Modalism first surfaced in the third century in the writings of Sabellius and Paul of Samosata. This heretical view denies there are three distinct persons in God, claiming instead there is only one being who manifests himself in three different modes. Modern Oneness Pentacostals garner support for their modalistic view by interpreting Matthew 28:19 in conjunction with Acts 2:38. In Matthew 28:19 Jesus instructed the disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”(emphasis added). In Acts 2:38, however, Peter instructed his listeners: “Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (emphasis added). Oneness Pentecostals conclude that Jesus Himself must be the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, because they claim that “Jesus” is the “one name that refers to three titles of one God.” They then assert that the apostles correctly fulfilled Christ’s command to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19) by baptizing converts in the name of Jesus only (Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48); hence, a Trinitarian baptism is invalid. The phrase “in the name of Jesus” must be pronounced over the person being baptized.
- Ron Rhodes, Is Jesus the Father and the Holy Spirit? A Case Study in Oneness Pentecostal Hermeneutics, Christian Research Journal, Vol. 31/ No. 02/2008, p. 50
This was available online, but the link doesn't work (I hope I can find a new link to this article):
Jesus Christ eternally existed with the Father.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with [pros] God, and the Word was God." John 1:1
“Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, [para seautōo] with the glory which I had [eichon] with You [para soi] before the world was” (emphasis added). John 17:5
Christ was sent by the Father.
John 3
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
John 3
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 6
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
John 6
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
John 6
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6
46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
John 6
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
John 6
62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
John 8
23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
John 8
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
John 8
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
John 8
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John 16
28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
Galatians 4
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
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