Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity [Paperback]

Gregory Boyd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1992

What's special about Oneness Pentecostals?

In this penetrating analysis of Oneness theology and practice, Gregory Boyd reveals the experience of four years of personal involvement in a Oneness church.

Although Oneness Pentecostals' belief in Christ's deity establishes some common ground with other Christians, their aggressive denial of the Trinity has nonetheless fostered their indisputably sub-Christian ideas about God's character, about salvation, and about Christian living.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gregory A. Boyd is the senior pastor of Woodland Hills Church (BGC) in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is the author of many books, including the best-selling Letters from a Skeptic, and formerly taught theology at Bethel College. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 234 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books (June 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801010195
• ISBN-13: 978-0801010194
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #358,655 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gregory A. Boyd is the founder and senior pastor of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minn., and founder and president of Christus Victor Ministries. He was a professor of theology at Bethel College (St. Paul, Minn.) for sixteen years where he continues to serve as an Adjunct Professor. Greg is a graduate of the University of Minnesota (BA), Yale Divinity School (M.Div), and Princeton Theological Seminary (PhD). Greg is a national and international speaker at churches, colleges, conferences, and retreats, and has appeared on numerous radio and television shows. He has also authored and coauthored eighteen books prior to Present Perfect, including The Myth of a Christian Religion, The Myth of a Christian Nation, The Jesus Legend (with Paul Eddy), Seeing Is Believing, Repenting of Religion, and his international bestseller Letters from a Skeptic.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended, February 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity (Paperback)

Gregory A. Boyd is a Professor of Theology who clearly has done his homework on Oneness Pentecostalism. As a former Oneness Pentecostal myself, I found that Boyd convincingly cuts through the smoke and mirror rhetoric of Oneness, probing the underlying problems inherent in their theology and the often damaging psycho-spiritual baggage that results. Somehow, he pulls this off without gratuituously attacking Oneness believers themselves. He seems to truly understand the inner-working psychology of the people behind the movement.

Even one of the leading apologists for Oneness Pentecostalism, David K. Bernard, has acknowledged that Boyd has handled Oneness belief fairly, even if a bit roughly. I think that says it all. If you can only get one popular book on Oneness Pentecostalism, this is it!

My only complaint is that I wish it had been published much earlier - it would've saved me from much needless pain and aggravation in my own "spiritual journey".

20 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Balanced presentation of an important issue facing the Churc, June 3, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Milwaukee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity (Paperback)

Due to a new relationship in my life, I have been spending time learning about Oneness Pentecostalism. I have a master's degree in theology, and I have read several books written by Oneness theologians (David Bernard, Mark Bassett) and these authors have only suceeded in adding to my confusion over a subject that I already think makes little sense. It was refreshing to read Boyd's presentation of Oneness theology and be able to comprehend it. And while I still do not believe that this approach to understanding the realtionship between God, Jesus and the Spirit has any real merit, I am able to now appreciate/better understand those who do subscribe to this line of thought. I was curious to read the one negative review posted on this site concerning Boyd's book, and was disappointed that if the reviewer truly felt Boyd misrepresented Oneness Pentecostalism, he was unable to site one single example to support his statements. Unfortunately, this seems to be the same way other Oneness Pentecostals I have spoken to apologize their faith. Boyd's book should be read by all who desire a clear understanding of this topic.

23 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good overview of UPC, July 19, 2005

By 

E. Johnson (El Cajon, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity (Paperback)

There are a number of well-meaning individuals found in UPC and Apostolic churches who have an immense hatred for the Trinity. "It's not a word found in the Bible," adherents often cry, begging the question that words they use to describe the Godhead are not found there either (i.e. "oneness"). In this book, Boyd does a good job explaining why the Trinity is true, as the concepts are clearly taught in scripture. But UPC people often don't end up with merely rejecting the Trinity; they also say a person must be water baptized (by them, of course, in Jesus' name only) and abide by their numerous rules and regulations. They are, leaders will say, the only true church. Meanwhile, justification and sanctification--important terms in soteriology--are mixed up in a hodgepodge, as there is no distinction. This is a perfect environment for a legalistic mindset and, if I may be so bold, creates a cult. Thus, anyone who has ears, let him hear what the Word of God truly has to say about the subject. Boyd's work is a big help in explaining the prooftexts used by UPC advocates so that answers may be given to all.