Did William Branham Teach Oneness?: Difference between revisions

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The '''Oneness''' doctrine is a [[Trinity|non-Trinitarian]] view of the [[Godhead]] that is a fundamental belief of a number of [[Pentecostal]] [[Denomination|denominations]] (see below).  Historically, it has been referred to as modalism.

They believe in the one [[God]], and the complete and full deity of [[Jesus Christ]].  Oneness Pentecostals reject the doctrine of the [[Trinity]]. Oneness Pentecostals maintain that the Judeo-Christian God is not three separate and distinct Persons, but is exclusively one God without any internal distinctions of persons and site, a belief based in part on a biblical passage found in Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear oh Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord." According to Oneness Pentecostals, God is not a plurality of persons, minds, individuals or a multiplicity of consciousnesses, but does have a plurality of manifestations, roles, titles, attributes, or relationships to man. Oneness statements of faith generally refer to God as "Father in creation, Son in redemption, and Holy Spirit in emanation/regeneration" or that God exists in three "manifestations" throughout history.  Oneness Christians maintain that there is no fundamental "threeness" to God, and consider it an injustice to speak of God as a "person".

Oneness Pentecostals are often referred to as "Jesus Only." The label arose early on in reference to their insistence on baptizing only in the name of Jesus, but it tends to be used only by the movement's critics today, and is generally disliked by Oneness Pentecostals. "Oneness", "Apostolic" and "Jesus' Name" are adherents' preferred self-designations.<ref>Dr. David K. Bernard, [http://www.pctii.org/cyberj/cyberj4/bernard.html Unmasking Prejudice], Cyberjournal for Pentecostal-Charismatic Research</ref>

=Concerns with the Oneness doctrine=

[[Image:FatherJesus.jpg|thumb|150px|An extreme Oneness t-shirt from fatherjesus.com]]

Sabellius was the original proponent of modalism.   

:''counted the names of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as almost of no importance, arguing that it was not because of any distinction that they were put forward, but that they were diverse attributes of God, of which sort there are very many. If it came to a debate, he was accustomed to confess that he recognized the Father as God, the Son as God, and the Spirit as God; but afterward a way out was found, contending that he had said nothing else than if he had spoken of God as strong, and just, and wise. And so he re-echoed another old song, that the Father is the Son, and the Holy Spirit the Father, without rank, without distinction.  

==William Branham and Modalism=

William Branham often said statements such as, “God is not one like your finger” (Sermon: Lord, Show us the Father, Sept 7, 1953).  This appears to be directed at doctrines he was hearing among the people at the time, even though this is not the current doctrine of the United Pentecostal Church.  Websites such as FatherJesus.com are evidence of this extreme Oneness view that Jesus is God the Father.  In contrast, William Branham taught that there is a threefold being to God, but God is not three individuals nor so singular that the Son of God is God the Father.

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* The Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church of God, House of God, Holy Church of the Living God, The Pillar and the Ground of the Truth, The House of Prayer for All People (Sabbath Keeping Apostolic Church)