Refuting the Modalists: Common Objections to the Distinct Persons in the Godhead

Is Jesus His own Father? Was Jesus praying to Himself in the Garden of Gethsemane?

o the Trinitarians and the heretic Arians, these are but simple questions to answer. However, to the Modalists, these present a logical dilemma. A Modalist believes that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one person only, but appears in different modes or forms. God, to them, is like an actor (mode) in a stage (universe) who portrays three different characters or titles or roles (the Father, the Son and the Spirit) at different periods of time (Creation, Redemption, Outpouring) by wearing different masks (Creator, Redeemer, Counselor). The characters appear one after another but never simultaneously. This theological school has died in the background of the Arian controversy but resurfaced today in the form of Oneness Pentecostalism.

Modalism was sparked in the 3rd century (c. 215 AD) by a presbyter from Ptolemais named Sabbellius who stood in the belief that God is “one indivisible substance, but with three fundamental activities, or modes(1), appearing successively as the Father (the creator and lawgiver), as the Son (the redeemer), and as the Holy Spirit (the maker of life and the divine presence within men).”(2) This belief is also known as Modalistic Monarchian or Patripassian. Monarchian is a term taken from the Greek words mono + arche, which literally means “one-ruler”. This heresy surfaced in the time when the Church was refuting tritheism (worship of three gods). They were also called Patripassian because their teaching implies that “Father must have died on the cross”.(3) In effect they are really saying (although they will disagree with me) that Jesus the Son, is not God(4) but only the man the Father (the eternal Spirit) dwelt into. Another form of Monarchianism surfaced through the person of Theodotus (c. 190 AD) and Paul of Samosata (c. 260 AD). It was called Dynamic Monarchianism. The Theodotians taught, “Jesus was a man who became the Christ only after his baptism,”(5) while the Paulicians taught, “the Logos came to dwell in Jesus at baptism, but that Jesus possessed no extraordinary nature above other men, the Logos being entirely an attribute of God.”(6)

Modalist = One who regards Father, Son, and Spirit as modes of being, and not as persons, thus denying personal distinction in the Trinity.(7)

Sabellian = one who maintained that there is but one person in the Godhead, and that the Son and Holy Spirit are only different powers, operations, or offices of the one God the Father.(8)

‘Person’, the Definition of

The difficulty in accepting the Biblical revelation of the Triune God has taken root in the Modalists’ restrictive meaning of the term “person” or “personality”. The definition of these terms have been limited by these cultist so far as to refer only to “a living human, physique or general appearance, an individual of specified character as in a play.” That should not be the case, for even in the Practice of Law an organization (which is composed of many individuals) with legal rights and duties can also be called a “person.” The Trinitarians, on the other hand, have a balanced view in their definition of the word “person”. When applied to the ONE TRUE GOD, a “person” means:

A Self-conscious (“I am”) moral subsistence (existence, “to be”) in one indivisible Divine Being (Godhead)

For example: Jesus Christ is self-conscious (“I…” and “…my Father”) of His co-existence (“…are one”) with the Father—John 10:30.

2. Being self-conscious, a person is aware of his own identity beside the identity of others

3. Being moral subsistence, a person has his own will and is able to communicate it.

Understanding 1 John 5:7

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one (1 John 5:7)

Also known as the Johannine Comma, 1 John 5:7 has been relegated to the footnotes in the Modern Translations on the basis of its lack of Greek manuscript support before 15th century.(9) Yet we find that is not the case, for the Comman Johanneum are found in the following sources even as far as 250AD:(10)

Granting but without accepting that the Comma really does not belong in the Scriptures we have:

7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. (1 John 5:7-8, NIV)

Here we observe that “there are three that testify” and the three are in “agreement” but with the Comma we have: “there are three that bear record in heaven” and these three are “one”. Much like a Biblical definition (Trinity or Three in Unity) don’t you think?

If the “three” are only “seemingly three in appearance” because they are modes of the same Person then the testimony is weak and may not even be established, as it is written,

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established (Deuteronomy 19:15).

Of course the testimony of God is always valid and true because He is God and He is totally incapable of lying. However, 1 John 5:7 was appealing to the Old Testament rule that a “matter shall be established by the mouth of [at least] two witnesses.” Telling the truth is not in question here but “establishing the truth” is.

Jesus said that, “though I bear record of my self yet my record is true” (John 8:13-15) but he established His testimony by three more witnesses: John the Baptist (John 5:33), the Father (John 5:37) and the Scriptures (John 5:39).

Now if the Father, the Word and the Spirit are the same person in three roles(13) according to the Modalists, the statement makes no sense BUT since the Father, the Word and the Spirit are distinct personalities of the Godhead (according to our definition of it) then it stands without question.

The Word 'Trinity' is Not Found in the Bible?

That’s true neither does the term “Oneness” or “Modal” but logical interpretation and the weight of the Scriptural evidences favor the Trinitarian view. The concept of the Trinity is found throughout the entire Bible.

What’s in the Name? Understanding Matthew 28:19-20

We accept the Oneness interpretation of the above Scripture, as far as: “one name and therefore one being”(14)—that’s a Biblical Trinitarian view (God is one Being in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost)—but not their contention that the Biblical Trinitarians administer baptism in “the NAMES of three different persons.”(15)

We are to baptize the Gentile world (“all nations”) using the phrase “in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” We are told to administer water baptism “by the authority from heaven, and not of man”(16)—in the ONE NAME of the three persons in the Godhead:

It is into the name of the Father, believing him to be the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (for that is principally intended here), by eternal generation, and our Father, as our Creator, Preserver, and Benefactor, to whom therefore we resign ourselves, as our absolute owner and proprietor, to actuate us, and dispose of us; as our supreme rector and governor, to rule us, as free agents, by his law; and as our chief good, and highest end. [2.] It is into the name of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and correlate to the Father. Baptism was in a particular manner administered in the name of the Lord Jesus, Acts viii. 16; xix. 5. In baptism we assent, as Peter did, Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God (ch. xvi. 16), and consent, as Thomas did, My Lord, and my God, John xx. 28. We take Christ to be our Prophet, Priest, and King, and give up ourselves to be taught, and saved, and ruled, by him. [3.] It is into the name of the Holy Ghost. Believing the Godhead of the Holy Spirit, and his agency in carrying on our redemption, we give up ourselves to his conduct and operation, as our sanctifier, teacher, guide, and comforter.(17)

Contrary to the Oneness teaching(18), the name of the Father is not Jesus; the name of the Holy Spirit is not Jesus—we don’t read that teaching in this passage and we must not allow a speculation through a series of Bible verses stitched together to form a doctrine suitable to Modalism, or Arianism.

Confusion Over the Nature of Christ

We must consider the mindset of a Modalist when speaking or discussing Bible passages with them:

(1) When the Modalists see plurality (especially a duality) used in reference to Jesus, they think of the humanity and deity of Jesus Christ. There is a real duality to them, but it is a distinction between the Holy Spirit and flesh, not a distinction of persons in God.

(2) When the Modalists read a difficult passage relative to Jesus, they ask if it describes Him in His role as God or in His role as man, or both.

(3) When the Modalists see plurality in relation to God, they view it as a plurality of roles or relationships to mankind, not a plurality of persons.

(4) They insist that the New Testament writers had no conception of the doctrine of the trinity, which was still far in the future at the time they wrote Scripture. According to the Modalists, the Early Church, had no concept of the future doctrine of the trinity. (19)

Here we observe 2 main points: (1) the Modalists have a pragmatic reasoning on the nature of Christ, to them the dual nature of Christ is intermittent during his redemptive work: one time He acts as God on another as Man (2) Lastly because of these presuppositions the true revelation the Bible is hindered from sinking into their hearts.

There is should be no confusion in the nature of Christ, for in Philippians 2:5ff: we read:

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Definition: The “form of God,” i.e., Divine privileges; the self-manifesting characteristics of the true God; or the manifestation of Deity (i.e., omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence)

Explanation: During Jesus’ redemptive work in this world He remained in essence God with real humanity, only the manifestations of His Deity was totally stripped off. Doing this therefore Jesus was subjected to the complete human experience (pains, joy, suffering, etc.) and therefore when we see His working miracles, we know that the Holy Spirit does it for Him. His human nature and Divine nature were never intermittent, when He died, his humanity died while his Divinity did not (though still the Divine privileges remained stripped off) and when finally, He was raised up from the dead the third day--His humanity was raised by the Father through the Holy Spirit and His Divine privileges restored fully. Since the conception of Jesus in the womb of a virgin until now His humanity and Divinity (and the privileges with it) remained indivisible and forever more!

Common Objections to the Distinct Persons in the Godhead

The prophet Isaiah said that Jesus would be the Father

The problem with this objection is that it is based on a too literalistic interpretation. Isaiah never said, “that Jesus would be the Father”

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Instead, Isaiah prophesied that: “Jesus’ name shall be called the everlasting Father.” The term father means a lot in the Bible than the literal father. Jesus called Satan as the father of lies signifying that he was the originator of lies. Father is a name applied to:

“One who, or that which, gives origin; an originator; a producer, author, or contriver; the first to practice any art, profession, or occupation; a distinguished example or teacher.”(21)

Everlasting Father, therefore, is an appropriate name to Jesus’ the “originator” of all things

For by him [Jesus] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)

Can Jesus be His own Father? No. For in this verse it is said “unto us a son is given.” He is called “the Son” in contrast with “the Father”. Even Jesus’ affirms this fact(22),

And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. (Matthew 23:9)

Trinitarians say Jesus is the second person of the Trinity but Jesus says He is the first and the last. The Father is the first and the last Isaiah 44:6

This objection gives us a hint that the Modalists do not understand the Historical-Biblical revelation of the Trinity. Typical of a “straw man” argument, a Modalist who uses an argument like this one is a boxer who beats up a “straw man” which he assembled to show he’s the champ.

That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty coeternal(23)

The phrase “first”, “second” or “third” are used by the Trinitarians to suggest (1) distinctions in the Persons in the Godhead and (2) distinctions in authority in the Godhead--NOT to signify “order” or “hierarchy” because the Persons in the Godhead are co-equal, co-eternal in life power and glory! A Trinitarian may also say that the Father is the First Person of the Godhead while Christ is Second Person in the sense that the Son is subject to the Father. In fact the Son, calls the Father, “my God” and the Father calls the Son, “God” (not “my God”), yet they are but One God. (Psalms 45:7)

Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. (Isaiah 44:6)

Again, we see how a Modalist misquotes Scriptures. Nowhere do we see that the above passage says, “the Father is the first and the last.” Instead we read that Yahweh (the triune Godhead) is referred to being the first and the last. The Trinitarians find no difficulty here for the Father and the Son are two Distinct Persons in the Godhead (Yahweh).

John Saw Only One Person Sitting On The Throne In Heaven (Revelation 4:2)

Revelation 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

John may have seen one person sitting on the throne in heaven but this does not prove that Jesus is the Father. Remember The LORD (Yahweh) is the Three-Person God.

Psalms 103:19 ¶The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

The Lord has only one name Zechariah 14:9.

And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. (Zechariah 14:9)

Again, looking up the keywords in the original tongue we have: LORD [YAHWEH] shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one [ECHAD] LORD[YAHWEH], and his name one [ECHAD].

The Yahweh is the name of the Triune God while echad was use in many instances to denote “collective one” For example:

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one [ECHAD] flesh.

If God and the Holy Ghost are two separate persons, which was the Father of Christ?

The objection goes: “Matthew 1:20 says that the Holy Ghost was the Father, while Romans 15:6, 2 Corinthians 11:31, and Ephesians 1:3 say that God was the Father. There is no contradiction when we realize that God the Father and the Holy Ghost are one and the same Spirit. (Matthew 10:20; Ephesians 4:4; 1 Corinthians 3:16)”(24)

I think it should be obvious by now that the solutions to these objections of the Modalist are known from the Scriptures they cited (emphasis mine):

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is OF THE HOLY GHOST. (Matthew 1:20)

Romans 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify GOD, even THE FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:31 The GOD and FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

Ephesians 1:3 ¶Blessed be the GOD and FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

We must understand the role and the relationship that exists between the Persons of the Holy Spirit and Jesus and between the Father and Jesus, respectively. The Father is the “father” of Jesus by relationship while the Holy Spirit is the “father” of Jesus for his humanity. Could you imagine a son sending his father to do a certain task?

¶But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)

Besides, there is no occurrence in the Bible where Jesus called the Holy Spirit father which only shows that Jesus regards the distinction in the Persons of the Father and the Holy Spirit.

How could Jesus be the Savior, when God the Father said in Isaiah 43:11, "Beside me there is no Savior?"

Citing Isaiah 43:11, the cultists will claim: “There is no other savior than God the Father. It is so because ‘God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself (2 Corinthians 5:19).”

Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. (Isaiah 43:10-11)

Only by reading the passage, cited by the cultists, in full shall we realize the deceit in their objection. Nowhere in the passage that they have cited will we ever find the implicit or explicit affirmation that God the Father is the Savior. What was said here was: YAHWEH (The Triune God) is THE SAVIOR!

2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

It actually means that THROUGH (“in”) Christ, God was reconciling the world unto Himself. That is, Jesus is the mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5).

When Jesus was baptized by John the one omnipresent God used three simultaneous manifestations but only one divine person was present--Jesus Christ the Lord.

Is God the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33 )? Certainly not! If the Person of the Father resides in the body of Jesus why did He had to appear as a dove? And why did Jesus acted like a ventriloquist by throwing his voice so that the many witnesses who were there will not think that Jesus was God the Father? The fact is the Triune God revealed Himself in three Persons and simultaneously: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Does the Bible say that God shed His blood and that God laid down His life for us? (Acts 20:28; 1 John 3:16)

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

The Church belongs to Christ Jesus who Himself is God (but not the Person of the Father), the blood is what Jesus shed (not the Person of the Father). And Jesus the Person who assumed humanity laid down his life for us.

FOOTNOTES

[1] The appearance or form assumed by God.

[3] Ibid.

[4] According to Oneness Theologian, David K. Bernard: “Son does not refer primarily to deity, but Word does” (The Oneness of God, Series in Pentecostal Theology, Volume 1)

[5] Op. cit., Columbia

[6] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] See NIV footnote on 1 John 5:7: [7,8] Late manuscripts of the Vulgate testify in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. [8] And there are three that testify on earth: the (not found in any Greek manuscript before the sixteenth century)

[10] Dr. Thomas Holland. Textual Considerations. Manuscript Evidence Class

[11] Manuscripts written in vellum (dried animal skins) or some parchments later during the 9th century with small letters and word spacing

[12] Cited by Dr. Holland in A Debate between Dr. Gregory S. Neal and Dr. Thomas Holland on Latin Manuscript Evidence Concerning 1 John 5:7-9. September 7, 1998.

[13] Op.cit., Bernard.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Ibid. (Emphasis mine)

[16] Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (1721).

[17] Ibid..

[18] “There is one name for the Father, God, and the Lamb. The Lamb is Jesus, so Jesus is the name of God and the Father.”--Bernard

[19] Bernard, Chapter 8. New Testament Explanations: The Gospel

[20] Easton’s Bible Dictionary.

[21] Op. cit., Webster's

[22] Cf. Mat. 5:16, 48; 6:1, 6, 8, 14, 18, 26, 32; 7:11, 21; 10:20, 29, 32-33; 11:25-27; 12:50; 13:43, etc.

[23] The Athanasian Creed (447-484 AD)

[24] Taken from the Word Aflame Tract "60 Questions on the Godhead with Bible answers" #6125 (Word Aflame Press, 8855 Dunn Rd., Hazelwood, MO 63042-2299). Copyright © 1997 * United Pentecostal Church International * All Rights Reserved

Time Line	Modal View	Trinitarian View
Creation	God in the role as the Father alone.	The Father speaks, the Word creates, and the Holy Spirit was hovering over the creation. One God creates.
Redemption	God assuming humanity in Jesus alone.	The Father accepts the sacrifice, Jesus, is the Sacrifice, the Spirit is the Anointing and He Quickens Jesus. One God redeems.
Regeneration	God in the role of the Spirit alone.	The Father forgives, the Son is received, the Holy Spirit quickens and in-dwell believers. One God in-dwell.