Some, especially "Oneness Pentecostals," deny that the Godhead consists of three distinct personalities. Are these people right or wrong? Let us go to the Scriptures to answer this question.
First, there are numerous Old-Testament passages that teach the existence of more than one personality in the Godhead.
- In Genesis 1:1, the very first time the word "God" appears, it is in the plural form (elohim).
- In Genesis 1:26, the text reads, "And God said, Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness ..."
- When man sinned, "The LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of US, to know good and evil ..." (Genesis 3:22)
- At the tower of Babel, God said, "Go to, let US go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." (Genesis 11:7)
- In Isaiah 6:8, the text reads, "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for US? Then said I, Here am I; send me."
Second, the New-Testament Scriptural evidence presented is without dispute--three personalities make up the Godhead. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." I count THREE--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit-in this passage!
Third, at Jesus' baptism, these three are again mentioned as separate and distinct beings: "Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, 'Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased,'" (Luke 3:21,22; cf. Matthew 3:13-17) Notice: (1) the Father (God) spoke from heaven; (2) the Son (Christ) was in the water; (3) the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) descended like a dove. Without a doubt, this passage speaks of THREE beings!
Fourth, Paul affirmed the three distinct personalities of the Godhead. In Ephesians 4:4-6, he wrote, "There is one body, and one Spirit (Holy Spirit), even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord (Jesus Christ), one faith, one baptism, one God and Father (God the Father) of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." In 2 Corinthians 13:14, Paul wrote, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Son), and the love of God (the Father), and the communion of the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit), be with you all. Amen." Undoubtedly, the inspired Apostle Paul mentioned THREE!
Fifth, I extract a chart and explanation of the chart from the tract, "The Godhead: One Person or Three," by Danny Brown. This chart-except for the graphics and the additional verses in the lower box, which I added--is similar to the one found in the tract. Brother Brown explains the chart as follows:
The Holy Ghost is said to be God. "But Peter said, Ananias why hast Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost ... thou has not lied unto men, but unto God." (Acts 5:3-4) But the Holy Ghost is not the Father. "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the father will send in my name ..." (John. 14:26) Note: The Father is separate from the Holy Ghost, as the sender is separate from the one sent. The Father is the sender; the Holy Ghost is the one sent. Thus, the Holy Ghost is God, but is not the Father.
The Father is said to be God. "I ascend unto my Father, and your father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20:17) But the Father is not the Son. "And yet if I judge, my judgment is not true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me." (John 8:16)
Note: The father is separate from the Son. He is the Father of the Son. If they are the same person, then he would be his own Father and His own Son, but Jesus said, "I am not alone." Thus, the Father is God but is not the Son.
The son is said to be God. "But unto the Son he saith, 'Thy throne, O God, is for ever ... '" (Hebrews 1:8) But the Son is not the Holy Ghost. "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power ..." (Acts 10:38) Note: The Son is separate from the Holy Ghost. The Son is said to be anointed with the Holy Ghost. Thus, the Son is God but is not the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost is said to be God (Deity), but is not the Father. The Father is said to be God (Deity), but is not the Son. The Son is said to be God (Deity), but is not the Holy Ghost. HERE ARE THREE SEPARATE PERSONS, ALL DEITY, MAKING UP THE ONE GODHEAD.
Conclusion: In this short space, we have presented numerous passages that affirm the Godhead's three separate and Divine personalities. To deny such Biblical evidence is to deny plain truth. Our "Oneness Pentecostal" friends and others who deny the truth of the Godhead need to explain these passages. Will they and can they?
Please read all passages. How could God have made it any plainer? ONE Godhead-THREE Persons!