A History of Christian Doctrine #3 - Online Christian Library

The Jesus Name Controversy
people employed key concepts, phrases, and passages of
Scripture that were already in use. For example, early
preachers such as Parham and Durham had already
drawn attention to Acts 2:38, and the Oneness movement
extended that emphasis.
As with the Pentecostal movement generally, it would
be a mistake to identify one person as the founder of the
Oneness movement. More than any other individual,
Frank Ewart was responsible for the theological formulation
of the Oneness view of the Godhead. We should not
neglect, however, the significant roles that others played
at the very outset. R. E. McAlister contributed the crucial
insight that the apostles always baptized in Jesus’ name,
and he and Ewart discussed the related doctrinal issues
for months. John Schaepe was a catalyst with his insight
regarding the power of the name of Jesus. Frank Small
was the first to act upon the new thinking by baptizing
converts in Jesus’ name. Glenn Cook was instrumental in
discussing the doctrine with Ewart, in jointly taking the
decisive step of rebaptism, and in bringing the message
to other leaders. Several other key thinkers began contributing
significant insights almost immediately, notably
G. T. Haywood and in a few years Andrew Urshan.
Advocates of the Oneness message came from the
front ranks of Pentecostal leaders, including one of
Parham’s earliest converts and closest associates (Howard
Goss), one of Seymour’s full-time coworkers at Azusa
Street (Cook), and Durham’s assistant pastor and successor
(Ewart). Many of the founders of the Assemblies of
God and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada accepted
the Oneness message in whole or in part. Indeed, the first
general superintendents (or equivalent) of four major
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