Oneness Pentecostalism is often regarded as heretical by mainstream Christian denominations, particularly within Protestant and Catholic traditions. The primary reason for this is its rejection of the doctrine of the Trinity, a core belief in most branches of Christianity. This view, known as “modalism,” asserts that God is singular in nature and reveals Himself in three different modes or aspects—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—rather than as three distinct persons. Oneness Pentecostals believe that God is manifested as the Father in creation, the Son in redemption, and the Holy Spirit in regeneration. This understanding of God’s nature is fundamentally different from the Trinitarian belief that God exists as three co-equal, co-eternal persons.
The historical roots of this tension go back to the early church’s struggles with various interpretations of God’s nature. The doctrine of the Trinity, formalized in the Nicene Creed in 325 AD, sought to clarify orthodox beliefs by defining the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as distinct persons within a single Godhead. Any departure from this understanding was deemed heretical by the church. Modalism, an ancient belief that re-emerged with the rise of Oneness Pentecostalism in the early 20th century, was labeled as a deviation from this orthodox view. To Trinitarian Christians, the belief that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not distinct persons but rather manifestations of a singular God represents a misunderstanding of God’s relational and communal nature.
The distinctions go beyond theology, influencing key elements of worship, liturgy, and personal belief. For instance, Oneness Pentecostals reject the traditional Trinitarian baptismal formula—“in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”—preferring instead to baptize “in the name of Jesus” alone. This practice is based on their interpretation of passages like Acts 2:38, which emphasizes baptism “in the name of Jesus Christ.” Trinitarians argue that this approach overlooks the broader biblical context and fails to represent the fullness of God as understood in the Trinity.
Furthermore, Oneness Pentecostalism’s view of Jesus is also controversial among Trinitarians. By holding that Jesus is both Father and Son, Oneness adherents effectively make Jesus the complete representation of God. This understanding conflicts with Trinitarian theology, which maintains that Jesus, while fully God, has a distinct personhood within the Godhead, coexisting eternally with the Father and the Holy Spirit. This difference significantly impacts how Trinitarians understand the incarnation, atonement, and resurrection—central events of the Christian faith that rely on the distinct, relational roles of each member of the Trinity.
Many Christian denominations consider Oneness Pentecostalism heretical because it challenges a doctrine that has been central to Christianity for nearly two millennia. The Trinitarian concept of God has shaped Christian thought, worship, and identity since the early church. To them, the Trinity represents not only a theological truth but also a reflection of God’s relational and communal nature—a model for unity in diversity. Oneness Pentecostalism’s rejection of this model raises questions of orthodoxy, suggesting a fundamental departure from what mainstream Christians consider essential to understanding and relating to God.
Ultimately, Oneness Pentecostalism is seen as heretical by other Christian groups because it proposes a view of God that contradicts a deeply ingrained theological tradition, challenging the structure and coherence of the Christian faith as it has been historically understood. For many, this theological departure is more than an interpretive difference—it’s a deviation from the very essence of Christianity itself.
