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?”

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In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus instructs His apostles to go and make disciples, and then says this: “baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

Since this is the statement that immediately follows the main command to “make disciples” people assume this means that the first step in making a disciple is getting them baptized.

But now that we have learned something about the meaning of the word “baptism,” is this really what Jesus is saying? Remember, whenever we see the word “baptism” in Scripture, we must not immediately think about dunking somebody under water, but must first remember what the word means, namely, “to be immersed, overcome, or fully identified with” something or somebody else. Then with this definition in mind, we must read the verse again.

In the case of Matthew 28:19-20, we end up with this:

Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations, immersing them and fully identifying them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you…

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Throughout Israelite history there had always been a remnant that did not go the way of rebellion against God, but lived according to His Word and His will.

When John the Baptist came preaching and teaching about baptism, he was calling such a remnant to make a public declaration of their desire to follow God in righteousness and faithfulness. Those who came to be baptized by John publicly declared in front of the entire crowd that when they entered the water they were part of the corrupt Judaism, but when they came back up out of the water they no longer identified with the corrupt way of doing things, but were now part of the new order of God which would follow and obey Him in righteousness and justice.

Was John an Essene?

It is because of John’s message of baptism and separation from the corruption of Judaism that many scholars believe that John may have been part of a Jewish sect called the Essenes. The Essenes lived in the Judean desert wilderness, and they too believed that Judaism had become corrupt. To separate themselves from the corruption, they moved out into the wilderness to live, work, and worship in a holy community.

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