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.
This 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
Then 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.
Do you have any other sources for this idea concerning Matthew 28? Just curious if other commentators have seen this.
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!
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 🙂
It sounds like you are a Oneness Pentecostal? I believe in the Trinity, that God is One, but exists in three persons.
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
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.
BAPTISE THEM IN THE NAME OF A TRINITY IS A FORGERY!
JESUS SAID BAPTISE THEM IN MY NAME.
AND THE DISCIPLES DID JUST THAT.
Romans 6:3-4
Do you not know that all of us who have been
BAPTISED INTO CHRIST JESUS WERE BAPTISED INTO HIS DEATH?
“””” [NO NOT INTO THE PAGAN TRINITY] “””
WE WERE BURIED THEREFORE WITH HIM BY BAPTISM INTO DEATH, IN ORDER THAT, JUST AS CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD BY THE GLORY OF THE FATHER, WE TOO MIGHT WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE.
THEY ARE STILL AT IT, TRYING JUSTIFY A FORGERY OF THE ROMAN CHURCH SO THAT THEY CAN USE BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF THE TRINITY ON LITTLE BABIES WITH ITS HYPNOTIC INCANTATION TO PLEASE THE FAMILIES AND ENHANCE THEIR OWN POWER; TAKING ADVANTAGE OF INNOCENT GULLIBLE – FAMILIES. NOTICE THE NAME OF JESUS THE NAME ABOVE ALL OTHERS IS DELIBERATELY OMITTED FROM THIS FALSE DOCTRINE.
JESUS IS A ROCK IS A ROCK OF OFFENCE TO ALL TRINITARIANS WHO HAVE BUILT THEIR HOUSE ON THE SAND FOUNDATION OF THE TRINITY.
JESUS DID WARN US CONCERNING THE HOUYSE BUILT ON SAND.
MAY THE PEACE OF JESUS CHRIST THE PRINCE OF PEACE BE WITH YOU ALWAYS AND GOD BLESS YOU.
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?
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.
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
SO TRUE; WE HAVE BEEN SOLD A HOAX BY THE ROMAN CHURCH AND THE DAUGHTERS OF THIS CHURCH SWALLOWED IT HOOK LINE AND SINKER.THE TRINITY IS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
Matthew 23
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
GOD BLESS YOU.
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..
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!
Hello Brian. Please where can I read your takes on baptism? have you published your book yet? Thanks
I want to be rebaptized. I believe in the Trinity . Where and who are baptizing in Jesus name ?
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..
AMEN!
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 .
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.
Thanks alot ;I baptized by the name of jesus
Test all things. Hold fast to what is good.
Every fact is to be confirmed in the testimony of two or three witnesses. 2 Cor 13.1
But Mt 28.19 has no scriptural witnesses. Hmm
Did not Eusebius quote the verse as reading. BAPTISING THEM IN MY NAME?
EUSEBIUS DID.
1. EUSEBIUS (C. 260—C. 340) was the Bishop of Caesarea and is known as “the Father of Church History.” Although he wrote prolifically, his most celebrated work is his Ecclesiastical History, a history of the Church from the Apostolic period until his own time. Today it is still the principal work on the history of the Church at that time. Eusebius quotes many verses in his writings, and Matthew 28:19 is one of them. He never quotes it as it appears today in modern Bibles, but always finishes the verse with the words “IN MY NAME.” For example, in Book III of his History, Chapter 5, Section 2, which is about the Jewish persecution of early Christians, we read:
But the rest of the apostles, who had been incessantly plotted against with a view to their destruction, and had been driven out of the land of Judea, went unto all nations to preach the Gospel, relying upon the power of Christ, who had said to them, “GO YE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS IN MY NAME.”
Again, in his Oration in Praise of Emperor Constantine, Chapter 16, Section 8, we read:
What king or prince in any age of the world, what philosopher, legislator or prophet, in civilized or barbarous lands, has attained so great a height of excellence, I say not after death, but while living still, and full of mighty power, as to fill the ears and tongues of all mankind with the praises of his name? Surely none save our only Saviour has done this, when, after his victory over death, he spoke the word to his followers, and fulfilled it by the event, saying to them, “GO YE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS IN MY NAME.”
Eusebius was present at the council of Nicaea and was involved in the debates about Arian teaching and whether Christ was God or a creation of God. We feel confident that if the manuscripts he had in front of him read “in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” he would never have quoted it as “in my name.” Thus, we believe that the earliest manuscripts read “IN MY NAME,” and that the phrase was enlarged to reflect the orthodox position as Trinitarian influence spread.
Baptism is not just an ordinance.
God is involved.
“Corresponding to that , baptism now saves you-not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” 1 Peter 3.21
Acts 8 tells us that Simon the magician was baptised but the Spirit in Peter recognised that his heart was not right before God and he was yet in the bondage of iniquity.
WHY WOULD YESHUA AS INSTRUCT “ALL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH”.? AND THEN INSTRUCT HIS DISCIPLES TO BAPTISE IN THE NAME OF “FATHER SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WHY WOULD THE DISCIPLES DISOBEY THEIR MASTER AND BAPTISE AND BAPTISE IN THE NAME OF YESHUA – JESUS.
Romans 6:3-4 Do you not know that all of us who have been
BAPTISED INTO CHRIST JESUS WERE BAPTISED INTO HIS DEATH?
“””” [NO NOT INTO THE TRINITY] “””
WE WERE BURIED THEREFORE WITH HIM BY BAPTISM INTO DEATH, IN ORDER THAT, JUST AS CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD BY THE GLORY OF THE FATHER, WE TOO MIGHT WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE.
1. EUSEBIUS (C. 260—C. 340) was the Bishop of Caesarea and is known as “the Father of Church History.” Although he wrote prolifically, his most celebrated work is his Ecclesiastical History, a history of the Church from the Apostolic period until his own time. Today it is still the principal work on the history of the Church at that time. Eusebius quotes many verses in his writings, and Matthew 28:19 is one of them. He never quotes it as it appears today in modern Bibles, but always finishes the verse with the words “IN MY NAME.” For example, in Book III of his History, Chapter 5, Section 2, which is about the Jewish persecution of early Christians, we read:
But the rest of the apostles, who had been incessantly plotted against with a view to their destruction, and had been driven out of the land of Judea, went unto all nations to preach the Gospel, relying upon the power of Christ, who had said to them, “GO YE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS IN MY NAME.”
Again, in his Oration in Praise of Emperor Constantine, Chapter 16, Section 8, we read:
What king or prince in any age of the world, what philosopher, legislator or prophet, in civilized or barbarous lands, has attained so great a height of excellence, I say not after death, but while living still, and full of mighty power, as to fill the ears and tongues of all mankind with the praises of his name? Surely none save our only Saviour has done this, when, after his victory over death, he spoke the word to his followers, and fulfilled it by the event, saying to them, “GO YE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS IN MY NAME.”
Eusebius was present at the council of Nicaea and was involved in the debates about Arian teaching and whether Christ was God or a creation of God. We feel confident that if the manuscripts he had in front of him read “in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” he would never have quoted it as “in my name.” Thus, we believe that the earliest manuscripts read “IN MY NAME,” and that the phrase was enlarged to reflect the orthodox position as Trinitarian influence spread.
2. If Matthew 28:19 is accurate as it stands in modern versions, then there is no explanation for the apparent disobedience of the apostles, since there is not a single occurrence of them baptizing anyone according to that formula. All the records in the New Testament show that people were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus, just as the text Eusebius was quoting said to do. In other words, the “name of Jesus Christ,” i.e., all that he represents, is the element, or substance, into which people were figuratively “baptized.” “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS’” (Acts 2:38). “They had simply been baptized into the NAME OF THE LORD JESUS” (Acts 8:16). “So he ordered that they be baptized in the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST” (Acts 10:48). “On hearing this, they were baptized into THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS” (Acts 19:5). We cannot imagine any reason for the Apostles and others in Acts to disobey a command of the risen Christ. To us, it seems clear that Christ said to baptize in his name, and that was what the early Church did.
PHILIPPIANS 2 9 THEREFORE GOD EXALTED HIM TO THE HIGHEST PLACE, AND GAVE HIM THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES, 10 THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH,
TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.
[FOR THEY ARE ONE – ONE SPIRIT – THROUGH ALL AND IN ALL.]
18 AND JESUS CAME AND SPOKE TO THEM, SAYING, “ALL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH.
Hallelujah and Amen!!!