At a time when many Pentecostal congregations are experiencing growth and spiritual power, there is reason to raise a warning about an old heresy that is once again gaining ground in Norwegian congregations: the non-trinitarian, or so-called «Jesus Only» doctrine (also called Oneness Pentecostalism).

It is not primarily about the baptismal formula. There are both in Norway and internationally Trinitarian Pentecostals who practice baptism in the name of Jesus without rejecting the doctrine of the Trinity. No, the core of the matter is the very understanding of who God is. Is God one person who reveals himself in three different roles - or is God one essence in three eternal, equal persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?

As early as the 4th century, the ancient church established this through the Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed (Nicenum). This confession has been common property for 1700 years for Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans, Baptists, Presbyterians and Pentecostals worldwide. It states that God is triune – not three gods, but one God in three persons.

Modalism and Emanation

Some people use the term «emanation» when describing the relationship between the Father, the Son and the Spirit. This is an unfortunate term taken from modern Greek philosophy. Emanation means that something «flows out» or «radiates» from a source, so that what is radiated becomes less than the source. This can easily give the impression of a modalistic understanding, where the Father, the Son and the Spirit are simply different modes or roles in which the one God appears.

Modalism is the ancient heresy that claims that God is one person who manifests himself in three different forms at different times. This teaching was rejected as early as the 3rd and 4th centuries because it does not take seriously that Jesus prays to the Father, that the Father speaks to the Son, and that the Spirit is another spokesman that Jesus sends.

Personal experiences

I first encountered this teaching as a boy in the 1960s in Bangkok. My parents, missionaries Anne and Aage Torp, had friends who were Jesus Only missionaries from the USA and Canada. My father was clear about his concerns, but the relationship remained friendly.

As a youth pastor in the Pentecostal church Betel in Trondheim in 1983-84, I experienced how a young man was influenced by the UPCI environment in the city. He began to doubt the salvation of those who had been baptized in the name of the Triune God. My superior, the esteemed senior pastor Tom Erlandsen, taught me to always baptize with the clear words: «I baptize you into Christ in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit» – precisely to protect against such influence.

In 2010, a family from India moved to Oslo as migrant workers and came into contact with the church Livets Tabernacle. They were strongly influenced by the demand for rebaptism and the impact on their previous baptism and faith. When they came to the Oslochurch, this led me to make direct contact with Pastor Leif Gøran Andreassen and the leadership there. The conversations were honest, but we had to realize that we disagreed at the very core: the view of the Trinity.

Unfortunately, I have had new such experiences in the last couple of years that show the need for clarification.

A Concern for the Pentecostal Movement

The Pentecostal Movement has blessed the entire worldwide church with its emphasis on the power of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, prophecy, healing and gifts of grace. We thank God for that. But this emphasis has unfortunately often led to the doctrine of the Trinity being under-communicated or described in an unclear way.

When the doctrine of the Trinity is poorly communicated, it opens the door to confusion – especially among young people and newly converted people. And here lies a paradox: While we who stand for the classic Trinity doctrine recognize Jesus Only followers as our brothers and sisters in Christ, it is common for them to doubt that we who have been baptized in the name of the Triune God are true Christians.

The Way Forward

We need clearer teaching about the Trinity in our congregations. We need to hold fast to what has been the common confession of the Christian church for 1700 years. And we need bold but respectful doctrinal discussions with our brothers and sisters who have a different understanding.

The goal is not division, but clarity and unity in truth. For it is only when we know the true God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – that we can truly worship Him «in spirit and truth».