Saturday, August 08, 2026
Oneness Pentecostalism
Oneness Pentecostalism: Its Historical Roots, Its Doctrinal Errors, and a Call to the Biblical Christ The Christian faith has always been defined not merely by sincerity but by truth. The apostles repeatedly warned the church that false teachers would arise, bringing doctrines that distort the gospel and misrepresent the person of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:6–9; 2 Peter 2:1; Jude 3). One of the most important truths entrusted to the church is the identity of God Himself. To know God rightly is eternal life (John 17:3). Among the movements that depart from historic biblical Christianity is Oneness Pentecostalism. While many who belong to this movement sincerely desire to follow God and often display great zeal, sincerity alone cannot make error true. Scripture calls us to “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1) and to measure every teaching by God’s Word. The Historical Roots of Oneness Pentecostalism Contrary to claims that Oneness theology restores the beliefs of the apostles, it is a relatively modern doctrine. The movement arose during the Pentecostal revival in the early twentieth century. In 1913, at the Arroyo Seco World Wide Apostolic Faith Camp Meeting in California, a Canadian minister named R. E. McAlister preached that baptisms in the Book of Acts were performed “in the name of Jesus” rather than using the Trinitarian formula of Matthew 28:19. Following this sermon, several Pentecostal leaders concluded that the traditional doctrine of the Trinity was incorrect. One of the most influential figures was Frank J. Ewart, who developed what became known as the “Jesus Only” or “Oneness” doctrine. Glenn Cook and later G. T. Haywood also became major promoters of the teaching. The controversy divided the Pentecostal movement. In 1916, the Assemblies of God formally rejected Oneness theology and affirmed the historic doctrine of the Trinity in its Statement of Fundamental Truths. Those who embraced the new teaching separated into independent groups, eventually forming organizations such as the United Pentecostal Church International in 1945. Thus, Oneness Pentecostalism is not an ancient apostolic faith rediscovered. It is a twentieth-century theological innovation. A Revival of an Ancient Heresy Although modern in origin, Oneness theology closely resembles an ancient error known as Modalism or Sabellianism. In the third century, Sabellius taught that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three distinct Persons but merely different modes or manifestations of one divine Person. The church rejected this teaching because it contradicts Scripture. The early church fathers, including Tertullian, Hippolytus of Rome, and later Athanasius of Alexandria, defended the biblical doctrine that God is one Being who eternally exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The councils of First Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) and First Council of Constantinople affirmed what Christians had already confessed from Scripture: one God in three distinct, coequal, and coeternal Persons. The Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity The doctrine of the Trinity is not a philosophical invention. It is the unavoidable conclusion of biblical revelation. The Bible teaches: * There is only one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5). * The Father is God (1 Corinthians 8:6). * The Son is God (John 1:1; John 20:28; Titus 2:13). * The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3–4). * The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are personally distinct. At the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:16–17), the Son is baptized, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father’s voice comes from heaven. These are not one Person acting three different roles simultaneously but three distinct Persons interacting with one another. Jesus prays to the Father (John 17). The Father loves the Son before the creation of the world (John 17:24). The Son promises to send another Helper, the Holy Spirit (John 14:16). Such passages become unintelligible if the Father and Son are merely different manifestations of the same Person. Does Baptism “In Jesus’ Name” Reject the Trinity? One of the central claims of Oneness Pentecostalism is that Christians must be baptized only using the words “in Jesus’ name.” However, the New Testament nowhere presents a contradiction between Matthew 28:19 and the baptisms recorded in Acts. When Acts speaks of baptism “in the name of Jesus,” it identifies the authority and confession of Christ rather than prescribing an exclusive verbal formula. Matthew 28:19 records Jesus’ direct command: “Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The apostles did not contradict their Lord. Salvation Is Not Through a Baptism Formula Another serious error within much of Oneness Pentecostalism is the teaching that salvation requires baptism in Jesus’ name and often the evidence of speaking in tongues. The gospel proclaimed by the apostles is different. Paul writes: “For by grace you have been saved through faith… not a result of works” (Ephesians 2:8–9). The thief on the cross entered Paradise without water baptism. Cornelius received the Holy Spirit before baptism (Acts 10). Abraham was justified by faith before any covenant sign (Romans 4). Baptism is an important act of obedience, but it does not justify sinners. Only Christ does. Why This Matters Some ask, “Why argue about the Trinity? Isn’t believing in Jesus enough?” But which Jesus? The true Christ is the eternal Son who has always existed in loving fellowship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. If we redefine God’s identity, we inevitably distort the gospel itself. The Trinity is not an abstract doctrine. It explains why God is eternally love, why the Father sends the Son, why the Son willingly offers Himself, and why the Spirit applies redemption to God’s people. Without the Trinity, redemption itself loses its biblical meaning. A Loving Appeal If you are part of a Oneness Pentecostal church, this article is not written to mock you. Many within the movement sincerely desire to honor God. Zeal, however, must be governed by truth (Romans 10:2). Search the Scriptures carefully. Read the Gospel of John. Notice how the Father sends the Son, how the Son prays to the Father, and how the Holy Spirit is sent by both the Father and the Son. Ask whether these passages truly fit the Oneness explanation. Above all, trust not in a baptismal formula, religious experience, or denominational identity. Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone—the eternal Son of God, who became man, lived the perfect life we failed to live, died on the cross for sinners, rose bodily from the grave, reigns at the Father’s right hand, and freely saves all who repent and believe. The gospel is not that we perform the correct ceremony, but that Christ has accomplished perfect redemption for His people. Come to Him. Turn from every false confidence. Rest in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, according to Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone. “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” — 1 John 5:12
