Patripassianism - Association of Patripassianism

Association of Patripassianism

Oneness Pentecostalism has been associated with patripassianism. According to Dr. Gary Reckart, Sr. an Apostolic historian and pastor. "If as Oneness believe, that God the Father was incarnate in Christ, which Jesus confessed ("it is the Father in me that doeth the work"), the Father was in Christ during all of the sufferings and being nailed to the cross. Thus the Father did suffer and experienced all that Jesus did up to his death.") Dr. Reckart emphasizes that Oneness do not believe as ancient patripassians were accused, that the Father died on the cross as the Son. Nor that the Father died to replace the death of the Son.

There are no known examples of any direct writings of Oneness Pentecostals ascribing to the belief of Patripassianism.

In order to show the difference between Oneness Pentecostalism and Patripassianism, it must be understood that the Oneness view sees the Person of Jesus as the incarnate Father and Holy Ghost as having suffered up to the death on the Cross. Only in the flesh of Jesus was the Godhead a part of the sufferings on the Cross. No where did any Patripassian or Modalist ever say the Father died on the Cross. No one can produce a writing saying this. The accusation comes from Catholic monks and priests and those who accept these accusations. Only the humanity of Jesus Christ experienced death. Since the manifestation of Father in Jesus is a fact, it cannot be said that the Father died. The Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one God according to Oneness theology.

The explanation is rather simple. Oneness adherents suggest the question of what Jesus did as a man as opposed to what he was as God. As a man He suffered on the cross, but the incarnate God in him could not die. This establishes the dual nature of Christ.

Whatever can occur with human beings is what Jesus suffered as God and man. So, it cannot be said that Oneness theology proposes Patripassianism means the Father died. Trinitarians have tried to pervert the beliefs of Patripassians for centuries.

What causes the confusion is when trinitarians accuse Oneness adherents of Patripassianism and saying this means the Father died as the Son. Patripassians teach no such thing. Although Oneness proponents claim "Jesus" is the name of the Father (in that he by inheritance obtained a more excellent name), Oneness people are speaking in terms of the humanity of God as different from the trinitarian claim Jesus was the second God of rank in the trinity who became human.

Trinitarianism equates the concept of Person with office. If there are three manifestations or offices, there must be three persons (since each are distinct they are three Gods). Oneness theology founded upon ancient Jewish doctrine of one God does not accept such a concept. If one equates Jesus as the human incarnation of God the Father, it will be clear Oneness proposes that the manifestation of Father suffered when Jesus suffered. But since the Father is Spirit and eternal and the Son is human and subject to death, only the Son can die. Any other statement by trinitarians about Oneness belief and Patripassianism is false.

In summary, the Oneness position applies the name of Jesus to His Person. Trinitarianism applies it to His human manifestation of Son alone. Since the Oneness position claims that the Name of "Jesus" and the concept of "Person" are common to all three manifestations of Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and yet the manifestations of Father, Son and Holy Ghost are distinct from each other, Oneness theology proposes that Jesus suffered on the cross as Son, but not as Father. Oneness Modalism and Patripassianism is considered Biblical but a heresy by Trinitarians.