What about the Oneness Doctrine?

Richard Hollerman

We know that not all people view the nature of Jesus Christ the same. While some people reject the term “Trinity” they use other words to come to a different conclusion. Personally, I don’t use the theologically loaded term “Trinity” but I realize that there are “three” involved here and not only one or two. The term “trinity” enters into this discussion but it is another thing to come to a conclusion that is definitely false—and even heretical. Thus, we must avoid the false doctrine called “oneness” or “Jesus only” or “Sabellianism.” Further, it is sometimes called “patripassianism”  or “modalistic monarchianism.”

Ever since the third century and perhaps even reaching into the second century, there have been people who have believed that Jesus is not deity or divine but they do hold to the idea that Jesus is actually God the Father. We may wonder how this can be but there are those who have deep convictions that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is actually God the Father.

This belief has gone by various terms. Proponents of this view prefer to use the term “oneness.” In other words, they claim that Jesus Christ and God the Father are “one” or one and the same Person. Therefore, they reject the idea that there are “three” (Trinity) or at least “two” (Binary) in the “Godhead” (to use a term taken from the Authorized Version or King James Version). Generally, outsiders would refer to these people as “Jesus Only” people. Their view would be that of “Jesus Only” (Jesus is the only personality) and they follow a man (Sebellius), a bishop who lived in the third-century in Africa. Scholars may refer to this belief as Sabellianism because of this man.

Technically, this view is called “modalistic monarcianism,” the view that God is not only a single essence but a single person (Dictionary of Theological Terms, Alan Cairns). Cairns explains: “The names Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not personal names but modes or relations of the one divine person in His dealings with man. According to Sebelius, the term Father referred to this one divine person when His incomprehensible greatness and sovereignty were in view. Son referred to His revelation to men and His becoming incarnate. Holy Spirit referred to His operating immediately upon the creature in the works of creation, providence, or grace” (Ibid.)

We can see that there are some strengths in this view—even though we hold that it is a false view that promotes a false doctrine—actually a heretical doctrine! There must be a hundred reasons why the “Jesus Only” view is false but notice this: Jesus affirmed, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Doesn’t this show that Jesus and His Father are actually “one”—one Person? No, it doesn’t. Nor does it merely mean that the Father and the Son have a similar nature or work (according to the so-called Jehovah’s Witnesses).

Further, the same chapter in John gives the Jews’ opposition to Christ: “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God” (John 10:33). Jesus was both God and man!

There are dozens of passages that indicate that there are at least two persons and not merely one (other passages would reveal that there are actually three persons and not just two—e.g., 2 Corinthians 13:14). For instance, Jesus said, “Even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men are true. I am He who testifies about Myself and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me” (John 8:16-18).Here again we see that there are two and not only one.

This is the sort of article that could go on and on. We can see here that at least two (the Father and the Son) are involved. The Son is not the Father and the Father is not the Son; both Father and Son are involved and related. This is why John could write: “Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love” (2 John 3). This indicates that there are “God the Father” and “Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father.” Jesus Christ is not the Father and the Father is not the Son.

Even if the Oneness proponents do not accept or endorse the idea that there are two persons or personalities, we can see that in multiple places there are not only one but two (or three) personalities, each showing himself to be God.

We need not use the term “oneness” or the more historical and theological term “Sabellian” to be in error. Nor do we need to use the term, “modalistic monarchian” to be a false teacher. One becomes a false teacher or purveyor of false doctrine when he or she champions a false view of Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit, or God the Father.

We encourage each of you to set forth the teaching of Jesus Christ plainly so that others are not led astray and that you do not become a false teacher yourself. Please look for further articles on our website: www.Truediscipleship.com. Just type in the word you are seeking into the Search feature.