Charles Parham

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United States of America,
Texas,
Copperas Cove,
Post Oak Avenue,

Charles Parham

Posted On : Nov-27-2011 | seen (1240) times | Article Word Count : 998 |

Charles Fox Parham (1873-1929) was considered the founder of the modern Apostolic Church. He was a small time holiness preacher that was interested in the book of Acts. In January 3, 1901, in Topeka Kansas he along with his wife and twelve others received the gift of the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of it in unknown or other tongues. He said then: "I thank God that I am saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost (Spirit)." He called this new group "The Apostolic Faith."

His services would later have healings and baptisms, both of water and of the gift of the Holy Spirit. From this sprang much interest in the new group. He was invited to Texas where a well known women was healed and raised up to walk from a wheel chair. Later many miracles passed in Waco, Galveston, San Antonio and Houston among other cities in Texas. There was a lot of growth during his revivals, in 1906 there were 13,000 people in the movement and by 1908 around 25,000.

Prior to his spirit filled baptism, Parham was a traditional Protestant who believed in the trinity. From 1902 onwards, the Lord impressed upon him the importance of the Oneness of God and water baptism. This evidence is found in his book titled, "A Voice Crying in the Wilderness" that was published in that same year. Though he followed Quaker influences initially, the Holy Ghost impressed upon him the importance of Acts 2:38. The very next day he was baptized in water.

Shortly after he first opened his school, Parham realised that the trinitarian form of baptism was not Scriptural. So he began baptising others only in the name of Jesus Christ. Though the Holy Spirit revealed to him the following things, he compromised with the larger portion of the movement that had many trinitarians and reversed his decision to baptise only in the name of Jesus Christ. According to him, the Holy Spirit spoke this unto him one day. One day while in the woods and meditating on God, is when the Holy Spirit spoke unto Parham. "Have you obeyed every command that you believe to be in the word of God?" This happened twice. Each time he answered yes to the Lord. The third time the Lord sent him the Acts 2:38 Scripture. "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Also God showed forth the baptism of Cornelius was in the name of the Lord Jesus. Though he tried to argue against it, the Lord the revealed to him that Paul also baptized that way in the book of Acts 19:1-5. That the baptism of John which was unto Christ was insufficient, that all needed baptism into the name of the Lord Jesus Christ after repenting of their sins. These and many other Scriptures showed that baptism in the name of Jesus was the correct formula.

When searching upon the subject again, the Holy Ghost also showed forth this truth to Him. "We are buried by baptism into His (Christ's) death. Which showed forth the truth of immersion. Though Parham knew that for years, the spirit also gave him further truth. "God the father and God the Holy Ghost never died (for the sins of mankind)." From there on he recognized one could not be buried in the name of the father or the Holy Ghost, as they never died and that it stood for nothing. Parham probably baptized into Jesus' name until at least 1910. But shortly thereafter when trinitarians became involved in the controversy, he quickly reversed his stance to appease them (as they were much greater in numbers).

In 1907, he was arrested. Thereafter his influence in the movement waned. It grew steadily weak until his demise in 1929.

In the October 1907 to January 1908 issue of "The Apostolic Faith" laid out several doctrinal steps to Christ.

1) Repentance.
2) Faith in our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.
3) Water baptism.
4) Sanctification.
5) The baptism of the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of it by speaking in unknown or other tongues.
6) The second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7) The final White Throne Judgment.

The movement did not believe in baptismal regeneration, but rather it was a command from Christ in Mark 16:15-17, Luke 24:45-47 and Acts 2:38-22:16. So people who came out that movement such as the Assemblies of God used only the trinitarian formula in Godhead and in their baptism. However, some others such as the Pentecostals and Apostolics stayed true to the Apostle's actions by baptising only in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, while Parham and others in the movement received the gift of the Holy Ghost it was never required by the Apostles in the book of Acts for the condition of salvation. Yet since they received this gift first and then obtained the revelation of repentance with baptism into the name of Jesus Christ later on, they placed it's priority above the Scriptures. Nowhere was any Christian in the word of God ordered to speak in an unknown tongue or in any language - whether learned or not, to prove his belief in Christ. On the other hand, Peter and Paul and every other Apostle required all those who heard the Gospel and believed in it to repent, and then be baptized in Jesus' name. Because faith apart from works is dead. In every age God requires a person to act upon their belief. Noah built an Ark, Abraham left Ur, and Daniel prayed (he was thrown into the den of lions for this, but God sent His angels who delivered him). As active faith has always caused people to act upon their love of God.

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<h1>Charles Parham</h1> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_Steve-0.aspx'>Steve-0</a> Charles Fox Parham (1873-1929) was considered the founder of the modern Apostolic Church. He was a small time holiness preacher that was interested in the book of Acts. In January 3, 1901, in Topeka Kansas he along with his wife and twelve others received the gift of the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of it in unknown or other tongues. He said then: "I thank God that I am saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost (Spirit)." He called this new group "The Apostolic Faith."

His services would later have healings and baptisms, both of water and of the gift of the Holy Spirit. From this sprang much interest in the new group. He was invited to Texas where a well known women was healed and raised up to walk from a wheel chair. Later many miracles passed in Waco, Galveston, San Antonio and Houston among other cities in Texas. There was a lot of growth during his revivals, in 1906 there were 13,000 people in the movement and by 1908 around 25,000.

Prior to his spirit filled baptism, Parham was a traditional Protestant who believed in the trinity. From 1902 onwards, the Lord impressed upon him the importance of the Oneness of God and water baptism. This evidence is found in his book titled, "A Voice Crying in the Wilderness" that was published in that same year. Though he followed Quaker influences initially, the Holy Ghost impressed upon him the importance of Acts 2:38. The very next day he was baptized in water.

Shortly after he first opened his school, Parham realised that the trinitarian form of baptism was not Scriptural. So he began baptising others only in the name of Jesus Christ. Though the Holy Spirit revealed to him the following things, he compromised with the larger portion of the movement that had many trinitarians and reversed his decision to baptise only in the name of Jesus Christ. According to him, the Holy Spirit spoke this unto him one day. One day while in the woods and meditating on God, is when the Holy Spirit spoke unto Parham. "Have you obeyed every command that you believe to be in the word of God?" This happened twice. Each time he answered yes to the Lord. The third time the Lord sent him the Acts 2:38 Scripture. "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Also God showed forth the baptism of Cornelius was in the name of the Lord Jesus. Though he tried to argue against it, the Lord the revealed to him that Paul also baptized that way in the book of Acts 19:1-5. That the baptism of John which was unto Christ was insufficient, that all needed baptism into the name of the Lord Jesus Christ after repenting of their sins. These and many other Scriptures showed that baptism in the name of Jesus was the correct formula.

When searching upon the subject again, the Holy Ghost also showed forth this truth to Him. "We are buried by baptism into His (Christ's) death. Which showed forth the truth of immersion. Though Parham knew that for years, the spirit also gave him further truth. "God the father and God the Holy Ghost never died (for the sins of mankind)." From there on he recognized one could not be buried in the name of the father or the Holy Ghost, as they never died and that it stood for nothing. Parham probably baptized into Jesus' name until at least 1910. But shortly thereafter when trinitarians became involved in the controversy, he quickly reversed his stance to appease them (as they were much greater in numbers).

In 1907, he was arrested. Thereafter his influence in the movement waned. It grew steadily weak until his demise in 1929.

In the October 1907 to January 1908 issue of "The Apostolic Faith" laid out several doctrinal steps to Christ.

1) Repentance. 
2) Faith in our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.
3) Water baptism.
4) Sanctification.
5) The baptism of the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of it by speaking in unknown or other tongues.
6) The second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 7) The final White Throne Judgment.

The movement did not believe in baptismal regeneration, but rather it was a command from Christ in Mark 16:15-17, Luke 24:45-47 and Acts 2:38-22:16. So people who came out that movement such as the Assemblies of God used only the trinitarian formula in Godhead and in their baptism. However, some others such as the Pentecostals and Apostolics stayed true to the Apostle's actions by baptising only in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, while Parham and others in the movement received the gift of the Holy Ghost it was never required by the Apostles in the book of Acts for the condition of salvation. Yet since they received this gift first and then obtained the revelation of repentance with baptism into the name of Jesus Christ later on, they placed it's priority above the Scriptures. Nowhere was any Christian in the word of God ordered to speak in an unknown tongue or in any language - whether learned or not, to prove his belief in Christ. On the other hand, Peter and Paul and every other Apostle required all those who heard the Gospel and believed in it to repent, and then be baptized in Jesus' name. Because faith apart from works is dead. In every age God requires a person to act upon their belief. Noah built an Ark, Abraham left Ur, and Daniel prayed (he was thrown into the den of lions for this, but God sent His angels who delivered him). As active faith has always caused people to act upon their love of God.
About the Author: Wikipedia, Apostolic History, Pentecostal Historical Accounts, The King James Bible Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Charles-Parham_110386.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Charles Parham_110386.aspx</a>

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Charles Parham_110386.aspx

Author Resource :
Wikipedia, Apostolic History, Pentecostal Historical Accounts, The King James Bible

Keywords : apostle, Charles Parham, faith, preacher, healed, ark, Abraham, Noah, voice, wilderness, cry, trinity, revival, Protestant, Quaker, baptism, ,

Category : Society : Religion

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