*Below we post the fourth and final counter-response in this particular series toward the attacks of Edward Dalcour against Oneness believers.  As before, I have simply pasted Dalcour’s article (found HERE) in *black with my responses immediately following in *blue, as here.  Stay tuned for more information relative to the early church formula of water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (e.g., Acts 2.38).  In the meantime we hope the following surrejoinder is edifying to the church.  Enjoy!

(Dalcour):  PLURAL VERB—esmen (“we are”)

(Dalcour):  John 10:30 (as well as the entire chap.) at face value, in the most plainness way, indicates that Jesus is not the Father— egw kai o Pathr eJn esmen (“I and the Father one We Are”).  After one reads John 10, he would never never get the idea that Jesus is the Father;  only if he were superficially “taught” Oneness unitarianism would he come up with that.

*But, as pointed out above doesn’t Dalcour inform us in the preface to his book that:  I find that Christians who have not been adequately taught about the Trinity make the same ‘error’.  Thus, unstudied Christians too often unknowingly affirm Oneness theology in their efforts to explain how Jesus is God.  

*According to Dalcour’s own quote here if these people are not “taught about the Trinity” they “often” arrive at the Oneness conclusion.  Of course they do Mr. Dalcour—that’s the natural conclusion of the Scriptures themselves!  And, since Dalcour is so fond of appealing to translation-consistency (rightfully so), perhaps he can point us to the consensus of Greek linguists who have adopted his esoteric “plain” translation of John 10.30 above:_________?  Hear that music playing in the background Mr. Dalcour?  

(Dalcour):  To say again, no one in church history (viz. Christian fathers, ecumenical councils, or resulting creeds) or present-day recognized scholarship embraced Oneness doctrine—they have always rejected it as non-Christian, a departure from the Christ of biblical revelation.      

*Once again, Dalcour juxtaposes extra-biblical resources alongside Scripture for his supposed “orthodoxy” (a buzz term for his beloved “creeds” and “councils” of men).  Further, this assumes that Trinitarians constitute the biblical “church”—which, of course, the Scriptures themselves forcibly reject.  Apparently Dalcour does not consider the book of Acts to include “church history” wherein converts are baptized in Jesus’ Name and spoke in other tongues upon receipt of the Holy Spirit (which, of course, Dalcour has not received).  Not surprisingly, in his denial of the biblical testimony, Dalcour tries his hardest to explain all of these God-breathed passages away in an effort to protect his religious traditions.   

(Dalcour):  When ones reads plainly the entire content set forth in the literature of John, he sees clearly that Jesus and the Father were distinct not the same person.  This is seen esp. in places such as John 10:15-18, where Jesus had clearly differentiated Himself from the Father.  As well as the passages leading up to v. 30.

*As pointed out above, Dalcour attempts to erase the force of Jesus’s words in John 10.30 by donning his trifocals in the passages “leading up to v. 30,” yet completely disregards how the original hearers understood Christ’s affirmation of identity as the one “God” (cf., v. 33).  And, specifically where can we read so “plainly and clearly” of “distinct persons” in any biblical corpus:________?  Surely Dalcour will have no problem directing us to such obvious passages (?)!

*In his effort to evade the silver bullet of Tritheism Dalcour here slips in the modification of “distinct persons” in exchange for “separate beings.”  However, as pointed out to Trinitarians ad nauseum there is absolutely no difference between “distinct” and/or “separate,” nor “persons” and “beings.”  Since Dalcour most often appeals to human beings as the reflection of his Trinity doctrine – every human “person” I have ever met is equally a human “being!”  As Dalcour’s very own resource overhead demonstrates (i.e., Robertson’s quote), many Trinitarian exegetes employ the term “separate” when attempting to explain their Triune divinity notions (cf., e.g., my debate with James White).  This is nothing more than usual Trinitarian theology pawned off as supposed “exegesis.”

(Dalcour):  The same Father of whom Jesus says, “For this Father loves Me” and in v. 18, Jesus says that He lays down His life ap’ emautou, “from Myself, My own [not ‘our’] initiative.”  Jesus tells His readers as in John 6:38, before the incarnation He makes and possesses His Own determination/will (note the reflexive emautou) “of, from My own [not, “our own”], thus, distinct from the Father (cf. John 6:38).

*Before addressing Dalcour’s primary blunders overhead I want to point out his theological insertion above of the word “distinct” in his last clause.  Here Dalcour slips in his Trinitarian-creedal commitments with the term “distinct” since absolutely nothing in the actual grammar of Dalcour’s supposed proof-texts would prohibit him from employing the descriptor “separate”…other than his Trinitarian theology.  Every time Trinitarian apologists fabricate the term “distinct (divine persons)” biblical Christians/Monotheists should recognize this ploy and hold their feet fast to the biblical text itself!   

*Dalcour once again offers partial quotations of biblical verses above.  Here’s the final clause of John 10.18 that Dalcour omitted:  “This commandment I received from My Father.”  I ask honest readers if such language utilized by Christ as “commandment” naturally communicate “co-equal, co-eternal divine persons?”  Can one ontologically co-equal, co-eternal divine person literally “command” another co-equal, co-eternal divine person?  Why doesn’t the Holy Spirit ever “command” the Son of God?  Or, why doesn’t the Son of God ever “command” the Father?  Would Dalcour have us believe that only his supposed first divine person issues commands to the second divine person while the second divine person orders the third divine person?  To borrow from Dalcour’s own playbook, such Trinitarian theology is “an utterly convoluted doctrine!”

*Note also Dalcour’s [bracketed] assertion above of “not our” when referencing John 10.18.  I wonder if Dalcour will accept this identical hermeneutical methodology in the approximately 50 biblical passages that describe one divine person as the sole Creator?  For example, though Dalcour does his best to erase this verse (and there are many more) using his own criterion above – perhaps he can point us to “our” or “we” in this verse:

(Isaiah 44.24; NASB):  Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, “I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all alone,”

(BHS):  כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ גֹּאֲלֶ֔ךָ וְיֹצֶרְךָ֖ מִבָּ֑טֶן אָנֹכִ֤י יְהוָה֙ עֹ֣שֶׂה כֹּ֔ל נֹטֶ֤ה שָׁמַ֨יִם֙ לְבַדִּ֔י רֹקַ֥ע הָאָ֖רֶץ מֵי אִתִּֽי׃

(LXX):  Οὕτως λέγει κύριος ὁ λυτρούμενός σε καὶ ὁ πλάσσων σε ἐκ κοιλίας Ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ συντελῶν πάντα ἐξέτεινα τὸν οὐρανὸν μόνος καὶ ἐστερέωσα τὴν γῆν. τίς ἕτερος

*Note the single person (independent) pronouns, masculine singular verbs, singular participial verbs and single nouns above in Yahveh’s declaration of His sole-creatorship (again, deserving of an entirely separate article!).  Is Yahveh telling us the truth in this verse or should we accept Trinitarian explanations over 2,000 years ex post facto?  A Trinitarian view is soundly annihilated and rejected at this point and cannot stand exegetically.  

*To suggest that Isaiah 44.24 really explicates a “Trinity of divine persons” who “co-equally” created supplants the most natural reading for a painfully tortured and abnormal interpretation.  Perhaps Dalcour should go inform his same Judaic resources (e.g., the Targums) that this verse really describes his Triune divinity opposite what Yahveh Himself affirms.  Simply, Trinitarian conjecture stubbornly disallows Yahveh to identify Himself.

*Above, in his misunderstanding of the passage Dalcour again unwittingly argues for individual wills and minds within God by asserting that the supposed preexistent Son of God possessed “His own (independent) will” prior to the Incarnation.  As repeatedly pointed out to Trinitarians, this is Tritheism defined—despite how many times they pay mere lip service to “Monotheism.”       

(Dalcour):  Perkins is simply in error.  Yes, essential Unity, not identification—coupled with the plural verb esmen- not eimi, (“am”) or estin (“is”).

*The polar opposite is true inasmuch as the original audience understood Christ’s clear assertion as a statement of “identification” (v. 33).  You know Mr. Dalcour—“context!”  Dalcour would pompously have us accept his personal theology that directly militates against the actual text itself.  Sorry Mr. Dalcour, eternity is not worth it – think we will stick with God’s Word and leave you to your “creeds” and “councils.”

(Dalcour):  In point of fact, the Apostle John envisages the Son as the monogenhV qeoV (“unique God,” John 1:18), who was WITH the Father as a distinct person before time (cf. John 1:1, 18, 6:38; 8:58; 17:5; Rev. 5:13).  Further, John sees the Son as God as the eternal God deserving of religious worship (cf. John 5:23; 9:38; Rev. 5:13-14).  John sees the liar as any denying this Son of divine revelation (cf. 1 John 2:22-23).

*First, though he seeks to dodge it in his book, Dalcour understands that there is a meaningful and viable textual variant in John 1.18.  Second, it never ceases to amaze me how Dalcour repeatedly identifies as “fact” what is completely non-existent.  Absolutely nowhere does the Apostle John affirm that the Son of God coexisted with God “as a distinct person before time” as Dalcour “factually” asserts above.  Again, Dalcour merely invents his own Bible and then arrogantly demands that this is “fact” to be accepted by biblical Christians and Monotheists.

*Not surprisingly, Dalcour’s cross-references that appear (parenthetically) above actually stand opposite his Trinity doctrine (cf. John 1:1, 18, 6:38; 8:58; 17:5; Rev. 5:13).  At this point, I will simply let our audience read these verses for themselves to see if these passages naturally lead one to the Triune divinity conclusion.

*Moreover, the Apostle John was a preacher who water baptized in Jesus’s Name (cf. Acts 8.16), spoke in other tongues upon reception of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 2.1-4) and taught that Jesus Christ was the one-sole “true God” in this same epistle (cf. I John 5.20).  And Dalcour is seriously charging Oneness believers with supposed “source abuse” above?  Far from explicating Dalcour’s fabricated “co-eternal, co-equal, God the Son” – or, as Paul would say, “another Jesus” (2 Corinthians 11.4) – John viewed Jesus as the one OT Yahveh enfleshed for the sins of the “whole world” (cf. John 1.1-14, 8.58, 14.8-10; I John 2.2).

(Dalcour):  REVELATION 21:22:  “I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”  (NASB) 

(Dalcour): Perkins states that,

“The Greek verb translated ‘are’ (ἐστιν) in this text is the ‘singular verb estin’ that Dalcour requests above explicating both God and His Son.  If a plural verb describing the Father and the Son quantifies as two divine persons—why does not a singular verb modifying the same subject equal a single divine person (esp. when this passage contextually describes the singular ‘temple’ of Heaven)?”

(Dalcour):  Then Perkins provides a lengthy explanation, which only proves my point:  Perkins is not a fan of context.  Perkins simply attempts to isolate this passage from John’s own theology in both Revelation and in John’s entire literature.  Simply, Perkins makes two slippery mistakes (perhaps hoping no one will fact check).

*Yes, I was just hoping, praying and sweating it out that no one would take the time to fact check my gleeful “mistakes”—and that is why I have submitted my textual refutations to Dalcour publicly!  This is merely Dalcour’s typical smear campaign and diversionary tactic.  The facts are that Dalcour is the one who repeatedly botches his assertions (or “mistakes”) with the Greek text as shown over and over above.

*Dalcour appeals to supposed “context” in an effort to spin away from another of his exegetical blunders.  Yet, he aborts the natural authorial flow in his mishandling(s) of John 1.1-18, John 17, Hebrews 1.1-10, Philippians 2.5-8ff, Colossians 1.15-18, 2 Corinthians 13.14-17, etc.  Worse, the context of this passage does absolutely nothing to negate the grammatical fact that a single verb is employed by John to describe both God and His Son (which I carefully explained in my original piece).  This is nothing more than Dalcour’s usual smoke in a mirror.      

(Dalcour):  1) John has already differentiated Jesus from the Father throughout the book.

*Actually, John opens both his entire gospel account and apocalypse by openly and specifically identifying Jesus as the sole Almighty God and writes from this splendid launching pad (cf. Revelation 1.8, 3.21, 4.2).  Further, though Trinitarians have been told this until we could pass out, Oneness believers openly acknowledge a distinction between God and His Son.  But this distinction is biblically demonstrated as ontological and not merely “functional” as Trinitarians claim.  One wonders at this point if we’re even reading the same biblical data?

(Dalcour):  For example, Revelation 3:21 presents the “Son” as sitting on His own throne (distinct from the Father’s throne).

*This is a mind-boggling assertion—even for Dalcour!  Let’s take a look at what this passage actually says shall we?  Remember, Dalcour is fond of stating that the book of Daniel teaches that there are multiple “thrones” for his alleged divine persons of the Trinity in Heaven (as per his misunderstanding of Daniel 7.9):

(Revelation 3.21; KJV):  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

*Here the KJV has a good rendering of the dative masculine singular prepositional phrase ἐν τῷ θρόνῳ, lit., “in the throne.”  Note this text specifically states that Christ is seated on the throne of Heaven with His Father—and John saw one sitting on this same throne (cf. Chp. 4)!  We are honestly dumbfounded at how Dalcour can make the assertion that the Son of God is “sitting on His own throne distinct from the Father’s throne” in this (or any other) passage.  If “two co-eternal divine persons” are in view here, apparently Dalcour thinks the Son of God is sitting in His Father’s lap (since he consistently argues for bodily separation within the Godhead)!

*In point of fact, this verse states the polar opposite of Dalcour’s assertion above and serves as further validation that Jesus is the sole God of Heaven – as well as again puts Dalcour’s shoddy scholarship on full display.      

(Dalcour):  And Revelation 5:13-14 presents two distinct divine objects of religious worship:  “To Him [the Father] who sits on the throne and to the Lamb [the Son]:  be praise, honor, glory and dominion forever and ever!”

*Specifically where in these verses are “distinct divine objects” of religious worship?  Again, Dalcour slips in his theology in a biblical text that never states nor teaches the same.  In fact, if used to teach multiple divine persons in Heaven this text would serve as another example of Dalcour’s radical (bodily) separation within the Godhead, contra Colossians 2.8-10; Revelation 22.3-4, etc.   

*And, hasn’t Dalcour just informed us that the Lamb has “His own throne” in Heaven apart from God?  By pointedly using the masculine singular article and masculine singular participial verb construct (τῷ καθημένῳ) this verse directly refutes Dalcour’s notion of multiple “thrones” in Heaven in the clearest way (again, not to mention how such a construct would demand bodily separation within the Godhead).  John has already stated that there was one sitting on the throne (Revelation 3.21-4.4) whom, in closing his apocalypse, he identifies as Jesus Christ (Revelation 22.3-4).

(Dalcour):  Passages such as Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 1:3; 2:22; and here Revelation 5:13 confirm a grammatical differentiation between two or all three persons of the Trinity.

*Once again Dalcour engages in his classic circular argumentation by assuming his conclusion at the starting point (i.e., that there is a “Trinity” contained in the biblical data).  As shown above this is actually “grammatically” and exegetically false—and is the very basis of our rejection of Dalcour’s Trinity intrusion and imposition upon the biblical data.  Simply quoting passages that speak of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit does not vindicate three co-equal, co-eternal, divine persons within the Godhead.  Mere assertion never serves as solid biblical evidence—and never will.  Dalcour assumes that mere distinction automatically translates into multiple divine persons – when the overarching biblical theme is that the one-sole person of God of the OT became flesh for the redemption of a lost and sin-stricken humanity.  This is the biblical presentation and identification of Jesus Christ (cf. Matthew 1.23; Colossians 2.8-10; I John 5.20).

(Dalcour):  Grammatically, along with Matthew 28:19, note 2 Cor. 13:14 and 1 John 1:3:    

(Dalcour): 2 Corinthians 13:14: “The grace of the [tou] Lord Jesus Christ and [kai] the love of the [tou] God and [kai] the fellowship of the [tou] Holy Spirit with all of you.”

*Note again the usual Pauline usage of the noun “Christ” (Χριστοῦ) in this verse which, as noted above, is lexically defined as “one who has been anointed” (so NET tn).  Since Dalcour is arguing that this passage “grammatically” explicates his ontological Trinity doctrine we would be quite intrigued to know which ontologically co-equal divine person “anointed” Jesus as God Almighty (Revelation 1.8)?

*Further, the Greek noun translated “Father” (πατρὸς) appears nowhere in this text.  If Dalcour is defining the Greek noun rendered “God” (θεοῦ) as a “Trinity” he has just unwittingly placed both Christ and the Holy Spirit outside of the same – since these terms appear “grammatically differentiated” from the noun rendered “God!”  If father Dalcour keeps multiplying his divinities like this he might as well turn his collar around backwards and join his Roman Catholic brethren for Mass this Sunday!      

(Dalcour):  1 John 1:3:  “Indeed our fellowship is with the [tou] Father and [kai] with the [tou] Son of Him Jesus Christ.”

*No fellowship with the Holy Spirit in this verse Mr. Dalcour?  It will not do for Dalcour to protest that this is an “argument from silence” (as he does HERE) since he repeatedly (and fallaciously) claims that no biblical verse defines God as one person (contra the 9,000 single-person-pronouns) and that Jesus is supposedly never identified as the Father (against John 14.8-10; Isaiah 9.6; etc.).

*Of course Jesus is the Son of God.  However, He is equally presented and identified as the one “true God and eternal life” in this same epistle.

(I John 5.20; NET):  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us insight to know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ.  This one is (singular indicative verb ἐστιν) the (nominative masculine singular ὁ) true God and eternal life.

*We are aware of the debate surrounding these last two clauses and the demonstrative pronoun οὗτός translated “this one” above (cf. NET tn) and would argue for the rendering above (contra JW’s and Christadelphians).  But, we really do not know what Dalcour assumes this proves for his Trinity hypothesis (?).

(Dalcour):  And Revelation 5:13:  “The [tw] One sitting upon the throne and [kai] to the [tw] Lamb, the blessing and the honor and the glory and the dominion into the ages of the ages.”

*We have already demonstrated how this verse actually works against Dalcour’s eisegesis above if the inspired text is allowed to stand on its own merit.  John clearly identifies “one sitting upon the throne” and he had just presented the Lamb as coming out of “the middle (μέσῳ) of the throne” (5.6)—a perfect illustration of the Incarnation (and precisely the Oneness message).  The same one on the throne is the same one who comes as the Lamb to save mankind, yet the throne is not emptied inasmuch as God-proper is an omnipresent Spirit.  In sum, far from advocating a Trinity of divine persons Revelation 5 reveals that the one God of Heaven became our Sacrifice—despite how hard Dalcour stomps his foot in protest of the biblical testimony.  

(Dalcour): According to the “normal” rules of Greek grammar (cf. Granville, Reymond, Beisner, Wallace, Greenly), Jesus (the Lamb) is distinct in person from the Father throughout Scripture.  To make Rev. 21:22 militate against John’s own words in other places is blatant eisegesis—viz. again, a painful and flawed hermeneutic.  But again, Perkins enjoys using and abusing naked words in spite of context to arrive at unorthodox interpretations.

*First, as repeatedly demonstrated above it is Dalcour who apparently enjoys misquoting, misidentifying and outright flubbing the Greek text.  We can certainly sympathize with periodically missed citations, but Dalcour does this in virtually every one of his presentations.  As stated above, I honestly feel sorry for his unsuspecting students and pray that the biblical Christ saves both them and Mr. Dalcour.

*Second, as shown overhead absolutely nothing in the Greek grammar normally points to Dalcour’s “distinct” persons.  In fact, not one thing in Dalcour’s supposed proof texts would prohibit separate divine beings other than his cherished and venerated “councils” and “creeds” that he constantly juxtaposes right alongside Scripture (seize on his usage of the phrase “unorthodox interpretations” above).

*Third, again, I repeatedly appealed to context in my biblical refutation of Dalcour as the original article below plainly demonstrates.  Indeed, biblical context is the very source of our rejection of Dalcour’s blatant Tritheism (masquerading as “Monotheism” of course)!  Apparently Dalcour would have me adorn biblical words with his councils and creeds as he does opposite allowing the “naked words” (whatever on earth that means?) of the Bible to stand-alone.  No thank you, we’ll leave that to agenda-driven Trinitarians like himself!      

(Dalcour):  2)  Since the Greek is clear, Perkins either has no concern about reading the text carefully in its original significance (Greek) whereby Perkins merely assumes all Oneness believers will blindly accept his assertions here or he just cannot read Greek.  Simply, as Perkins knows it (it was brought to his attention over and over), Rev. 21:22 has NO syntactical parallel to John 10:30.

*Here Dalcour assumes that a syntactical parallel is demanded to have a single verb apply to both God and His Son (as is clearly the case with this text).  Further, in reality, it is careful analysis of the Greek text that holds us hostage to deny Dalcour’s Trinity impositions in these passages.  Once again, Dalcour engages in his classic Ad Hominem attacks by charging that I was hoping that biblical Christians would simply “blindly accept” my direct quotes from the original languages.  Of course, this is an obvious attack on my personal character all the while Dalcour continuously fumbles with both the Hebrew and Greek texts.

*In point of fact (contra a mere case of one-upmanship), Dalcour has just explained himself perfectly as repeatedly demonstrated overhead.  This tendency always astounds me about the nature of deception.  Again, I have many more of Dalcour’s botches and gross misinformation recorded.

*Moreover, in my original piece below I specifically addressed this usual Trinitarian dodge of the single verb used in Revelation 21.22 that modifies both God and His Son.  Once again, here’s my specific comment that, not surprisingly, Dalcour entirely omits from the consideration of his reading audience:

Trinitarians typically attempt to dodge this dilemma by stating that Revelation 21.22 is not syntactically parallel to John 10.30 and hence does not apply to the debate (as Dalcour does below).  However, this is a subtle shift in argumentation to evade their obvious inconsistency since no appeal to syntax was marshaled from the Trinitarian camp in the original assertion.  This is nothing more than the usual effort by Trinitarians to spin away from their discordant appeals.  The exegetical fact remains that a singular verb modifies both the Father and the Son of God in Revelation 21.22 as the vast majority of reputable translations clearly affirm (e.g., ESV, NASB, BSB, NKJV).  Why the double standard from Trinitarians?  Inquiring minds want to know!

(Dalcour):  John 10:30 reads:  egw kai oJ Pathr eJn esmen (lit., “I and the Father one we are”).

*Greek has an entirely different plural pronoun translated “we” (ἡμῶν) that does not appear in John 10.30.  Further, absolutely no reputable translation adopts Dalcour’s agenda-driven, personal esoteric rendering.  I suppose Dalcour would have us believe that he sees something in this passage that all of these linguists have overlooked HERE?  No thank you Mr. Dalcour – eternity is too serious to accept your words in opposition to the statements of Christ:

(Berean Literal Bible; John 12.48):  The one rejecting Me and not receiving My words has one judging him:  The word which I spoke, that will judge him in the last day.  

(Dalcour):  Rev. 21:22 reads: Kai naon ouk eidon en auth oJ gar kurioV oJ qeoV oJ pantokratwr naoV authV estin, kai to arnion (lit., “And temple not I saw in it, indeed [the] Lord the God almighty, temple of it is, and the Lamb”).        

*Again, Dalcour militates against the majority of linguists and translators HERE.  

*As demonstrated below in such excellent translations as the ESV and NASB, what Dalcour misses is that the goal of a translator is to supply the equivalent of the sender language into the receptor language.  Apparently Dalcour thinks that these outstanding translation committees should have surely consulted with him before offering the following renderings!

(ESV):  And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.

(NASB):  I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

(Dalcour):  Note that first in John 10:30, the verb (esmen, “are”) appears at the end of the sentence, after the phrase, “I and the Father,” thus, Jesus and the Father—“we are” one, not “we “is” (estin) or “am” one.  Whereas in Rev. 21:22, the verb (estin, “is”) is before the phrase, “and the Lamb.”  Thus, kai to arnion (“and the Lamb”) is an additional clause.  No connection whatsoever—and Perkins knows this.

*Once again Dalcour shape-shifts and modifies his original argumentation to syntax from exegesis (which we readily oblige below).  The grammatical fact remains that the plural vs. single verb that Dalcour is always complaining about relative to John 10.30 is provided at Revelation 21.22—despite how hard Dalcour attempts to spin out of his exegetical conundrums.

*But, since he apparently missed the following references in my original article—and since he is heading to the Judgment seat of God one day—here they are again (copied from my article below):

“Just for good measure, a couple of additional passages where singular verbs simultaneously modify both the Father and the Son of God as the same subject:

“Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.  (I Thessalonians 3.11; Berean Literal Bible)

“Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ ἡμῶν καὶ ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς κατευθύναι τὴν ὁδὸν ἡμῶν πρὸς ὑμᾶς·  (NA28)

“The Greek verb rendered ‘direct’ (κατευθύναι) above appears in the aorist, active, optative, 3rd person, singular form describing the activity of the Father and Jesus.  Will Trinitarians be consistent in their verbal appeals at this point?  Or, will they now offer the usual spin-away-from-it tact?  I prophesy the latter (and was indeed proven to be correct above)!  

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.  (2 Thessalonians 2.16-17; NASB)

“Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς καὶ [ὁ] θεὸς ⸀ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν ὁ ἀγαπήσας ἡμᾶς καὶ δοὺς παράκλησιν αἰωνίαν καὶ ἐλπίδα ἀγαθὴν ἐν χάριτι, παρακαλέσαι ὑμῶν τὰς καρδίας καὶ στηρίξαι ἐν παντὶ ⸂ἔργῳ καὶ λόγῳ⸃ ἀγαθῷ.  (NA28)

“You guessed it!  The four verbs (two in participial form) above used to explicate the action of the same subject – God the Father and Christ – are all singular, not plural.  Where are all the blog posts and lectures from Trinitarians concerning these singular verbs that modify both God and His Son?  Why the deafening silence?  Not to worry, we will shout it from the proverbial mountaintops for them!”  

(Dalcour):  Perkins lack of awareness in Greek (or purposeful fraudulence) causes him to assume that that lone context-less singular verbs constitute doctrine.  However, the entire context and syntax must be considered—something Perkins does not do, as seen.

*Dalcour once again attacks my personal character.  I could just as easily charge him with the same in his innumerable blunders and outright misinformation.  However, I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that he is simply a poor-sloppy student of the Bible (as noted both above and below) opposed to charging him with “purposeful fraudulence.”

*Further, of course “the entire context,” syntax, and exegesis should be considered.  These are the very agents and sources of our denial of his multiple-divine-persons intrusion into the biblical data!  As anyone can see both above and below on this blog I highly emphasize biblical context and grammar—something Dalcour opposes all the while providing lip service to the same!  Mind-boggling. 

(Dalcour):  In the end, the only ones who will accept the assertions of Roger Perkins in his article are uncritical and disinserted Oneness believers.

*You can cool down your panic-mode rhetoric Mr. Dalcour.  You have no one other than yourself to blame.  And, we’re not quite sure what a “disinserted” Oneness believer is (?).  Again, as noted by Oneness academics, Dalcour’s poor writing style makes it rather difficult at times to understand his assertions – or to take him seriously.

*More importantly, numerous ex-Trinitarians and current Oneness believers have contacted me personally and thanked me for helping them understand the biblical identity of God as well as the gross errors of the Trinity doctrine (this was esp. true after the White debate).  In reality, it was critical-analytical examination that led them into a Scriptural view of Christ.  To Jesus Christ belongs all the praise, honor and glory!

(Dalcour):  Again, biblical scholarship is on the Trinitarian side, and thus in John 10:30—Jesus and the Father are distinct persons who are one in unity an essence. Oneness advocates like Perkins stand alone, for obvious reasons.  Note the some robust (a few of countless) scholarly opinions regarding John 10:30 militating again the Oneness position:

*Once again we will point out to Dalcour that Dr. Thayer was openly and decidedly against the Trinity doctrine.  Noted grammarian Adam Clark rightly rejected the anti-biblical notion of “co-eternal Sonship” (so Dr. Walter Martin).  Dr. Daniel Wallace stated in the link provided earlier that the Trinity doctrine came after the writings of the Apostle Paul.  James White stated that God exists as “three divine individuals, each with separate centers of consciousness apart from the other two divine individuals” (cf. White-Perkins debate).  Dr. A.T. Robertson argued for “separate” divine persons—a term Mr. Dalcour denies…and on and on we could go.  Not to mention how Dalcour once again commits the Argumentum Ad Populum fallacy above.

*Let’s see if Dalcour will accept these same “robust scholarly opinions” regarding the usage of εἷς at Galatians 3.28 (?).  Or, we wonder if Dalcour will apply what these “same robust scholars” affirm about the force of the masculine singular εἷς had it appeared in John 10.30 toward Mark 12.29; Galatians 3.20; James 2.19; etc.?  For some reason we’re thinking Dalcour will start his fancy footwork again at this point!

(Dalcour): New Testament scholar Murray Harris:  “This dual conception of ‘distinction of person-community of essence’ also comes to expression in John 10:30, egw kai oJ pathr eJn esmen, which refers to neither personal identity (which would require eJiV esmen) nor simply to agreement of will and purpose (since John 10:28b, 29b implies at least an equality of power).” (Harris, Jesus as God, 285, n. 38).

*Dr. Harris serves as yet another testimony to the natural force of the masculine singular adjective εἷς as sole “personal identity.”  We honestly do not understand why Dalcour cannot comprehend this—when he is posting the very resources that affirm our contention with this particular form of the adjective rendered “one” at Mark 12.29!?

*And, will Mr. Dalcour equally accept Dr. Harris in his exegesis of Colossians 1.15 (?) (Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament; Colossians and Philemon; p. 39):

Εἰκὼν (-όνος, ἡ, image) is nom. after the vb. εἰμί, and is anar. because a pred. noun after εἰμί sometimes lacks the article (cf. 2 Cor. 4:4).  It is definite (“the image,” “the visible image [NLT], “the visible representation” [Cassirer]) although anar.  An εἰκὼν is a “likeness” or a “visible expression.”  The degree of resemblance between the archetype and the copy must be determined by the word’s context but could range from a partial or superficial resemblance to a complete or essential likeness.  Given 1:9 and 2:9, εἰκὼν here signifies that Jesus is an exact, as well as a visible, representation of God…The invisible God, who dwells in unapproachable light (I Tim. 6:16), is visibly expressed in his Son (cf. John 1:18; 12:45; 14:9).

*While we readily acknowledge Dr. Harris as Trinitarian in his theological commitments, he is what is often referred to as an “honest Trinitarian” (I have read much of his work).  I ask the honest reader, does careful language such as “visible expression,” “representation,” and “copy” naturally communicate the eternal-heavenly realm—or is such grammar innately descriptive of the Incarnation?  I will simply allow the integrity of your conscience be the guide!   

(Dalcour):  Marvin Vincent:  “The neuter, not the masculine εἶς, one person.  It implies unity of essence, not merely of will or of power.”  (Vincent, Word Studies in the NT, vol. 2)

*Precisely our point at Mark 12.29, Galatians 3.20, James 2.19, etc. ad nauseum.  Jesus did not employ the neuter singular adjective ἕν in explicating the “most important commandment,” but rather the masculine singular adjective εἷς—which Vincent informs us here would mean “one person.”  How many times do we have to repeat this for Dalcour?  

(Dalcour):  Robertson (as cited):  “By the plural sumus [“are”] (separate persons) Sabellius [Oneness] is refuted, by unum [‘one in essence’] Arius” (Word Pictures, 5:186).

*But Dalcour denies “separate” divine persons in the Godhead.  Wasn’t he just accusing me of alleged “source abuse” above (although the boomerang effect of Dalcour’s charge is painful to watch!)?

(Dalcour):  Jamieson-Fausset-Brown:  “‘Are’ is in the masculine gender—‘we (two persons) are’; while ‘one’ is neuter—‘one thing.’  Perhaps ‘one interest’ expresses, as nearly as may be, the purport of the saying. . . . Thus it will be seen, that, though oneness of essence is not the precise thing here affirmed, that truth is the basis of what is affirmed, without which it would not be true.  And Augustine was right in saying the ‘We are’ condemns the Sabellians (who denied the distinction of Persons in the Godhead), while the ‘one’ (as explained) condemns the Arians (who denied the unity of their essence)’”  (JFB, Commentary, Volume 3: Matthew to Ephesians).

*God is not a “thing.”  He is a personal-invisible Spirit that became a visible Man to save “whosoever will.”  Moreover, note above that JFB claims that the verb translated “are” appears in “the masculine gender” – which is absolutely false!  This Greek word (ἐσμεν) is a present tense, active voice, indicative mood, 1st person plural verb – that does not even have gender!  Again, if Dalcour were a more careful student of God’s Word he would have caught yet another blunder in his selected resources.   

*However, here is Dalcour’s same “robust” resource at Galatians 3.28:

One—Greek, “one man”; masculine, not neuter, namely “one new man” in Christ (Eph. 2:15).

*As noted, Dalcour treats his resources like a NYC cab ride—hop in where you want, but hop out when you don’t like where it takes you!  

(Dalcour):  David J. Ellis:  “The neuter gender rules out any thought of meaning ‘one Person.’  This is not a comment on the nature of the Godhead.  Rather, having spoken of the sheep’s security in both Himself and the Father, Jesus underlines what He has said by indicating that in action the Father and He can be regarded as a single entity, because their wills are one” (Ellis, “John,” in The International Bible Commentary, with the New International Version, ed. F. F. Bruce, 1249).

*At this point we are beating a dead horse, but, just for grins and giggles we will point out yet another of Dalcour’s resources openly affirming that when the masculine singular is used to explicate God “one person” is in view.  I think it is well justified at this point to state that Dalcour’s arguments have succinctly backfired on him—all the while he has provided the ammunition for those he deems as the enemy (i.e., biblical Christians-Monotheists)!  With this type of assistance from Dalcour we don’t even have to use our own ammo.!   

(Dalcour):  It is not surprising that Oneness-unitarians like Roger Perkins who after reading the plainness of so many biblical texts and examining scholarly and lexical sources makes so many errors in hermeneutics (as shown above and shown in debate) and his misuse of scholarly sources esp. lexical abuse.

*While I am not interested in engaging in a game of sophomoric one-upmanship we have both repeatedly and honestly demonstrated these exact words concerning Dalcour.  Sincerely, I wouldn’t change a word of Dalcour’s fallacious charge above regarding himself.

*Further, the fact that there are no “plain biblical texts” affirming the doctrine of the Trinity—yet many to the contrary—is the very thing that forced me to walk away from Trinitarian churches.  I simply take eternity very seriously and have to be completely honest with the “plain biblical texts” that clearly militate against Dalcour’s Triune divinity (e.g., Deuteronomy 6.4-8; Isaiah Chpp. 42-44; Mark 12.28-29; John 1.1-18, John 14.8-18; Colossians 2.8-10; etc. ad nausuem).    

(Dalcour):  So, what we have here is yet another Oneness advocate who is so controlled by unitarianism that he will sacrifice simply and verifiable truth for the sake of his tradition.  Yes, it is a spiritual issue; Christians must keep praying that God will deliver Oneness Pentecostals from the bondage of the Oneness theology, which denies both the Father and the Son.

*Actually, what we have here is someone controlled by the biblical data itself in exchange for Dalcour’s unbiblical religious tradition(s) and factually-demonstrably erroneous “truth” claims.  And, biblical Christians are indeed praying for the deliverance of Trinitarians like Dalcour in his obstinate and willful blindness.

*We have finally concluded an agreement point:  This is indeed a both spiritual and eternal issue, which is precisely the reason we will continue to reach for the Trinitarian community toward biblical salvation and monotheism.  Indeed, great revival is happening in many countries among Trinitarian pastors who are rightfully aborting their man-made creeds and traditions for biblical salvation and monotheism.  To Christ be all the glory!

(Dalcour):  I seriously hope that Oneness believers reading this will visit our website (www.christiandefense.org) or email me personally (edward@christiandefense.org) regarding questions, concerns, or prayer.

*This is nothing more than Dalcour’s usual lip service.  His typically pompous attitude and demeanor (a natural outflow of his “Calvinism”) betrays the polar opposite.  We truly pray for Trinitarians whose hearts are not governed by the councils and religious traditions of men.  Indeed, we have wept many heartfelt tears in private for Trinitarians—and will reach for them with a burdened heart for as long as God decrees our existence on His earth.  Please feel free to contact me personally via the “comments” section of this blog.  God bless and thank you for reading!

*Pastor Roger Perkins

*Below we continue with our categorical rebuttals to the charges of Edward Dalcour (HERE) against Oneness believers.  I have copied Dalcour’s assertions in *bold black underneath with my immediate responses in *blue as here.  Enjoy! 

(Dalcour):  eJiV  (“one”):  Now onto Perkins attempt to go against all mainline scholarship regarding the neuter adjective eJiV (“one”):

(Dalcour quoting my original rejoinder [cf. below]):  Though this has been pointed out to Trinitarians ad nauseum, the masculine singular (3-3) adjective heis, translated “one” (εἷς), is indeed applied to God from the very lips of Jesus in Mark 12.29 as “the most important commandment.”  If, as Dalcour asserts here, the masculine singular heis demands a single person (and it certainly does) the entire Trinitarian position is collapsed according to Christ Himself!  That is, Jesus’ view of the Godhead was most definitely not that of a “Triune divinity”—and His view of both God and Scripture should equally be our view.

(Dalcour):  First, he again, as with all unitarians, assumes unitarianism into Mark 12:29 (one God = one person).  As much as Oneness advocates would like this point to be true, nowhere does Scripture indicate one God = one person.  A redundant vibrato of citing passages that indicate “one God” is meaningless when “one” is left undefined as Perkins does—he merely assumes “one” means one numerically and one in solitary.

*Unbeknownst to Dalcour, in his last sentence above he openly suggests that he does not worship one God in the “numerical” or “solitary” sense (which, of course, we already knew).  Further, we should expect Dalcour to provide the same and biblically define or identify the adjective translated “one” in John 10.30!  Yet, to be expected, he does not—and cannot—do so.

*Moreover, we have, in the clearest way possible, pointed out to Dalcour that God’s usage of single-person-pronouns (ca. 9,000 of them) to identify Himself is not an “assumption” if the natural rules of grammar are to be left intact.  It never ceases to amaze me how Trinitarians can attempt to force-feed “three co-eternal, co-equal, divine persons—each with their own independent mind(s)” into a single-person-pronoun – then charge someone else with supposed “assumption?”  This is akin to Hillary Clinton disparagingly labeling someone else a “liberal!”

*As it relates to Mark 12.28-29 let’s take a closer look at the surrounding “context” that Dalcour complains about (and misapplies) in John 10 – even though he rejects the original audience’s understanding who actually-initially heard these words:

28  And one of the scribes having come up, having heard them reasoning together, having seen that He answered them well, questioned Him, “Which commandment is the first of all?”

29  Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear this O Israel: The Lord our God is One Lord,  30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength  31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is not another commandment greater than these.”

32  And the scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher.  You have spoken according to truth that He is One, and there is not another besides Him,  33 and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love the neighbor as oneself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”  (Berean Literal Bible; Mark 12.28-33).

*Note above the consistent usage of the single-person-pronoun in this dialogue—clearly demanding one-single-person.  In the conversation recorded above Dalcour would have us believe that the single-person-pronouns employed denote one person when describing Christ and the scribe.  Yet when the same single-person-pronoun is applied toward God, the meaning subtly shifts to “three divine persons”—and the reader is expected to understand this faint pronoun amendment in midstream to maintain supposed “orthodoxy.”  Pardon my frankness here, but this is just patently absurd.

*Worse, once again the original hearer understood Jesus’ assertion to demand one person as evidenced in his response:

“Right, Teacher.  You have spoken according to truth that He is One, and there is not another besides Him, and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love the neighbor as oneself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

*Being a typical Trinitarian, Dalcour offers radically different conclusions some 2,000 years later than the original audience did—just as he does at John 10.30-33.  But, anything to protect those infallible “orthodox” councils of men under the guise of sola and tota-scriptura!  Incidentally, we should note how Dalcour repeatedly juxtaposes the terms “historical” and (supposedly) “biblical” in his effort to defend the indefensible Trinity doctrine.  Of course, this once again exposes his propensity toward supplemental-foreign intrusions into the scriptural data itself (so all non-Christian groups).           

(Dalcour):  Although in both the OT and NT “one” can mean composite/compound unity, one group, people, one union between husband and wife, one section or many, etc.  Further, at least nine words in Hebrew can mean “one” (Morey)—and Perkins knows this.  An undefined “one” rather proves the Trinitarian positon, since the foundation of the Trinity is monotheism (one God), and the foundation of Oneness is one person.  So in spite of Perkins’ overly complaining, Mark 12:29 does not show what Perkins wants it to show—Jesus was not a unitarian.  

 *We would love to know how on earth an “undefined one proves the Trinitarian position?”  Dalcour is drunk on his Trinitarian froth and delusion at this point and just makes things up as he goes along (so John Calvin, Joseph Smith, Charles Russell, etc.).  An “undefined one” will never “prove Trinitarianism” despite how hard Dalcour attempts to injure the scriptural data with his religious traditions in his rejection of biblical Monotheism.  (Note:  To imply, as Dalcour does above, that Christ was a supposed “Trinitarian” has the same merit as the existence of the planet Kolob!  Such an assertion is simply laughable.)  

(Dalcour):  Second, Perkins goes on to say,  

“Although lexical quotes abound to this end, ironically, Dalcour’s quotation from Robertson above is one of the most conclusive citations from Greek linguists (cf. Zodhiates, Vincent, Thayer, BDAG, Wuest, et al.).”

(Dalcour):  Please note:  Not ONE of these sources applies a unipersonal (viz. that God is one person) meaning to eiJV at Mark. 12:29 (Deut. 6:4, LXX), not one.  Hence, Perkins references (“Zodhiates, Vincent, Thayer, BDAG, Wuest, et al.”) is his rickety attempt to sustain a unipersonal meaning of eiJV at Mark 12:29—but again, scholarship (esp. the ones he references) is decidedly against a unipersonal meaning of Mark 12:29 (or any other passage).

*First, as has been pointed out to Dalcour ad nauseum, Dr. Thayer was not “decidedly against” the biblical proclamation that God exists as one person—he was decidedly in favor of it!  Here Dalcour lives up to his usual slapstick “scholastics” in yet another erroneous claim and misassertion.

*Second, Dalcour repeatedly appeals to the Jewish Targums in his desperation to locate the Son of God in the OT—yet we would love for Dalcour to demonstrate where this same Jewish resource arrived at his Triune divinity doctrine:___________?  Or, where even “one” of Dalcour’s oft-quoted Jewish sources arrived at his three-personed-deity interpolation (?).  “Source abuse” indeed!

*Incidentally, regarding Dalcour’s repeated usage of the Targums, as Dr. Bruce Metzger once observed:  All translations of the Bible are necessarily interpretive to some extent, but the Targums differ in that they are interpretive as a matter of policy, and often to an extent that far exceeds the bounds of translation or even paraphrase (Cf. Bruce M. Metzger’s article, “Important Early Translations of the Bible,” Bibliotheca Sacra 150 [Jan 93], pp. 35ff).

*Further, Dalcour is fond of appealing to the NT epistles addressed to churches that had been water/Spirit baptized in Jesus’ name and spoke in tongues (e.g., Ephesians, Romans)—all of which Dalcour rejects!  That is, the NT letters to the churches were specifically directed toward born-again believers via John 3.3-8/Acts 2.37-38 salvation.  Thus Dalcour is guilty of spiritual invasion of privacy since he is opening letters addressed to someone who had already enjoyed the very salvific experience that he wars against!  Ironically, Dalcour attempts to chide Oneness believers for their supposed poor resources—and yet he doesn’t even blush!?  Like Haman, Dalcour once again hangs himself with his own fabricated rope.       

(Dalocur):  Perkins says, “when heis is used “one person” is in view . . . lexical quotes abound to this end.”  (Dalcour):  And then Perkins tell us: “Indeed, heis is used c. 100x in the NT alone and in no instance does it denote more than one-single-person. . . . the masculine singular heis demands one-single-person.”  

(Dalcour):  This assertion again reveals the stock of knowledge Perkins has in Greek.  Although he has been consistently refuted on this point, Perkins still presses it.  One wonders if he does this purposefully hoping no one will verify this.

*Yet below Dalcour informs us that this specific form of the adjective used by Christ does indeed “most of the time” mean “one person” (although he goes on to deny this force when applied to God [a farcical claim]).  For someone who consistently bumbles in the Greek text Dalcour needs to sweep around his own porch before (mistakenly) dusting off his broom to tend to mine.  Perkins presses this grammatical point because it rightfully repudiates Dalcour’s false doctrine(s).  Further, we would like to see even one “refutation” of the biblical force of this masculine singular adjective translated “one” in Mark 12.29 (what Dalcour erroneously and consistently identifies as a “pronoun” above):________?

*In point of fact, contra his claim above, not a single meaningful refutation has been offered from Trinitarians concerning the force of the masculine singular adjective εἷς.  As we shall soon see, Dalcour’s wobbly attempts to negate the “most” natural reading of the adjective below fails exegetically as well.  We will continue to await Dalcour’s evidence of these “consistent refutations.”  To borrow from his own (usual) ad-hominem attack above, perhaps Dalcour “does this purposefully hoping no one will verify this!”  Simply put – take your own medicine Mr. Dalcour!

(Dalcour):  The masculine eiJV is similar to the English “one.”  Here we have again, Perkins assume unitarianism into the term.  “One” what?  Yes, most of the time, “one person,”—when man is in view.  However, not “every time” as Perkins would like it to mean.  The fact is, if there is even one place where eiJV is used to signify more than one person, Perkins entire premise implodes.  This is true with the multitude of plural verbs, nouns, adjectives, and prepositions applied to the “one” God, which is a thorn in the flesh to Oneness advocates—showing again that Oneness unitarianism is not consistent with biblical view of God.  For example, note Gal. 3:28:

*Here Dalcour’s feet dangle at the bottom of his own noose.  He openly concedes above that the “most” normal usage of the 3-3 masculine singular adjective demands “one person.”  However, he then desperately flails to wiggle out of it by shifting the natural usage of this adjective when it’s applied to God.  Of course, he offers absolutely no textual support for this claim—but we will be sure to check 3 Timothy for Dalcour’s textual evidence!

*We are curious why Dalcour has no problem borrowing from what he thinks is the most normative application of prepositional constructs – “when man is in view” – for pros + accusative case (e.g., John 1.1) and para + dative case (e.g., John 17.5) toward God?  Dalcour then concedes that when applied to human beings this adjective does indeed mean “one person,” yet rejects the “most” natural force of this particular adjective when applied to God!  Why doesn’t he apply the same methodology to the prepositional law(s) at John 1.1, 17.5?  Why the subtle shift in grammatical praxis?  Simple – theological prejudice under the banner of “exegesis” to the untrained and unsuspecting eye.  This adjective places Dalcour’s Triune divinity canard in its coffin where it belongs and he simply cannot have that!

*Moreover, Dalcour’s shoddy hermeneutics is once again placed on open display in his assertion that if “even one place” carries a different meaning of the adjective translated “one” (εἷς) at Mark 12.29 this then blankets an “entire premise.”  Does this self-fabricated technique equally apply to the sole witness of Matthew 28.19, the 9,000 single-person-pronouns applied to Yahveh, the prepositional constructs referenced above, etc.?  That is, if “even one place” in the biblical data negates Dalcour’s understanding of these texts will he now walk away from his “entire premise” according to his methodology above?  For some reason we are thinking not!

*I could just as easily claim that if there is “even one place” where εἷς means “one person” then Dalcour’s entire premise at Galatians 3.28 implodes.  Though this has been pointed out to Dalcour before, in Romans 12.5 Paul switches from the neuter singular ἓν when addressing “many” to the masculine singular εἷς when addressing “individuals” (HERE).  Paul does the same thing at Galatians 3.20, et al.  It’s no use for Dalcour to complain, “But this makes the point about the neuter singular ἓν!” – since he has already informed us that we cannot apply normal grammatical rules for men to God (well, until he comes to prepositions and prepositional phrases)!  Keep in mind that this is the same Paul who was careful to employ this same masculine singular adjective to identify God’s numerical existence (e.g., Galatians 3.20; I Timothy 2.5).

*Opposite Dalcour, clearly Paul understood the grammatical distinction between the neuter singular ἕν and the masculine singular εἷς—as demonstrated by his switch in Romans 12.5, Galatians 3.20, I Corinthians 14.27d, etc.  Moreover, God Himself applies the masculine singular εἷς to His numerical identity and orders that this be the “most important commandment.”  Down goes Dalcour’s co-eternal, co-equal, Triune divinity!    

(Dalcour):  “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female;  for you are all one [eiJV] in Christ Jesus.”

*Yet I thought Dalcour just objected to applying the most natural grammatical rules for human beings toward God?  Why does he now (mis)apply this method at Galatians 3.28 – but then abort his criteria with this same adjective at Mark 12.29?  That is, Dalcour applies this adjective to God as used for separate human beings in Galatians 3.28 in his effort to erase the same adjectives meaning as applied to God in Mark 12.29, Galatians 3.20, James 2.19, etc. ad nauseum.  Quite revealing!

*Further, if Dalcour would do his homework he would recognize that some MSS actually read the neuter singular ἕν—not εἷς:

(A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament; 2^nd ed., Bruce Metzger):  A number of other readings arose through the inadvertence of scribes.  Instead of εἷς, several witnesses read the neuter ἕν, perhaps with some allusion to ἕν σῶμα in 1 Cor 12:12.  Two manuscripts read ἔστε Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ (P; compare), “you belong to Christ Jesus,” which may be an assimilation to 3:29.

*The critical apparatus to NA28 lists this adjectival phrase as: ⸂ἕν εστε εν Χριστω⸃ F G 33.  Hence, this slight—yet noteworthy—variant is lost on Dalcour due to his sloppy scholarship.  The New International Greek Testament observes:

Although Paul does not use “body” language in Galatians, his present statement is practically equivalent to ἓν σῶμά ἐσμεν ἐν Χριστῷ (Rom. 12:5), ἓν σῶμα οἱ πολλοί ἐσμεν (1 Cor. 10:17).  Here, however, there is special emphasis on Jews and Gentiles (not to speak of free persons and slaves, males and females) being one in Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 2:15).

(Zondervan’s Exegetical Commentary; Galatians 3.28 translation footnote; Drs. Thomas Schreiner and Clinton Arnold):  Some texts read “one” (ἕν) “perhaps with some allusion” to 1 Cor 12:12 (Metzger, Textual Commentary, 526).

(UBS Handbooks for New Testament [for translators]; Galatians 3.28):  you are all just like one person in being joined closely to Christ Jesus, ” or “…you are all the same in being closely tied to Christ Jesus.”

*Similarly, in his effort to reject the name of Jesus Christ in the water baptismal formula as demonstrated in Acts (e.g., 2.38, 8.16, 10.48, 19.5, 22.16), Dalcour plays theological leap frog by jumping back to David’s assertion to Goliath that he came “in the name of the LORD” (I Samuel 17.45).  In his on-line presentations Dalcour derides the most natural reading(s) of the Acts baptismal accounts by claiming that since David used this prepositional phrase (“in the name of”) to Goliath—and David’s name was not Yahveh—this somehow enables him to spin away from the plain biblical texts in Acts (?).  Of course, such an abnormal interpretive approach demonstrates how far Dalcour is willing to torture the plain biblical data to maintain his far-fetched and unusual explanations of the clear baptismal accounts in Acts.

*As we have come to expect from Dalcour, he is quite selective in what he utilizes for humans and what he disallows in his grammatical applications to God—just so long as his unbiblical Trinity is protected!  This again betrays Dalcour’s theological agenda under the guise of “exegesis,” and he does this on virtually every page of his book.  Since Dalcour is constantly requesting the conclusion of “even one” grammarian regarding biblical passages, perhaps he will now accept Dr. Thayer’s exegesis at Galatians 3.28 (?):

and where it takes the place of a predicate, Galatians 3:20 (cf. Winer’s Grammar, 593 (551)), Galatians 3:28 (ye that adhere to Christ make one person, just as the Lord himself).  

*Or, how about Meyer’s Commentary:

Proof from the relation cancelling these distinctions, which is now constituted: For ye all are one, ye form a single moral person.

*Still not enough?  How about Elliccot’s Commentary for English Readers in this verse:

One.—The word “one” is masculine—“one man,” “a single person”—as explained in the paraphrase above.

*Need yet another Greek expositor Mr. Dalcour?  Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges:

[ye are all one] ‘ye’ is emphatic, pointing to those who are ‘sons of God,’ Galatians 3:26.  ‘One person,’ or ‘one man’.

*Wait, don’t hang up Mr. Dalcour – here is yet another one!  Vincent’s Word Studies:

Ye are all one:  One moral personality.  The individual differences are merged in the higher unity into which all are raised by their common life in Christ.  This is the one new man, Ephesians 2:15.

*And they just keep coming!  Wayne Walden HERE:

Another gender observation in our verse is that the “one” is masculine, that is, “one person” (NEB, REB, Cassirer, New World).  Taking the words contextually, again, instead of literally, individuals in the list have all done the same thing, and God views the matter as though it is the same person, without additional prerequisites, who has come into Christ and is clothed with Christ (v. 27) and who, consequently, belongs to Christ, is Abraham’s progeny, and therefore an heir to the promise to Abraham (v. 29).

*Based on the contextual emphasis inherent in the verb ἔνι and the gender of the adjectives in the verse, Walden proposes the translation:  Whether one is Jew or Greek is irrelevant to the matter.  Whether one is servant or free is irrelevant to the matter.  The subject of “maleness and femaleness” is irrelevant to the matter because, with Christ Jesus, all of you are one and the same person.

*Again, I’m thinking Dalcour will deny the “scholarship” that he repeatedly calls for from these grammarians above.  However, since his eternal soul is at stake – let me try another resource with this verse that Dalcour himself employs below:

One—Greek, “one man;” masculine, not neuter, namely “one new man” in Christ (Eph 2:15)—Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary.

(Dalcour):  Of course, Christians naturally and rightfully cite this passage to show the unity of believers in Christ—because it plainly states this, as with biblical scholarship.  The fact is, Perkins will put a doctrinal spin on any verse if it disagrees with what he believes.

*Trinitarians might cite Galatians 3.28 to dodge the “most” (Dalcour’s own term) natural reading and meaning of the adjective translated “one” in Mark 12.29—but biblical Christians allow the inspired grammar to stand on its own force.  And, in all sincerity I could not word it any better than he has done immediately above to describe Dalcour’s “hermeneutical” methodology!  I would just advise him to once again take his own medicine!

(Dalcour):  Note Perkins comments:    “Galatians 3.28 will not do at this point (as Trinitarians typically use to evade the force of heis) since the entire point of Paul’s discourse in these texts is that biblical Christians are ‘one person in Christ Jesus’ (cf. NEB, ASV, ERV).”  

(Dalcour):  “The force of heis”?  What does that mean?

*While I’m not surprised that Dalcour does not follow common exegetical lingo, I’m not sure how else to explain such uncomplicated jargon (as a simple on-line search will quickly reveal).  This is standard and ordinary usage in grammatical-exegetical papers.

(Dalcour):  First, Perkins misleads he readers here.  For both the ASV (“for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus”) and the ERV (“You are all the same in Christ Jesus”), none say “one person.”  As said, Perkins has a reputation for misquoting and botching sources.  He selects translations that he can put a spin on, as he did with the older ed. of the AMP of Gal. 3:20.  The fact is, the translators of the ASV (note, Philip Schaff had chosen the scholars for the project) and the ERV (produced by the WBTC), NEB, and the AMP were translated by Trinitarian scholars, who naturally saw the Oneness view as a perversion of Scripture.    

*Here Dalcour again exposes his theological bias contrary to his repeated claims of supposed “grammar” and “exegesis.”  Sorry Mr. Dalcour, we were under the impression that theology was not to interfere with direct translation!  In fact, the Greek professors I’ve taken classes from rarely even mention theology, but rather focus on the actual inspired grammar itself.  And, not to beat a dead horse at this point, but as we have demonstrated above it is Dalcour who is often all-thumbs with his resources—and I have many more of his bungled quotes!

*Regarding the older publication of The Amplified Bible (we note the theological alterations made to the newer ed.) at Galatians 3.20, no “spin” is necessary since the text plainly speaks for itself:

²⁰ Now a go-between (intermediary) has to do with and implies more than one party [there can be no mediator with just one person].  Yet God is [only] one Person [and He was the sole party in giving that promise to Abraham.  But the Law was a contract between two, God and Israel; its validity was dependent on both].

*If Dalcour had a single translation, quote, Bible verse, fragment or sliver that stated that “God is three persons” he would be grinning like a toothless possum and parading it all over the web.  It wouldn’t matter if it were found inside a Bigfoot mask—Dalcour would be frothing at the mouth over such a quote!  Not to worry though, such a Bible quote simply does not exist to Dalcour’s aggravation.

*Apparently Dalcour should revisit his monstrosity of a “campus” at Columbia Evangelical Seminary to learn what an antithesis is in connection with Galatians 3.20.  Paul is stating in the clearest way that although a mediator demands more than one person (literally, “not of one”), but (δὲ), literally, “the God is” the inverse of the role of a mediator—viz., one person (HERE).  Hence, Paul’s original audience would have already read v. 20 prior to reading v. 28—which, again, emphatically declares that God is “one person” much to Dalcour’s embarrassment.  

*Further, Dalcour once again bumbles his own resource above.  Just as I stated in my original refutation to his eisegesis of John 10.30, the ASV affirms that Galatians 3.28 teaches that believers are a sole person as located “in Christ” (ἐν [+ dat.] Χριστῷ).  Indeed, this is the very emphasis Paul is making by using the masculine singular contra the neuter—and only furthers our point:  “for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus.”  How many “persons” does Dalcour suppose language such as “one man” naturally communicates?  Three, or one?  And Dalcour is charging me with placing a “spin” on resources (shall we discuss how Dalcour attempts to weave three-divine-persons into passages such as Isaiah 44.24, etc. ad nauseum?)?

*Moreover, just for kicks, let’s take a look at more of Dalcour’s clumsiness with the Greek text shall we?  In the link immediately below at the 3:45 minute mark while discussing the supposed syntax of John 6.38 Dalcour claims that an aorist tense verb precedes a perfect tense verb—which is patently false!  In point of fact, the polar opposite is true – the perfect tense verb καταβέβηκα (“I have come down”) appears anterior to the aorist tense πέμψαντός (“having sent”).

*Next, Dalcour erroneously claims that the Greek prepositional phrase παρὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ appears in John 6.38 at the 4:10 minute mark.  Problem is, no such prepositional phrase appears in this verse at all!  The prepositional phrase actually employed by Christ in this verse is ἀπὸ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ.  Dalcour then mistranslates the singular noun for “heaven” as the plural “heavens” – which, again, does not appear in this verse.

*At the 4:48 minute mark Dalcour claims, “Jesus said my will is distinct from the Father.”  Of course, Jesus never “said” any such thing.  Apparently Dalcour thinks he can just make up his own Bible (see HERE for all of these recent flubbed assertions from Dalcour regarding John 6.38)!

(Dalcour):  That Perkins will rest his interpretation of Gal. 3:28 on a few obscure translations in the face of virtually every other biblical translation is a flimsy argument esp. in the context of Christians being “one in unity” in Cristw.  Again, the translators to which Perkins appeals were Trinitarian.  Also, contrasting the masculine eiJV and the neuter eJn in John 10:30, noted Greek grammarian A. T. Robertson points out:  “Not one person (cf. ei in Galatians 3:28), but one essence or nature” (Word Pictures).

*First, note that Robertson translated εἷς in Galatians 3.28 as “one person.”  How this is lost on Dalcour is mind-boggling since he argues opposite overhead.  Second, I think we have provided far more than a “few obscure translations” above—esp. since Dalcour repeatedly appeals to these same grammarians!  And, again, theology has no place in the actual translation of manuscripts (as Dalcour continuously infers) and this only reveals his typical scholastic hypocrisy.  Moreover, we have repeatedly demonstrated above how Dalcour’s quote from Robertson backfires on him at Galatians 3.20, James 2.19, Mark 12.29, etc.  

(Dalcour):  Perkins’ strange interpretation that “biblical Christians are one person” is, of course, restless eisegesis.  Perkins main howlers here is that critical biblical exegesis is NOT derived from looking at translations trying to find which one matches a view, but rather proper exegesis.  

*First, Dalcour constantly employs the very same grammatical resources I have appealed to above – all of whom state that Galatians 3.28 denotes “one person in Christ.”  In fact, assuming that the masculine singular εἷς is original (cf. the slight variant cited above), as exegetes overhead point out, this is the very basis for their rendering “one man/person.”  Dalcour simply has his trifocals on at this point and actually rejects what he above labels as “proper exegesis.”

*Further, “proper exegesis” does not (i) repeatedly misidentify Greek adjectives as “pronouns,” (ii) misquote Christ’s usage of the preposition εἰς at Matthew 28.19 (claiming an entirely diff. prepositional usage than what was used), (iii) misunderstand lexical quotes (cf. Dalcour’s charges regarding Thayer above), (iv) omit the semantic range of Greek prepositions from his audience’s consideration, (v) fail to consult the “critical” apparatus in Greek texts (e.g., NA28; UBS-5), (vi) repeatedly flub the syntax of Greek clauses as seen above, etc. ad nauseum.  Simply, Dalcour is certainly in no position to be correcting others regarding “proper exegesis” (more aptly dubbed “exit-Jesus” as it relates to Dalcour’s mishandling of the text!).

*Finally, we are not quite sure what a “main howler” is as Dalcour charges above, but perhaps if Dalcour would clear the red from his eyes and slow down he might make more sense…all the while charging Oneness believers with sloppy scholarship (?)!  Typical Dalcour.

(Dalcour):  The Greek phrase, panteV gar uJmeiV eiJV este en Cristw Ihsou, literally, “All indeed you one are in Christ Jesus.”  The Greek completely erases Perkins odd interpretation and affirms clearly, “one in unity,” not in one man.  As mention, this one passage, which denotes a clear one in unity meaning, turns Perkins eiJV view upside down.        

*Coming from someone who constantly fumbles the ball with the Greek text—and who militates against a myriad of grammarians above—I think we’ll play it safe and reject Dalcour’s agenda-driven theology here also!  The grammatical-contextual facts are that Dalcour is flat wrong in his assertion here as established overhead.  In fact, the very reason Paul used the masculine singular (3-3) adjective in this text was to negate Dalcour’s separation eisegesis (as noted by Greek scholars above).  Simply, grammarians say the polar opposite of Dalcour concerning the (variant) tag of the adjective used in this text.  This is nothing more than Dalcour’s typical evasion tactics in the name of supposed exegesis.  

(Dalcour):  Note that Paul’s salutations grammatically denote two distinct persons (cf. Sharp Rule 5).  Grammatically (as circumstantiated by grammarians [Sharp, Greenly, Wallace et al] when there are multiple personal nouns in a clause that are connected by kai and the first noun lacks the article, each noun must denote a distinct person, as shown in all of the Pauline salutations:  cariV uJmin kai eirhnh apo qeou patroV hJmwn kai kuriou Ihsou Cristou, literally, “Grace to you and peace from God Father of us and Lord Jesus Christ” – no articles preceding both personal nouns (patroV and Cristou)—thus, this indicates distinct persons.

*But I thought Dalcour sought to defend his Triune divinity hypothesis here—why no mention of the Holy Spirit in these Pauline salutations?  Dalcour need not complain about “arguing from silence” since he practices this methodological hermeneutic quite frequently (as seen below).  And, problematic for Dalcour, these verses do not say God the Father and “God the Son” as he repeatedly parrots.  

*Most significantly, note Paul’s specific usage of the noun translated Christ (Χριστοῦ) in these salutations—a functional term contra an ontological expression as Dalcour erroneously claims.  As certified above, this noun (Χριστοῦ) defines as “one who has been anointed” (cf. NET TN).  Would Dalcour pray tell us how one supposed ontologically co-equal divine person could “anoint” another ontologically co-equal divine person in eternity past?  Frankly, such a construct is utterly convoluted and completely foreign to the biblical data.

*In summary, Dalcour’s earth-shattering Pauline salutations prove nothing more than the duality of God both within and without the Incarnation.  Simply, the one God of the biblical data simultaneously existent (i) transcendent (God-Father) and (ii) descendant as a genuine man for the redemption of mankind (Lord-Christ).  This is precisely the biblical-Oneness message relative to God’s identity and is our very point.

*Concerning Dalcour’s reference above to Granville Sharp’s (GS) Rule V, here is the actual rule itself:

And as also when there is no article before the first noun, the insertion of the copulative kai before the next noun, or name, of the same case, denotes a different person or thing from the first.

*Note above that GS Rule V does not employ Dalcour’s subtle entry of “distinct”—but rather “different.”  There is a vast disparity between something that is designated as “different” (so Sharp) and what is identified as “distinct” (so Dalcour’s intrusion into the rule).  Distinct explicates what shares common-recognizable qualities, while “different” – as Sharp used – describes something unlike or vastly otherness.  Hence, Dalcour need not appeal to Sharp’s Rule above since it actually opposes his Trinity dogma in its wording!  However, using Dalcour’s hermeneutical standard above, viz., if “in even one place” this rule is invalidated his “entire premise” then implodes, let’s test this “rule” below shall we?

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.  (Acts 2.36; ESV)

*In the Greek phrase translated “both Lord and Christ” above (καὶ κύριον αὐτὸν καὶ χριστὸν), both personal nouns (Lord and Christ) lack the article, are connected by καὶ, and are of the same case—which Dalcour informs us “must denote a distinct person.”  Thus since he appeals to GS V above, Dalcour has just made “different persons” within Jesus since the rule itself says absolutely nothing about “distinct” persons (note:  there are many other places in the Greek NT demonstrating that this rule is quite suspect and an ex post facto invention, but this one suffices for now).  If he keeps multiplying his divinities like this we can expect to see “Elder Dalcour” at the LDS general conference with his Mormon brethren in Salt Lake next year!

*Note also that Peter, at the inaugural date of the church, declares that the titles Lord and Christ refer to the one who was “crucified” and was “made” (aorist tense ἐποίησεν) both Lord and Christ.  If these nouns “must denote” distinct divine persons as Dalcour asserts above, we would be quite interested to know how divinity can be “made” Lord in eternity past by another divinity?  Wouldn’t this being already be “Lord” from eternity according to Deuteronomy 6.4?  Clearly such plain-inspired language stands in opposition to the fanciful notion of a Triune divinity.

*Significantly, this reveals both the paradigm and template of subsequent NT writers when they utilize the same Greek nouns.  Or, would Dalcour have us believe that Peter introduced one denotation of these titles and later NT writers offered a radically different understanding than originally designated and presented at Pentecost?  That is, did Peter introduce and identify these titles with the Crucifixion – then following NT writers make a U-turn with these same terms back into the eternal “preexistent” domain?  Sorry Mr. Dalcour—we aren’t looking for a theological traffic ticket for illegitimate U-turns.  We cannot afford to pay the eternal price!

(Dalcour):  Along with Gal. 3:28, Perkins Oneness unitarian view of eiJV is esp. refuted by 1 Cor. 8:6:

*Actually, as exegetically demonstrated above, Galatians 3.28 “refutes” nothing – other than Dalcour’s theological dodge-ball tactics.

(Dalcour):  “yet for us there is but one [eiJV] God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one [eiJV] Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”

(Dalcour):  Remember, Perkins argument is “when heis is used “one person” is in view.”  But wait. Perkins trips here (as with Gal. 3:28) on his own so-called linguistic rule.  If eiJV means, in every case, one sole person, as Perkins asserts, it would follow then that the Father is one sole person and the Lord is one (another) sole person since the double usage of eiJV precedes both nouns, that is, both sole persons, which is consistent with Trinitarianism, not Oneness.

*But wait, Dalcour trips here on his own dodge above!  If the masculine singular adjective translated “one” does not demand one person—then why is Dalcour using it at I Corinthians 8.6?  He has just (mis)informed us that the adjective does not necessitate a sole person, hence, we could just as easily reject the same in his earth-shattering verse here.  But since we seek to practice balanced scales in all things exegetical – opposite merely a negative argumentation – let’s analyze this verse more closely.

*Note that Paul cites the Father as “God” and then specifies the “Christ,” which, again, defines as “one who has been anointed” (cf. NET TN)—which Dalcour informs us is explicating the pre-existent-eternal age.  As pointed out above, we would be quite intrigued to know how one co-equal God-person could “anoint” another ontologically co-equal God-person?  Wouldn’t He already be inherently “anointed” as God-proper?  What the verse does not say is God the Father and God the Son—and completely omits the Holy Spirit!  This is far from being “consistent with Trinitarianism” as Dalcour merely pontificates above.

*Moreover, Paul is writing post-Pentecost where Peter (with whom Paul had already deliberated) has identified these same titles of Jesus as referring to “who you crucified,” viz., the God-Man opposite a preexistent divinity.  That is, contextually, these titles elucidate and celebrate the majestic cross-work of Jesus.

(Dalcour):  Two distinct persons, the sole person of the Father (who is eiJV) and the sole person of Lord Jesus (who is also eiJV).  To argue that the double usage of eiJV represents both the Father and Lord Jesus defies the plain and natural reading here, Compare Eph. 4:4-5 and 1 Tim. 2:5, where, as with 1 Cor. 8:6, the multiple use eiJV preceding both the Father and Jesus heavily challenges and clearly refutes the Oneness perspective of eiJV and a unitarian Jesus.

*We are rather confused by this assertion made by Dalcour (?).  I have not argued the “double usage” of the masculine singular εἷς, Dalcour has!  I actually presented the sole usage of the masculine singular adjective as carefully employed by Christ when designating “the most important commandment” in the Bible—which Dalcour himself states “most of the time” means “one person” (although he then amusingly attempts to spin away from it)!  Speaking of defying the “plain and natural reading” of biblical passages, perhaps Dalcour will once again take his own medicine at Colossians 2.9—as well as the entirety of the biblical presentation of God:

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (NKJV).  

*Will Dalcour stick by his guns here and accept the “plain and natural reading” of this text (as well as the Greek text)?  Cf. Isaiah 9.6; chpp. 42-44; etc. ad nauseum.

*We are rather curious as to what Dalcour thinks Ephesians 4.4-5 proves?  In fact, when describing the Holy Spirit in v. 4 Paul uses the neuter singular adjective rendered “one” (lit., ἓν πνεῦμα)—which Dalcour informs us demands more than one person at John 10.30!  Thus, using his own criterion, he now has more than one divine person within the Holy Spirit! Further, v. 5 vindicates the Oneness message by affirming that there is “one (εἷς) Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

*Presumably Dalcour means v. 6 in another of his mis-citations above, which states εἷς θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ – lit., “one God and Father” (and, why not make two divine persons out of “God and Father” Mr. Dalcour?).  Note again the Pauline connection and linkage of the nouns translated “God” and (καὶ) “Father,” revealing that for Paul, the sole God was the Father.  Hence, when Paul utilizes these nouns (often interchangeably) he has “the Father” in mind as the one “God” (cf. I Corinthians 8.6; [see also John 17.3]).  That is, within the Pauline corpus “God” is the same as saying “the Father” as demonstrated in Ephesians 4.6.  We have already established above via I Corinthians 8.6 that, for Paul, the appellation “Lord” refers to the “Christ”—or the God-Man (God descendent)—contra Dalcour’s conjectured preexistent God-persons.

*I Timothy 2.5 (NASB):  For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.  This passage most certainly does not help Dalcour either since it specifically identifies Jesus in His mediatorial role as “the man” (ἄνθρωπος), Christ Jesus.  In the clearest way this verse offers a positive affirmation that the NT terms “God” and “Christ” denote an ontological distinction between the “one” invisible-omnipresent God and the “one” visible-limited “Christ”—whom Paul would go on to identify as this very self-same God enfleshed a little later in this same letter (I Timothy 3.16).  One would think that Trinitarians like Dalcour would sprint from this verse quicker than Hillary would from the FBI!    

*Moreover, this text states that there is εἷς Θεός (lit., “one God”)—whom Dalcour informs us is defined as a Trinity.  If “God” equals a Trinity for Dalcour then he has now unwittingly placed “Christ Jesus” outside of his Trinity altogether!  If Dalcour counters that the noun translated “God” (Θεός) most generally describes the Father in the NT (as pointed out above), he will then have to shape-shift this explication when the noun is applied to Christ in the very same epistle (i.e., I Timothy 3.16 [cf. Dean Burgon at this variant]; cf., e.g., John 1.1; Titus 2.13; I John 5.20; et al.).  At this point Dalcour will likely appeal to his (mis)understanding of the supposed context (cf., e.g., Philippians 2.5-8) in an effort to dodge his usual double standards and imbalanced scales.  

*So far, Dalcour’s misapplication(s) of various grammatical “rules” above has unwittingly produced multiple persons within (i) the Father, (ii) the Son, and (iii) the Holy Spirit!  The way Dalcour’s grammatical “rules” continue to multiply divinities he should drop the verbal confession of “Monotheism” altogether and just join up with the Hindus!  I mean why even fake it any longer?  

(Dalcour):  Perkins simply dismisses all of this when he says:

“This is the adjective [eiJV] carefully and intentionally employed by Jesus when specifically describing God’s numerical identity.”

(Dalcour):  Again, this only shows how controlled Perkins and Oneness believers are to a unitarian a priori assumption.  Perkins as shown is dead wrong in his assessment of what Christ meant.

*First, I could not have “dismissed all of this” in my original refutation against Dalcour – since he had not yet presented these arguments!  Does Dalcour expect me to predict every single dodge he offers (although I am familiar with ca. 95% of them!)?  Silly.

*Second, despite Dalcour’s laborious evasion efforts, Perkins has not been “shown dead wrong” in anything relative to Mark 12.29.  In fact, the diametrical opposite has been “shown”—it is Dalcour who opposes what Christ both said and meant in his effort to reconstruct this key biblical text with his Triune divinity intrusion.

*Third, of course Oneness believers are “controlled” by God’s repeated self-identification as a sole person – Jesus commanded us to (Mark 12.29)!  As pointed out above, over 9,000 times God uses single-person-pronouns to present Himself.  Dalcour vainly attempts to force-feed his “God with God” and “Elohim with Elohim” mantras into thousands and thousands of single-person-pronouns—then charges Oneness believers with supposed “assumption(s)?”  Mind-boggling.  We are exclusively “controlled” by the God-breathed Scriptures allowed to stand on their own strength and unaided by religious tradition(s).    

(Dalcour):  Jesus and the NT never once saw or called Jesus the Father.  Rather He is the monogenhV qeoV (John 1:18);  He was the Son who was worship as God, (God commanding the all the angels to worship God, the Son; Heb. 1:6);  the Son is the YHWH of Isa. 45:23 (Phil. 2:9-10);  and the YHWH of John 2:32 (Rom. 10:13);  and the YHWH of Ps. 102:25-27, the unchangeable Creator (Heb. 1:10-12);  and the YHWH that Isiah saw in Isa. 6 (John 12:39-41)—note, all these are references specifically to the Son.          

*Since Dalcour again erroneously argues from silence perhaps he can point us to the NT passage that “in even one place” (to borrow his terminology) identifies Jesus as the “second of three divine persons in the Trinity:”__________?  Biblical Christians have been waiting on Trinitarians to fill in this blank for almost 2,000 years now!  Worse, Dalcour is flat wrong in his assertion above.  Though he fights this self-declaration of Jesus like a tiger to protect his Triune divinity canard, John 14.8-10 could not be clearer:

(BLB):  8 Philip says to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”  9 Jesus says to him, “Am I with you so long a time, and you have not known Me, Philip?  The one having seen Me has seen the Father.  How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?  The words that I speak to you, I do not speak from Myself;  but the Father dwelling in Me does His works.

*Dalcour typically attempts to dodge this silver bullet from the lips of Jesus Himself by seeking refuge in v. 6, all the while negating the ensuing verses.  However, who would read this text for the first time and—allowing the inspired data to stand alone—identify Jesus as someone other than the One Philip asked to see?  The Trinity doctrine must necessarily be imported into one’s psyche at this point.  If Jesus is not actually the Father in some sense then His response was entirely non-sensical:  “Have I been with you so long a time, and you have not known me, Philip?”

*Note that Christ expressed surprise that Philip did not recognize that the One he was inquiring about was standing right in front of him!  What sense do the words of Jesus make here from the Trinitarian viewpoint?  Note also that Jesus declares that the Father was “dwelling” (present active participial verb μένων) within Him.  Again, how can it be said that one omnipresent divine person literally indwells another omnipresent divine person?  Will Dalcour maintain a straight face while telling us that omnipresence literally indwells omnipresence?  Regarding the identity of Jesus as the sole biblical God cf. also Matthew 28.18-20; John 12.45, 17.11; Colossians 2.8-10; I John 5.20; etc. ad-nauseum.

*Concerning Dalcour’s oft-repeated appeal to Hebrews 1.6, though this has been pointed out to him repeatedly, the very fact that the angels had to be commanded to worship God’s Son (or, as Dalcour says above, “God commanding the angels to worship God”) demonstrates that they were not already worshiping the Son of God under the OT (contra the Trinitarian understanding of Isaiah 6 in cf. with John 12.41).  Or, would Dalcour have us believe that God ordered the angels to do what He had been observing them already do from all of eternity?

*Exegetically, the temporal particle-conjunction translated “when” (ὅταν) at the beginning of Hebrews 1.6 is explicating the action of the main aorist subjunctive verb (εἰσαγάγῃ; lit., “He brings”).  Simply, the command to worship the Son of God was performed “when…He brings the firstborn into the world”—clearly militating against Dalcour’s theologically-driven notion that this same action was being practiced from eternity-past.         

(Dalcour):  The, Perkins amazingly cites Trinitarian A. T. Roberson in response to my original citation.  I say “amazingly” because as, Perkins certainly knows, Robertson saw all forms of Oneness unitarian theology as heretical.  When Perkins (and other Oneness defenders) appeals to numerous Trinitarian grammarians and scholars, I suppose he sees them as “hostile witnesses.”

*Of course I cited Robertson at John 10.30 inasmuch as his oft repeated quote backfires on Trinitarians in general at Mark 12.29 (et al.) and Dalcour in particular at Galatians 3.28!  And, I suppose Dalcour thinks Oneness believers should view Trinitarian attacks as “friendly witnesses” contra “hostile?”  Yet, we wonder if this is how Dalcour sees those who oppose his (false) Trinity doctrine?  Me-thinks not.  Once again, Dalcour needs to take his own medicine before writing prescriptions for others!   

(Dalcour):  Since Perkins does have a reputation of misquoting sources, before citing Perkins’ analysis of what he feels Robertson meant, let us read in full (since I only cited partial) the grammatical comments of Robertson said pertaining to the neuter adjective eJn in John 10:30:

*Actually, as repeatedly demonstrated overhead Dalcour is the theological ventriloquist—speaking with a voice foreign to the Greek text(s).  He constantly misquotes and misapplies the original languages of the Bible (he does the same thing with the Hebrew of the OT).  And yes, by all means let’s read Robertson’s full quote below in considering the straightforward assertion of Jesus’s usage of the masculine singular adjective heis in describing God’s numerical identity at Mark 12.29 as the “most important commandment.”  Let’s follow along carefully!      

(Dalcour quoting Robertson):  “One (en).  Neuter, not masculine (ei). Not one person (cf. ei in Galatians 3:28), but one essence or nature.  By the plural sumu (separate persons) Sabellius is refuted, by unum Arius.  So Bengel rightly argues, though Jesus is not referring, of course, to either Sabellius or Arius.  The Pharisees had accused Jesus of making himself equal with God as his own special Father (John 5:18).  Jesus then admitted and proved this claim (John 5:19-30).  Now he states it tersely in this great saying repeated later (John 17:11, 21 John 21).  Note en used in 1 Corinthians 3:3 of the oneness in work of the planter and the waterer and in Jo 17:11 Jo 17:23 of the hoped for unity of Christ’s disciples. This crisp statement is the climax of Christ’s claims concerning the relation between the Father and himself (the Son).  They stir the Pharisees to uncontrollable anger (Word Pictures, emphasis added).”

*Note above that Robertson shamelessly endorsed “separate” divine persons within God—which Dalcour adamantly and openly rejects!  As usual, Dalcour cherry-picks what suits his theological fancy and then denies what militates against the same.  Dr. Robertson apparently misquotes I Corinthians 3.3 since the adjective ἕν does not appear in this passage.  Presumably Robertson intended to reference v. 8 instead of v. 3.  If Dalcour were a more careful student of God’s Word he would have recognized this mistake and not have endorsed it—all the while he attempts to correct others for their supposed “sloppiness.”

*Regardless, observe that Robertson’s cross-references in usage of the neuter-singular ἕν describe separate human beings, i.e., I Corinthians 3.3 (8?), John 17.11 and John 17.23.  Dalcour marshals these references in his attempted rehabilitation and defense of the Trinity doctrine once again demonstrating his conceptual Tritheism.  That is, Trinitarians like Dalcour frequently and flagrantly appeal to the concept of separate human beings as the reflection of their Triune divinity and yet still somehow feign supposed “monotheism” with a straight face!      

(Dalcour):  Incongruent to what Robertson actually said, Perkins comments:  

“Robertson’s point is that if Christ would have employed the masculine singular (3-3) adjective heis (translated ‘one’) in John 10.30 then this would have demanded ‘one person’—since this is the natural force of the masculine singular tag.  However, as mentioned both above and elsewhere Jesus does indeed use the masculine singular heis in delineating the ‘most important commandment’ of the emphatic-monadic identity of God (Mark 12.29).”

(Dalcour):  Perkins is unequivocally wrong.  Robertson made no such point.

*Actually, Perkins is unequivocally correct!  As pointed out to Trinitarians ad nauseum, Robertson’s point was that if Christ would have used the masculine singular εἷς contra the neuter singular ἕν at John 10.30 He would have then been presenting one person—which explains Robertson’s comment “not one person.”  Problem for Trinitarian exegetes is that Christ did carefully use the masculine singular εἷς regarding God’s quantitative identity in Mark 12.29 (as well as other passages) in explicating the “most important commandment.”  Thus using Trinitarian exegete’s own premise – down goes their entire Triune divinity conjecture!

(Dalcour):  Again,  “Not one person (cf. ei in Galatians 3:28), but one essence or nature. By the plural sumu (separate persons) Sabellius is refuted.”  Oh my, it seems as though Perkins may assume that no will fact-check his sources—in context.  The point of fact, Robertson bluntly refutes Perkins position—“Neuter, not masculine (ei).  Not one person.”      

*And again, Robertson openly affirms “separate” persons and specifically cross references Galatians 3.28 in expounding on the force of εἷς—both of which Dalcour denies!  Before Dalcour gets too excited above he might need to “fact-check” his own sources since he’s been repeatedly caught red-handed with his hands in the proverbial cookie jar.  Again, I have numerous other fumbles by Dalcour.  The “point of fact” is that Robertson bluntly refutes both himself and Dalcour when his own exegetical claim is applied to biblical mandates such as Mark 12.29, James 2.19, Galatians 3.20, etc.

(Dalcour):  I understand that Perkin (and many Oneness believers) is very passionate (and always seems very angry) in promoting what he believes to be true.  Although, Oneness theology is clearly not according to the teachings of the biblical authors—it does matter.

*This is nothing more than another of Dalcour’s ad hominem attacks.  I could just as easily join the countless voices that have pointed out Dalcour’s obvious arrogance and pomp (a natural outgrowth of his non-Christian “Calvinism” cult).  Further, I do not “believe” anything other than what the Scriptures actually command me to “believe”—which is the very source of my rejection of Dalcour’s fictitious Triune divinity (or, as Dalcour repeatedly claims, “God with God” absurdity).

(Dalcour):  On this point, again citing Trinitarians, Perkins refers to footnote in the NET translation, which was edited by Daniel Wallace, Greek grammar and textual authority, and Yes, solidly Trinitarian:

*As noted previously, theological bias should have no place in the direct translation of θεόπνευστος (God-breathed) Scripture – and we really don’t know what Dalcour thinks this proves (?).  To solidly drive this point home, Dalcour often appeals to the Jewish Aramaic Targums and the LXX in his desperation to locate the Son of God in the OT with the “Angel of the LORD.”  Yet, both of these ancient Jewish translations openly (and rightfully) reject Dalcour’s “co-eternal Trinity” doctrine!  Now what Mr. Dalcour?    

(Dalcour requoting my cf. to the NET tn):  “See here also the NET translator notes:  The phrase ἕν ἐσμεν ({en esmen) is a significant assertion with trinitarian implications.  ἕν is neuter, not masculine, so the assertion is not that Jesus and the Father are one person, but one ‘thing’”

(Dalcour):  Note that Wallace has written countless works on the Trinity and has definitely commented on the many passages that exegetically prove it.  Perkins shoots himself in the foot here; he seems to be uninformed.  We as with Wallace, see John 10:30 as totally opposing the Oneness-unitarian view that Jesus and the Father are the same person, rather they are one in essence and unity (one thing, not one person).  

*Again, Dalcour omits both the “context” and remainder of my quotes in the above partial citation.  Far from being misinformed or shooting myself in the foot with this self-refuting quote from the NET translators notes, here is the remainder of my original excerpt that Dalcour neglected to include in his extract overhead:

Of course, this only serves as another lexical testimony to the force of the masculine singular heis as demanding “one person.”  And, as we point out above, there are no “implications” of Trinitarianism in John 10.30 as evidenced by the response of the original audience of this message.

(Dalcour):  Then Perkins goes on to complain about the contextual understanding of eJn

*Actually, Perkins specifically appealed to the “contextual understanding” of this adjective that Dalcour desperately flails to explain away – as anyone can plainly read in my original (partially quoted) article below.  Nice try though Mr. Dalcour.

(Dalcour):  In John 17:21, for example, Jesus prays that His disciples may “be one [hen] even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us.”  The same neuter adjective is used. . . .

(Dalcour requoting my response to his original assertion immediately above):  *Note here that in Jesus’ High Priestly prayer He is praying that His disciples—who were separate human beings and not merely ‘distinct persons’—would share in the same oneness as the Father and Him shared.  Since Dalcour is appealing to this passage in connection with the neuter sing. hen (translated ‘one’), will he now inform us that God the Father and ‘God the Son’ are equally as radically separated as human beings, and each are fully God?  Or will he now modify this assertion to conform to his predisposed religious tradition?”

(Dalcour):  Perkins again ignores the context of the entire chapter.  Unity Mr. Perkins—that is the idea being expressed here, as the statements directed to Jesus disciples clearly indicate.  Thus, the context governs the meaning of the neuter.      

*Nice dodge Mr. Dalcour, but this does not explain why nor how you repeatedly appeal to passages that describe radically separated human beings as the model for your Trinity theory (betraying your Tritheistic paradigm)—then attempt to spin away from the same template when your incongruence is pointed out.  Merely throwing out the word “context” does not serve as the same.

*Stay tuned for the final installation (IV) of this surrejoinder against Dalcour.  Thank you for reading and may God bless! 

*The following is the second in a tetralogy of exegetical surrejoinders toward Edward Dalcour’s assertions found in his article HERE.  I have copied Mr. Dalcour’s claims in *black with my categorical responses immediately following, as here.  Enjoy!

(Dalcour):  As he consistently does with other passages Perkins attempts to modalize (esp. John 1:1; 10:30; 17:5 et al).  Perkins here is utterly discounted from the context of chapter 10—where Jesus and the Father are plainly repeatedly differentiated.

*This is nothing more than Dalcour’s usual pontificating since the “context” of John 10 – particularly how the original audience understood the words they heard – is the very thing that refutes Dalcour’s fictitious “multi-personed-divinity” canard.  Of course, I specifically referenced this in my original article.  Simply, I have no need to “attempt” anything with biblical passages.  I merely allow the scriptural statements to inform my conclusion contra allowing my conclusions to inform the biblical statements, as does Dalcour.

*Moreover, as we’ve repeatedly informed inattentive Trinitarians like Dalcour the ontological and functional distinctions between God and His Son are readily and gladly acknowledged by Oneness believers.  However, Dalcour assumes that distinction automatically translates into multiple God-persons.  It does not—despite how many tantrums Dalcour throws and screams otherwise.  Nice try though Mr. Dalcour!    

(Dalcour):  Note the consistency of the passages leading up to v. 30 the following:

*Yes, but don’t omit vv. 30-33 as Dalcour does in the following—keep reading!  Note also below how Dalcour plays textual leap frog in jumping from v. 18 to v. 29 and then on to v. 36—excluding all of the verses in between (all the while complaining about supposed “hermeneutical flaws”).

(Dalcour):  Verse 15:  “even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.”

*We really don’t understand what Dalcour assumes this validates regarding his multi-personed-divinity hypothesis (?).  I am thinking that Dalcour speculates that because Jesus refers to His Father with otherness language in this passage that this demands that Jesus is not the Father.  However, this is nothing more than Trinitarian theology read into the text (eisegesis) contra allowing the text to speak for itself.  To demonstrate, Jesus equally referred to “God,” “the Son of Man” and “the Christ” as if someone other than Himself (e.g., John 14.1; Mark 14.62; Luke 24.46).  We are wondering how consistent Dalcour will be in his “hermeneutics” at this point (?).  I predict the usual spin-away-from-it tactics will immediately begin!  

(Dalcour): Verses 17-18:  “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.  18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative.  I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.  This commandment I received from My Father.”

*Unbeknownst to Dalcour, if used to explicate a Triune divinity this verse demands that each divine person necessarily possesses their own individual mind or center of consciousness.  That is, if God the Son has His “own initiative” apart from God the Father and God the Holy Spirit then each person equally holds individual mental faculties apart from the others—the very core definition of polytheism.

*Moreover, how could an ontologically co-equal God the Son “receive commandment(s)” from another ontologically co-equal God-person?  The usual Trinitarian evasion of this dilemma is to assert that Oneness believers here confuse ontological co-equality with the voluntary functional roles of each person in the Trinity.  However, as pointed out above, this assumes the destination at the starting line (not to mention how this again embraces several divine minds within God)!  That is, such an inadequate explanation presupposes a Triune divinity at the outset and then argues from this false premise (another Dalcour fallacy).  Hence, Dalcour begins at his intended goal and then circles the wagon until he surmises that he has arrived.           

(Dalcour):  Verse 29:  “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

*Note here how Dalcour leap frogs from v. 18 to v. 29—omitting a total of 11 verses in his exegesis—in an attempt to swat at any shadow he thinks validates his theological aspirations (then charges Oneness believers with poor “hermeneutics”?).

*And, again, how can it be said that the first co-equal God-person is “greater” (μεῖζόν) than the second and third co-equal God-persons?  How could one co-equal, co-eternal, God-person “give” believers to another co-equal, co-eternal God-person?  Wouldn’t He already possess these believers from all of eternity (esp. within Dalcour’s “elect” soteriology)?  This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever despite how hard Dalcour tries to evade the obvious regarding Christ’s “greater” language (e.g., John 14.28; prayers of Jesus; etc.).  I am forever grateful that the biblical God led me out of Trinitarianism into biblical Christianity and Monotheism.

(Dalcour):  Verse 36:  “If He [i.e., the Father] called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),  36 do you say of Him [Jesus], whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?”

*Note above how Christ affirms that “the Scripture cannot be broken”—yet this is the very thing that Trinitarians offer as they posit a disjuncture between the OT identity of God and the NT identity of God.  Indeed, in opposing the words of Christ (John 4.22) Dalcour has asserted that the “full revelation” of God did not come until the NT!  According to this construct every OT Hebrew prophet and Jew did not have a “full” understanding of Yahveh’s identity—even though His monadic identity was the very basis of Israel’s exclusive covenant!  

*Further, would Dalcour have us believe that the supposed first divine co-equal, co-eternal person “sanctified” (ἡγίασεν) the second divine co-equal, co-eternal person?  How can it be said that God the Son could be “sanctified” in eternity and “sent” into earth?  Can omnipresence be “sent” where it already exists?  Such ludicrous ideas are esp. contradictory to the Trinitarian notion that the Son of God “volunteered” based upon their misunderstanding of Philippians 2.5-8.  This text directly refutes such conjecture.

(Dalcour):  Verse 38:  “so that you may know and understand that the Father is in [en, thus, not “am”] Me, and I in the Father.”

*This is simply another case of Dalcour’s usual special pleading.  He asserts that because Christ says the Father dwells “in” Him (ἐν + dative) that this somehow demands that Jesus is not the Father.  However, would Dalcour have us believe that one omnipresent divine person indwells another omnipresent divine person?  Here Dalcour is left hanging on the horns of a dilemma:  Either the divine persons of his Trinity are not omnipresent—and hence not possessive of full Godhood properties—or the passage carries a metaphorical denotation.  The choice is his since he has marshaled this verse in defense of his Triune divinity.

*Of course, none of Dalcour’s earth-shattering passages above present a problem for Oneness believers since we readily acknowledge the unity between God and His Son—and we have attempted to communicate this to Trinitarians ad nauseum.  Yet, it’s a gross assumption to teach that this denies Jesus’s clear statements of identity as equally the Father (John 14.8-10) and the Holy Spirit (John 14.16-18).            

(Dalcour):  Clearly, no one who reads this chapter for the first time would never get the idea that Jesus was the same person as the Father.  One would have to be taught the Oneness notion trading the natural reading for a stroppy modified one.

*This is easily turned around:  Clearly, no one who reads the biblical data as a whole for the first time would arrive at a “three-personed-divinity” conclusion.  One would have to be taught the “Trinity” notion, trading the natural reading of thousands upon thousands of biblical verses for a convoluted-forced interpretation.

*For example, I read John 1.1-18 for many years before I ever heard that Trinitarians attempt to use these verses to validate their theological conclusions.  It never once crossed my mind that these passages were describing more than one divine person in the Godhead.  In fact, these Scriptures are among the strongest in support of the Oneness position – despite how hard Trinitarians scream otherwise.  Dalcour himself acknowledges that even most Trinitarians hold to the Oneness position until the Trinity is imported into their psyche.  Here is a quote from the preface of his own book:

In fact, I find that Christians who have not been adequately taught about the Trinity make the same error. Thus, unstudied Christians too often unknowingly affirm Oneness theology in their efforts to explain how Jesus is God.

*Isn’t it amazing how so many Trinitarians “too often” arrive at the Oneness position by simply allowing the Scriptures alone to instruct them—but have to be “adequately taught” the Trinity?!  Typical Trinitarian hypocrisy.  And, speaking of trading a natural reading for an unnatural reading:

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, “I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all alone,” (Isaiah 44.24; NASB)

“I, even I, am the LORD, And there is no savior besides Me.” (Isaiah 43.11; NASB)

*Who would read these texts for the first time—allowing their natural force to stand alone—and arrive at the Triune divinity hypothesis?  No one without a theological agenda.  Dalcour crams his imaginary three-divine-persons into these texts above (as well as countless others).  This does not even take into consideration the absolute masculine singular participles, single-person-pronouns, etc. of these Hebrew (and LXX) texts…a whole different article!   Simply, Dalcour’s “multiple Creators” eisegesis cannot withstand linguistic analysis at this point despite his superficial delineation between the “persons” vs. the “being” of God.

(Dalcour):  More grammatical errors.  Perkins then ties a loose around the neck of his argument when he makes the assertion regarding nominatives and “subject object distinctions,” which Perkins calls, “the contextual subject-object distinction.”  Because of Perkins’ lack of understanding in area of Greek grammar, he assumes his pretext (what he feels v. 30 means) based on his misunderstanding of 1) what a nominative and a predicate are and 2) subject object distinctions between Jesus and the Father.

*Ironically, as demonstrated above (and below) it is Dalcour who (i) misunderstands the Greek texts in this and many other verses, and (ii) who forces his theology into these texts—a text that never states the same (to Dalcour’s annoyance).  Further, I fully understand the meaning of the two nominatives; viz., a compound subject that is contextually identified as “God” and “man” (v. 33).  Worse, I specifically pointed this out in my original article.  Dalcour simply doesn’t know what he’s talking about here.

(Dalcour):  First, it is clear from the Perkins statement, “In John 10.30 both the 1^st person pronoun translated “I” and the noun translated “Father” (Πατὴρ) appear in the nominative case, singular number,” which he then sneaks in his conclusion, that Perkins just doesn’t know what two nominatives in a sentence indicates in light of the PLURAL verb.

*Actually, Perkins was crystal-clear to address both the nominatives and the plural verb.  One has to wonder at this point if Dalcour was even reading the same article!  As to be expected, Dalcour assumes that the plural verb ἐσμεν used in this text demands a plurality of divine persons, each with independent-divine minds.  However, the actual biblical data and plain context itself refutes this notion.  To Dalcour’s embarrassment Jesus did not use the adjective translated “two” (δύο) as He normally did when “two persons” were in view (e.g., Matthew 21.28; Luke 15.11).  That is necessarily force fed into the mouth of Christ by over-zealous Trinitarians like Dalcour.

*Nevertheless, let me attempt to help Dalcour once again:  Two nominatives connected by a plural verb simply denote a compound subject – “I and the Father.”  However, we are not informed anything whatsoever about the nature or identity of this compound subject until the original audience informs us that “you, being a man (nominative ἄνθρωπος), make yourself God (accusative Θεόν)” (v. 33).  Hence, once again, the context itself defines this plural subject for us – “God” and “man.”  This is the second time I have pointed this out to Dalcour and am not quite sure how to accommodate his apparent willful misunderstandings at this point.

*But, since he won’t believe the inspired text itself perhaps he will believe my Greek professor (a [very kind] Trinitarian!), Dr. Maury Robertson, regarding these passages (?).  Here is his usually congenial response concerning Dalcour’s grammatical assertions:

You’re right that there’s nothing particularly important about the two nominatives.  You have it exactly right:  just a compound subject.  The way I read it, Jesus (εγω) is simply saying He is one with the Father.  What exactly that “oneness” entails is for theologians to debate.  There isn’t any grammatical magic in the verse to shed light on the issue that I can see.

 Sorry if I’m missing something!

*Alas, Dalcour is once again caught with his hand in the grammatical cookie jar—and he does this type of thing all the time!  As stated above, Dr. Robertson identifies theologically as a Trinitarian and is a very kind and gracious man.  Perhaps Dalcour will believe this Greek professor since he rejects the biblical data itself (?)!

(Dalcour):  Most Oneness people in an embarrassing way, error on this grammatical point at John 1:1, wherein we find two nominatives (qeoV and logoV).  They typically argue that the two must carry the meaning of the mathematical equal sign (A=B, B=A).  But as NT Greek scholars/grammarians (e.g., Robertson, Reymond, Harris, Wallace, Greenly et al), point out the qeoV and logoV in 1:1c are NOT a convertible proposition, rather a subset proposition (cf. Wallace, BBGG).  As a qualitative noun, the Word in John 1:1c is in the class or category of the anarthrous pre-Verbal PN qeoV, but the Word is not the person of ton qeon (1:1b, viz., the Father).

*As usual, Dalcour froths at the mouth here over what he assumes John 1.1 is communicating (John 1.1 was not even discussed in the original article).  Briefly, if θεὸς (“God”) in John 1.1c is classified as a “definitive” noun the Oneness position is concluded according to many exegetes – and Dalcour simply cannot have that!  Worse, Dalcour omits pertinent data from Dr. Wallace in his reference above—all the while charging me of doing the same.  Here’s what Dalcour removes from his audience’s consideration (and that they most assuredly neglect to fact check him on):

(GGBB; p. 268):  Therefore, if the same person being referred to there is called θεός in 1:1c, then in both places it is definite.  Although certainly possible grammatically (though not nearly as likely as qualitative), the evidence is not very compelling.  The vast majority of definite anarthrous pre-verbal predicate nominatives are monadic, in genitive constructions, or are proper names, none of which is true here, diminishing the likelihood of a definite θεός in John 1:1c.

*Although he ultimately rejects its application at 1.1c, in Dr. Wallace’s quote above he concedes in honest fashion that the definitive force of the anarthrous preverbal PN (Θεὸς) in John 1.1c is “certainly possible grammatically.”  And, even many Trinitarian exegetes respectfully disagree with Dr. Wallace at this point (e.g., Carson, Blomberg, McGaughy, Goetchius, etc.).  Why doesn’t this quote from Wallace make it into Dalcour’s book – esp. since he quotes from the same page?  Or, why didn’t the following quotes survive from Dr. Wallace’s exegetical reference work in Dalcour’s book (?):

(GGBB: By Colwell Himself; fn. #8):  Nevertheless, from one perspective it (i.e., Colwell’s Rule) is quite acceptable. Colwell brought to NT students’ attention that anarthrous pre-verbal PNs were frequently definite.  He provided many undisputed examples of this and thus established a clear category of usage.

(GGBB): 5.  Significance of Colwell’s Construction for Exegesis:  A general rule about the construction can now be stated:  An anarthrous pre-verbal PN is normally qualitative, sometimes definite, and only rarely indefinite.

*Now, let’s watch Dalcour’s fancy footwork begin folks!  Or, perhaps Dalcour will appreciate Dr. D.A. Carson’s quote regarding the definite contra qualitative application of the anarthrous preverbal PN Θεὸς in 1.1c:

(D.A. Carson; The Gospel Accrding to John; Pillar NT; John 1.1):  More, the Word was God.  That is the translation demanded by the Greek structure, theos ēn ho logos.  A long string of writers has argued that because theos, ‘God’, here has no article, John is not referring to God as a specific being, but to mere qualities of ‘God-ness’.  The Word, they say, was not God, but divine.  This will not do.  There is a perfectly serviceable word in Greek for ‘divine’ (namely theios).

More importantly, there are many places in the New Testament where the predicate noun has no article, and yet is specific.  Even in this chapter, ‘you are the King of Israel’ (1:49) has no article before ‘King’ in the original (cf. also Jn. 8:39; 17:17; Rom. 14:17; Gal. 4:25; Rev. 1:20).  It has been shown that it is common for a definite predicate noun in this construction, placed before the verb, to be anarthrous (that is, to have no article; cf. Additional Note).  Indeed, the effect of ordering the words this way is to emphasize ‘God’, as if John were saying, ‘and the word was God!’  In fact, if John had included the article, he would have been saying something quite untrue.

*Who is now erring “in an embarrassing way on this grammatical point?”  I have many more quotes that speak to this end if Dalcour still needs them.  Of course, Dalcour will surely attempt to dodge yet another of his mishaps here by complaining that Carson and Wallace are Trinitarians—all the while he appeals to Dr. Joseph Thayer who was a Unitarian-proper that openly denied that Jesus was God Almighty.  Further, I hardly doubt that Dalcour agrees with the soteriological views that were held by Drs. Greenlee, Walter Bauer, et al. in toto!

*Ironically, Dalcour joins Thayer in this concept (albeit not confession) as he relegates Christ from His biblical identity as the One OT Yahveh revealed as a human being for the purpose of redemption to a mere second of three, co-equal, co-eternal divine persons (and even unwittingly argues for bodily separation within the Godhead).  Of course, all of this is completely lost on Dalcour in his lather to protect his Triune divinity fabrication.

(Dalcour):  Again, Perkins stands alone, he has no recognized scholar to which he can appeal—because they reject the Oneness interpretation both historically and present day.  No Greek grammarian has ever concluded, by the grammar of the passage, a Oneness interpretation of John 1:1.  

*Argumentum Ad Populum alert – quick, somebody grab their Bible!  We suppose that Dalcour thinks Thayer—again, to whom he appeals quite often—concluded the Trinitarian interpretation of John 1.1 “by the grammar of the passage” (?).  Or, that grammarians like Greenlee, Bauer, et al. arrived at Dalcour’s particular brand of Calvinism (since there are so many variables)?

*Or, perhaps Dalcour assumes that the Jews that he often appeals to in the Targums have also concluded his Triune divinity conjecture?  This does not even consider how Dalcour repeatedly appeals to NT letters where both the authors and recipients were tongue-talkers who had already been baptized in Jesus’ name—a doctrine that Dalcour fights in his effort to reject the biblical Christ.  This is the typical double standard employed by Dalcour and other Trinitarian apologists – all the while crying out for “equal standards” from Muslim apologists.

(Dalcour):  Perkins seems in a dense fog here, for first he merely throws out there that v. 30 contains two singular nominatives, but never explains what the significance of it is.  And since he never mentions nor explains the function of the predicate (the other nominative), it indicates to me that he does not understand neither what a nominative nor predicate are or what they do.

*Dalcour should attempt to work out of his own smog first:  As usual, Dalcour does not supply what he demands in others.  For neither does he inform his audience of the function of either the nominative or the predicate.  Even worse, I pointedly addressed the compound subject in my treatment of the plural verb—and directly appealed to both the grammar and context.  Additionally, I specifically posted numerous verses where a single verb explicates both God and His Son – which Dalcour completely ignored (dense fog indeed!).  Again, the predicate (dependent) nominative links the plural finite verb to the subject(s).     

(Dalcour):  The large issue here is this:  that there are two nominatives in the passage is meaningless WITHOUT a context.  This has been the chief flaw in his hermeneutic throughout his writings and presentations.  So when he offers his so-called reply to my tersely article, he stays consistent in his lack of contextual interaction.  The construction simply and typically marks out distinction from the subject and predicate (complement).

*Well, yes, that’s the point I made both above and initially.  I’m not really sure what Dalcour thinks this proves.  And, we are still awaiting Dalcour’s earth-shattering “exegesis” of John 10.30 (?).  Apparently he thinks that merely referencing the two nominatives – that I originally pointed out – and a plural verb constitutes “exegesis” (this is one reason we refer to Dalcour as Eisegesis Ed)! 

(Dalcour):  And again demonstrating Perkins lack of familiarity of Greek grammar, the linking PLURAL verb unities the subject and the predicate together in which grammatically the subject and the subject complement are “essentially” one—not one person—rather PLURAL verb is used, esmen, not a singular one (estin, eimi, “is, am”);  and both nominative are associated as the main topic of the sentence.

*First, it would really help if Dalcour would wipe the foam from his mouth and actually take the time to proof-read his poor writing style—as has been noted by others as well.  Second, as demonstrated both above and below it is Dalcour who repeatedly blunders regarding original language research via his bias and outright misinformation at times.  Indeed, all one has to do is take the time to carefully and objectively fact-check his assertions to catch his mistakes.  I am honestly surprised at how gullible some Trinitarians can be sometimes.  One would think that eternal, first-order doctrines would be something worth analyzing evenhandedly and impartially.   

*Third, I have repeatedly pointed out to Dalcour and other Trinitarian apologists that an exegesis using balanced scales will equally emphasize single verbs used to explicate God and His Son.  That is, if Dalcour insists that the plural verb ἐσμεν modifying God and the Son of God in this verse demands more than one divine, co-eternal, co-equal person then why doesn’t he stick by his guns in passages that employ the single verb ἐστιν that he asks for above?  Dalcour’s plural verb obsession is not as earth shattering as he assumes – and Oneness believers have been addressing this argument for years on end now.  Since Dalcour apparently missed these passages where singular verbs simultaneously modify both the Father and the Son of God as the same subject here they are again:

Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.  (I Thessalonians 3.11; Berean Literal Bible)

Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ ἡμῶν καὶ ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς κατευθύναι τὴν ὁδὸν ἡμῶν πρὸς ὑμᾶς·  (NA28)

*The Greek verb rendered “direct” (κατευθύναι) above appears in the aorist, active, optative, 3rd person, singular form describing the activity of the Father and Jesus.  Will Trinitarians be consistent in their verbal appeals at this point?  Or, will they now offer the usual spin-away-from-it tact?  

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.  (2 Thessalonians 2.16-17; NASB)

Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς καὶ [ὁ] θεὸς ⸀ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν ὁ ἀγαπήσας ἡμᾶς καὶ δοὺς παράκλησιν αἰωνίαν καὶ ἐλπίδα ἀγαθὴν ἐν χάριτι, παρακαλέσαι ὑμῶν τὰς καρδίας καὶ στηρίξαι ἐν παντὶ ⸂ἔργῳ καὶ λόγῳ⸃ ἀγαθῷ.  (NA28)

*As noted in our first surrejoinder below, the four verbs (two in participial form) above used to explicate the action of the same subject – God the Father and Christ – are all singular, not plural.  Where are all the blog posts and lectures from Trinitarians concerning these singular verbs that modify God and His Son?  Clearly John 10.30 militates against Dalcour’s Trinity doctrine—which is why he expends so much energy attempting to negate its natural reading.      

(Dalcour):  Unbeknownst to Perkins (or he a point he chooses to overlook), Subject–Object and Subject-Hearer distinctions between Jesus and the Father interspersed throughout the NT radically disproves the Oneness position.

*Silly.  Unbeknownst to Dalcour, subject-object distinctions do not “radically disprove” a single thing as it relates to biblical monotheism and/or Oneness dogma.  We have told Trinitarians ad-nauseum that Oneness believers gladly acknowledge the distinctions between God and His Son and we have carefully explicated these same biblical distinctions.  In fact, these distinctions lie at the very heart of the biblical/Oneness message.  What does Dalcour do with our open confessions?  Defiantly stick his fingers in his ears and continue parroting the same straw man attacks!

(Dalcour):  In fact, this feature alone is one of the most controverting arguments against the Oneness unitarian notion of Jesus being the Father.  For example, “After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water … behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My [speaker] beloved Son, [hearer] in whom I [speaker] am well-pleased’” (Matt. 3:16-17; also Matt. 17:5);  “I [speaker] glorified You [hearer] on earth, having accomplished the work which You [hearer] have given Me [speaker] to do” (John 17:4; cf. also Luke 23:34, 46).  Jesus personally and distinctly relates to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and the reverse is altogether true of the Father and the Holy Spirit relating to each other.  That is why I find it very odd that Perkins argue this, when it actually refutes his position.

*We would be very interested in viewing the Scriptures where the Father and the Holy Spirit “personally relate to each other” as Dalcour feigns above:___________?  This is but another erroneous biblical claim made by Dalcour—as well as another hole in the Trinity doctrine.

*Nowhere from Genesis thru Revelation will Dalcour locate the Father and the Holy Spirit addressing one another—nor the Son of God and the Holy Spirit dialoguing with the other.  Nowhere in the biblical data itself does the Holy Spirit love nor speak to the Son or the Father.  Very strange behavior coming from supposed distinct co-eternal divine persons.  Similar to Joseph Smith, I guess Dalcour thinks he can just make up his own Bible and demand that others believe it!

*Further, Dalcour’s typical Trinitarian appeal to the baptism of Christ proves too much!  For if God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are as spatially detached from one another as a human being standing in a river, a voice from Heaven, and the body of a dove—Dalcour need not feign “monotheism” with a straight face any longer (esp. since Dalcour informs us that his divine persons “cannot be separated!”)!  

*Such an imposition into the biblical data would demand radically separated divine beings and not mere “distinct persons” as Trinitarians usually modify in an effort to dodge the obvious bullet of Tritheism.  Additionally, why was there no gasp from the original Jewish audience who were the actual eyewitnesses to this occurrence – since for ca. 4,000 years they had exclusively worshipped one divine person of Yahveh?  If the baptism of Christ taught Dalcour’s Trinity of persons this would have been the first place these supposed spatially separated divine persons arrived on the scene!  Why no such response from the actual on-site observers?  If the original Judaic audience obviously understood this experience as simultaneous manifestations of their one God, opposite multiple God-persons – how can Dalcour offer a radically differing view reading back into this event ca. 2,000 years later?  Once again, Dalcour inflicts this ancient (Judaic) biblical text with his much later Trinitarian theology (e.g., see HERE).

*Stay tuned for our continuing surrejoinders to Dalcour’s assertions.  Thank you for reading.

*Below we offer the first in a tetralogy of exegetical surrejoinders to Edward Dalcour’s most recent attempt to spin away from his previously noted textual mistakes concerning John 10.30.  Although Dalcour omits much of my original article for his readers and hence the context of my statements (all the while throwing a tantrum about “context”), below, I respond to each of his claims categorically. Dalcour’s assertions are delineated in *black with my rebuttal immediately following in *blue (as here).  I refer readers to Dalcour’s article HERE for corroboration.

*It should be noted that I have repeatedly challenged Dalcour to public debate on the topics of biblical monotheism-Christianity and soteriology.  After initially agreeing to meet in public polemic platform he has subsequently ignored all offers.  Of course, after the poor performance he produced in his debate with Elder Nathan Dudley (HERE), I fully understand his reluctance.   Dalcour is simply not a good debater and I was honestly embarrassed for him at the debate listed above (his hands were literally shaking and he seemed as nervous as a cat).  Hopefully the following refutation of Dalcour will be edifying to the body of Christ.  Enjoy!

(Dalcour): The Footloose Theology: A Refutation of Oneness-Unitarian Roger Perkins on John 10:30

*I’m not quite sure what “The Footloose Theology” means (?).  Here Dalcour’s non-sensical title is indicative of how poorly written both his book and this article are—grammatically, exegetically and theologically.  As Dr. David Norris once simply commented, “We’ve read his book and it’s poorly written.”  As we demonstrate below, similar to his editing errors which are all through his article Dalcour fares even worse with his textual, lexical and theological claims—to an embarrassing extent.

(Dalcour):  Oneness-unitarian advocate, Roger Perkins, has again attempted to deny the person of the Lord Jesus in his recent so-called refutation of my very brief article on the “Son of God”– Read it Here.

*Not surprisingly, this ad hominem charge is easily turned around:  Tritheist Edward Dalcour (more fondly called Eisegsis Ed) has once again attempted to relegate the Lord Jesus from His biblical identification as God Almighty (I John 5.20; Revelation 1.8; etc.) to a mere “second of three divine eternal persons.”  As has been noted by many, along with Mormons and the Roman Catholic Church (hereafter RCC)—that he actually fancies himself as opposing—Dalcour repeatedly uses blatantly polytheistic language in both his presentations and debate.

*That is, Dalcour openly uses phrases such as “God was with God,” “Elohim was with Elohim,” “One Yahweh acts on behalf of another Yahweh,” etc.  Thus while he claims to “refute” Mormons and the RCC, he actually holds hands with them in their identification and terminology of God’s supposed “identity.”  Of course, we have pointed out before the core commonalties that these non-Christian groups all share in their war against the biblical testimony of God.     

(Dalcour):  Not at all surprising, in his struggle against biblical Trinitarianism, Perkins voluminously responds to my brief article instead of dealing with a fuller presentation of passages such as John 10:30 contained in my book, *A Definitive Look at Oneness Theology: In the Light of Biblical Trinitarianism* (Get it here), or the countless other exegetical and scholarly works by other authors, which is also contained in the book.

*First, we would be quite curious where we can actually read of this “biblical Trinitarianism” on the very pages of the Bible:____________?  I am astounded every time I read this claim and think, “What ‘Bible’ are they using?”  If the doctrine of the Trinity is “biblical” surely Dalcour can point us to the verse that enunciates such an obvious doctrine (?).  Biblical Christians await this passage from Trinitarians with great anticipation—and indeed, we have been waiting for approximately 1,800 years now!

*Second, classic Dalcour, he attempts to deride me for not posting his “fuller presentation” of John 10.30 from his book—while he omits the vast majority of my article in this very piece!  Further, I have written extensively on this blog from Dalcour’s book and all one has to do is simply scroll down to view his many blunders.  Moreover, I have equally and exhaustively addressed “other scholarly works” on this blog.  Dalcour just never seems to learn and puts his foot in his mouth at virtually every turn, as we shall soon see.

*Third, the majority of Dalcour’s earth-shattering book (according to him) is not “exegetical,” but rather historical.  All one has to do is count the page numbers for each section to clearly see this.  I have indeed started a point-by-point rejoinder to Dalcour’s work.  However, in all honesty the information therein is so easily refuted and skewed that I soon lose interest – and two open heart surgeries in the last 1.7 years has not helped matters much.  In fact, Dalcour’s book is so rife with misleading statistics that I actually named the rejoinder “The Fallacy of Neglected Aspect”—since Dalcour willfully omits so much contrary data (as he does below).    

(Dalcour):  If I were Perkins, I too would rather deal with a short (about two pages) article than be forced to interact with an expanded exegetical treatment made be myself, and so many others throughout history. – – To read Perkins’ article go here.

*If I were Dalcour, I, too, would rather deal with an exceedingly shorter version of my “voluminous” (his selected term above) refutation to his typical textual blunders as shown in John 10.30 than to deal with each rebuttal.  As noted, this is classic Dalcour methodology:  Demand of your opponents what you yourself do not practice—a natural outgrowth of his “Calvinism” cult-think.

*Below, Dalcour repeatedly claims that I ignore the context of said passage, when, in point of fact, the very context is what refutes his eisegesis of the text—as I specifically pointed out in the article.  Of course, if Dalcour would not cherry pick which sections of my piece he opts to deal with and post the entire article this would be clearly demonstrated.  

(Dalcour): In fact, not one, not even one, noted scholar, grammarian, or standard lexicographer in Christian history has ever agreed with the customary Oneness interpretation of Isa. 9:6; Mal. 2:10; Matt. 28:19; John 1:1; 10:30; 14:9; 17:5; Col. 2:9 et al.

*Has Dalcour never heard of the logical fallacy Argumentum Ad Populum?  This is an elementary flaw in argumentation methodology that asserts that a proposition must be true because many people believe it.  If the populace determines our belief system as Dalcour intimates above then he would have been right alongside the masses screaming, “Not this one, but Barabbas!” (John 18.40)

*And, specifically who is doing the “noting”—Trinitarians like Dalcour?  I suppose that Dalcour would have us believe that there was a consensus of theology among these same lexicographers, grammarians and scholars?  In fact, Dalcour appeals to Dr. Joseph Thayer quite often—who openly rejected the Trinity doctrine, that Jesus was God, taught baptism for the dead, denied the visible second coming of Christ and Dalcour’s doctrine of eternal Sonship!

*Here’s a quotation from the Publisher’s introduction to Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon:

“A word of caution is necessary.  Thayer was a Unitarian, and the errors of this sect occasionally come through in the explanatory notes.  The reader should be alert for both subtle and blatant denials of such doctrines as the Trinity (Thayer regarded Christ as a mere man and the Holy Spirit as an impersonal force emanating from God), the inherent and total depravity of fallen human nature, the eternal punishment of the wicked, and Biblical inerrancy.”

*Under the verb translated “are baptized” (βαπτιζόμενοι) in I Corinthians 15.29, Thayer says:

on behalf of the dead, i. e. to promote their eternal salvation by undergoing baptism in their stead, I Corinthians 15:29.

*Won’t Dalcour’s LDS brethren be happy to see that he has apparently made the switch—since he emphasizes the personal-theological conclusions of these lexicographers (should we now expect to see missionary Dalcour riding around the neighborhood on his bike?)!

*Further, would Dalcour have us believe that all of these self-same scholars arrived at his “Calvinism” views?  If so, was it the exact same flavor of Calvinism that he embraces (since the variables are myriad within Calvinism).  If not, then his entire point above is moot.

*Interestingly, as I point out in my non-Christian-cults classes, every one of these movements has a supplement to what the Scriptures themselves actually say.  Mormons have the Book of Mormon, Doctrines & Covenants, etc.  JW’s have their poor NWT and the Watchtower magazine; the RCC have Papal Infallibility, Vicar of Christ, Mariolatry, etc.  The “Reform” movement has their creeds & councils—which no one dare to question.  Of course, this is often done while providing lip service to the terms sola-scriptura and tota-scriptura—yet denying the same in practice (as Dalcour reveals immediately below).    

(Dalcour):  In point of fact, early church Fathers collectively, important Ecumenical Councils and resulting creeds, all recognized biblical scholarship has always been against the theological assertions made by modalistic/Oneness advocates.

*Ahhh yes, here it is – the Reform mantra itself!  The usual appeal to those all-authoritative “councils” and “creeds” of men.  Moreover, again, who is doing the “recognizing” concerning this “biblical scholarship?” Answer: Trinitarians!  This would be identical to Oneness believers claiming that no scholarship was to be recognized outside of Oneness Pentecostals!  We wonder how that would square with Trinitarians?

*If Dalcour does not understand such elementary fallacies as Argumentum Ad Populum—since he makes this freshman mistake at virtually every turn—he likely is not familiar with the concept of circular argumentation.  Dalcour very often reaches his desired goal from the starting line!

*And, we would be interested to know if Dalcour accepts all of these same “early church Fathers” writings?  Shall we begin posting some of their actual quotations?  Further, scholarly quotes abound to the fact that many of these early writers were ontological (contra merely functional) subordinationists in relation to God and His Son.  

*In fact, Dr. Daniel Wallace acknowledged in an interview a few years ago that the Trinity doctrine emerged after the writings of the Apostle Paul (HERE).  Dalcour can stomp his foot insisting that the Trinity doctrine is “biblical” until doomsday – that will never make his claim evidential.

(Dalcour): Disregarding Context:  First, as clearly seen, Perkins (as well as Oneness advocates across the board) has an annoying routine of basing the entirety of his arguments on a single word possible meaning, hence engaging in word fallacies over and over—while the entire contexts are dismissed and/or ignored.  This is esp. seen in his unitarian view of John 10:30, as we will see.      

*Not surprisingly, as anyone can “clearly see” the context of John 10 was my very source of appeal—and specifically what refutes Dalcour’s eisegesis of this unit of passages.  This is nothing more than Dalcour’s typically unsubstantiated assertions and diversionary tactics.  He does not offer any actual evidence or demonstration of this charge.

*Moreover, since Dalcour commits both logical and grammatical fallacies at virtually every turn in both his writings and presentations, we would think he would discard the word “fallacies” as quickly as Bernie Sanders would drop the term “conservative!”  Perhaps I should send Dalcour a copy of D.A. Carson’s Exegetical Fallacies?    

(Dalcour): A glaring example of this is in Perkins’ assessment John 10:30, Perkins in his article, he spends most of his time trying to tell us (Christians) what a text “cannot” mean, rather than what it does mean.

*Actually, I demonstrated from the grammar, context and grammar to the Christians the errors of Dalcour’s claims – and in hopes that Trinitarians will see his mistakes and become biblical Christians.  My rejoinders against Dalcour have quite obviously been intended to deal with his mountains of repeated textual miscalculations.

(Dalcour):  In other words, Perkins, does not provide a positive affirmation as to the actual meaning of v. 30;

*Here are my quite clear words in the article below that Dalcour is referring to:

Moreover, as intimated above, Oneness believers agree that there is a subject-object distinction in John 10.30-33.  And the context actually defines this distinction for us:  “You, being a man, make yourself God.”  The problem the Jews had with Christ’s assertion was that He was a visible “man” claiming to be the invisible “God.”  In John 10.30 both the 1^st person pronoun translated “I” (ἐγὼ) and the noun translated “Father” (Πατὴρ) appear in the nominative case, singular number.  The speaker was a visible man (subject) claiming to be the one invisible God (object)—hence the contextual subject-object distinction.

*Outside of actually quoting the surrounding context, the reaction of the original hearers and the specific grammar—we are not quite sure how else to explain this for Dalcour (?).  In 10.33 the noun translated “man” (ἄνθρωπος) appears in the ordinary nominative case (subject of the verbs “being” [ὢν] and “make” [ποιεῖς]), while the word rendered “God” is an accusative case noun.  We don’t know how to make this any clearer for Dalcour.     

(Dalcour):  nor does he explain how it relates to the context of chapter 10;

*As any one can plainly see above I have specifically quoted both the context and grammar of this unit.

(Dalcour):  or explain WHY Jesus, as recorded, uses a plural verb and not a singular verb denoting Him and His Father;

*Below Dalcour attempts to spin away from the natural force of the masculine singular adjective translated “one” in Mark 12.29 (εἷς – which he erroneously identifies as a “pronoun” twice in a clip I post below) by petitioning two verses that he thinks rehabilitates his Trinity doctrine.  This he does by appealing to what he considers a consistent usage of this particular adjective—although we’re not quite sure how he surmises that two verses set the precedent for hundreds of clear passages (?).  Of course, such hermeneutical fallacies are quite common among agenda-driven Trinitarians like Dalcour (as we shall soon display).  As we demonstrate below, the boomerang effect of his evasion tactics relative to this adjective are devastating to his desperate endeavor to maintain this unbiblical dogma.

*Likewise, in my blog refutation of Dalcour’s eisegesis of John 10.30 and his earth-shattering plural verb argument, I quoted several passages that supply the singular verb modifying both God and His Son that Dalcour is always complaining about—and that he completely omitted from his current article.  Here are the actual quotes from my original article that Dalcour omits from his audience’s consideration:

“There are numerous NT passages where a singular verb modifies the Father and the Son of God as the same subject:

“I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.  (Revelation 21.22; NASB)

“The Greek verb translated ‘are’ (ἐστιν) in this text is the ‘singular verb estin’ that Dalcour requests above explicating both God and His Son.  If a plural verb describing the Father and the Son quantifies as two divine persons—why does not a singular verb modifying the same subject equal a single divine person (esp. when this passage contextually describes the singular ‘temple’ of Heaven)?

“Trinitarians typically attempt to dodge this dilemma by stating that Revelation 21.22 is not syntactically parallel to John 10.30 and hence does not apply to the debate (as Dalcour does below).  However, this is a subtle shift in argumentation to evade their obvious inconsistency since no appeal to syntax was marshaled from the Trinitarian camp in the original assertion.  This is nothing more than the usual effort by Trinitarians to spin away from their discordant appeals.  The exegetical fact remains that a singular verb modifies both the Father and the Son of God in Revelation 21.22 as the vast majority of reputable translations clearly affirm (e.g., ESV, NASB, BSB, NKJV).  Why the double standard from Trinitarians?  Inquiring minds want to know!

“Just for good measure, a couple of additional passages where singular verbs simultaneously modify both the Father and the Son of God as the same subject:

“Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.  (I Thessalonians 3.11; Berean Literal Bible)

“Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ ἡμῶν καὶ ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς κατευθύναι τὴν ὁδὸν ἡμῶν πρὸς ὑμᾶς·  (NA28)

“The Greek verb rendered ‘direct’ (κατευθύναι) above appears in the aorist, active, optative, 3rd person, singular form describing the activity of the Father and Jesus.  Will Trinitarians be consistent in their verbal appeals at this point?  Or, will they now offer the usual spin-away-from-it tact?  I prophesy the latter!  

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.  (2 Thessalonians 2.16-17; NASB)

“Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς καὶ [ὁ] θεὸς ⸀ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν ὁ ἀγαπήσας ἡμᾶς καὶ δοὺς παράκλησιν αἰωνίαν καὶ ἐλπίδα ἀγαθὴν ἐν χάριτι, παρακαλέσαι ὑμῶν τὰς καρδίας καὶ στηρίξαι ἐν παντὶ ⸂ἔργῳ καὶ λόγῳ⸃ ἀγαθῷ.  (NA28)

“You guessed it!  The four verbs (two in participial form) embolden above used to explicate the action of the same subject – God the Father and Christ – are all singular, not plural.  Where are all the blog posts and lectures from Trinitarians concerning these singular verbs that modify God and His Son?  Why the deafening silence?  Not to worry, we will shout it from the proverbial mountaintops for them!

“Moreover, as intimated above, Oneness believers agree that there is a subject-object distinction in John 10.30-33.  And the context actually defines this distinction for us:  ‘You, being a man, make yourself God.’  The problem the Jews had with Christ’s assertion was that He was a visible ‘man’ claiming to be the invisible ‘God’.”

*Hence, as usual Dalcour practices what he disallows for others. 

(Dalcour):  or WHY is the neuter “one” used to denote the relationship between Jesus and the Father.

*Dalcour was the one who raised the potential of the masculine singular force of “one” in John 10.30.  Here’s his original quote: “If Jesus wanted to communicate that He was Himself the Father (same person), He certainly would have used the masculine heis (as in Mark 12:29; 1 Tim. 2:5).”

*Now, as evidenced by both the sloppiness and tone of his article, Dalcour goes into panic mode because his assertion has backfired on him – and he must save face as quickly as possible!  Perhaps he is not familiar with the purpose of a rejoinder, but it is to refute the erroneous assertions of others—not to offer a “positive” argumentation (which, again, was indeed plainly provided in my article).

*However, to oblige Dalcour regarding the neuter of John 10.30, we will once again affirm that two subjects are in view in John 10.30 who constitutes God’s simultaneous existence as “God” and “man” (v. 33) in the person of Jesus Christ.  This is precisely what we have been attempting to inform Trinitarians ever since they invented this doctrine!  As stated elsewhere, of course we “use” John 10.30 since it directly refutes the Triune divinity heresy from the very lips of Jesus!   

(Dalcour): Perkins, for reasons know to himself, decided not to properly address these important issues.  Instead, Perkins merely makes comments based on his personal view and complains about the historic Trinitarian view.  Since Perkins seems bothered most by the historical and enduring scholarly interpretation of John 10:30, I will respond primarily to Perkins’ assertion regarding that passage:  

*First, Perkins explicitly addressed these issues as evidenced by the direct quotes above from my refutation.  Hence, either Dalcour is blatantly dishonest (something he repeatedly charges me with), or, most probably, his religious tradition and pride blinds him to the very words before his eyes – as he does with the clear passages of the biblical data.

*Second, amazingly, the “scholarly interpretations” quoted by Dalcour actually validates the Oneness position unbeknownst to them—viz., their comments on the potential of the masculine singular adjective “one” (εἷς)…which was the overarching point of the whole rejoinder!

*Third, as to be expected, Dalcour’s appeal to uninspired “historical interpretations” serves as but another example of his supplemental data to the inspired biblical record.  As mentioned above every non-Christian movement is governed by such extra-biblical authority in practice (while simultaneously denying the same in confession).

*Perkins is not at all “bothered” by “historical interpretations” of this or any other biblical passage.  Oneness believers are simply held hostage by the Scriptures to deny the doctrine of the Trinity—and we are very serious about eternal salvation.  For this reason we tenaciously teach our children on the dangerous errors of this anti-biblical doctrine in accordance with Deuteronomy 6.4-7 and as commanded by Jesus in Mark 12.29.  

(Dalcour): Oneness people are utterly controlled by their unitarian presupposition.  Thus. every passage, which says or teaches “one God” (e.g., Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29), Perkins (as with all Oneness advocates), must salvage his personal views by forcing unitarianism into every passage—without, of course, proving it from the text.

*Ironically, it is Trinitarians who have some odd infatuation with force-feeding “multiple divine persons” into the text at virtually every turn.  That Trinitarians can somehow cram three divine persons down the throat of ca. nine-thousand single-person-pronouns applied to God—then charge Oneness believers with “presupposition” only serves to further demonstrate their desperate attempts to protect their religious tradition(s).

*Dalcour specializes in such wild-eyed speculations as he seeks to locate the Son of God on almost every page of the OT.  The annoying fact that the OT Jews-Hebrews have never worshiped a Triune divinity seems to get under his skin—hence he swats at shadows of “the Angel of the Lord,” “The Ancient of Days,” etc.  These assumptions are easily refuted by the biblical data itself – but anything to off-set the thorn in his side (note also that none of Dalcour’s repeated Jewish resources conclude his Triune divinity hypothesis)!

(Dalcour): All unitarians, whether Muslims, JWs, or Oneness Pentecostals employ this kind of circular eisegesis.  Thus, Perkins automatically (not exegetically) interprets John 10:30 through the lens of unitarianism—viz., one God = one person, the Father.          

*Here Dalcour seeks to lump Oneness believers with groups who deny that the Son of God is very God in bodily form—something we tenaciously cling to.  Dalcour knows this and thus reveals his lack of honesty and ethics when dealing with opposing views (exposing his typical pomp).  As demonstrated above, we equally include Trinitarians like Dalcour in with aberrant groups—particularly Mormons, Roman Catholics and JW’s since they argue much alike and all of these groups have more than one with the status of “God.”

*Similarly, Muslims and JW’s are often heard to say, “Jesus never once said He was God!”  Uniformly, Trinitarians very often (erroneously) claim, “Jesus never once said He was the Father!”  This is where his Guilt by Association fallacy and ad-hominem attacks land Daclour—all the while he stomps his foot about my supposed “fallacies!”  {Note: Much could be pointed out regarding the inverse of Dalcour’s Guilt by Association fallacy known as Honor by Association, but that would extend beyond the scope of this polemic.  Perhaps an article for another time!}

*This is not to even expound upon how Dalcour exchanges the lenses of biblical monotheism (what he labels as “unitarianism”) for his trifocals on virtually every page.

*Moreover, I have both contextually and grammatically demonstrated that John 10.30 stands as a positive testimony to the identity of Jesus as both the sole OT Yahveh and a genuine “man.”  I cannot help that Dalcour filters all data through his trifocals, just as he does the biblical testimony of God’s self-declarations (e.g., Isaiah 44.24; Mark 12.29; Colossians 2.8-10).

(Dalcour):  As we will see all over, Perkins not once deals with the context of the chapter itself.  Anyone who as ever heard Perkins in debate or read any of his tutelages, he or she would see that Perkins lives up to his solid reputation of removing passages and words out of their inclusive context in which he posits his personal theology into such passages throwing around Greek terms and misreading and misquoting lexicons.

*Actually, the diametrical opposite is true.  Perkins specifically appealed to the context (as my direct quotes provided below demonstrate).  And, though this has been explained to Dalcour ad nauseum, I will repeat it here for the honest reader.  In my October 2011 debate with James White while discussing the Greek noun translated “image” (εἰκὼν) in Colossians 1.15 I referenced the following direct quote from BDAG (actually I was referring to BAGD [2^nd ed.], but the quotation is the same):

2 that which has the same form as someth. else (not a crafted object as in 1 above), living image, fig. ext. of 1 εἰκὼν τοῦ θεοῦ (ἄνθρωπος πλάσμα καὶ εἰκὼν αὐτοῦ [God] Theoph. Ant. 1, 4 [p. 64, 17]; w. ὁμοίωσις Did., Gen. 56, 28) of a man (cp. Mitt-Wilck. I/2, 109, 11 [III B.C.] Philopator as εἰκὼν τοῦ Διός; Rosetta Stone = OGI 90, 3 [196 B.C.] Ptolemy V as εἰκὼν ζῶσα τοῦ Διός, cp. APF 1, 1901, 483, 11; Plut., Themist. 125 [27, 4]; Lucian, Pro Imag. 28 εἰκόνα θεοῦ τ. ἄνθρωπον εἶναι; Diog. L. 6, 51 τ. ἀγαθοὺς ἄνδρας θεῶν εἰκόνας εἶναι; Sextus 190; Herm. Wr. 1, 12 al.; Apuleius as image of God, Rtzst., Mysterienrel.3 43; JHehn, Zum Terminus ‘Bild Gottes’: ESachau Festschr. 1915, 36-52) 1 Cor 11:7 (on the gradation here cp. Herm. Wr. 11, 15a); of Christ (Helios as εἰκών of deity: Pla., Rep. 509; Proclus, Hymni 1, 33f [Orphica p. 277 Abel]; Herm. Wr. 11, 15; Stob. I 293, 21=454, 1ff Sc.; Hierocles 1, 418: the rest of the gods are εἰκόνες of the primeval god. – The Logos: Philo, Conf. Ling. 97; 147. Wisdom: Wsd 7:26) 2 Cor 4:4; Col 1:15 (εἰ. τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ὁ μονογενής Did., Gen. 58, 3; cp. εἰκὼν γὰρ τοῦ…θεοῦ ὁ λόγος ἐστὶ αὐτοῦ Orig., C. Cels. 4, 85, 24.–EPreuschen, ZNW 18, 1918, 243).

*Above I have embolden the segments of this lexicon that I was referencing in the debate.  As anyone can plainly read above these lexicographers state that the Greek phrase εἰκὼν τοῦ θεοῦ (the identical construction used in Colossians 1.15) defines as a “figurative extension of 1,” referring to BDAG’s first (i.e., the #1 above) provided definition of this Greek noun.  Here is the first meaning that BDAG states extends out to Christ in a figurative sense at Colossians 1.15:

1 an object shaped to resemble the form or appearance of someth., likeness, portrait (cp. Did., Gen. 82, 6) of the emperor’s head on a coin (so Artem. 4, 31; of an emperor’s image Jos., Bell. 2, 169; 194, Ant. 19, 185; cp. AcThom 112 [Aa II/2, 223, 19]; s. DShotter, Gods, Emperors, and Coins: Greece and Rome, 2d ser. 26, ’79, 48-57) Mt 22:20; Mk 12:16; Lk 20:24. Of an image of a god (Diod. S. 2, 8, 7 [Zeus]; Appian, Mithrid. 117 §575 θεῶν εἰκόνες; Lucian, Sacr. 11; 2 Ch 33:7; Is 40:19; Just., A I, 55, 7; Ath. 18, 1; s. TPodella, Das Lichtkleid ’96, esp. 83-88) Rv 13:14f; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4.

*In the debate I simply overlooked the semi-colon (;) preceding the phrase “of Christ” and I am sincerely glad this was pointed out later.  It has indeed helped me in my carefulness of research.  However, this changes absolutely nothing in my application since BDAG used the descriptor “Christ” for this specific noun, which is not an ontological expression as Trinitarians feign, but rather a functional term literally meaning “one who has been anointed” (cf. NET TN).  If this is describing “ontologically co-equal, co-eternal, divine persons” how can it be said that one co-equal divine person “anointed” another co-equal divine person?  And Dalcour calls Oneness theology “convoluted?”

*Similar to Mormonism, Trinitarians attempt to redefine this noun to refer to the pre-existent-heavenly world.  However, as seen above, this Greek noun denotes that which is tangible or corporeal and is where we derive the English word “icon”—obviously referring to that which is physically material.  Or, as the Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament defines this particular noun:

(2) as an embodiment or living manifestation of God form, appearance (CO 1.15);

*Did Christ have an actual “embodiment” in His preexistent state?  If so, then Dalcour is now advocating radical-bodily separation within the Godhead – all the while still feigning “monotheism.”  Note also that the term “embodiment” is synonymous with “incarnation.”  No doubt Dalcour will place his usual evasive spin on the above grammatical facts, but we will simply allow the actual text itself to inform our theological deductions—despite his beloved “creeds” and “councils.”

*More importantly, to seek to apply the same time continuum (i.e., “eternality”) to a “visible image” (cf. Amplified Bible) as to that which is “invisible”—viz., the “invisible God” in this text—betrays Dalcour’s theologically-driven obsession.  Such non-sensical conclusions only serve to demonstrate how far Trinitarians like Dalcour are willing to stretch to protect their religious traditions.      

*Even worse, I have numerous quotes of Dalcour making outright erroneous assertions about the Greek texts of the Bible.  While I post the links to several of his blunders later, for now, all one has to do is listen in below as Dalcour claims the masculine singular adjective εἷς (“one” in Mark 12.29) is actually a masculine “pronoun.”  And, he does this not just once but twice with the actual text right in front of him HERE (forward to the 2:41 and 8:50 minute mark[s] and listen in)!

*If Dalcour doesn’t even know the difference between a Greek adjective and a pronoun he might want to think twice before he attempts to correct someone else for how they have used a resource years ago.  As seen above, Dalcour just recently made these sophomoric bloopers—and we have many more below!

(Dalcour):  Hence, many see Perkins as practicing dishonest scholarship especially in his debate with James White.

*Specifically who are the “many?” Agenda-driven Trinitarians like Dalcour?  And, isn’t this the same debate where White provided his own private translation of Philippians 2.6—yet failed to inform the audience it was his personal rendering?  We wonder how many Trinitarians are charging White with “dishonest scholarship?”  Isn’t this the same debate where White openly stated that God supposedly exists as “three divine individuals, each with their own separate (a word Dalcour sprints away from) centers of consciousness apart from the other two divine persons?”  Who can take such claims seriously?

*Moreover, I received testimonies and appreciation from all over the world for this debate.  In fact, several people were converted to biblical Christianity and monotheism due to that debate.  To Christ be all the glory and honor.  

(Dalcour):  Namely, Perkins stated that Thayer applied a meaning of “in the mind” for preposition para with dative, appearing twice in John 17:5: (“Father glorify Me para seautw [“together with Yourself”] . . . with the glory I had para soi [“with You”] before the world was”).  However, Thayer said no such thing.  He does indicate para with the dative could have a possible meaning of “in the mind” at John 17:5.

*Umm, was this not my very point in the debate?  Here Dalcour commits the special pleading fallacy by employing the terms “could have” and a “possible” meaning.  This is nothing more than Dalcour’s usual exegetical-dodge-ball tactics to avoid the direct lexical refutations of his absolute claims—all the while he charges others with the very disingenuous methods that he consistently uses.  As shown above, the lexical fact remains that the Greek preposition παρὰ + dative case used by Christ includes “in the mind,” despite how hard Dalcour attempts to spin away from its semantic range.

(Dalcour):  To say that he did as Perkins did is simply flat-out lexical abuse.  In fact, when Thayer actually comments on para with the dative to John 17:5 he states:

*Amazingly, Dalcour botches yet another lexical resource here and only provides a partial quotation as seen in his ellipsis (…) below.  Not to worry—we provide the whole quote for our readers!

(Dalcour quoting Thayer):  With, i.e., in one’s house. . . .Dwelling WITH God, John 8:38 [“I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.”]; i.q. [‘the same as’] in heaven, John 17:5 (emphasis added).

(Dalcour):  No “in the mind” meaning (as with standard lexicons and grammars indicate).

*Are we reading the same lexicon Mr. Dalcour?  Here’s the entire quotation from Thayer:

II.  with the dative, παρά indicates that something is or is done either in the immediate vicinity of someone, or (metaphorically) in his mind, near by, beside, in the power of, in the presence of, with, the Sept. for אֵצֶל (1 Kings 20:1 (); Proverbs 8:30), בְּיַד (Genesis 44:16; Numbers 31:49), בְּעֵינֵי (see b. below); cf. Winers Grammar, § 48, d., p. 394f (369); (Buttmann, 339 (291f)).  

(a)  near, by: εἱστήκεισαν παρά τῷ σταυρῷ, John 19:25 (this is the only passage in the N. T. where παρά is joined with a dative of the thing, in all others with a dative of the person). after a verb of motion, to indicate the rest which follows the motion (cf. Buttmann, 339 (292)), ἔστησεν αὐτό παῥ ἑαυτῷ, Luke 9:47.  

(b)  with, i. e. in one’s house; in one’s town; in one’s society: ξενίζεσθαι (which see), Acts 10:6; Acts 21:16; μένειν, of guests or lodgers, John 1:39 (); ; Acts 9:43; Acts 18:3, 20 (R G); f; ἐπιμένειν, Acts 28:14 L T Tr WH; καταλύειν, Luke 19:7 (Demosthenes, de corona § 82 (cf. Buttmann, 339 (292))); ἀριστᾶν, Luke 11:37; ἀπολείπειν τί, 2 Timothy 4:13; παρά τῷ Θεῷ, dwelling with God, John 8:38; equivalent to in heaven, John 17:5;

*Note above that Thayer provides the lexical meaning of παρὰ in the dative case under definition number II where he specifies that when a “metaphorical” connotation is applied the sense is “in the mind.”  Thayer then places John 17.5 under category IIb.  Dalcour is hung on the horns of a dilemma here since he either has to (i) openly affirm that God the Father and “God the Son” have literal “sides”—which destroys the notion of omnipresence for Dalcour’s supposed “God-persons,” or (ii) the meaning of this prepositional construct is metaphorical (as Dalcour has acknowledged in his lectures).

*If the meaning is metaphorical—as it clearly is—then Dalcour is forced to concede Thayer’s application of “in the mind” if he is to abide by his own standards.  Of course, we can expect to find the remains of the Abominable Snowman before this will ever take place!  Hence, as demonstrated above, it is actually Dalcour who is living up to his solid reputation of removing passages and words out of their inclusive context.  This never ceases to amaze me about Dalcour and I sincerely feel so sorry for his gullible devotees.     

(Dalcour):  As with John 10:30, Perkins is quite alone on his personal views of regarding a Oneness unitarian interpretation of 17:5.  In point of fact, anyone engaging in real scholarly research on John 17:5 (or 10:30) would see scholarly opinion rejects Oneness theological assertions across the board.        

*Actually, “in point of fact,” this is patently false as this quotation from one of many Trinitarian scholars clearly indicates:

“The glory of the completed redemption cannot literally be possessed until redemption is complete.  If now the pre-existence of Jesus, according to the 17^th chapter of John is clearly ideal, this fact confirms the interpretation which has been given of the other passages….We conclude, then, that (Jn. 17:5) in which Jesus alludes to his preexistence, does not involve the claim that His preexistence was personal and real. (It is) to be classed with the other phenomena of the Messianic consciousness of Jesus, none of which have to do with metaphysical relationships with the Father” (Dr. G. H. Gilbert, former professor of NT Literature at Chicago Theological Seminary; The Revelation of Jesus: A Study of the Primary Sources of Christianity, p. 222).

*Hence, what Dalcour classifies as “scholarly opinion” translates into those-that-specifically-agree-with-me!  Again, this is merely one of numerous quotes we could marshal from various scholars that speak to this end.  Similarly, the Greek preposition and pronoun translated “with you” in the last clause of 17.5 is παρὰ σοί in the dative case and enjoys quite a semantic range.  See below the UBS Concise Greek-English Dictionary:

παρά prep. with:  (1) genitive, from, of (τὰ παρά τινος one’s provisions, money or gift; οἱ παρʼ αὐτοῦ his family #Mr 3:21); by, with; (2) dative, with, in the presence of, before; in the judgment of; near, beside; for; (3) accusative, beside, by, at; on, along; to; than, more than, above; rather than; contrary to.

*As anyone can plainly see, “beside” is only one of several potential meanings of this preposition in this case.  As demonstrated above, παρὰ + dative equally means “in the judgment of,” which is perfectly aligned with the Oneness position (cf. L&N, Thayer, et al. for this meaning of παρὰ + dative).  Trinitarians cherry-pick the definition that seems to best fit their theology in John 17.5 and we simply have another case of creedal belief pawned off as grammatical fact.  The reality is that context will always be the ultimate determiner in translation—as an “apologist” should well know.

(Dalcour): REGARDING JOHN 10:30-Context. After reading Perkins’ so-called refutation, a glaring fact jumps out (esp. with John 10:30): Perkins never actually interacts at all with the content and actual context of the surrounding the passages, he merely asserts his theology into text.

*As we have demonstrated above and shall show once again below, I specifically referenced the “context of the surrounding the passages” (whatever such non-sensical wording is supposed to mean?)—and Dalcour actually provides my quote below!  Mind-boggling.

(Dalcour):  He does use the word “context when he says:

*(My quote from the original rejoinder):  “And the context actually defines this distinction for us:  “You, being a man, make yourself God.”  The problem the Jews had with Christ’s assertion was that He was a visible “man” claiming to be the invisible “God.”  In John 10.30 both the 1^st person pronoun translated “I” (ἐγὼ) and the noun translated “Father” (Πατὴρ) appear in the nominative case, singular number.  The speaker was a visible man (subject) claiming to be the one invisible God (object)—hence the contextual subject-object distinction.”

(Dalcour):  So Perkins’ idea of “context” is to cite a lone passage (i.e., v. 30) and then his own assumed context into that passage.

*As anyone can read in the excerpts above, I actually cited v. 33 as the carefully stated context (i.e., the natural flow of the Johannine narrative)—not v. 30 as Dalcour erroneously claims above.  Further, I repeatedly pointed to how the original hearers understood Jesus’ assertion in v. 30 as a statement of identity and not mere “unity” – even after hearing the plural verb (that Dalcour thinks demands multiple persons in the Godhead).  

*After citing v. 33 as the surrounding context I subsequently moved on to v. 30.  Perhaps if Dalcour would quote the whole article for his readers I would not have to point out the obvious, but, again, I refer readers to my original blog piece.  And Dalcour is attempting to correct me about supposedly “practicing dishonest scholarship?”  The proverbial elephant in the room is quite glaring!  

(Dalcour):  As any first year seminary student knows, that he would receive failing grade on in a basic hermeneutic class, which he was required to exegete a passage and he merely did what Perkins did—viz., assert a pre-text without a context.

*While we appreciate Dalcour’s James White impersonation here, actually, I completed “first year” Greek with a 95% by the grace of God – and at “land record speed” as my professor stated.  And, while I certainly make no pretenses to being a Greek scholar I have continued my education in original language research and have learned much (with much more to still learn!).   

*Far more importantly, below, we demonstrate but a few of Dalcour’s fundamental hermeneutical flaws.  Worse, as shown above Dalcour repeatedly blunders with the Greek text.  Here, let’s see another one of his botched quotes shall we?

*On his website Dalcour has a video clip entitled, “The Trinity in the OT Recorded live at ABN in Detroit MI, featuring Sam Shamoun, Edward Dalcour, and Anthony Rogers” (found about ¾ down the page HERE).  At the 50:20 minute mark Dalcour begins discussing Matthew 28.18-19.  And at the 50:36 minute mark Dalcour informs us that Christ commanded His disciples to baptize “UNDER the name” of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

*Problem is, Jesus never “commanded” any such thing!  The Greek preposition used by Jesus is εἰς governing the accusative case noun ὄνομα.  For Dalcour’s false assertion to be accurate Jesus would have used the normal preposition for “under,” viz., ὑπό in the accusative case.  Amazingly, in this same clip, Dalcour even stresses the singularity of the name of Matthew 28.19—yet fails to inform us what this single “name” is (hint:  it is equally “the name of…the Son” Mr. Dalcour!).  And this is but one of Dalcour’s numerous clumsy attempts to sound “scholarly” in this clip—as well as many other recordings that I have.

*This is simply “first year” Greek and if Dalcour makes such freshman mistakes such as this he might need to re-evaluate his own “credentials.”  Incidentally, since Dalcour is publicly leveling charges against my references and personal scholarship, the following is taken from his website: “Dr. Dalcour holds a Master in Apologetics from Columbia Evangelical Seminary and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Dogmatic Theology from North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus, SA).”  Now, see HERE for information on where Dalcour obtained these degrees.

*I personally spoke with administration at Columbia Evangelical Seminary and they affirmed that they aren’t even an accredited seminary – and their behemoth “campus” is limited to two small offices (see HERE  – I have since read that they have actually minimized down to one office now).  Or, simply see this link from their own website HERE.  

*This is not to infer that such on-line-distance education is not a learning experience as I am sure that it is.  However, someone as pompous as Dalcour regarding supposed biblical education might need to sweep around his own porch before dusting off his broom for mine (Note: I have even more information on “Dr.” Dalcour’s credentials if he presses this issue further.)!    

*As anticipated, Dalcour usually attempts to spin away from his all-thumbs-textual-bumbling(s) by protesting that he “meant this in a certain context!”  Trouble is, he does this type of thing over and over—and I have his actual recordings and quotes to prove it!  Let’s take an analytical look at Dalcour’s “hermeneutics” and see how he would fare in the same first year hermeneutics class shall we?  Indeed, as we have repeatedly pointed out, the hermeneutical and paradigmatic differences between Trinitarian and Oneness believers are at the very heart of our eternal differences.

*One of the most glaring hermeneutical flaws that Dalcour commits is interpreting the macro-witness through the lens of the micro-witness.  Any first year hermeneutics student understands that debatable-unclear passages that appear in the minority are to be explicated under the light of the undebatable-clear verses that appear in the majority.  This is so elementary that I am surprised that Trinitarians still use this ploy (e.g., Genesis 1.26; Matthew 28.19).

*That is, Dalcour repeatedly (mis)uses a handful of passages to teach that the Son of God was the “literal-active Creator” (e.g., Colossians 1.15-16; Hebrews 1.1-10) while attempting to explain away approximately fifty crystal-clear verses teaching that one person of God created (e.g., Nehemiah 9.6; Isaiah 44.24; Malachi 2.10; Mark 10.6; Matthew 19.4; etc.).

*Further, there are at least nine-thousand instances where God declares that He is a sole-person via single-person-pronouns, yet Dalcour somehow uses six plural pronouns applied to God as a blanket to cover these thousands of plain passages—and doesn’t even seem to blush.  How on earth someone who feigns “scholarship” can force-feed three, distinct, co-equal, co-eternal divine individuals into a single-person-pronoun is as mind-boggling as how Dalcour can seriously claim that the doctrine of the Trinity is actually “biblical.”

*Dalcour does the same thing with the lone witness of Matthew 28.19—which specifies a single “name”—in attempting to override the plainness of the baptismal accounts in the biblical data (e.g., Acts 2.38, 8.16, 10.48, 19.5, 22.16; I Corinthians 1.13, 6.11; Romans 6.3; Galatians 3.27; Colossians 2.9-12).  To Dalcour’s chagrin, since he is fond of arguing from silence, nowhere in the inspired-scriptural record is anyone ever baptized according “the Trinitarian formula” (as he calls it).

*Dalcour typically seeks to evade these militating biblical facts by claiming that the prepositional phrase “in the name of” doesn’t really mean a “name” (nudge-nudge – wink-wink), but rather “authority”….even though the Greek noun for “authority” (ἐξουσία) appears nowhere in these actual baptismal accounts.  Of course, this is an age-old dodge popularized by the so-called “Church of Christ” in polemic platform and has been utterly refuted.

*In fact, since Dalcour is fond of charging others with lexical abuse—when we’ve actually demonstrated the polar opposite above—let’s see if he’ll equally accept what BDAG says about the noun translated “name” in the baptismal accounts of Acts shall we?

Through baptism εἰς (τὸ) ὄν. τ. those who are baptized become the possession of and come under the dedicated protection of the one whose name they bear. An additional factor, to a degree, may be the sense of εἰς τὸ ὄν. = ‘with mention of the name’ (cp. Herodian 2, 2, 10; 2, 13, 2 ὀμνύναι εἰς τὸ ὄν. τινος; Cyranides p. 57, 1 εἰς ὄν. τινος; 60, 18=εἰς τὸ ὄν. τ.; 62, 13. Another ex. in Heitmüller 107): Mt 28:19; Ac 8:16; 19:5; D 7:1, (3); 9:5; Hv 3, 7, 3; cp. 1 Cor 1:13, 15.

ג. with ἐν: ἐν ὀνόματι of God or Jesus means in the great majority of cases with mention of the name, while naming or calling on the name (PsSol 11:8; JosAs 9:1; Just., D. 35, 2 al.; no corresponding use has been found in gener. Gk. lit.; but cp. ἐν ὀν. τοῦ μεγάλου καὶ ὑψίστου θεοῦ Hippol., Ref. 9, 15, 6.–Heitmüller p. 13ff, esp. 44; 49).  In many pass. it seems to be a formula…βαπτίζεσθαι ἐν τῷ ὀν. Ἰ. Χ.  be baptized or have oneself baptized while naming the name of Jesus Christ Ac 2:38 v.l.; 10:48.  At a baptism ἐν ὀν. χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ AcPl Ha 3, 32.

*Now watch Dalcour’s fancy footwork begin folks as he does in his most recent attempted dodge of these texts HERE!  

*Or, how about this dandy from the NIDNTTE:

(c) The baptismal formula εἰς τὸ ὄνομα, “to/into the name,” prob. corresponds with the rabb. use of לְשֵׁם (see JL 6 (e), above).  The sense may be that baptism symbolically assigns the believer to Christ for forgiveness of sins (Acts 8:16; 19:5; 1 Cor 1:13, 15; cf. Matt 28:19).  The same idea can be intended where other prepositions are used (Acts 2:38 [ἐπί]; 10:48 [ἐν]; cf. the LXX rendering of לְשֵׁם in Josh 9:9; 2 Sam 22:50; Sir 47:13).

*Note that this (highly meticulous) resource designates the phrase “into the name” as a “baptismal formula” connected to “forgiveness of sins.”  They then refer readers to their Semitic definition in the Jewish Literature (JL) 6 (e), which states:

(e) Among the rabbis the name is important in the teaching of tradition.  One who passes on a doctrine or tradition should do so by naming (בְּשֵׁם) the authority from whom it was received (m. ’Abot 6:6).

*This directly refutes Dalcour’s usual erroneous claim that in a Semitic context a “name” meant only “authority” and not an actual name as the inspired text clearly states.  Of course, this is nothing more than Dalcour’s typical attempt to render the biblical record of no affect in order to rescue and protect his religious tradition(s).  (Note: Dalcour’s “authority only” dodge would be deafeningly refuted in public polemic platform—and I sincerely hope he tries this should he ever accept my debate offer[s]!)

*Note also that the NIDNTTE citation above directs their audience to the LXX translation of Joshua 9.9 and the prepositional phrases rendered “in the name:”

(Joshua 9.9; NETS [LXX]):  And they said, “Your servants have come from a land very far away in the name of the Lord your God;  for we have heard his name and what he did in Egypt…”

*Note once again the connection between the prepositional phrase “in the name of” and “hear(ing) his name”—obviously indicating that the name was orally invoked.

*CWSB; Drs. Carpenter, Baker and Zodhiates:

To invoke (Acts 9:21; 22:16; 1 Cor. 1:2); baptízō (G0907), to baptize in the name of the Lord (Matt. 28:19; Acts 8:16; 19:5), and with the prep. epí (G1909), upon (Acts 2:38); with the prep. en (G1722), in (Acts 10:48 [cf. being baptized into {eis (G1519)} Christ [Rom. 6:3]); by antithesis, to baptize in the name of Paul (1 Cor. 1:13, 15).

*Since Dalcour refers to the consensus of scholarship above, will he stick by his guns in these accounts and now alter his “baptismal formula” to harmonize with these exegetes immediately overhead  (I have many more quotes if he still needs further persuasion!)?  Incidentally, I am currently reading through Dr. Craig S. Keener’s Exegetical Commentary on Acts (a mammoth 4 volume exegesis) wherein he clearly states that primitive Christian initiation included water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.  Stay tuned to this blog for specific quotes from Dr. Keener to this end.   

*Note also above that CWSB directly references Matthew 28.19 as baptism “in the name of the Lord” right alongside Acts 8.16 and Acts 19.5—clear references to baptism in Jesus Name (see HERE for an excellent exegesis of the biblical baptismal accounts).  We think it most wise not to hold our breath at this point!

*Another of Dalcour’s typical hermeneutical blunders is that he builds his theological house by appealing to the NT corpus at the outset relative to God’s identity—while explaining away the OT assertions of Yahveh’s self-declaration.  In doing so, Dalcour abandons all educational principles since latter revelation is naturally built on former revelation and not contrary to the same.

*Dalcour usually labels this “progressive revelation” in attempting to wax theological.  However, actually, his Godhead notions would be “digressive revelation” since this does theology backwards and rejects God’s sole-monadic-self-identification.  This holds particularly true for God’s eternal self-identification (e.g., Deuteronomy 33.27; etc.).  Simply, Dalcour’s theology disallows Yahveh’s words to hold true despite how loud he protests otherwise (e.g., Isaiah 44.24; Deuteronomy 4.35; etc.).

*As an analogy, imagine what would happen if you attempted to board a plane and showed TSA your identification card, but stubbornly insisted that you were really three persons—each with their own center of consciousness!  This is exactly what Dalcour does to Yahveh’s self-identification-card in literally thousands upon thousands of passages (e.g., Isaiah 40-45; Matthew 28.18-20; John 1.1-14, 14.8-18).      

*That is, Dalcour assumes that because he locates Father, Son, Holy Spirit language in the NT this equals an “eternal Triune divinity.”  The fact that the clear OT self-declarations of Yahveh sharply refute his eisegesis seems to really bother Dalcour.  Hence, to recover his theological commitments he swats at any shadows he thinks he can find in the OT of a “Trinity.”  Dalcour usually does this by taking wild-eyed swings at the “Angel of the LORD,” “The Ancient of Days,” plural Hebrew verbs, nouns and pronouns—none of which are textually limited to “three” and actually refutes his Triune divinity hypothesis (not unusual for Trinitarianism).

*Again, so much more could be pointed out regarding Dalcour’s supposed “hermeneutic” methodology, but for the sake of space and time we will save these points for our follow-up posts.  Stay tuned for the ensuing three refutations πρὸς Dalcour which will be posted very soon above.  

*Thank you for reading!