08/29/2024
There are many irrational misinterpretations of scripture within the Oneness Apostolic (Jesus name) persuasion. One of the very common textual misinterpretations is (John 5:43). The text reads - “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him.”
Those of the “Oneness” persuasion would contend that the Father’s name is (Jesus) based upon the fact that Jesus has “come in His Father’s name.” Let’s test this interpretation in light of (1 Samuel 17:45) in which David uses the same grammatical construction “… I come to you in the name of the LORD” (or, “in the LORD’S name). Q: Does this mean that the Lord’s name is “David?” Of course not.
There is a meaning in regard to the phrase “in the name of” as it is a reference to authority. Christ, The Son, came in the authority of His Father (John 5:43). The Father being a witness of the Son (John 5:37) in which Jesus says - “And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.” Very clearly showing the distinction of the Father and the Son. (John 8:17) Christ states - “Even in your Law it has been written that the testimony of two people is true. I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” Christ very honestly uses plain grammar that show very clear distinction between the Father and Himself. If Jesus was wanting to (in some secret fashion) tell us that He is the Father, then this is not the grammar He would have used. Rather, Christ is showing that the Father is one person (who bears witness of the Son), and He (Christ, the Son) is another person who bears witness of Himself.
The name “Jesus” (equivalent to “Joshua”) was the name given to the Son at His incarnation. The Son, whose name is “the Word” (Rev. 19:13), was with the Father in the beginning (one person with another person). The Father prepared a body (Heb. 10:5-7) by which the Son assumed the likeness of mankind (Phil. 2:6-7). The Son - who was existing in the form of God before the incarnation, who being WITH the Father, took upon Himself a body of flesh (John 1:14). The Son “came in the Father’s name” in the sense that He was sent into the world by His Father (John 3:16). To deny this divine relationship between the Father and the Son is to not only reject the true Gospel, but such denial is that of the Antichrist spirit (1 John 2:22-24)
