Andrew D. Urshan: A Theological Biography

A native of Persia who arrived in the United States of America in 1901, Urshan was one of the earliest, most prolific, and influential theologians of Oneness Pentecostalism. Although he associated himself with the Oneness segment of the Finished Work branch of Pentecostalism, he testified to three distinct stages in his Christian experience: conversion, sanctification, and Holy Spirit baptism with the accompanying sign of speaking with tongues. He came to believe that these three experiences should occur simultaneously, but he did not disparage those for whom they did not. He identified himself with the Oneness stream of Pentecostalism even though he embraced the concept of mysterious plurality in the "T-H-R-E-E---O-N-E" God. This was apparently due to the enduring cultural and theological influence of the Church of the East on his developing theology.;Although he resisted separation from the Assemblies of God, when forced to declare himself, Urshan claimed that when he was filled with the Holy Spirit in 1908 he immediately began to understand the Oneness of God. Urshan began baptizing in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1910 although he himself was not so baptized until 1915 during a ministry trip to Russia. He claimed to have been warned by William Durham and Frank Ewart not to preach and teach water baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for remission of sins as the new birth of water, baptism of the Holy Spirit with tongues as the new birth of the Spirit, and the oneness of God in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. But while in Persia in 1914, Urshan received mail from G. T. Haywood and Frank Ewart indicating that they had embraced baptism into the name of Jesus Christ.;Urshan's influence in the Pentecostal movement was largely due to his writing ministry, which included some eight books, the monthly periodical The Witness of God, songs, and tracts.;This dissertation traces the biography of Andrew D. Urshan and examines the development of his understanding of theology, Christology, and soteriology.