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You are here: Home / Baptized in the Name of Jesus

Baptized in the Name of Jesus

By Jeremy Myers
17 Comments

Baptized in the Name of Jesus

Yesterday I suggested that Matthew 28:19-20 is not talking about water baptism at all, but is instead talking about being immersed into and fully identified with the teaching about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

This is a shocking idea to some.

Baptized in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

But let us assume then that the “traditional” reading is right, and that Jesus was teaching to the apostles  how new converts should be immersed under water as soon as possible, and that this baptism should be done in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism in the Name of the FatherThis is an easy assumption, since this is how most baptisms are performed today. When I was baptized as a teenager, my father (who is a pastor), before he plunged me under the water, said these words: “Jeremy, based on your confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Sploosh!

When I was a pastor, this is how I baptized everybody as well. It is a common formula and most of us are familiar with it.

How the Apostles Baptized

And yet, I think that if one of the apostles were present at such a baptism, they would tilt their head quizzically and say, “I know I’ve been dead for almost 2000 years, so please forgive my ignorance… But why are you baptizing someone in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit? The Son, Jesus, I understand. He died and rose for us, and baptism represents that. But why the Father and the Holy Spirit? Neither one died or rose. Why are you baptizing in their name also?”

We would stare back at them and say, “Weren’t you there when Jesus told you to do it this way? Isn’t this how you baptized also?”

And this apostle would respond, “Of course not. Haven’t you read the book of Acts?”

Baptized in the Name of Jesus

Baptism in the name of JesusThen we would begin to mentally go through the book of Acts, and much to our surprise, we would discover that of all the instances of people getting water baptized in Acts, in not a single case does an apostle baptize someone “in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Every single time, without fail, the person is baptized into Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 2:38; 8:12, 16; 10:48; 19:5).

Isn’t this odd? If Jesus was truly talking about water baptism in Matthew 28:19-20, then why is it that there is not a single example in all of Scripture where someone was water baptized according to the “formula” of Matthew 28:19?

Instead, all baptisms in the New Testament are done in the name of Jesus Christ, because identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is what water baptism truly represents.

My belief is that this is because Matthew 28:19 is not a baptismal formula at all. When Jesus instructs the disciples to go and make other disciples, they already knew what discipleship meant, because they had just been with Jesus for three years, and had learned first-hand how to make disciples. And remember, Jesus did not “baptize” a single one of them (cf. John 4:1-2). But Jesus did teach them, show them, and help them how to shower love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy upon all.

And now, before Jesus leaves, He tells them to pick up where He has left off, and do for others what He has done for them. In the same way He taught them, they must now teach others. They should train disciples in the way that He trained them. They should teach, and show, and help others to understand what God is like, what Jesus is like, and what the Holy Spirit is like, and how to live in the power and presence of all three members of the Trinity, revealing God to the world, just as Jesus has revealed God to them.

This is the message of Matthew 28:19-20, and there is not a drop of water in sight.


God is Uncategorized Bible & Theology Topics: Close Your Church for Good

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  1. Scott says

    February 27, 2012 at 3:09 pm

    Do you have any other sources for this idea concerning Matthew 28? Just curious if other commentators have seen this.

    Reply
    • Jeremy Myers says

      February 28, 2012 at 8:38 pm

      Scott,

      I was waiting for someone to ask this!

      No. I know of nobody who says this. In fact, when I set out to write about baptism, I had no idea my research would lead in this direction on this verse. So when I ended up with this post, I got a little scared, and really wasn’t sure I wanted to publish it.

      So… read with not just a grain of salt, but a whole bag full!

      Reply
  2. Fifi says

    August 22, 2013 at 2:50 pm

    The name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is “Jesus” which is why the apostles baptised this way….note it is name – singular and not names – plural in Matthew 28:19. This then must lead one to the conclusion that Jesus is the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost…the next question is….is the godhead in Jesus or is Jesus in the godhead? Interested in your answer 🙂

    Reply
    • Jeremy Myers says

      August 27, 2013 at 7:39 pm

      It sounds like you are a Oneness Pentecostal? I believe in the Trinity, that God is One, but exists in three persons.

      Reply
      • George says

        October 29, 2018 at 6:22 pm

        Definition of a Person: a human being regarded as an individual.
        Jesus is the only one who became human to become a person but not the holy spirit and the father so there is only one person in the trinity if you believe in trinity. Finally, there are not three persons. God bless you

        Reply
        • Jeremy Myers says

          November 2, 2018 at 6:16 pm

          Each member of the Trinity has personhood. “Personhood” does not require physical bodies, for people are still “persons” when they are spirits awaiting the resurrection.

          Reply
  3. Mark says

    August 31, 2013 at 5:31 pm

    When I was baptized The pastor Said “It is my honor to Baptize you In the name of The Father and Of The Son and of The Holy Spirit” And right before I was immersed he said “Buried with Christ” , That is all I clearly remember. Should I be Re-baptized?

    Reply
    • Jeremy Myers says

      August 31, 2013 at 7:58 pm

      No. There is nothing magic in the words that are said. God is not up there wringing His hands about the right words that pastors should say when they baptize people. You are fine. Baptism doesn’t give us eternal life, but is simply an outward symbol of an inner reality that is true of all who believe in Jesus for eternal life.

      Reply
      • Joe says

        February 7, 2018 at 4:04 am

        Actually It does matter what is said. Acts 4:12 states there is no other name given for Salvation! Baptism in Jesus name is for the remission of sins and is part of Salvation.. Titus 3:5.Mark 16:16. John 3:5. Acts 2: 38. 1stPeter 3:21

        Reply
  4. Brian Kramer says

    February 18, 2014 at 9:44 pm

    Jeremy.. You’ve got some good stuff here… Your understanding of Matthew 28:19 is basically the same understanding I came to some months ago.. I’ve been working on a book of sorts about the theology of the kingdom of God and this whole issue of baptism, what it means, has become one of the key issues I’ve had to work through. It seems you’ve taken the approach to understand “baptizing” as identification and that certainly works. My take was that “baptizing” in Matthew 28:19 is equivalent to “indoctrinating,” which, in essence, is what you’re saying. The fact that the term “baptism” and its cognates can refer to indoctrination is made plain in Acts 10:37, Acts 18:25, and Matthew 21:25. Keep up the good work..

    Reply
    • Jeremy Myers says

      February 20, 2014 at 4:46 pm

      Brian,

      I like “indoctrinating.” It works well with this view, and with the “theological instruction” side of discipleship, which is what Matthew 28:19-20 is about. Sounds like your book should be good!

      Reply
    • Pifa says

      March 3, 2022 at 10:55 am

      Hello Brian. Please where can I read your takes on baptism? have you published your book yet? Thanks

      Reply
  5. Nurija says

    March 18, 2016 at 9:51 pm

    I want to be rebaptized. I believe in the Trinity . Where and who are baptizing in Jesus name ?

    Reply
    • Joe says

      February 7, 2018 at 4:07 am

      There is no trinity brethren. Only Apostolic Churches baptize in Jesus name for the remission of sins like the Bible teaches. Yes it is apart of Salvation. Anyone that teaches baptism is an “outward symbol” is a deceiver..

      Reply
  6. David Boutté says

    May 16, 2017 at 8:48 am

    Could Jesus in Matthew 28 be alluding to the Name of The Father , The Son and The Holy Spirit all being Jesus Christ if Jesus in this passage was in fact referring to Water Baptism. It would then make complete sense seeing as they then Baptised in the name of Jesus Christ .

    Reply
    • Jeremy Myers says

      May 16, 2017 at 9:42 am

      Could be. Because Jesus reveals God to us.

      But a related question is “What does the word ‘baptism’ mean in this context?” I address this question in my book, Dying to Religion and Empire.

      Reply
  7. ASSEFA Ergano says

    January 11, 2019 at 3:21 am

    Thanks alot ;I baptized by the name of jesus

    Reply

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