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Is Oneness Theology Heretical?: Difference between revisions
→Was the early church Oneness in its theology?
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The '''Oneness''' doctrine is a non-[[Trinity|Trinitarian]] 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 | The '''Oneness''' doctrine is a non-[[Trinity|Trinitarian]] 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. Prior to the 20th century, the Christian church referred to the Oneness doctrine as Sabellianism, Patripassianism, Modalism or modalistic monarchianism. | ||
=Was the early church Oneness in its theology?= | =Was the early church Oneness in its theology?= | ||
The early church did not espouse either a Trinitarian or Oneness doctrinal stance because it was not necessary. The early church had the truth taught by the apostles. However, error started to creep into the church, and this error was eventually formulated as false doctrine. The church rejected the false doctrine and, in response, had to formulate proper doctrine (the word "orthodoxy" means "of the right opinion"). | |||
False teaching on the Godhead originated with Sabellius and Arius. Sabellius taught modalism (Oneness), while Arius taught that Jesus was a created being and not God (similar to the current view of the JWs. The church rejected both of these views and in response formulated the doctrine of the Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity is a defensive doctrine required to defend against the teaching of Sabellianism, Arianism and other false views on the Godhead. | |||
= Unitarianism versus Oneness = | = Unitarianism versus Oneness = | ||