Did William Branham Teach Oneness?: Difference between revisions

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    '''The majority of message church believe the Oneness doctrine.'''


    ==EDITING NOTE -- reset to what it was originally.....going to start afresh==
    The '''Oneness''' doctrine is a non-[[Trinity|Trinitarian]] heretical view of the [[The Godhead]] that was rejected by the church in the third century AD.   It is the fundamental belief of a small minority of Pentecostal denominations and most churches that follow William Branham. However, those message churches that follow the teachings of '''[[Vaylism|Lee Vayle]]''' and '''[[The Jackson Camp|Junior Jackson]]''' have a view of the Godhead that appears to be a mixture of several heretical teachings that originated well over 1,000 year ago, namely [[Nestorianism]], [[Arianism]], and [[Dynamic Monarchianism|Adoptionism]]. Prior to the 20th century, the Christian church referred to the Oneness doctrine as Sabellianism, Patripassianism, Modalism or modalistic monarchianism.


    {{Article start}}
    =William Branham and the Oneness doctrine=


    On close examination, William Branham was incredibly confused in his understanding of God.  He tried to hold himself out as believing something that was between Oneness and the Trinity.  At times, he sounded like a Oneness preacher (also referred to as Sabellianism or Patripassianism):


    :''And now we find out that Jesus said, also, “I came in My Father’s Name, and you received Me not.” Then, '''the Name of the Father must be Jesus'''. That’s right. The Name of the Father is Jesus, ’cause Jesus said so. “I carry My Father’s Name. I come in My Father’s Name, and you received Me not.” Then, His Name was Jesus.<ref>William Branham, 65-0220 - God's Chosen Place Of Worship, para. 44</ref>


    At other times, he sounded like a Nestorian, a teacher of Arianism or an Adoptionist.  As a result, some of his followers, in particular the followers of [[Vaylism|Lee Vayle]], believe that Jesus was not God but a created being (Arianism) with a dual nature (Nestorianism).  This doctrine is referred to in a derogatory manner by some message followers as the doctrine of the "Twinity".


    Notwithstanding his statements to the contrary, the majority of the followers of William Branham believe that he fundamentally taught a Oneness view of the Godhead and would, therefore, be considered adherents to Oneness theology.


    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 Oneness Pentecostals, such as 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.


    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).
    {|style="background-color:#F0DCC8; border:1px #E8B399 solid; text-align:center;"
    |''I do not believe that Jesus could be His own father. I believe that Jesus had a Father, and that was God. But God dwelled and tabernacled in this body called Jesus, and He was Emmanuel: God with us. And there's no other God besides this God. He is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. And the Name of the Father, Son, Holy Ghost... Father: the Lord, Son: Jesus, Holy Ghost: Logos, Spirit of God. Father, Son, Holy Ghost, Lord Jesus Christ; that's Him. And in Him dwelled the Fullness of the Godhead bodily.'' (William Branham, Sermon: Q&A, June 28, 1959)
    |-
    |}


    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.
    William Branham referred to "Lord Jesus Christ" as the name of God, and that it was what Jesus referred to when he said people should be baptized in "the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit", which were the titles of God. But this isn't right.  For example, "Christ" is a title.  It means "Messaiah" or "anointed one", while "Holy Spirit" is the best name form the Spirit of God that can be found. "Lord" also reflects the authority of Jesus.  But referring to "Lord" as "Father" both removes authority from Jesus, and removes his identity as the Son of God.


    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>
    Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is the Christ.  Jesus is Lord, and Jesus is God.  The basis for those statements can all be found in scripture. Saying that Holy Spirit is a title and that Christ is the Name is not scriptural.  And saying that "Abba" is impersonal is like telling a child that she must call her father by his given name.  William Branham's doctrine of the Godhead sacrifices the relationship that God has with man.


    == Contrast ==
    ==Oneness/Modalist Theology==
    Trinitarian Christianity teaches that God is existent in three divine Persons or members in the Godhead (named "God the Father, "God the Son" and "God the Holy Spirit"). Only the second person of the Trinity, i.e., the Son of God, became incarnate. Neither the persons of the Father nor the Spirit were hypostatically united to a human nature and body. Historic trinitarianism places great stress on the unity of substance or essence of the three persons of the Godhead. Thus, three person are one God not three gods - historic trinitarians have spurned the title "tritheists." The term "person" refers only to relationships, not to a separate essence. Oneness theology, however, maintains that there is only one God, who was manifested in the flesh, and that He became fully known to humanity in the person of Jesus Christ. To Oneness Pentecostals, the idea of God as duality or trinity is heretical. Oneness Pentecostals generally describe God in strictly monotheistic terms and do not use terms such as "trinity", "persons", "members", "separate", "they", "them", etc. to describe the Judeo-Christian God.  Additionally, they avoid common para-biblical terminology as "co-existent," "co-equal," "co-powerful," "co-eternal," and do not reverse the often-used biblical phrase phrase "Son of God" to "God the Son" as is done by many Trinitarians.


    Contrary to the views held by many Trinitarians, Oneness Pentecostals do not deny the existence or divinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; they just deny that there are a multiplicity of persons, members, individuals, minds or consciousnesses within the one God. According to them, Jesus is the incarnation of the fullness of God and not the incarnation of "one third of the Godhead" ("Jehovah Junior") or one member or person of the Godhead ({{bibleverse||Colossians|2:9-10}}). In His deity, Jesus is God (which is known in Scripture as LORD, the Spirit of GOD, the Spirit of the LORD, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, and the Father). This teaching is also referred to by many Trinitarians as [[Jesus-Only doctrine]] or [[Sabellianism]]. Many Trinitarian Christians believe it to be a heresy. Oneness Pentecostals deny that claim, and do not currently use the term "Jesus-Only doctrine" themselves.  Earlier in their history, Oneness Pentecostals called themselves "Jesus Only,"  but today, they often describe themselves as "Jesus-Everything", in reference to their belief that the Godhead is fully manifest in Christ.
    The majority of message churches would be considered modalist or oneness in their view of the Godhead.


    == Baptism and [[Soteriology]]==
    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, a belief based in part on a biblical passage found in Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear oh Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord."
    Since the first [[ecumenical]] [[Council of Nicaea]] in A.D. [[325]], the common baptismal formula used in most churches has been based on the Trinitarian formula found in {{bibleref|Matthew|28:19}} where Jesus commanded his disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Oneness Pentecostals reject the decision made in A.D. 325 and instead baptize by saying "in the name of Jesus Christ" or a similiar phraseology such as "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ" or "in the name of Jesus."  Baptism "in the name of Jesus" (or any other synonymous Christological phrasings) is how they claim the primitive church baptized ({{bibleverse||Acts|2:38}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|8:16}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|10:48}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|19:5}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|22:16}}) before the ecumenical council.  In contrast, there are no biblical examples of the trinitarian formula ({{bibleverse||Matthew|28:19}}) being used in baptism anywhere in the Bible.


    Similar to other Pentecostal denominations, Oneness Pentecostals also believe water baptism (by full immersion) and receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the immediate and outward evidence of speaking in other tongues is essential to their salvation.   In addition, many, but not all Oneness Pentecostals adhere to strict holiness standards.
    According to Oneness Pentecostals, God is not a plurality of persons, 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".  


    == Unitarianism verses Oneness ==
    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>
    There are many who confuse the terms [[unitarian]] and Oneness. This is because both essentially believe that God can only exist as a single "unit," or monad. He cannot be divided into separate parts, or a plurality of "persons" and still exist as a whole deity.  Although unitarians and Oneness are similar in the belief that there is not a plurality of persons in the Godhead, unitarians believe that Jesus was only a moral authority whereas the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ is essential to Oneness doctrine.


    In Oneness theology there is an existential distinction, where God in the incarnation comes to exist in Christ in complete human existence and continues to exist as God eternally as Spirit ("Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" - {{bibleverse||Matthew|1:23}}).
    ==Adoptionist, or dynamic monarchianism==


    == History ==
    [[Vaylism|Lee Vayle]] took the teachings of William Branham and used them to teach his own heretical view of the Godhead, a strange admixture of [[Nestorianism]], [[Arianism]], and [[Dynamic Monarchianism|Adoptionism]].  A detailed analysis of Lee Vayle's teachings can be found in our [[Vaylism|article on the subject]].


    Pentecostalism began in the early [[20th century]], in the waning days of the [[Azusa Street Revival]]. In contrast to the Charismatic movement, Oneness adherants claim that they are following the original doctrine of the Apostles (the etymology of one of the denominational classifations, "Apostolic"), which can be traced back to the "Day of [[Pentecost]]" in the Upper Room in [[Jerusalem]] as recorded in the [[Book of Acts]] of the Bible.       


    Both 1913 and 1914 have been said to be when the birth of Oneness Pentecostalism occurred.  Both dates are correct, but must be examined as a whole.  In 1913, John Schaepe (whose name is often misspelled in a number of sources) claimed to receive a revelation that the baptismal formula posited by Peter in Acts 2:38 - i.e., baptism in the name of Jesus - was the fulfillment of the baptismal formula commanded by Jesus in {{bibleref|Matthew|28:19}} - i.e., baptism in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  In 1914, Frank Ewart and Glenn Cook publicly baptized each other in "the name of Jesus."  Thus, in 1913 Oneness Pentecostalism was "revealed" to a handful of individuals, and in 1914 it was first publicly practiced.  Later, a number of ministers claimed that they baptized "in the Name of Jesus" long before 1914, including Frank Small and Andrew D. Urshan.  While this may or may not be true, it was not their baptismal formula which was the issue, but rather the rejection of the Trinity that was the bigger issue to other Pentecostal ministers.


    Shaepe's revelation caused a great stir within Pentecostalism.  During the next year, Frank J. Ewart, another Pentecostal minister, struggled between his Trinitarian teachings and the new issue.  He often spent hours debating with R. E. McAlister, attempting to bring the two doctrines together.  It was also Schaepe's 1913 "revelation" on the [[Godhead]] that brought about the end of [[William Seymour]]'s Asuza Street Mission.  By 1920, Seymour's audience soon dwindled to a fraction of what it was prior to 1913.  The camp ground where the revelation occurred was also owned by Seymour's Mission.  Many were rebaptized in the new formula in an attempt to bring unity within the new Assemblies of God.  In 1916, the issue finally came to the boiling point.
    =Quotes of William Branham=


    After Oneness Pentecostals separated from the Assemblies of God in 1916 over the issue of the Godhead, they have been plagued with fractures over a number of issues such as baptism, racism, and legalism.  From 1920-1950, many ministers split from the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, a predominantly black church as a result of racial tensions.  In 1945, the UPCI was formed as a predominately white Oneness Pentecostal organization after a disagreement over the correct baptismal formula.  In 1986, Pastor L.H. Hardwick, a UPCI pastor in Nashville, TN, broke away from what he called "legalists," took his church (Christ Church) and formed Global Christian Ministries (now Global Network of Christian Ministries).
    William Branham clearly stated that he did not believe the Oneness doctrine on numerous occasions:


    == Organizations ==
    :''And I different agree with the organization of Pentecost that calls the Oneness like your finger is one. '''That’s wrong. Absolutely, it’s wrong. God… Jesus couldn’t have been His Own Father,''' and if God is a Man, then Jesus was born sexual desire and not virgin birth. That settles the whole thing. You see? If He’s one like your finger’s one, then what? Then He was His Own daddy. How could He have been? That’s wrong. He had a Father, Jesus did.<ref>William Branham,  53-0907A - Lord, Show Us The Father And It Sufficeth Us</ref>
    :''Now, the Oneness took it, the oneness group of people, and '''try to make Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, just one office and one place, and like your finger, one. That’s wrong.''' God could not…Jesus could not been His Own father. If He was, then He was a…Well, '''how could He been His Own father?'''<ref>William Branham, 57-0901E - Hebrews, Chapter Four, para. 128</ref>


    There are many Oneness Pentecostal organizations. Here are the larger ones:
    :''That’s why we stay at the Branham Tabernacle. That’s why we’re not Assemblies. That’s '''why we’re not Oneness. That’s why we’re not Jesus Only.''' That’s why we’re not Methodist. That’s why we’re not Baptist. Just a—a little tabernacle here. We don’t have no denomination at all. We’re free, in Christ. That’s why we stay the way we do. And God has blessed us, God helping us.<ref>William Branham, 58-0927 - Why Are We Not A Denomination?, para. 194</ref>
    * [[Pentecostal Assemblies of the World]],  [http://www.pawinc.org external link]
    * [[United Pentecostal Church]],  [http://www.upci.org external link]
    * [[Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus]], [http://apostolicassembly.org External link]
    * [[Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ]], [http://ALJC.org external link]
    * The Apostolic Church of the Faith in Jesus Christ
    * [[Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ|The Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ World Wide]]
    *[[Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith|The Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith]]
    * 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)


    Consider themselves non-denominational but believe the Oneness doctrine:
    :''A few days ago, when Doctor Lamsa come to me, and never knowed nothing about that, and brought me a picture, which brother’s got it there with him now. Have you got that picture? Have you got the Bible with you, laying there, it’s in your book? All right. There was a picture of the old ancient Hebrew sign of God, just exactly that existed in the days of Job, before the Bible was ever wrote. God in His three attributes, not three gods. One God in three attributes. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three offices that God worked into. Not three gods, three attributes! And there It was.
    * [[True Jesus Church]], China
    * [[Liberty Harvest Ministries In Jesus Inc.]], Texas


    While not as large as some of the above organizations, the following groups have made a significant impact on Oneness Pentecostalism:
    :''When that great man, Doctor Lamsa, the translation of the Lamsa Bible, when he said that morning. When I told him that, I said—I said, “What’s that sign?” 122 He said, “That’s God’s ancient sign, in the Hebrew. God, one God in three attributes.” I said, “Such as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?”  He stopped, and he set his cup of coffee down, he looked at me. Gene, believe you was there, Leo. Said, “You believe that?” I said, “With all my heart.
    * Church of Jesus Christ of Prophecy  (AKA Mercy Tabernacle, Headquarters: Benton, Tennessee)
    * International Church of Jesus Christ (Headquarters: Columbus, Ohio)
    * Apostolic Brethren (Headquarters: Columbus, Ohio)
    * Christ Church (Home church to Steve and Annie Chapman, The Katinas, Lee Greenwood, Tanya Goodman Sykes, who have all made strong ties with Trinitarians)
    * Liberty Harvest Ministries In Jesus Inc., Texas


    === International ===
    :''He said, “Last night, standing in your meeting, Brother Branham, I seen that discernment. I’ve never seen it before in America, in my land.” He said, “These American people don’t even know the Bible. Only thing they know is their denomination. They don’t even know where they’re standing.” Said, “They don’t know nothing.” He said, “But when I stood there last night,” said, “I said…” Now, Brother Gene, I just say this with reverence and love and such. He said, “I said, ‘That must be a prophet.’ B'''ut when I see that you believe that Father, Son and Holy Ghost was no three gods, it was attributes, then I know that you’re a prophet of God, or it wouldn’t be revealed to you like that.”''' He said, “That’s a perfect sign.” Said, “I’ve never…” Said, “You’re not oneness?” 
    Oneness Pentecostal groups with headquarters in other countries include the United Pentecostal Church of Colombia, an indigenous church and the largest non-Catholic church in the country; the United Pentecostal Church of Australia; the Apostolic Church of the Faith in Christ Jesus, with headquarters in Mexico; the Oneness Pentecostal movement in the former U.S.S.R.; and the True Jesus Church], an indigenous church founded by Chinese Christians on the mainland but whose headquarters is now in Taiwan.  At times they have affirmed to be the only true church. There are many smaller organizations (approximately 130 worldwide), independent churches, and charismatic fellowships that are Oneness in doctrine.


    In existence is also the Apostolic World Christian Fellowship which has been trying to unite all Oneness Pentecostal denominations in existence through a loose fellowship. There are some Oneness denominations that have refused to join -- for example the United Pentecostal Church.
    :'''''I said, “No, sir. I am not the oneness.''' I believe in God being the Almighty God, and the three attributes are only three offices that the one God lived in.”  He said, “Bless your heart!” He said, “Someday you’ll pour your blood upon the earth for that, but,” said, “prophets always die for their cause.” 127 And I said, “So let it be, if it pleases my Lord.” The translation of the Lamsa Bible.<ref>William Branham, 60-0515E - Adoption #1, para. 121-125</ref>
     
    :''Now, I’m not a… don’t… And I say… '''And some people say, “He’s a ‘Jesus Only,’” You’re mistaken there.''' I wouldn’t have that kind of a spirit on me. There that dogmatic, ungodly thing that… No, sir. '''I’m not Oneness. Not at all. I’m not trinity either.''' I’m a Christian. I believe in God. I believe in God manifested in three offices. Now His office is in my heart, in your heart. Not another God somewhere else; another God somewhere else; another God somewhere else. That’s as pagan as pagan can be. Never one time was that even thought of until the Nicene Council. Find it in the Bible, or find it in history—till that time. It’s not there.<ref>William Branham, 61-0318 - Abraham's Covenant Confirmed, para. 71</ref>
     
    :''Now, God cannot be three people, three Gods. '''Neither can Jesus be His Own Father''', in one. See? So, you see, it makes both radically wrong.<ref>William Branham, 61-0425B - The Godhead Explained, para. 131</ref>


    ==References==
    :''In the day that the Pentecostal come out, '''they got the “Jesus Only” group. Now, that’s wrong, again. How can Jesus be His Own Father?''' See? So it knocks that out. 176 But there is supposed to be an eagle time come. See? That’s the time It’s to straighten all those mysteries out. See?<ref>William Branham, 63-0324M - Questions And Answers On The Seals, para. 175</ref>
    <div class="references-small"><references/></div>
     
    :''There is God, see, not three gods. Oh, how many of you trinitarian people got that mixed up. '''And how you Oneness people got it mixed up, too, of Him being one like your finger.''' Uh-huh. See? They, they both of them got it mixed up. See? That’s right. He’s the one God like your finger, one, how could He be His Own Father? See? See, '''He can’t be His Own Father.''' And if He had another Father outside of the Holy Spirit, and if God is a man, a person, then He is a…the Holy Spirit was His Father, and God is His Father, Matthew 1, so then He was an illegitimate Child. See? So you can’t make it either way, you, it’s both wrong.<ref>William Branham, 63-0804E - Calling Jesus On The Scene, para. 44</ref>


    "The Pentecostals", by Walter J. Hollenweger, Professor of Mission at the University of Birmingham<br>
    :''There is where '''the oneness missed it, there is where the trinity missed it, both sides of the road. But the happy medium is right in between.''' If God could be His Own Father, if Jesus was His Own Father, He couldn’t be. And if He had another Father besides God, and the Bible said the “Holy Ghost” was His Father, and if they’re two different spirits, He was an illegitimate child. That’s right. Which was the Father of Him, God or the Holy Ghost? You say one and watch how embarrassed you’re going to get. God was His Father. Is that right?<ref>William Branham, 65-0429B - The Seed Shall Not Be Heir With The Shuck, para. 107</ref>
     
    ==External links==
     
    ===Favoring Oneness view===
    * [http://www.libertyharvestministries.net/apostolic_verses_trinity.htm Trinity as polytheism]
    * [http://www.wordsoftestimony.com Testimonies of Jesus Christ by Oneness Pentecostals]
    * [http://www.threeq.com/pdf/apo.pdf History of the Apostolic Church (PDF)]
    * [http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm The Oneness of God] Series in Pentecostal Theology, Volume 1 by David K. Bernard, J.D.
    * [http://sg.geocities.com/shenlan.geo/echad.html Knowing the Oneness of YHWH Elohim]
     
    ===Opposing Oneness view===
    * [http://www.carm.org/oneness.htm Oneness Pentecostal theology, also known as Jesus Only theology] What is Oneness Pentecostal Theology?
    *[http://christiandefense.org/oneness.htm A Definitive Look at Oneness Theology] Defending the Tri-Unity of God
     
    ===Oneness organizations===
    * [http://www.onenesspentecostal.com Institute for Biblical Studies] Oneness Pentecostal theological web site
    * [http://www.tulsa1stpc.com 1st Pentecostal Church of Tulsa]
    * [http://www.aljc.org Assembly of the Lord Jesus Christ]
    * [http://www.newlifebossier.org New Life Worship Center--Bossier City] Bossier, LA, USA
    * [http://www.apostolicchurch.com The Apostolic Church of Barberton] Barberton, OH, USA
    * [http://www.upci.org United Pentecostal Church International]
    *[http://www.abundantlifecares.com Abundant Life Tabernacle (Fort Wayne, IN)]
    *[http://www.firstapostolicrome.com First Apostolic Church of Rome] Rome, GA, USA
    *[http://www.apostolicsoftaylor.com Apostolics of Taylor Website] Taylor, MI


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    Latest revision as of 19:36, 26 December 2023

    Trinity diagram.png

    This article is one in a series of studies on William Branham and the Trinity - you are currently on the topic that is in bold:

    The majority of message church believe the Oneness doctrine.

    The Oneness doctrine is a non-Trinitarian heretical view of the The Godhead that was rejected by the church in the third century AD. It is the fundamental belief of a small minority of Pentecostal denominations and most churches that follow William Branham. However, those message churches that follow the teachings of Lee Vayle and Junior Jackson have a view of the Godhead that appears to be a mixture of several heretical teachings that originated well over 1,000 year ago, namely Nestorianism, Arianism, and Adoptionism. Prior to the 20th century, the Christian church referred to the Oneness doctrine as Sabellianism, Patripassianism, Modalism or modalistic monarchianism.

    William Branham and the Oneness doctrine

    On close examination, William Branham was incredibly confused in his understanding of God. He tried to hold himself out as believing something that was between Oneness and the Trinity. At times, he sounded like a Oneness preacher (also referred to as Sabellianism or Patripassianism):

    And now we find out that Jesus said, also, “I came in My Father’s Name, and you received Me not.” Then, the Name of the Father must be Jesus. That’s right. The Name of the Father is Jesus, ’cause Jesus said so. “I carry My Father’s Name. I come in My Father’s Name, and you received Me not.” Then, His Name was Jesus.[1]

    At other times, he sounded like a Nestorian, a teacher of Arianism or an Adoptionist. As a result, some of his followers, in particular the followers of Lee Vayle, believe that Jesus was not God but a created being (Arianism) with a dual nature (Nestorianism). This doctrine is referred to in a derogatory manner by some message followers as the doctrine of the "Twinity".

    Notwithstanding his statements to the contrary, the majority of the followers of William Branham believe that he fundamentally taught a Oneness view of the Godhead and would, therefore, be considered adherents to Oneness theology.

    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 Oneness Pentecostals, such as 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.

    I do not believe that Jesus could be His own father. I believe that Jesus had a Father, and that was God. But God dwelled and tabernacled in this body called Jesus, and He was Emmanuel: God with us. And there's no other God besides this God. He is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. And the Name of the Father, Son, Holy Ghost... Father: the Lord, Son: Jesus, Holy Ghost: Logos, Spirit of God. Father, Son, Holy Ghost, Lord Jesus Christ; that's Him. And in Him dwelled the Fullness of the Godhead bodily. (William Branham, Sermon: Q&A, June 28, 1959)

    William Branham referred to "Lord Jesus Christ" as the name of God, and that it was what Jesus referred to when he said people should be baptized in "the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit", which were the titles of God. But this isn't right. For example, "Christ" is a title. It means "Messaiah" or "anointed one", while "Holy Spirit" is the best name form the Spirit of God that can be found. "Lord" also reflects the authority of Jesus. But referring to "Lord" as "Father" both removes authority from Jesus, and removes his identity as the Son of God.

    Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is Lord, and Jesus is God. The basis for those statements can all be found in scripture. Saying that Holy Spirit is a title and that Christ is the Name is not scriptural. And saying that "Abba" is impersonal is like telling a child that she must call her father by his given name. William Branham's doctrine of the Godhead sacrifices the relationship that God has with man.

    Oneness/Modalist Theology

    The majority of message churches would be considered modalist or oneness in their view of the Godhead.

    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, 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, 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.[2]

    Adoptionist, or dynamic monarchianism

    Lee Vayle took the teachings of William Branham and used them to teach his own heretical view of the Godhead, a strange admixture of Nestorianism, Arianism, and Adoptionism. A detailed analysis of Lee Vayle's teachings can be found in our article on the subject.


    Quotes of William Branham

    William Branham clearly stated that he did not believe the Oneness doctrine on numerous occasions:

    And I different agree with the organization of Pentecost that calls the Oneness like your finger is one. That’s wrong. Absolutely, it’s wrong. God… Jesus couldn’t have been His Own Father, and if God is a Man, then Jesus was born sexual desire and not virgin birth. That settles the whole thing. You see? If He’s one like your finger’s one, then what? Then He was His Own daddy. How could He have been? That’s wrong. He had a Father, Jesus did.[3]
    Now, the Oneness took it, the oneness group of people, and try to make Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, just one office and one place, and like your finger, one. That’s wrong. God could not…Jesus could not been His Own father. If He was, then He was a…Well, how could He been His Own father?[4]
    That’s why we stay at the Branham Tabernacle. That’s why we’re not Assemblies. That’s why we’re not Oneness. That’s why we’re not Jesus Only. That’s why we’re not Methodist. That’s why we’re not Baptist. Just a—a little tabernacle here. We don’t have no denomination at all. We’re free, in Christ. That’s why we stay the way we do. And God has blessed us, God helping us.[5]
    A few days ago, when Doctor Lamsa come to me, and never knowed nothing about that, and brought me a picture, which brother’s got it there with him now. Have you got that picture? Have you got the Bible with you, laying there, it’s in your book? All right. There was a picture of the old ancient Hebrew sign of God, just exactly that existed in the days of Job, before the Bible was ever wrote. God in His three attributes, not three gods. One God in three attributes. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three offices that God worked into. Not three gods, three attributes! And there It was.
    When that great man, Doctor Lamsa, the translation of the Lamsa Bible, when he said that morning. When I told him that, I said—I said, “What’s that sign?” 122 He said, “That’s God’s ancient sign, in the Hebrew. God, one God in three attributes.” I said, “Such as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?” He stopped, and he set his cup of coffee down, he looked at me. Gene, believe you was there, Leo. Said, “You believe that?” I said, “With all my heart.”
    He said, “Last night, standing in your meeting, Brother Branham, I seen that discernment. I’ve never seen it before in America, in my land.” He said, “These American people don’t even know the Bible. Only thing they know is their denomination. They don’t even know where they’re standing.” Said, “They don’t know nothing.” He said, “But when I stood there last night,” said, “I said…” Now, Brother Gene, I just say this with reverence and love and such. He said, “I said, ‘That must be a prophet.’ But when I see that you believe that Father, Son and Holy Ghost was no three gods, it was attributes, then I know that you’re a prophet of God, or it wouldn’t be revealed to you like that.” He said, “That’s a perfect sign.” Said, “I’ve never…” Said, “You’re not oneness?”
    I said, “No, sir. I am not the oneness. I believe in God being the Almighty God, and the three attributes are only three offices that the one God lived in.” He said, “Bless your heart!” He said, “Someday you’ll pour your blood upon the earth for that, but,” said, “prophets always die for their cause.” 127 And I said, “So let it be, if it pleases my Lord.” The translation of the Lamsa Bible.[6]
    Now, I’m not a… don’t… And I say… And some people say, “He’s a ‘Jesus Only,’” You’re mistaken there. I wouldn’t have that kind of a spirit on me. There that dogmatic, ungodly thing that… No, sir. I’m not Oneness. Not at all. I’m not trinity either. I’m a Christian. I believe in God. I believe in God manifested in three offices. Now His office is in my heart, in your heart. Not another God somewhere else; another God somewhere else; another God somewhere else. That’s as pagan as pagan can be. Never one time was that even thought of until the Nicene Council. Find it in the Bible, or find it in history—till that time. It’s not there.[7]
    Now, God cannot be three people, three Gods. Neither can Jesus be His Own Father, in one. See? So, you see, it makes both radically wrong.[8]
    In the day that the Pentecostal come out, they got the “Jesus Only” group. Now, that’s wrong, again. How can Jesus be His Own Father? See? So it knocks that out. 176 But there is supposed to be an eagle time come. See? That’s the time It’s to straighten all those mysteries out. See?[9]
    There is God, see, not three gods. Oh, how many of you trinitarian people got that mixed up. And how you Oneness people got it mixed up, too, of Him being one like your finger. Uh-huh. See? They, they both of them got it mixed up. See? That’s right. He’s the one God like your finger, one, how could He be His Own Father? See? See, He can’t be His Own Father. And if He had another Father outside of the Holy Spirit, and if God is a man, a person, then He is a…the Holy Spirit was His Father, and God is His Father, Matthew 1, so then He was an illegitimate Child. See? So you can’t make it either way, you, it’s both wrong.[10]
    There is where the oneness missed it, there is where the trinity missed it, both sides of the road. But the happy medium is right in between. If God could be His Own Father, if Jesus was His Own Father, He couldn’t be. And if He had another Father besides God, and the Bible said the “Holy Ghost” was His Father, and if they’re two different spirits, He was an illegitimate child. That’s right. Which was the Father of Him, God or the Holy Ghost? You say one and watch how embarrassed you’re going to get. God was His Father. Is that right?[11]


    Footnotes

    1. William Branham, 65-0220 - God's Chosen Place Of Worship, para. 44
    2. Dr. David K. Bernard, Unmasking Prejudice, Cyberjournal for Pentecostal-Charismatic Research
    3. William Branham, 53-0907A - Lord, Show Us The Father And It Sufficeth Us
    4. William Branham, 57-0901E - Hebrews, Chapter Four, para. 128
    5. William Branham, 58-0927 - Why Are We Not A Denomination?, para. 194
    6. William Branham, 60-0515E - Adoption #1, para. 121-125
    7. William Branham, 61-0318 - Abraham's Covenant Confirmed, para. 71
    8. William Branham, 61-0425B - The Godhead Explained, para. 131
    9. William Branham, 63-0324M - Questions And Answers On The Seals, para. 175
    10. William Branham, 63-0804E - Calling Jesus On The Scene, para. 44
    11. William Branham, 65-0429B - The Seed Shall Not Be Heir With The Shuck, para. 107


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