While there is some doubt
about Matthew 28:19 it does not say to baptize in the name of
three persons because to be consistent that would demand that
you dip the candidate three times. And this is exactly what
happened as clergy took authority and made the "baptismal
formula" into stating names rather than authority.
For instance, very early
the Syrians taught:
"And
concerning baptism, this is how you shall baptize: Having
first said all these things, baptize into
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit in running water. But if you do not have running
water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot [baptize]
in cold, [then] in warm.
But if
you have neither, pour out water three
times upon the head, into "the
name of Father, and of Son, and of Holy Spirit."
But
before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the
baptized, and whatever others can; but you shall order the
baptized to fast one or two days before." (Didache 7)
Of course, this has no
Biblical authority. When people began baptizing in the
three names, they were forced to introduce triune baptism.
Next:
"Holy" is not the first
name of a
"person" named the Holy Spirit. And Father, Son and Spirit are
not names. The
singular name
of the three images we have of God is Jesus Christ or
"Jehovah-Saves."
Baptizing in three names on
behalf of three "persons" also gave rise to the dogma of the
trinity of persons. However,
"The
nearest approach to a formal announcement of the doctrine of
the Trinity which is
recorded from Our Lord's lips, or, perhaps we may say, which
is to be found in the whole compass of the NT, has
been preserved for us, not by John, but by one of the
synoptists. It too, however, is only
incidentally introduced, and has for its main
object something very different from formulating the doctrine of
the Trinity. It is embodied in the great commission which
the resurrected Lord gave His disciples to be
their 'marching orders even unto the end of the world.' (Int
Std Bible Ency., p. 3017)
"It does
not say, 'In the names [plural] of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost"; nor yet
'In the name of the Father, and in the name of the Son,
and in the name of the Holy Ghost,'
as if
we had to deal with three separate Beings. (Int Std
Bible Ency., p. 3017)
This means that when seen as
a "formula" to be pronounced by the preacher it is part of the
ancient pagan dogma of three gods.
Next, look at the power which Jesus Christ had which
also gave Him the sole authority:
If the word means "authority"
in Acts 2:38 then it means authority in Matthew 28:19. And
this is the clear fact. Jesus had just stated it so clearly
that it cannot be misunderstood:
And Jesus
came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and
in earth. Matthew 28:18
Power in this verse is:
Ecousia (g1849)
ex-oo-see'-ah; from 1832 (in the sense of ability);
privilege, i.e. (subj.) force, capacity, competency,
freedom, or (obj.) mastery (concr. magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token
of control), delegated influence: -
authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.
To the only wise God our
Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and
ever. Amen. Jude 1:25
Who is
gone into heaven, and is on the right
hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made
subject unto him. 1 Peter 3:22
When God
manifests Himself in the physical dimension He identifies
that work as Word, Arm, right hand, gate, door or some other
term which conveys information. The right hand of God
expresses His power:
And he
saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no
intercessor: therefore his
arm brought salvation unto him; and his
righteousness, it sustained him. Is.59:16
For in
him dwelleth all the fulness of the
Godhead bodily. Colossians
2:9
And ye
are complete in him, which is
the head of all principality and power: Colossians 2:10
When one has the power of "Father, Son and Spirit"; and
full Deity dwells within then to baptize by the authority of
"Jesus" is to be baptized by the authority of Father, Son and
Spirit. Zechariah prophesied that His name would be Joshua or
Jesus which means "Jehovah-Saves" or the same full Deity whose
name if often hyphenated.
Therefore, Jesus had the power with which to exercise the authority to permit disciples to "call upon
His name" when becoming His disciples. When Paul was baptized,
he called on
the name of the Lord but the baptizer did not pronounce a
magical formula.
"At the
latter ceremony two disciples of the wise stood by to tell
him more of the light and heavy commandments. When he came up after the immersion, those
assembled addressed him saying: 'Unto
whom has thou given thyself? blessed art
thou, thou hast given thyself to God; the world was
created for the sake of Israel, and only Israelites are
called the children of God... After his baptism he was
considered (reckoned to be dead and now alive) to be a new man, 'a little
child newly born'; a new name was given him." (Int Std Bible
Ency, Proselyte).
"The
effect of this baptism was held to be complete
regeneration; he was born
anew. He was called a little
child just born, the child of one day. All
his sins were remitted because God
cannot punish sins committed before he was born."
(Barclay, William, Romans, p. 84)
Now, Post-Pentecost when Jesus returned in pure or
Holy Spirit form (John 14:16-18) and was the "repository" of
full Deity to mankind, no one is ever baptized in three
names. This
within itself refutes the "trinity" which uses Matthew 28 as
its almost sole authority. For instance, look at the actual
examples the Spirit gave to prevent you from reaching the
wrong, and destructive conclusion:
The
Jews: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for (in order to) the remission
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38 Discussion of Eis,... Part Two,... Doctor Jack Lewis on Eis or For.
The
Samaritans: (For as yet he was fallen upon
none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus.) Acts 8:16
The
Gentiles: And he commanded them to be baptized
in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they
him to tarry certain days. Acts 10:48 (not lords)
Rebaptized
after Pentecost: When they heard this, they were baptized in
the name of the Lord
Jesus. Acts 19:5
Apostle
Paul: And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be
baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of
the Lord. Acts 22:16 [This is the clear proof
that the "pastor" has no authority to pronounce but Paul was
to call on the name consistent with Proselyte baptism]
And I
answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said
unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou
persecutest. Ac.22:8
I verily
thought with myself, that I ought to do many things
contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Ac.26:9
Romans
6: Know ye not,
that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus
Christ were baptized into his death? Romans
6:3
Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4
Corinthians: Is Christ
divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in
the name of Paul? 1
Corinthians 1:13
And such
were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are
sanctified, but ye are justified in the name
of the Lord Jesus, and by the
Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11
Galatians: For as many of you as have been
baptized into Christ have put on
Christ. Galatians 3:27
James:
Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye
are called? James 2:7
Jesus is the name of the
Lord as Holy Spirit Who appeared to Paul
And I
answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said
unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou
persecutest. Ac.22:8
Jesus is the incarnation
of the fulness of the Godhead:
For in him dwelleth all
the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Colossians 2:9
Jesus is the name of the
Son. Matthew 1:21.
And she
shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt
call his name JESUS: for he shall
save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21
Jehowshuwa (h3091)
yeh-ho-shoo'-ah;from 3068 and 3467; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (i.
e. Joshua), the Jewish leader: - Jehoshua, Jehoshuah,
Joshua. Comp. 1954, 3442
For unto
us a child is born, unto
us a son is given: and
the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his
name shall be called (1) Wonderful, (2)
Counsellor, The (3) mighty God, The (4) everlasting
Father, The (5) Prince of Peace. Isaiah
9:6
And the
key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he
shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and
none shall open. Isa 22:22
Jesus is the name by which
the Father is revealed to mankind:
I am come
in my Fathers name, and ye receive
me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will
receive. John 5:43
The Father's name is
Jehovah and Jesus came bearing that name hyphenated to
mean "Saved" or Savior. Therefore, Jesus had the power and
exercised the authority.
I and my
Father are one. John 10:30
Jesus saith
unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast
thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen
the Father; and how sayest
thou then, Shew us the Father? John 14:9
Believest
thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father
in me? the words that I speak unto you I
speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he
doeth the works. John 14:10
Believe
me that I am in the Father, and the Father
in me: or else believe me for the very
works sake. John 14:11
Look
again as the table:
Jesus didn't say "I am
in God and God is in me." Rather, Father, Son and Spirit
are the natures of God and these are all inherent in the
full meaning of God. For instance,
And
Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jn.20:28
In none of the church
fathers, Luther, Calvin, or leaders of the American
Restoration Movement is full Deity "cut up into three
members of the god family."
The Spirit of Christ
informed the Old Testament Prophets
Now the
Lord is that Spirit: and where the
Spirit of the Lord is,
there is liberty. 2 Co.3:17
Searching
what, or what manner of time the Spirit
of Christ which was in them did signify, when
it testified
beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that
should follow. 1 Peter 1:11
And I fell
at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do
it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that
have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony
of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 1 Peter 19:10
Jesus is the name in which
the Holy Spirit comes:
And I will
pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you for
ever; John 14:16 (Not different but another: more of the
same kind)
Even the
Spirit of truth; whom
the world cannot
receive, because it seeth him not, neither
knoweth him: but ye know him;
for he
dwelleth with you,
and
shall be in you. John
14:17
I
will not leave you comfortless:
I will come to you. John 14:18
Of course, Jesus came
directly to those who would reveal the Word and then He
comes just as directly to us through His Word:
It
is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth
nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are
spirit, and they are life. John 6:63
Jesus is the only name:
Father, Son and Spirit are not names:
Neither is
there salvation in any other: for
there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12
Now when
they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived
that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled;
and they took knowledge of them, that they had been
with Jesus. Acts 4:13
To
worship the names of "father, son and spirit" is
blasphemy!
To him give all the
prophets witness, that through his name whosoever
believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. Acts 10:43
Wherefore God also hath
highly exalted him, and given him a name which is
above every name: Philippians 2:9
That at the
name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and
things under the earth; Philippians 2:10
And that
every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians
2:11
And
whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all
in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:17
Williston Walker
"With the
early disciples generally baptism was 'in
the name of Jesus Christ.'
There is no mention of
baptism in the name of the Trinity in the New
Testament, except in the command attributed to Christ in
Matt. 28:19.
That text
is early, however. It underlies the Apostles'
Creed, and the practice recorded in the
Teachings, and by Justin. The Christian leaders of the third
century retained the recognition of the earlier form, and,
in Rome at least,
baptism
in the name of Christ was deemed valid, if irregular,
certainly from the time of Bishop Stephen (254-257)
Williston Walker, A History of the Christian Church, p.
95, (1946)
"To
Christian thought at the beginning of the second century the
Holy Spirit was differented from Christ, but was
classed, like Him, with God.
This
appears in the Trinitarian baptismal formula,
which was
displacing the older
baptism in the name of Christ. Trinitarian
formulae were frequently in use by the close of the first
and beginning of the second century." (pg. 58)
Paul Tillich
"Baptism
was the sacrament of entrance into the church. The baptized
person, who at that time, of course, was a pagan adult, had
to confess that he would accept the implication of his baptism.
Then he
was baptized in the name of Christ.
Later
on, the names of God the
Father and the Spirit were added.
As yet
there were no accompanying explanations; this was
faith and liturgy, not
yet theology." (Tillich, p. 18-19)
Along with the Trinitarian
baptismal formula came many other errors such as the
replacement of immersion.
--The Britannica
(Members)
"Baptism a
sacrament of admission to the Christian Church. The forms
and rituals of the various churches vary, but Baptism almost
invariably involves the use of water and the Trinitarian
invocation, "I baptize you: In the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." The
candidate may be wholly or partly immersed in water, the
water may be poured over the head, or a few
drops may be sprinkled or placed on the head.
"Ritual
immersion has traditionally played an important part in
Judaism, as a symbol of purification (in the mikvah,
a postmenstrual or ritual bath used by women) or as a symbol
of consecration (in rituals of conversion, accompanied by
special prayers).
It was
particularly significant in the rites of the Essenes. According to
the Gospels, John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Although there
is no actual account of the institution of Baptism by Jesus,
the Gospel According to Matthew portrays the risen Christ
issuing the "Great Commission" to his followers: "Go
therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded
you" (Matt. 28:19-20).
Elsewhere
in the New Testament, however, this
formula is not used. Some
scholars thus doubt the accuracy of the quotation in
Matthew and suggest that it reflects a tradition formed by
a merging of the idea
of spiritual baptism (as in Acts 1:5), early baptismal
rites (as in Acts 8:16), and reports of Pentecostalism
after such rites (as in Acts 19:5-6).
"By the 2nd
century, the irreducible minimum for a valid Baptism appears
to have been the use of water and the invocation
of the Trinity.
Usually
the candidate was immersed three times, but there
are references to pouring as well.
If seen as a baptismal
formula it may not matter how many times you baptize. However,
with the rise of a triune formula a triune baptism was logically consistent.
However, the point is that
all power of a Spirit God as Mediator to humanity was vested
in the body of a lowly man who could get on no one's "lecture
circuit." The humility to see or comprehend God is based on
"self-destruction" in baptism and identifying with a suffering
servant.
Therefore, our test is
whether we can believe that full Deity comes to us as a
criminally-attacked, repudiated "Samaritan" whom no
self-respecting clergy would stoop to help -- even lift a
finger.
To baptize in the name of
"Father, Son and Holy Spirit" may be equivalent to baptizing
in the name of "Jesus." However, it seems important that those
being baptized understand that they are identifying with the
work of Jesus Christ who is the only image of God available to
the human mind and senses.
Kenneth Sublett
Holy Spirit Index
Baptism Index
Home Page
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