:

 

 

Belief Statement

 

 

Biblical References

There is only one God, and He has made Himself known to humanity in three distinct ways: as the Father, through His Son (in the act of deliverance), and as the Holy Spirit.

Deuteronomy 6:4; Ephesians 4:4-6

Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God who took on human form. He is both God and man at the same time.

Colossians 2:9; I Timothy 3:16.

What are the core tenets of the Oneness paradigm?

  • The Oneness movement is a Christian sect that prioritizes the unity of God over the traditional belief in the Trinity.
  • The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all expressions of the same divine nature.
  • Baptism in the name of Jesus and the evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit through the gift of tongues is emphasized.
  • Oneness Pentecostals believe in the imminent return of Jesus Christ, the authority of the Bible, and the significance of living a holy life.
  • The movement is also known as Apostolic Pentecostalism or Oneness Pentecostalism.

Conclusion:

Oneness United Pentecostals reject the Christian concept of the Trinity, which teaches that three equal but distinct persons make up God. They adhere to the oneness theory, which states that there is only one God, though He has manifested in various forms at various times. This belief has sparked substantial theological discussion and disagreement within the larger Christian tradition. However, many Christians share similar values and practices, such as the significance of prayer, worship, and service to others, regardless of one’s views about the nature of God.

FAQs:

Do oneness united Pentecostals believe in the Trinity?

Oneness United Pentecostals, on the other hand, do not subscribe to the traditional teaching of the Trinity that Christians hold.

Which congregations adhere to the Oneness Pentecostal denomination?

Oneness Churches that adhere to the Pentecostal tradition include the Apostolic Church, the United Pentecostal Church International, and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World.