Father, Son, and Holy Ghost or in Jesus Name?

Jesus commanded His disciples to "teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 28:19). He did not commend them to use these words as a formula, but He commanded them to baptize in "the name". The word name is used here in the singular, and it is the focal point of the baptismal command. The titles father, Son, and Holy Ghost describe God's relationships to humanity and are not the supreme, saving name described here, which is Jesus. "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

Jesus is the name in which the roles of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are revealed. The angel of the Lord instructed Joseph, "She shall bring forth a son and thou shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Jesus said, "I am come in my Father's name," and, "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, . . . the Father will send in my name" (John 5:43; 14:26). Thus by baptizing in the name of Jesus, we honor the Godhead. "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9).

Luke 24:45-47 records that just before His ascension Jesus opened the disciples understanding. It was necessary that their understanding be opened, and many today need this same operation in order to understand the scriptures. Then Jesus said to them, "Thus it is written, and it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day." The disciples had their understanding opened so that they could grasp the vast importance of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Verse 47 describes the commission that Jesus then gave: "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations (Jews and Gentiles), beginning at Jerusalem."

Peter was one of that number to whom Jesus had spoken and whose understanding had been opened. After having listened to these instructions, a few days later he was inspired by the Holy Ghost to preach on the Day of Pentecost. The hearts of the hearers were pierced and feeling condemned, they cried out to Peter and the other apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Peter did not hesitate but boldly answered. "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall received the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day they were added unto them about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41).

Some say that Peter told them to be baptized in Jesus' name because they were Jews and this baptism was to make them acknowledge Jesus Christ. But let us go with Peter to the house of Cornelius several years later. Cornelius and his household were Gentiles, yet there again Peter "commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord" (Acts 10:48). (Most translations actually say, "In the name of Jesus Christ.") If Peter was wrong on the Day of Pentecost, he surely had ample time to be corrected before he went to the house of Cornelius.

Was Peter wrong on the Day of Pentecost? When the hearers were pricked in their hearts, they spoke to Peter and the rest of the apostles (Acts 2:37). This included Matthew, who wrote Matthew 28:19. Moreover, when Peter preached, he stood up with the eleven (Acts 2:14). Matthew was there, yet we find no words of correction from him. He surely would have spoken up if Peter had disobeyed the Lord. Bit all the apostles understood and carried out the Lord's commission. As Jesus said in a prayer, "I have manifested thy name unto the men (the apostles) which thou gavest me out of the world . . . and they have kept thy word" (John 17:6).

The Samaritans, who were not Jews, were also baptized in the name of Jesus. "The n Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them . . . .But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. . . .They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 8:5,12,16).

Let us see how Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, baptized. He went to Ephesus many years after the Day of Pentecost and found some disciples of John the Baptist there. "He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 19:2-5). Although these disciples had already been baptized, the name of Jesus was so important as to cause them to be rebaptized in His name.

We do not believe that Paul changed the formula or mode of baptism when he baptized Lydia and her household (Acts 16:14-15) or the Philippian jailer. The latter came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas, saying, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And he took them the same hour of the night (shortly after midnight), and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway" (Acts 16:30-33). How can we doubt that Paul baptized these people using the same mode and formula that he used elsewhere, that is, immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Paul was not with the apostles when Jesus gave His final instructions to them in Matthew 28:19 and Luke 24:47, yet Paul baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. How did he know what to do? He said that his gospel was not a tradition of men but a revelation from God. "I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it from of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11-12). Paul was chosen to bear Jesus' name to the Gentiles, and he wrote many divinely inspired epistles to the church. To this apostle, God revealed the mystery of the church, "which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit"

(Ephesians 3:5). Paul claimed to have divine authority: "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord" (I Corinthians 14:37). And Paul wrote, "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). Water baptism is done both in word and deed. We cannot afford to overlook this command to the church.

The church is "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." (Ephesians 2:20). The apostles not only preached baptism in Jesus' name, but they practiced it. Nowhere can we find that they baptized using the words "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Instead, we find them baptizing in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In baptizing in Jesus' name, they fulfilled the command of the Lord in Matthew 28:19.

Paul said, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8).

Let this be a solemn warning to us!

Amber

Oneness Pentecostal (baptized in Jesus name)

IN JESUS' NAME.

Acts 2:38

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

When water baptism is administered it MUST be done with the name of Jesus invoked! Many are baptizing with the words “father, son and Holy Ghost”. The problem is, no one in the Bible was baptized that way! Not one single preacher in the Bible baptized in the titles “father, Son and Holy Ghost”, it was always done in the name of “Jesus”. God will not honor a man made baptism. It must be done according to the New Testament plan!

Watch this short video on the name of Jesus and water baptism:

http://blog.apostoliccontender.info/2010/02/11/jes...

IN JESUS NAME.

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"

Matthew 28:19

Notice that the word NAME is singular . . . one name. The words Father, Son and Holy Ghost are titles, not names.

In Acts 2:37 They asked the Apostles what they should do, and Peter said: "REPENT, and be BAPTIZED every one of you in the NAME of JESUS CHRIST for the remission of sins, and ye shall RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST." - Acts 2:38

What is the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost? Peter knew, and the other Apostles standing there with him knew. This NAME is JESUS!

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were BAPTIZED into JESUS Christ were baptized into his death?"

Romans 6:3

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the NAME of the Lord JESUS.."

Colossians 3:17

Every time the Bible records the name or formula associated with an actual baptism in the New Testament church, it describes the name Jesus. All five such accounts occur in the Book of Acts, the history book of the early church. It records that the following people were baptized in Jesus' name.

The Jews, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38).

The Samaritans, "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" (Acts 10:48). (The earliest Greek manuscripts that we have say, "In the name of Jesus Christ," as do most versions today.)

The disciples of John (rebaptized), "They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 19:5).

The Apostle Paul, "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).

Holy Ghost is what they used to say before the church reformed, now they either say Jesus Name/Holy Spirit.

The bible teaches that we MUST be baptized in the name of Jesus.

ACTS 2:38

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

ACTS 10:48

"And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days."

ACTS 19:5

"When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."

No Other Baptismal Mode Is Practiced in Scripture!

ACTS 8:16

"(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)"

ACTS 10:48

"And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days."

ACTS 19:5

"When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."

ROMANS 6:3

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?"

Jesus name, unless David is answering the question. If he was he couldn't give you a bible verse.

Freedom(Vincent)

One God Apostolic.

Some contend that "baptism in the name of Jesus" means only in the authority and power of Jesus, and does not mean the name should be uttered orally as part of the baptismal formula. However, the following evidence shows that "in the name of Jesus" is the actual formula:

(1) Baptism in the name of Jesus does mean baptism with His power and authority, but the way to invoke His power and authority is to invoke His name in faith. The authority represented by a name is always invoked by actually using the proper name. All the discussion of power and authority cannot obscure one point: when we actually use a name at baptism it should be the name Jesus.

(2) The Bible reveals that the name Jesus was orally invoked at baptism. Acts 22:16 says, "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Here is a biblical command to call the Lord's name (Jesus) at baptism.

Some argue that in this verse only the baptismal candidate called the name of Jesus, not the administrator. This is debatable, but even so the name Jesus was orally invoked. In general, the baptizer normally invokes the name, but the candidate may also call on the name of Jesus as well, for baptism's validity depends on the candidate's faith, not on the baptizer's faith.

An oral calling did occur, for the Greek word rendered "calling" is epikaleomai, which means "to call over or "to invoke." This is the same word that describes Stephen's oral prayer to God: "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59).

The same verb also appears in Acts 15:17: "the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord," and in James 2:7: "Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?" Both passages imply a specific time when the name of Jesus was invoked over believers, which occurred at water baptism. Other translations of James 2:7 are as follows: "[Do] not they blaspheme the good name called on you?" (Interlinear Greek-English New Testament); "Do not they defame the noble name which hath been invoked upon you?" (Rotherham); "Is it not they who slander and blaspheme that precious name by which you are distinguished and called [The name of Christ invoked in baptism]?" (TAB). Thus the Bible states in one verse and indicates in several others that the name of Jesus is to be orally invoked at baptism.

(3) The clear, common sense reading of the baptismal passages leads one to believe that "in the name of Jesus" is the baptismal formula. That is the natural, literal reading, and a person must use questionable and twisted methods of biblical interpretation to deny that the words mean what they appear to mean. If this is not a formula, it is strange that it appears so many times as if it were a formula without any explanation to the contrary.

4) In other situations, "in the name of Jesus" means orally uttering the name Jesus. Jesus told His disciples they would pray for the sick in His name (Mark 16:17-18), and James said we should pray for the sick "in the name of the Lord" (James 5:14). When Peter prayed for a lame man, he actually used the name, for he said, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6). Then he explained that the man was healed "by the name of Jesus" (Acts 3:16; 4:10). In other words, when the Early Church prayed for the sick in the name of Jesus, they actually uttered the name Jesus. Likewise, when the Early Church baptized in the name of Jesus, they actually uttered the name Jesus as part of the baptismal formula.

(5) If "in the name of Jesus" does not represent a formula, then the Bible gives no formula for Christian baptism. The only other candidate for a baptismal formula would be the wording of Matthew 28:19. However, if "in the name of Jesus" does not teach a formula, then neither does "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ," for the grammatical structure is identical in both verses. If "in the name" means "by the authority of" without literally invoking a name, then neither verse gives a formula.

However, we do not believe Jesus left us without guidance on such an important subject. It is inconceivable that the Bible would not give adequate instructions as to its administration. If we do not have a formula, what distinguishes Christian baptism from heathen baptisms, Jewish proselyte baptism, or John's baptism? If there is no formula, or if the formula does not matter, why did Paul rebaptize John's disciples in the name of Jesus? No reputable scholar holds that baptismal formula is irrelevant or that the Bible gives no direction regarding a baptismal formula. Yet, if "in the name of" does not describe a formula, we have none.

(6) Theologians and church historians recognize that the Book of Acts does give the baptismal formula of the Early Church. The Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics says with respect to baptism in the New Testament, "The formula used was 'in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ' or some synonymous phrase: there is no evidence for the use of the trine name." The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible states, "The evidence of Acts 2:38; 10:48 (cf. 8:16; 19:5), supported by Galatians 3:27, Romans 6:3, suggests that baptism in early Christianity was administered, not in the three-fold name, but 'in the name of Jesus Christ' or 'in the name of the Lord Jesus.'"

Some argue that "in the name of Jesus" is not a formula since the various baptismal accounts use different descriptive phrases, such as "in the name of Jesus Christ," "in the name of the Lord Jesus," and "in the name of the Lord." However, all these phrases are equivalent, for they all describe the same name, which is Jesus. Lord and Christ are simply titles that distinguish the Lord Jesus Christ from any others who might have the name Jesus, but the unique name of the Son of God is Jesus.

A refutation of an article found at http://www.carm.org/religious-movements/oneness-pe...

First off, Matthew 28:19 is the one and only, single example in Scripture where the phrase "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" is used. The author starts with the conclusion that "in the name of" can mean "in the authority of." He then makes the conclusion, without any Biblical basis, that Matthew 28:19 refers to an actual baptismal formula; whereas Acts 2:38 only means "in the authority of." The Scriptures he cites in the article actually do not disprove "in the name of Jesus Christ" as a baptismal formula but lend further credibility to it.

He cites Acts 16:18: "And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour," an example of a situation where the spoken word was appropriate. Notice that he used the phrase "in the name of Jesus Christ" when he commanded the spirit to come out of her. There is one other example of the use of the spoken word in the book of Acts in addition to the one he cites: "Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." The same phrase is used here, "in the name of Jesus Christ" with the addition of the further identifying phrase "of Nazareth." Both are instances where the spoken word was appropriate and both were spoken "in the name of Jesus Christ."

He cites multiple examples in the book of Acts that all refer to baptism "in Jesus' name" in some form. The Biblical principle of interpretation, "Scripture interprets Scripture" dictates that, when one credible lone witness gives an account from a slightly different perspective than multiple other credible witnesses, the lone witness should be harmonized with the other witnesses. It's not a matter of Jesus being more credible than the apostles; it's a matter of understanding that the apostles had a specific commission from Jesus and that they understood and carried it out correctly.

There are other basis for baptism in Jesus' name that the author did not cite:

1. 1 Corinthians 1:13: "Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" These are rhetorical questions that, from the grammar, we can tell that the obvious answers are: Is Christ divided? No! Was Paul crucified for you? No, Christ was! Were you baptized in the name of Paul? No, you were baptized in the name of Christ!

2. Before the command to make disciples and baptize them in Matthew 28:19, Jesus said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18, NKJV). "Go THEREFORE and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (NKJV). Since all authority has been given to Jesus, to baptize "in the authority of Jesus Christ" IS to baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

3. Colossians 3:17 says "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." Of course, that does not mean to speak the name of Jesus over everything we do (that would make eating difficult and conversation almost impossible :-). Since baptism is done both in word and in deed and since it is a situation where the spoken word is appropriate, the fact that we were instructed to "do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" is strong support for baptism in Jesus' name.

4. Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ represents the only "name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12 with Acts 4:10).

5. Philippians 2:9-11: " Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

These are just a few examples. There are many more throughout the New Testament. I stand firm behind the conclusion that the whole of Scripture, including Matthew 28:19, supports baptism in Jesus' name. Note also that none of these arguments for Jesus' name baptism are based on Oneness or Trinitarian theology. It is possible to harmonize baptism in Jesus' name with Trinitarian theology as well.

Apostolic Believer in One God, JESUS

all are one so in saying in jesus it also includes the father and holy spirit

1Jo 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

If you say "Holy Father, Holy Son, and the Holy Spirit" you did mention Jesus' name because He is the Holy Son of God.