Category: Oneness Pent.

Jesus knew and recognized the difference between His Father and the Holy Spirit. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my (Jesus’) name, he (the Comforter, the Holy Spirit) shall bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I (Jesus) have said unto you” (Jn. 14:26). “The Comforter,” the “Holy Spirit” was sent “from the Father” (Jn.15:26). Thus, Jesus (if language means anything at all) made a distinction between the Father and the Holy Spirit.

This article deals with the question as to persons in the godhead. Brother Hafley affirms in the face of Oneness Pentecostal opposition that: The Scriptures teach that there are three separate and distinct persons in the Godhead; namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

At the baptism of Jesus, we are not confronted with a person and with two manifestations which are not persons. Rather, we have Jesus, one person, being spoken to and addressed as the “beloved Son” of another (second) person (“the Lord Jesus Christ, the son of the Father”– 2 Jn. 3). Then, the Holy Spirit (a third person), in “bodily shape like a dove,” was seen “lighting upon him” (Jesus).

A good way to begin dealing with John 14:26 with a “oneness” Pentecostal is to look at the last part of the verse first. When the text says, “he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance,” ask them if they understand who is being referred to by the pronouns, “you” and “your.” Generally, they will see that “you” and “your” refers to the disciples being addressed. Once they agree to that, they have shown their ability to distinguish between persons mentioned in the text. If they can see that “you” and “your” refers to certain people, and if they can infer from those pronouns who those people are, they should have no problem being able to see the same thing with respect to the other pronouns used in the text.