Monday, April 1, 2019

Modalistic Monarchianism (Summation Paper)


(Summation Paper on Modalism as the Proper Paradigm for Oneness Theology)

We come now to the very end of this particular discussion. Both Brother Mike Conn and myself have presented our cases, and it is now time to sum it all up. In my first Position Paper I presented my intentions. Those intentions were:

1. To give the definition of Modalistic 

Monarchianism;

2. To show Modalistic Monarchianism to be the original orthodoxy of the   Lord’s Church;


3. To show Modalistic Monarchianism to be the proper biblical paradigm for Godhead theology.



I. Concerning the Definition of Modalism 
The historical Godhead system that best fits the 20th and 21st century Oneness paradigm is Modalistic Monarchianism. My Negative friend has chided me for appealing to history, and argued that the Bible should be our only source of information. The reader will agree that the tap root of our discussion runs through history as well as holy Scripture. The genesis of our debate was the fact that the Negative has spent years attacking Modalistic Monarchianism, charging that it is a false and unbiblical teaching. In our discussion we have responded to his attacks and attempted to prove his accusations false.

We have shown how the Monarchian is one who believes in one only ‘sentient’ Supreme Being. Historically, Monarchianism was the original Godhead theology of both the Old Testament and Christianity; therefore, it has proven itself to be the ONLY biblical monotheism. While this is very clear throughout the Old Testament, when one comes to the New Testament one is met with the distinctions of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Since the NT is clear enough that Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are each fully God, the Bible student is challenged by these distinctions and how to harmonize them with the monotheism of the OT, which is clearly monarchian. This challenge is answered by the scientific means of Modalism.

One should not be put off by the term “scientific.” However, since many Oneness Christians spook at higher education, and are frightened by the term “science,” as children are of masks, it is necessary to explain our use of the term “scientific.” The word simply means: “related to or the use of science.” Science is simply “a systematically organized body of knowledge on a particular subject.” Here we are discussing the Biblical God. In that the Bible gives us a certain “body of knowledge” concerning the Deity, when we organize that knowledge into a system, that system, then, becomes science. So there is a “science” of the study of God which we call theology. Modalism, then, becomes a “scientific” term (within the science of theology) with which we understand the distinctions within the Godhead.

The Negative has been unnerved by the proper definition of Modalism and has tried to interject his own mutated definition into the discussion. The definition he offered was written by Pluralists and loaded with anti-Modalist biases. One would be foolish to accept the enemy's propaganda against one’s own belief. If Bishop Mike Conn wanted to disprove Modalistic Monarchianism as being the proper paradigm for Oneness theology he should have come to this debate and addressed OUR definitions of our own terminology. Instead, he was off, like Don Quixote, tilting at windmills.

Truly, his energy has been expended against a system of belief that exist only in his mind and nowhere else. His charge that Modalism has no Mediator (one mode of God could not mediate to another mode of God, BC, PP1) is a pretense that Modalism denies the humanity of Christ (see BC, PP2, ¶4, 26). Overlooked, in this charge is the Dual Nature of Jesus which allows for the humanity of Christ to be the human mediator between God and mankind. That this position of Modalism so rattled the Negative is evidence that he had not considered the God/Man aspect of the Dual Nature - which is the Dual Nature, in very fact. Which raises the question of whether or not Bishop Conn even believes in the Dual Nature of Jesus. Although, throughout our discussion he gives the concept lip service, he fails to account for the actualizing of alternate natures. (I might make mention, somewhat parenthetically, that there is a very real sense in which the Son of God as the God- man was/is the days-man of both heaven and earth, and in that sense was/is the two directional mediator. As the humanity of Jesus reached heavenward in behalf of all mankind, so did/does the the Deity of Jesus reach earthward in behalf of Heaven.) Similarly, when he chides that Modalism has one mode of God conversing with an alternate mode of God, and suggests, in derision, that we have two minds in God, he, again, fails in actualizing the Dual Nature (EN:51; BC, PP2, ¶13). The humanity of Christ possesses a human mind separate from the mind of His deity nature. So, then. the human Christ could converse with the Deity outside of the Incarnation (such as the prayers of Christ to the Father), and the Deity outside the Incarnation could speak of the human Christ (such as at Jesus’ water baptism). When I told Brother Conn (before we began the debate) that nowhere in Scripture do we have one mode of God conversing with another mode of God he told me I was full of Bull Sh_t. Now, of course the Good Pastor did not use those exact words, what he did write was that my comments were “Male Bovine Excrement.” I have known from that exchange my friend’s opinion of what I hold as Truth.

I might add one other item to this part of the summation: The Negative has accused Modalism of teaching Sequential Modalism (see EN:50). For years now (literally) I have challenged friend Conn to produce one shred of verifiable evidence of even one teacher of Modalism that teaches Sequential Modalism. He has yet to comply. His anecdotal stories of teachers in college class rooms employing illustrations to teach Christology that he “interprets” as Sequential Modalism is not VERIFIABLE EVIDENCE. How can his anecdotal stories be verified? Moreover, how can one be certain friend Conn interpreted his teachers correctly? Or, better yet, how do we know that the instructors did not simply use a faulty allegory. As an example, I, myself, have employed the illustration of H2O: Solid (ice), Liquid (water), and Vapor (gas) to represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The form (mode) was different but the substance (H2O/God) was unchanged. Now, from the illustration I could be accused of teaching Sequential Modalism, because, strictly speaking, H2O could not be all three modes at the same time. But I do not believe that - not for one nano-second. I have only used an imperfect allegory.

II. Concerning Modalistic Monarchianism Being the Original Orthodoxy of the Lord’s Church
When we opened the discussion we were forward to introduce historical witnesses for the priority of MM (Modalistic Monarchainism) to all other forms of Godhead theology and Christology in particular. The witnesses that were produced for that segment of the affirmative were: JND Kelly, Tertullian, Cardinal John Henry Newman, Professor Adolf von Harnack and The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. While the Negative complains about our references to Church history one would acknowledge its necessity in a discussion such as this.

When our affirmative arguments introduced the Dual Nature of Jesus, to rebut the Negative’s charges against Modalism, the titles “Son of God” and “Son of Man” were brought forward as distinguishing elements of the Dual Nature. As a result, the Negative was much exercised, and accused us of inventing the teaching “from thin air,” and changing our definition of MM. When Bishop Conn challenged our position to produce any other Modalist teachers or writers who held such a position, we produced the Position Paper from the United Pentecostal Church International (The True Humanity of Jesus, March 3, 2004) that identified the cognomen of “Son of God” as referencing the deity of Christ, and “Son of Man” as referencing the humanity of Christ. This was precisely our affirmative position: The Incarnate God (i.e. the Father) is called the “Son of God,” and the humanity is called the “Son of Man.” Further, that the conception of Jesus, in the womb of Mary, took place on two levels: human and divine. This fact does not imply that Mary had two conceptions, or that Mary conceived two Sons, one human and one divine, as my opponent attempted to assert: rather, that Jesus received His humanity from Mary and His divinity from Father God. In spite of Brother Conn’s attempts to indicate otherwise, the Affirmative has stated clearly throughout this discussion that the distinctions between the deity and humanity of Jesus did not produce two persons. We have sided with Ignatius, Alexander of Alexandria, Athanasius, Eustathius of Antioch, Marcellus of Ancyra, Hosius of Cordova, Nestorius, the Council of Chalcedon, and the Synod of Mar Sabrisho, A.D. 596. Moreover, a further witness is offered by Mar Odisho, Metropolitan of N’siwin and Armenia, A.D. 1298: “We Easterns, therefore, profess that M’shikha (Messiah) Our Lord is in two Natures in one person. But the question of the Godhead and humanity is brought into discussion in order so as to distinguish the natural properties of each Nature, then of necessity we are led to the discussion of Qnuma (the essence or underlying substance) by which the Nature is distinguished. These facts, therefore, lead us to the indisputable evidence of the existence of two Qnume (earlier, in this discussion, we introduced the Greek term “ousie”) which are the underlying properties of these (two) Natures, in one person of the Son of God.”

The teaching of the Apostolic Father, Ignatius of Antioch, is important in establishing MM, with its teaching of the Dual Nature, as the original orthodoxy of the Lord’s church. Ignatius was the Bishop of Antioch in Syria. He died the death of a martyr under the reign of Trajan in A.D.107 or 110. Papias, himself a disciple of John and pastor at Hierapolis in Phrygia, Asia Minor, informs us that Ignatius sat under the teachings of Peter, Paul and Barnabas. In the writings of Ignatius, the monotheism of the prophets and apostles is adhered to at every turn. If any label is to be placed on the Bishop of Syria it must be that of Modalistic Monarchian. The Modalism of Ignatius can easily be demonstrated in the following way:

1. Ignatius acknowledges that the one God is the Father (Magnesians 8:2 cf 1 Corinthians 8:6): Magnesians 8:2 “...there is one God who manifested Himself through Jesus Christ His Son, …”


2. Jesus is the one God incarnated in human form (Ephesians 7:2; 19:3 cf Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:23; John 1:1-3, 14): Ephesians 7:2 “There is one only physician, of flesh and of spirit, generate and ingenerate, God in man, true Life in death, Son of Mary and Son of God, first passible and then impassible, Jesus Christ our Lord.”


3. The Holy Spirit is, in fact, Jesus Christ (Magnesians 15:1 cf Matthew 3:11; John 14:17-18; Ephesians (NT) 4:5; John 7:29; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Corinthians 3:17): Magnesians 15:1 “... The rest of the Churches, in honour of Jesus Christ, also salute you. Fare ye well in the harmony of God, ye who have obtained the inseparable Spirit, who is Jesus Christ.”


4. The Holy Spirit is, in fact, the Father of the Son (Ephesians 18:2 cf Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:18): Ephesians 18:2 “For our God, Jesus Christ, was conceived by Mary according to God’s plan, both from the seed of David and from the Holy Spirit. ...” Here Ignatius teaches that God was conceived and that the conception of Jesus is from two natures: human and divine.


5. Ignatius teaches the DN (Dual Nature) of Christ by drawing a sharp distinction between His deity and His humanity (Ephesians 7:2; 20:2; Smyræans 1:1; 3:3; Polycarp 3:2 cf Isaiah 9:6; Acts 2:30; Romans 1:3-4; 9:5): Ephesians 7:2 “There is one Physician who is possessed both of flesh and spirit; both made and not made; God existing in flesh; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first passible and then impassible, even Jesus Christ our Lord.” 20:2 “... in Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David according to the flesh, being both the Son of man and the Son of God, ...” (Notice the teaching of the Son of God and the Son of Man.) Smyræans 1:1 “...established in love through the blood of Christ, being fully persuaded with respect to our Lord, that He was truly of the seed of David according to the flesh, and the Son of God according to the will and power of God;...” 3:3 “And after his resurrection He did eat and drink with them, as being possessed of flesh, although spiritually He was united to the Father.” Polycarp 3:2 “Look for Him who is above all time, eternal and invisible, yet who became visible for our sakes; impalpable and impassible, yet who became passible on our account; and who in every kind of way suffered for our sakes.


6. When a distinction is made between Jesus and the Father the bishop qualifies it by emphasizing the humanity of Christ (Magnesians 13:2 cf 1 Timothy 2:5): Mag. 13:2 “Be obedient to the bishop and to one another, as Jesus Christ was to the Father [according to the flesh], ...” Here Ignatius gave witness to the human mind and will of Christ.


7. The Modalistic views of Ignatius are seen in Magnesians 7:2, ”Everyone hasten to come together to one temple of God, to one altar, to one Jesus Christ, who came forth from the one Father, abiding in the one, and returning to the one.” His Modalism is especially evident in his letter to Polycarp, where he expounded on the modal aspect of the existence of God: Polycarp 1:15, “... and expect Him, who is above all time, eternal, invisible, though for our sakes made visible; impalpable, and impassable, yet for us subject to sufferings; enduring all manner of ways for our salvation.”


Ignatius writes on the triad of Father, Son and Holy Spirit within the Godhead often. It is clear that he sees this triad as the economy of the deity, and not as a trinity of individuals. This is presented as colorfully as words can paint a picture, in his letter to the Ephesians, “ye are stones of a temple, which were prepared beforehand for a building of God the Father, being hoisted up to the heights through the engine of Jesus Christ, which is the Cross, and using for a rope the Holy Spirit; while your faith is your windlass, and love is the way that leadeth up to God” —Ephesians 9:1.
With this allegory, Ignatius portrays the economy of God working to facilitate the salvation of fallen man, and restore him to relationship with God. This is accomplished through the cross of the Son of God and the strength and power of the Holy Spirit of God, both of which are self-revelations of the Father necessary to build His building—the Church. The apostle Paul writes of God’s economy this way: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen” (2 Cor 13:14)




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III. Concerning Modalistic Monarchianism Being the Proper Biblical Paradigm for Godhead Theology.
Any charge that my friend has made concerning the word “Modalism” not being a KJV Bible term (BC, PP3, ¶22), and therefore should be rejected, is a spurious and disingenuous charge. Why? Because the Negative has published a book entitled “Aspects of the Incarnations” in spite of the fact that “Incarnation” is not a KJV Bible term. Apart from being an insincere objection to the term “Modalism,” Bishop Conn’s charge is hypocritical, since he is condemning in others what he has allowed in himself.
While the term “mode” may not be a KJV term in relation to God, the word “form” (which is a synonym of mode) is, as is seen from Philippians 2:5-6. So, though not a Bible word, “mode” is a biblical word - as is “incarnation” - for “mode,” as “incarnation,” represents a biblical concept.
Modalism is from the word mode. Mode is a particular form or variety of something; a form or manner of expression; a manifestation, form, or arrangement of being; a particular manifestation of an underlying substance. Modalism, then, relates to structure as opposed to substance. Therefore, we say that God is one Sentient Being, who is manifested in and to His creation in different modes (ways of being), without altering His substance. Thus, God exists “modally” as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit: with each mode (way of being) being the same substance, essence or individual. So, then any Christian who believes that God dwells outside the Incarnation as Spirit, but within the Incarnation in the “form” of man, is by definition a Modalist. That would include Mike Conn, if he believed Jesus to be God in human form (mode).

Conclusion
When Bishop Conn writes his Summation Paper it will be interesting to see how he attempts to self-correct his weak Oneness position. I am guessing he will most definitely attempt such a maneuver. My friend has spent his life as a minister in a denomination (United Pentecostal Church International) that holds the deity of Jesus in the highest regard. He owes his position and livelihood to said denomination, and in my humble opinion he cannot afford to not retrace his unorthodox steps and attempt to recast himself in a more Oneness light. If and when this happens, you, the reader, must judge his sincerity.
Permit me to close by stating: Oneness without Modalism, where Jesus is the Father in a different form (mode), is Arian Unitarianism.
Amen

Apostolically Speaking
☩☩ Jerry L Hayes
(Mar David Ignatius)



First Position Paper by Bishop Hayes:

Second Position Paper by Bishop Hayes:

Third and Final Position Paper by Bishop Hayes:
http://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2017/10/modalistic-monarchianism-by-bishop.html

Modalism, Simultaneous or Sequential?
http://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2014/01/modalism-biblical-and-historical.html



Hayes vs Conn, Debate, Modalism: Truly the first of its kind. Both Bishop Jerry Hayes and Pastor Mike Conn are Oneness Pentecostal believers and, yet, they are at disagreement over the paradigm of Modalistic Monarchianism as being a proper structure for the Oneness Godhead theology. In this debate Bishop Hayes takes the affirmative position in behalf of Modalism, Pastor Conn the negative. The debate is structured thusly: Three Position Papers each of 3,000 words or less, for a total of six. Then there are 230 personal exchanges between the two further expounding on the Position Papers. After which there are two Summation Papers: one for the Affirmative and one for the Negative. The battleground of this discussion centers on two main points: 1. the proper definition of Modalism and 2. the proper understanding of the Dual Nature of Christ. Order your personal copy today, from the link provided here:https://www.amazon.com/Hayes-Conn-Debate-Modalism-Monarchianism/dp/1978371403/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Jerry+Hayes%2C+hayes+vs+Conn&qid=1554156962&s=books&sr=1-1-spell




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Apostolically Speaking
☩☩ Jerry L Hayes
(Mar David Ignatius)

Read other essays from the Bishop on the subject of the Godhead:

"The Dual Nature Of Jesus Of Nazareth"

"The Worlds, Made By The Son"

"Hebrews 13:8 vs 1 Corinthians 15:28"

"Glory With The Father"

"Philippians 2:6-8, Answering Trinitarian Objections"

"How Is God One?"

"Hebrew Monotheism"


"The Apostolic Creed"

"Jesus Is Father God"

"Homoousia And The Creed Of Nicaea"

"The Triquetra And Modalism"

"Modalism, Simultaneous Or Sequential?"

"Micah 5:2-4, An Exegesis"


"Elohim, the Plural form For God"

"Can the Deity of Jesus Be called The Son Of God?"

"Mathematical Equation For The Godhead"

"Hebrew Monotheism, Second Edition"

"Jesus, On God's Right Hand"

"The Name of the Deity" (The Tetragrammaton)

"Christology of the Apostolic Church Fathers"

"Christian Modalism challenged by the Greeks"

"The Apologists and the Logos Christology"

"Logos Christology"

"The Seven Spirits of God"

"Historical Numerical Superiority of the Monarchians"

"How Is God One?" Second Edition

"Creed of Nicæa (Creed of the 318) Affirmed"

"Another Comforter (Answering Objections to Modalism)"

"Echad vs Yachid (Answering Objections to Modalism)"

"The Godhead Teaching of Ignatius of Antioch"

"Hebrews 1:8, (Answering Objections to Modalism)"

"Godhead Theology of the Tabernacle of Moses"

"Proper Biblical Understanding of the Word 'Person'"

"Defense of Isaiah 9:6, Answering Objections to Modalism"

Friday, March 29, 2019

Sent From the Father



Both the Son and the Holy Spirit are said to be “sent” from the Father. The Pluralists claim this as a proof of plural individuals in the Godhead. Of course the Modalist deny the allegation and challenge the alligator. This argument sounds convincing to the unschooled. The holy Scripture states that the first to present his case seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him (Prov 18:17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.). 

My prayerful wish is that the disciple of Christ may be fully furnished in all truth. So, in this article we will examine the Pluralists’ argument of “Sent.”


The Sending of the Son of God
Here, we review what is intended by the New Testament’s affirmation that the Father sent the Son into the world. And in connection, we will examine the Pluralists’ claim that, by virtue of that sending, the Father and the Son must be two persons. 
There is no better place to look at this idea of the sending of the Son than: 

John 17:18, “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” 

The seventeenth chapter of the Fourth Gospel is the true “Lord’s Prayer.” The first thing that must be recognized about this prayer is that it is prayed from Christ’s humanity. The Pluralists look in vain for any trace of the Son’s equality with the Father in this High Priestly prayer of Jesus. Jesus, as God, does not pray, He answers prayer: And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). Because of the humanity of Christ, however, demonstrated in His dual nature, He prayed, and rightly so. Psalm 65:2 states, “O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.” 

Jesus, then, in His humanity, prays and acknowledges a oneness with His disciples. He draws a parallel between the manner of His being sent into the world, and the sending of His disciples into the world. Notice carefully His prayer to the Father: “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” The clause “even so” indicates a sameness between the event of His sending, and the sending of His disciples. 

When the Pluralists read of the Son being sent from the Father, visions of a royal dispatching from the throne room of heaven (with Angels, Cherubim and Seraphim standing at attention as the Prince is dispatched to the distant planet Earth) dance in their heads. The truth, however, is more an earthly sending. Notice, Jesus declares, in our text (John 17:18), that He was sending His disciples into the world as He was sent into the world. Here are His words: “As thou hast sent me ..., even so have I sent ....” Jesus sent even as He was sent. 

We must ask an honest question at this point: How were the disciples sent? This is an all important question, because it will reveal how the Son was sent by the Father. The truth is, then, that the disciples were not, physically, sent from Heaven, but from their baptisms. Upon being initiated into the faith by water baptism, each Christian receives the commission to make other disciples. Since the followers of Christ are sent into the world from their baptisms, then, so, too, was Christ. At His baptism (by John the Baptist) Jesus received the formal commission to preach the Kingdom of God, and establish said Kingdom. 

The news flash to the Pluralists is that: Christ was sent into the world from His baptism, not from the royal court of Heaven with the hosts of Heaven in attendance giving Him a Heavenly send off. The Pluralists really should get their heads out of the clouds on this one.


Hello friends, my name is Jerry Hayes, I am a full time biblical researcher. I  rely on freewill love offerings (from those of you who benefit from my work) and book sales  for my support. Would you please consider leaving a small donation at the link provided here? Thank you for your support.
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The Sending of the Holy Spirit
Just as we have looked at the Son of God being sent into the world, and all that it entailed, we will now review the Holy Ghost/Spirit being sent from the Father.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” —John 14:26. 

An argument presented against Monarchianism is that the word “sent” in John 14:26 proves personal distinction between the Father and the Holy Ghost. But is it so? Is the Holy Ghost (Spirit) proven to be another person from the Father, because the Holy Spirit is said to be “sent” from the Father? 

Of course the answer to the above question is: No. Our position is that the Holy Spirit is an attribute of God the Father, and cannot be separated from Him, personally. The prophet Ezekiel writes that God sent a hand: “And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; …” (Ezek 2:9). The Holy Spirit is no more another person from God the Father, because it is said to be “sent,” than is the hand sent to the prophet another person from God because it was “sent” from Him. 

Since this argument is brought up by the opponents of truth, we might pursue the point a little space, and ask the question: “Who actually sent the Holy Spirit?” 

In answer to our question, we see, from John 14:16, that the Father sends the Holy Spirit: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever ... .” Yet, from v26, we are told that the Holy Spirit is sent in the name of the Son: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, ... .” (If “name” means “authority,” then, the Holy Spirit is sent in, and by, the authority of the Son.) But, wait, just two chapters ahead, in John’s Gospel (16:7), we are told that the Son is actually the Sender of the Holy Spirit; which is what we would expect if it was, after all, the authority of the Son in which the Holy Spirit came: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” Now, the plot thickens, in that, back in 14:18 of this same Gospel, it is the Son that is coming, and not the Holy Spirit at all: “I [Jesus, the Son of God] will not leave you comfortless: I [Jesus, the Son of God] will come to you.” Once the Son has decided to come, Himself, there seems to be collusion on the part of the Son and the Father, for from 14:23 we see that the Father and the Son are the ones actually coming; the poor Holy Spirit is left at home: “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” Are we to assume (from this decision of the Son and Father to come, themselves, instead of sending the Holy Spirit) that: two are, indeed, company, and three is a crowd? The Three Person Theory Makes The Bible A Comedy. 

Who actually came? 
We learn from Acts 2:4 that the Holy Spirit did actually come: 
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Also, from vv16-17, we discover that the Spirit of the Father came: “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh ... .” Moreover, Paul writes in Colossians 1:27 that the Spirit of Christ came: “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory ... .” Now the Spirit of the Father, and the Spirit of the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit of the Christ are NOT three separate Spirits; the Bible is clear that there is but one Spirit in relation to God: “There is one body, and one Spirit ... ,” Paul writes in Ephesians 4:4. 

The conclusion of the matter is this: One came! Who is the Father in creation, the Son in redemption, and the Holy Spirit in sanctification. 

The truth concerning all this is that for the Pluralists to have any point at all there must be multiple centers of consciousness within the Godhead, which, when proper hermeneutics are applied proves completely incompatible with the Shema ( Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: Deuteronomy 6:4). Thus, the term “sent,” when applied to either the Son or the Holy Spirit, is to be assigned to the Bible’s genre of metaphorical language. 

Apostolically Speaking
☩☩Jerry L. Hayes

(Mar David Ignatius)





Excerpted from the author's book entitled "Godhead Theology." Published by Seven Millennium Publications. Order your personal copy today: https://www.amazon.com/Godhead-Theology-Modalism-Original-Orthodoxy/dp/1516983521/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=Godhead+theology%2C+Hayes&qid=1554054212&s=books&sr=1-1-fkmrnull







The Hayes vs Mulbah Debate on the subject of Modalism (Oneness) vs Trinitarianism. Own your personal copy. Purchase from Amazon at the link provide here.

https://www.amazon.com/Hayes-Mulbah-Debate-Oneness-Trinity/dp/1727358953/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?keywords=Bishop+Jerry+Hayes%2C+debate&qid=1554151143&s=books&sr=1-2-fkmrnull








The Hayes vs Olmo Debate on the subject of Modalism (Oneness) vs Arianism. Own your personal copy. Purchase from Amazon at the link provide here.

https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Debate-Modalism-Arianism-Unitarianism/dp/1484036670/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=Bishop+Jerry+Hayes%2C+Olmo+debate&qid=1554151633&s=books&sr=1-1-fkmrnull





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Be sure to listen and subscribe to the Bishop's Podcast: Apostolic Bishop, at:





Apostolically Speaking
☩☩ Jerry L Hayes
(Mar David Ignatius)

Read other essays from the Bishop on the subject of the Godhead:

"The Dual Nature Of Jesus Of Nazareth"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-dual-nature-of-jesus-of-nazareth.html

"The Worlds, Made By The Son"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-worlds-made-by-son.html

"Hebrews 13:8 vs 1 Corinthians 15:28"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2012/12/hebrews-138-vs-1-corinthians-1528.html

"Glory With The Father"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2012/12/glory-with-father.html

"Philippians 2:6-8, Answering Trinitarian Objections"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2013/02/philippains-26-8-answering-trinitarian.html

"How Is God One?"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2013/02/how-is-god-one.html

"Hebrew Monotheism"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2013/02/hebrew-monothesim.html

"Answering Trinitarian Objections To The Oneness Faith"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2013/03/answering-trinitarian-objections-to.html


"The Apostolic Creed"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2013/05/i-believe-in-one-god-1-solitary-in.html

"Jesus Is Father God"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2013/07/jesus-is-father-god.html

"Homoousia And The Creed Of Nicaea"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2013/10/homoousia-and-creed-of-nicaea.html

"The Triquetra And Modalism"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2013/12/triquetra-and-modalism.html

"Modalism, Simultaneous Or Sequential?"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2014/01/modalism-biblical-and-historical.html

"Micah 5:2-4, An Exegesis"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2014/02/micah-52-4-exegesis-but-thou-bethlehem.html


"Elohim, the Plural form For God"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2014/10/answering-trinitarian-objections-to.html

"Can the Deity of Jesus Be called The Son Of God?"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2015/04/can-deity-of-jesus-be-called-son-of-god.html

"Mathematical Equation For The Godhead"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2015/04/mathematical-equation-of-godhead-1x1x11.html

"Hebrew Monotheism, Second Edition"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2015/05/hebrew-monotheism.html

"Jesus, On God's Right Hand"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2015/05/jesus-on-gods-right-hand.html

"The Name of the Deity" (The Tetragrammaton)
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-name-of-deity-tetragrammaton.html

"Christology of the Apostolic Church Fathers"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2015/06/christology-of-apostolic-church-fathers.html

"Christian Modalism challenged by the Greeks"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2015/06/christian-modalism-challenged-by-greeks.html

"The Apologists and the Logos Christology"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-apologist-and-logos-christology.html

"Logos Christology"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2015/06/logos-christology.html

"The Seven Spirits of God"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2015/07/revelation-14-apostolically-speaking.html

"Historical Numerical Superiority of the Monarchians"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-historical-numerical-superiority-of.html

"How Is God One?" Second Edition
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2015/07/how-is-god-one.html

"Creed of Nicæa (Creed of the 318) Affirmed"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2015/09/creed-of-nica-creed-of-318-affirmed.html

"Another Comforter (Answering Objections to Modalism)"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2015/09/another-comforter-answering-objections.html

"Echad vs Yachid (Answering Objections to Modalism)"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2015/09/echad-vs-yachid-answering-objections-to.html

"The Godhead Teaching of Ignatius of Antioch"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2015/10/godhead-theology-of-bishop-ignatius-of.html

"Hebrews 1:8, (Answering Objections to Modalism)"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2015/10/godhead-theology-of-bishop-ignatius-of.html

"Godhead Theology of the Tabernacle of Moses"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2016/08/godhead-theology-of-tabernacle-of-moses_5.html

"Proper Biblical Understanding of the Word 'Person'"
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2017/04/proper-biblical-understanding-of-word.html

"Defense of Isaiah 9:6, Answering Objections to Modalism"

https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2017/04/defense-of-isaiah-96.html



Saturday, February 16, 2019

Slavery



This Article is Taken In its Entirety From 
BBC  World Service Sources


The Roots of Slavery

The term slave has its origins in the word slav. The slavs, who inhabited a large part of Eastern Europe, were taken as slaves by the Muslims of Spain during the ninth century AD.

Slavery can broadly be described as the ownership, buying and selling of human beings for the purpose of forced and unpaid labour. It is an ancient practice, mentioned in both the Bible and the Koran.
As for those of your slaves which wish to buy their liberty, free them if you find in them any promise and bestow on them a part of the riches which God has given you.
Koran, Chapter 24, Verse 32.

Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
 Ephesians 6, Chapter 6, Verse 8.

Indeed, the main religious texts of Judaism, Islam and Christianity all recognise slaves as a separate class of people in society. Going back further in time the Mayans and Aztecs kept slaves in the Americas, as did the Sumerians and Babylonians in the Near East. The Egyptians employed huge numbers of slaves, including the Jews, Europeans and Ethiopians.

The Greeks and Romans kept slaves as soldiers, servants, labourers and even civil servants. The Romans captured slaves from what is now Britain, France and Germany. Slave armies were kept by the Ottomans and Egyptians.

In Imperial Russia in the first half of the 19th century one third of the population were serfs, who like slaves in the Americas, had the status of chattels and could be bought and sold. They were finally freed in 1861 by Emperor Alexander II. Four years later slavery was abolished in the southern states of America following southern defeat in the American Civil War.

In Africa there were a number of societies and kingdoms which kept slaves, before there was any regular commercial contact with Europeans, including the Asanti, the Kings of Bonny and Dahomey.

African Slave Owners 

Many societies in Africa with kings and hierarchical forms of government traditionally kept slaves. But these were mostly used for domestic purposes. They were an indication of power and wealth and not used for commercial gain. However, with the appearance of Europeans desperate to buy slaves for use in the Americas, the character of African slave ownership changed.

GROWING RICH WITH SLAVERY 
ROYALTY
In the early 18th century, Kings of Dahomey (known today as Benin) became big players in the slave trade, waging a bitter war on their neighbours, resulting in the capture of 10,000, including another important slave trader, the King of Whydah. King Tegbesu made £250,000 a year selling people into slavery in 1750. King Gezo said in the 1840's he would do anything the British wanted him to do apart from giving up slave trade:

"The slave trade is the ruling principle of my people. It is the source and the glory of their wealth…the mother lulls the child to sleep with notes of triumph over an enemy reduced to slavery…"

LIVING WITNESS
Some of the descendants of African traders are alive today. Mohammed Ibrahim Babatu is the great great grandson of Baba-ato (also known as Babatu), the famous Muslim slave trader, who was born in Niger and conducted his slave raids in Northern Ghana in the 1880's. Mohammed Ibrahim Babatu, the deputy head teacher of a Junior secondary school in Yendi, lives in Ghana.

"In our curriculum, we teach a little part of the history of our land. Because some of the children ask questions about the past history of our grandfather Babatu.

Babatu, and others, didn't see anything wrong with slavery. They didn't have any knowledge of what the people were used for. They were only aware that some of the slaves would serve others of the royal families within the sub-region.

He has done a great deal of harm to the people of Africa. I have studied history and I know the effect of slavery. 

I have seen that the slave raids did harm to Africa, but some members of our family feel he was ignorant…we feel that what he did was fine, because it has given the family a great fame within the Dagomba society. 

He gave some of the slaves to the Dagombas and then he sent the rest of the slaves to the Salaga market. He didn't know they were going to plantations…he was ignorant…"

 Listen to Mohammed Ibrahim Babatu, great great grandson of the famous Muslim slave trader Baba-ato

SONGHAY
The young Moroccan traveler and commentator, Leo Africanus, was amazed at the wealth and quantity of slaves to be found in Gao, the capital of Songhay, which he visited in 1510 and 1513 when the empire was at the height of its power under Askiya Mohammed.

"...here there is a certain place where slaves are sold, especially on those days when the merchants are assembled. And a young slave of fifteen years of age is sold for six ducats, and children are also sold. The king of this region has a certain private palace where he maintains a great number of concubines and slaves."

SWAHILI
The ruling class of coastal Swahili society - Sultans, government officials and wealthy merchants - used non-Muslim slaves as domestic servants and to work on farms and estates. The craftsmen, artisans and clerks tended to by Muslim and freed men. But the divisions between the different classes were often very flexible. The powerful slave and ivory trader Tippu Tip was the grandson of a slave.

  Listen to historian Abdul Sheriff introducing Tippu Tip's autobiography followed by a BBC dramatisation of the slave trader's own writing

The Omani Sultan, Seyyid Said, became immensely rich when he started up cloves plantations in 1820 with slave labour - so successful was he that he moved the Omani capital to Zanzibar in 1840.

PUNISHED FOR KEEPING SLAVES 
The Asanti (the capital, Kumasi, is in modern Ghana) had a long tradition of domestic slavery. But gold was the main commodity for selling. With the arrival of Europeans the slaves displaced gold as the main commodity for trade. As late as 1895 the British Colonial Office was not concerned by this.

"It would be a mistake to frighten the King of Kumasi and the Ashantis generally on the question of slavery. We cannot sweep away their customs and institutions all at once. Domestic slavery should not be troubled at present."

British attitudes changed when the King of the Asanti (the Asantehene) resisted British colonial authority. The suppression of the slave trade became a justification for the extension of European power. With the humiliation and exile of King Prempeh I in 1896, the Asanti were placed under the authority of the Governor of the Gold Coast and forced therefore to conform to British law and abolish the slave trade.

SLAVERY DECREED BY THE GODS
In 1807, Britain declared all slave trading illegal. The king of Bonny (in what is now the Nigerian delta) was dismayed at the conclusion of the practice.

"We think this trade must go on. That is the verdict of our oracle and the priests. They say that your country, however great, can never stop a trade ordained by God himself."


Hello friends, my name is Jerry Hayes, I am a full time biblical researcher. I  rely on freewill love offerings (from those of you who benefit from my work) and book sales  for my support. Would you please consider leaving a small donation at the link provided here? Thank you for your support.