Biblical Answers
to Commonly Asked Questions On Water Baptism
FORMULA OF WATER BAPTISM continued:
Question 18: What did Jesus say concerning the formula (name) into which one must be Water Baptized?
Answer: The Words of Institution for Water Baptism are recorded in Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in (Gk “eis” lit. “into”) the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus said that one must be Water Baptized “into” the name (notice that the word “name,” which is onoma in Greek, is in the singular) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. An honest reading of this passage reveals that Jesus intended a single name to be used in Water Baptism.
Question 19: What is the Biblical significance of being Water Baptized “into” a name?
Answer: Both Matthew 28:19 and Acts 2:38 show that believers were baptized “into” a singular name. Acts 8:16 further shows that the singular name was the name - Jesus: e.g. “For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in (Gk. “eis” lit. “into”) the name of the Lord Jesus.” The significance of this is that in Water Baptism, one becomes the property of the one “into” whom he or she is baptized. (See Galatians 3:27; First Corinthians 1:13; also see question 39).
Answer: Both Matthew 28:19 and Acts 2:38 show that believers were baptized “into” a singular name. Acts 8:16 further shows that the singular name was the name - Jesus: e.g. “For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in (Gk. “eis” lit. “into”) the name of the Lord Jesus.” The significance of this is that in Water Baptism, one becomes the property of the one “into” whom he or she is baptized. (See Galatians 3:27; First Corinthians 1:13; also see question 39).
Galatians 3:27, For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:13, Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Question 20: What is the significance of the word “into” (Greek: eis)?
Answer: In relation to Water Baptism, the phrase “baptize into the name” indicates a position one is being placed into. Therefore, although the meaning includes the authority of the name holder, it goes beyond the authority and in a very particular way has position in view. (See Galatians 3:27; Matthew 28:19 and Acts 8;16. See also question 36, #5).
Answer: In relation to Water Baptism, the phrase “baptize into the name” indicates a position one is being placed into. Therefore, although the meaning includes the authority of the name holder, it goes beyond the authority and in a very particular way has position in view. (See Galatians 3:27; Matthew 28:19 and Acts 8;16. See also question 36, #5).
Galatians 3:27, For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.Matthew 28:19, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in (Gk “eis” lit. “into”) the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Acts 8:16, For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in (Gk. “eis” lit. “into”) the name of the Lord Jesus.
Question 21: What did the disciples of Jesus say about the formula (name) into which one must be Water Baptized?
Answer: The disciples of Jesus were clear as to the formula (name) believers were to be baptized into:
Answer: The disciples of Jesus were clear as to the formula (name) believers were to be baptized into:
1. Peter says: "Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:38; see 10:48).
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. NASB
2. Paul says: "Lord Jesus" (Acts 19:5; see First Corinthians 1:13).
Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:13, Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
3. Philip says: "Lord Jesus" (Acts 8:16).
Acts 8:16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
4. Ananias says: "name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).
Acts 22:16, And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
Question 22: Why do some use the formula of Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
Answer: Some present-day denominations use the invocation of the words “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” (or Holy Spirit) because of a misunderstanding of the Words of Institution from Matthew 28:19.
Answer: Some present-day denominations use the invocation of the words “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” (or Holy Spirit) because of a misunderstanding of the Words of Institution from Matthew 28:19.
Matthew 28:19, 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,
Question 23: Are there any biblical records (example) of believers receiving Water Baptism in the formula of Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
Answer: None whatsoever.
Answer: None whatsoever.
Question 24: What is the earliest date found for the use of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit formula?
Answer: The earliest mention of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost formula is from a Syrian document dating to the second or third century. This document is called the Didache, or Teaching.
The Didache, or The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, though ancient (in part) is anything but the teachings of the apostles of our Lord. Though there is evidence of very early references to its use, it was not in its present form. True, a document called the “Didache” was in use among the churches in Syria as early as 100 -110 A. D., but not the document discovered by Philotheos Bryennios in 1873 while in Istanbul, in the Jerusalem Monastery of the Most Holy Sepulcher, and made public in 1883. It is demonstrated that this present document has been added to over the millennia. Just how much of the present document belongs to those earliest references is, most likely, impossible to tell.
Question 25: Is the Didache a reliable document?
Answer: There are some things in the Didache which teach directly opposite from the teachings of Jesus. An example is its teaching on the conduct of traveling preachers. Jesus taught to stay in one house (home) while in a particular town (Mark 6:10), but the Didache teaches otherwise (chapter 11). Therefore, it is most likely a document of some fringe Christian sect. In that the Didache contains both the single name formula for Water Baptism as well as that of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost (chapters 7 and 9 respectively), it is very likely that it is a revision of an original which may have been more reliable.
Mark 6:10, Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.
Didache ch 11:4-6 Let every Apostle who comes to you be received as the Lord, 5 but let him not stay more than one day, or if need be a second as well; but if he stay three days, he is a false prophet. 6 And when an Apostle goes forth let him accept nothing but bread till he reach his night's lodging;
Didache 7:1 baptize, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, in running water; 9:5 But let none eat or drink of your Eucharist except those who have been baptized in the Lord's Name.
Question 26: Why is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit formula called the triune formula?
Answer: The Father, Son and Holy Ghost formula is called the triune formula because of its association with the doctrine of the Trinity (the belief in three separate and distinct persons in the Godhead). The triune formula is used to place the baptized person into the Trinity. (See questions 19 and 20.) Apostolically Speaking
☩☩ Jerry L Hayes
(Mar David Ignatius)
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