God, the Son – The “Second Person” of the Godhead

A popular misconception about Jesus Christ is that He is the complete embodiment of the Godhead and that the Father and the Holy Spirit are manifested in Him. This view denies the Biblical doctrine of the Godhead by arguing that there is only one person, rather than three, which occupies the state, office, or quality of being God. Typically, this is called the “Oneness Doctrine.”

Advocates of this teaching cite Colossians 2:9 as proof of their argument. The passage says, concerning Jesus, “in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” The assertion made is that this verse is saying that Jesus is the literal embodiment of the Godhead and that the Godhead begins and ends with Him. But, this conclusion is not supported by the Scriptural evidence. The context in which Colossians 2:9 appears is a defense against Gnosticism, which denies the divinity of Jesus. Paul argued that Jesus is every bit as divine as the other members of the Godhead.

Another so-called proof text of the Oneness Doctrine is John 15:9, in which Jesus says, “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” Again, the assertion is that Jesus affirmed that He is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, all rolled up in one being. But, that does not fit in with the rest of the Scriptures. It is much more reasonable to conclude that Jesus affirmed His equality with the Father, in this passage (Philippians 2:5-6).

Passages like the record of the baptism of Jesus Christ are endlessly frustrating for those who teach the Oneness Doctrine. In Matthew 3:13-17, we see Jesus being baptized, the Holy Spirit lighting upon Him, and the Father speaking His approval of Jesus from Heaven. This event could not possibly have taken place, as it is described, if the Oneness Doctrine is true.

The fact that there are three beings in the Godhead does not mean that we worship more than one God. As the ancient Hebrews understood it, “The Lord our God is one Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:4).

“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