Modalistic Monarchianism , also known as Modalism or Oneness Christology , is a Christian theology upholding the oneness of God as well as the divinity of Jesus . As a form of Monarchianism , it stands in contrast with Binitarianism and Trinitarianism . Followers of Modalistic Monarchianism consider themselves to be strictly monotheistic, similar to Jews and Muslims . Modalists consider God to be absolutely one and believe that he reveals himself to creation through different "modes" (or "manifestations"), such as the Father , Son , and the Holy Ghost , without limiting his modes or manifestations. The term Modalism was first used by Trinitarian scholar Adolf von Harnack , referencing this belief.
7-720: In this view, all the Godhead is understood to have dwelt in Jesus from the incarnation as a manifestation of the God of the Old Testament. The terms "Father" and "Son" are then used to describe the distinction between the transcendence of God and the incarnation (God in immanence ). Lastly, since God is a spirit , it is held that the Holy Spirit should not be understood as a separate entity but rather to describe God in action. Modalistic Monarchianism
14-462: A heresy . With the advent of Pentecostalism , the revived theology developed into a central tenet of Oneness Pentecostalism . Oneness Pentecostals teach the divinity of Jesus and understand him to be a manifestation of Yahweh , the God of the Old Testament, in the flesh, and the Holy Spirit, or God in action. They also baptize solely in the name of Jesus or Jesus Christ; in this way, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are considered titles pertaining to
21-525: Is closely related to Sabellianism and Patripassianism , two ancient theologies condemned as heresy in the Great Church and successive state church of the Roman Empire . Theologian and church historian Adolf von Harnack first used the term modalism to describe a doctrine that was believed in the late 2nd century and 3rd century. During that time period, Christian theologians were attempting to clarify
28-639: The Father , Son , and Holy Spirit . John Wycliffe introduced the term godhede into English Bible versions in two places, and, though somewhat archaic, the term survives in modern English because of its use in three places of the Tyndale New Testament (1525), the Geneva Bible (1560/1599), and King James Version (1611). In that translation, the word was used to translate three different Koine Greek words: This Christianity -related article
35-551: The one God, not descriptions of distinct individuals, and Jesus is seen as the one name for these titles. Modalistic Monarchianism is accepted within Oneness Pentecostalism. Much of the movement's theology attempts to begin with an Old Testament understanding of God in order to understand what the first apostles would have believed about Jesus. It also seeks to avoid use of theological categories produced by Platonic - Aristotelian epistemologies , preferring rather to tell
42-457: The relationship between God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Concerned with defending the absolute unity of God, modalists such as Noetus , Praxeas , and Sabellius explained the divinity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as the one God revealing himself in different ways or modes: By the 4th century, a consensus had developed in favor of Trinitarianism, and modalism was generally considered
49-589: The story of redemption through narrative. Thus, the distinction found in the New Testament writers between God the Father and Jesus is understood to be from the attempts to identify God the Father and Jesus together, rather than to separate them more than necessary. Godhead in Christianity Godhead (or godhood ) refers to the essence or substance ( ousia ) of God in Christianity — God
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