What Is ONENESS Theology—aka “JESUS ONLY”—and Is It Biblical?
There are variations of Oneness theology, but it comes down to the idea that the LORD is one singular person and thus manifests as Father, Son or Holy Spirit. This belief is unitarian and opposes the tri-unity of God. More specifically, Oneness theology advocates that Jesus is the one true God and can manifest as the Father or the Holy Spirit. Put another way, the LORD manifests as one person in three different ways or modes, but God does not consist of Father, Son & Holy Spirit at the same time, that is, distinct and coexisting persons in the divine nature. This belief is called modalism in theology and is a popular doctrine with Oneness Pentecostals, also known as “Apostolic” and “Jesus Only.”
With any biblical topic it’s important to look at all the relevant passages. We must be careful not to draw a conclusion based on certain passages at the expense of other pertinent ones. Obviously, the more overt and detailed verses on a topic take precedence over the more sketchy and ambiguous ones, not to mention they expand our understanding of them. But its error to ignore or “write off” clear passages on a subject. (For details on common sense Bible interpretation go here).
We know that God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4 & Isaiah 45:5-6,18), but the Scriptures reveal that Father, Son & Holy Spirit are included in this divine oneness. This is why the LORD spoke of himself in the plural in the opening chapters of the Bible (Genesis 1:26 & 3:22, not to mention 11:7).
Christ said “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30) (see also John 14:9, 8:19 & 12:45), but he also clearly revealed that they are distinct (John 5:19-27 & 15:10). The distinction of Father, Son & Holy Spirit can plainly be observed in this passage:
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:16-17
Something similar happened when the Messiah took Peter, James and John up a high mountain and was amazingly transfigured before them. Notice what Father God says to the three disciples as Peter started babbling:
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
Here’s yet another passage in which the Father speaks from Heaven in reference to the Son:
27“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
John 12:27-28
All of these verses disprove Oneness theology. If the plain sense makes sense — and is in harmony with the rest of Scripture — don’t look for any other sense lest you end up with nonsense.
The Son Prayed to the Father
Furthermore, Christ prayed to the Father throughout the Gospel accounts, as shown in Matthew 11:25-26, John 11:41-42 and John 17. For those who argue that he did this merely as a pretense to set an example for believers, this would mean that Jesus was just putting on an act whenever he prayed, which is what hypocrisy is (the Greek word for ‘hypocrite’ literally means “actor”).
Secondly, Yeshua was often ALONE when he prayed, as observed in Mark 1:35, Matthew 14:23 and Luke 22:39-42. Needless to say, you can’t very well “set the example” for someone else when you’re alone with the Heavenly Father. Those who embrace Oneness theology would argue that Christ was setting an example for readers of these biblical accounts in centuries to come but, if this is so, 1. Jesus’ communion with the Father would be fake since he wasn’t literally praying to the Father in Heaven while alone on Earth and 2. there’s zero indication in these texts that the Son & Father’s communion wasn’t real and merely an example for readers of the Scriptures in centuries to come.
Look up any of these passages and you’ll notice that none of them say anything whatsoever about Jesus’ prayers being phony and merely a pretense to set an example for believers. I repeat: If the plain sense makes sense don’t look for any other sense lest you end up with nonsense.
The Father and Son Conversing in the Old Testament
When Christ prayed in the New Testament he was conversing with the Father (remember, prayer is communion with God). The Son and the Father can also be seen conversing in the Old Testament:
So the LORD sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. 16 When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
2 Samuel 24:15-16
The Angel of the LORD is the pre-incarnate Christ and both the Father and Son are the LORD — aka YHWH, Yahweh — as proven in detail here.
Thus when the LORD talks to The Angel of the LORD as a separate person on this occasion, it is evidence of what theologians call “the Trinity”: Father God instructed the Son to withhold his hand from destroying the capital city and the Son complied. This is in harmony with what Jesus testified — He only does what the Father commands (John 8:29 & 15:10).
This isn’t something peculiar to 2 Samuel 24:16 as we observe the same thing in other passages, like this one:
Then the angel of the LORD said, “LORD Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?” 13 So the LORD spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.
Zechariah 1:12-13
This passage shows that both “the angel of the LORD” and Father God were present at the same time. Since we know Christ is The Angel of the LORD this text is simply depicting two persons of the triune Deity talking to each other. This explains why God refers to Himself in the plural in the creation account, as noted earlier:
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…”
Genesis 1:26
And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”
Genesis 3:22
Again, this plurality doesn’t suggest the false notion of polytheism because the Scriptures stress that the LORD is one (Deuteronomy 6:4 & Isaiah 45:5-6,18). It simply denotes one God in three persons: Father, Son & Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19 & 2 Corinthians 13:14). You can read clear details about the tri-unity of the LORD here.
Addressing the Main Argument for Oneness Theology
Let’s consider the main argument of those who embrace Oneness theology (or lean toward it):
‘Christ instructed his disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). However whenever the apostles applied this directive they always baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (e.g. Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48 & 19:5).
Were these disciples disobedient or did they do exactly what Christ instructed?
Jesus commanded to baptize in the name (not names) of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Is Father, Son and Holy Ghost a name? Or are they titles?
If they are titles then when Jesus says to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, doesn’t this plainly mean that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost ALL have ONE name?
And what is this name?’
The Father, Son & Holy Spirit do share a name and that is the LORD, which is YHWH, transliterated from the Hebrew, and pronounced Yahweh (YAH-way) (or YAH-hoo-way for devout Hebrews). This is the name of God, known as the Tetragrammaton, which appears in English Bibles whenever you see the word “LORD” (all capitals). You can read details here.
As for the name ‘Jesus’ (or Yeshua in Hebrew), this was the name the angel Gabriel gave to Mary to call her miraculous God-given son, as shown in Luke 1:31. This name was specifically given because ‘Jesus’ is the transliteration of a Hebrew term meaning “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh is salvation.” So ‘Jesus’ is the God-given proper name for the Son when he manifested in the physical realm while ‘Christ’ — aka “Anointed One” — is his title, signifying that Jesus was sent from God as humanity’s King and Deliverer, our “salvation” and, hence, our Savior.
However, the Son existed prior to his incarnation and before he was known as Jesus (Yeshua), as clearly shown here:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
John 1:1-3
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Matthew 1:23
This explains the careful phrasing of this verse:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
The human Christ was born, but the eternal Son was given because the Son already existed from eternity.
Whilst Father/Son/Holy Spirit are the LORD, Yahweh — and therefore “share” that name — only the Son has the name Jesus (or Yeshua in Hebrew) and the title Christ or Messiah, aka “Anointed One,” not to mention Immanuel, “God with us.” Remember, ‘Jesus’ literally means “the LORD is salvation.”
‘But why did the apostles baptize in the name of Jesus if the Messiah instructed us to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?’
Before the Lord ascended he instructed believers:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 28:19
This is the method for baptizing believers in water. So why do we see so many instances in the New Testament where people were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ without mentioning the Father or Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48 & 19:5)?
The answer is simple: The phrase “in the name of” is one-and-the-same as “in the authority of.” This can be observed in this passage, which takes place after the miraculous healing of a crippled beggar:
They [the Hebrew rulers, elders & teachers of the Law] had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
Acts 4:7-10
The Hebrews asked, “by what power or what name did you do this?” Peter replies that it was by the name of Jesus Christ that they healed people. In other words, “in the name of Jesus Christ” meant by the power and authority in Jesus Christ. This can be observed in several New Testament passages:
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
Acts 3:6
She [a girl who had an evil spirit] kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.
Acts 16:18
So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 5:4-5
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:11
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:20
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
2 Thessalonians 3:6
The phrase “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” and its variations are synonymous to “in the authority of Jesus Christ.” Thus when a new believer is water baptized in the name of Jesus, they are baptized by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. While the Father, Son & Holy Spirit are one in the sense that they are all three the LORD — that is, Yahweh — they are not indistinguishable. Human salvation is focused on the Son, which is why the most popular verse of the Bible says:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
First, notice that Father God and the Son are distinguished. Secondly, note that it’s necessary to believe in the Son to receive eternal life. While both the Father and the Holy Spirit are the LORD, Yahweh, it’s necessary to believe in the Son to receive redemption & eternal life. Why? Because he is the part of God — or person of God — that died for our sins and was raised to life for our justification (Romans 4:25, 5:8, 5:10, 1 John 4:10 & Revelation 1:18).
Thus God, the Father, gave the Son the name that is above all names, Lord Jesus Christ:
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.Philippians 2:5-11
Observe, incidentally, that verse 11 refers to the LORD as “God the Father,” as opposed to “the Son” in John 3:16 (cited above). Furthermore, verses 5-6 say that Christ is God and equal with God. In other words, both Father and Son are equally the LORD, Yahweh, which corresponds to the afore-noted John 1:1-3.
But the Holy Spirit is the LORD too, as observed in the afore-cited Matthew 3:16-17 (and Mark 1:10–11), as well as the fact that Peter said Ananias “lied to the Holy Spirit” followed by “You have not lied just to human beings but to God” (Acts 5:3-4). Bear in mind that Christ plainly distinguished the Spirit from both the Father and Himself (John 16:7). For those who argue that the Holy Ghost is merely the “force of God” and not a person, the Spirit is referenced with personalized pronouns (John 16:13), has a will (1 Corinthians 12:4-7), an intellect (1 Corinthians 2:10-13), personally guides/directs (John 16:13 & Acts 16:6), speaks (Acts 13:2) and can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30). Hence, the Holy Spirit is not merely a force, but a divine person, coequal with the Father and Son.
Whilst Father/Son/Holy Spirit are equally the LORD, Yahweh, there is subordination in an economical or relational sense. For instance, the Scriptures very clearly show that the Father is the head over the Son and this is explicitly stated (1 Corinthians 11:3 & 15:27-28). While the Father and Son are equal in being, the Son is subordinate to the Father in function or relationship. Hence, Jesus would never contradict the Father; in fact, he can’t contradict the Father because, as he said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30) (see also John 14:9, 8:19 & 12:45).
This all ties into the point of this section: When Christ instructed that we are to baptize believers “in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” he meant in the authority or power of the LORD — Father/Son/Holy Spirit. And since the Son, Jesus Christ, is the obvious focal point of human salvation (remember, Jesus’ very name means “Yahweh is salvation”) the apostles baptized believers in the name of — the authority of — our Lord Jesus Christ.
Obviously baptizing believers in the name of the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit and baptizing them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ are acceptable when performing this ordinance.
I’m sure you’re seeing how Oneness theology is unscriptural. But this doctrine creates other glaring problems…
In Oneness theology God is currently the Holy Spirit on Earth, which would mean that the Father is not in Heaven. If this is so, who are we praying to?
Christ instructed that we are to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus (Matthew 6:9-13, John 14:13-14, 15:16 & John 16:23-24), but in Oneness theology God is currently the Holy Spirit on Earth, which would mean that the Father isn’t in Heaven and the Son isn’t at his right hand interceding for us (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25, & 1 John 2:1). This begs the question: Who are we praying to?
It’s clear in these passages that the Father is on the throne in Heaven with the Son at the Father’s right hand, interceding for us as our Advocate. Meanwhile the Holy Spirit is on Earth indwelling spiritually-regenerated believers and guiding them into all truth, amongst other things (John 14:16-17, 14:26, 15:26 & John 16:7-8). In other words, the LORD, Yahweh, is indeed one, but is not functioning as one of these three; rather the LORD functions as all three due to the tri-unity of Yahweh — Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
Other Arguments by Those Who Question the Tri-Unity of God
It was pointed out earlier that the LORD spoke of himself in the plural in the opening chapters of the Bible (Genesis 1:26 & 3:22, not to mention 11:7). Someone wrote me by first citing this passage:
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.Genesis 1:26-27
The man followed-up with this understandable question:
‘In one verse it says “our image.” In the next verse it says “His image.” Which is it — Our or His?’
The answer is both, as explained earlier: The Scriptures teach that the LORD, Yahweh, is one (Deuteronomy 6:4 & Isaiah 45:5-6,18), but other clear passages denote one God in three persons: Father, Son & Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19 & 2 Corinthians 13:14). You can read clear details about the tri-unity of the LORD here.
This is an example of what theologians call “truths in tension,” which refer to two biblical truths that seemingly contradict and, yet, are both true. In the case of God’s oneness on the one hand and tri-unity on the other, these truths are paradoxical, but they’re not contradictory and actually balance each other out. How can we explain this paradox? Think about it in terms of the clover, which is one small plant, but consists of three petals; or the human being, which is one being, but consists of spirit, mind and body.
The man then cited a couple other passages:
At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.
Revelation 4:2-3
Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
Revelation 5:6-7
Followed by this comment:
‘If Jesus sits on the right hand of God why does John only see ONE throne with ONE Person on the Throne and in the MIDST of the throne we see Jesus stand up and take the book out of the hand of Him that sat upon the throne. We see also that Jesus has the spirit of God symbolized as eyes and horns which are a part of and not external to Him.
How would you explain this scripturally?
This is why I said God is not three persons like stated in the Trinity.’
These verses establish the tri-unity of the LORD: Father God is on the throne while the “Lamb” refers to the lamb that was slain, the Son, Jesus Christ. This reflects what was established earlier: The Heavenly Father is on the throne in Heaven with the Son at his right hand interceding for us (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25, & 1 John 2:1). Just because Christ is at the Father’s right hand doesn’t mean he can’t get up and walk in the midst of the throne from time to time. Meanwhile the Holy Spirit is represented by “the seven spirits of God sent out into all the Earth.” The number 7 is figurative of completeness, so John — by the Spirit — is simply identifying the fullness of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2, Revelation 4:5, 5:6 & Zechariah 4:1-10). The book of Revelation is full of symbolic language and that’s the case here.
‘We see also that Jesus has the spirit of God symbolized as eyes and horns which are a part of and not external to Him.’
That’s because the Lamb (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit are one just as the Father and Son are one (John 10:30), which explains why the Holy Spirit is also referred to as the Spirit of Christ in Scripture (Romans 8:9). As far as the Holy Spirit not being external to Christ, the text plainly says that “the seven spirits of God” — aka the Holy Spirit — was “sent out into all the earth” while the Lamb was in Heaven in the center of the throne of the Father. So the Spirit is one with the Lamb, but also external to the Lamb.
This man concluded with this point:
‘God is not three persons like stated in the doctrine of the Trinity and neither is He “Jesus Only” as the Oneness people believe.
The truth according to the Scriptures lies somewhere in between these two extreme views of the Godhead.’
This presumes that those who embrace the tri-unity of God deny the oneness of God, which simply isn’t true (as explained above). Again, the fact that the LORD, Yahweh, is one consisting of Father/Son/Holy Spirit is an example of “truths in tension”; it’s a paradox, but not contradictory. They balance each other out. Please remove from your thinking that those who embrace what theologians call the Trinity are opposed to the Oneness of God. They’re not.
If all of this is clear in the Scriptures, why do some believers staunchly embrace Oneness theology?
Answer: Because of an unbalanced approach in their scriptural studies, as well as the social pressure of sectarianism.
Regarding an unbalanced approach to theology, anytime someone ignores or plays down clear, relevant passages on a subject they’re violating the hermeneutical rule of Scripture interprets Scripture and thus they inevitably wind up with error, even if it’s partial error. Error by its nature cannot set people free (John 8:31-32); on the contrary, it will put you into religious bondage. For more on common sense Bible interpretation, go here.
But why would anyone ignore or play down plain, explanatory verses on a topic? Usually because of rigid sectarianism. This is faction-ism wherein believers get stuck in a particular sect and refuse to think outside of the box of the indoctrination thereof, regardless of what the Scriptures clearly teach on the topic in question. In other words, their loyalty is to their sect/assembly/pastor to the point that it overrides clear and balanced biblical teaching, which isn’t healthy. It’s a myopic mentality that tends to hinder the apprehension of truth — and therefore freedom — but also fosters spiritual dependence & immaturity. You can read details here.
Closing Word
While Oneness theology & its various interpretations (e.g. “Jesus only”) is a false doctrine, I have no doubt that sincere believers who embrace this belief are genuinely saved and therefore brother & sisters in the LORD. After all, you don’t have to properly understand someone’s nature in order to have a relationship with him/her. For instance, does a person have to properly grasp my physical/mental/spiritual make-up to have close fellowship with me? Of course not. Just the same, you don’t have to have a perfect understanding of the Creator’s nature to have a genuine relationship.
T.D. Jakes is a good example of a genuine minister of God who embraced Oneness theology for decades, but came to see the scriptural truth of the tri-unity of God and publicly acknowledged it in January, 2012. Does this mean he didn’t really know the LORD before that or that he wasn’t a true believer? Obviously not.
Nevertheless, Oneness theology is a false doctrine and cannot be condoned. Once a believer who adheres to this doctrine sees the truth God expects him/her to change their mind accordingly, whatever the consequences, including persecution from staunch Unitarians or getting kicked out of a Oneness group.
Related Topics:
Trinity — Father/Son/Holy Spirit — Yes or No?
THE Angel of the LORD — Mighty Angel or Pre-Incarnate Christ?
Does God have a Feminine side?
God’s Name — YHWH (Yahweh), the Tetragrammaton
Christ: “The Anointed One” — What Does it Mean? What Does “Jesus” Mean?
Sectarianism — What is It? What’s Wrong with It?
The Jehovah’s (False) Witnesses — Why You Should HEAD FOR THE HILLS
Created in the Image of God — What Does it Mean?
Is Christianity a “Relationship with God”?
Legalism — Understanding its Many Forms
Is the Holy Spirit God or a Divine Force?
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