People who believe and practice water baptism by immersion in the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ (or Yeshua Messiah in Hebrew) are often cited by other groups for bringing confusion on the subject. Would
you be willing to take a look at this subject from another viewpoint?
Let us take a journey through the Book of Acts and visit the churches established
by different apostles, in different cities among different races of people. Let us especially see if there was confusion among
them concerning water baptism.
In the Book of Acts, we find nine accounts of baptismal services. No doubt
there are others, but these nine constitute all that are recorded under the ministry of the apostles. Seven of the nine records
of baptism pertain to the establishing of six different churches. The other two accounts refer to the baptism of the Ethiopian,
and the baptism of Saul, or Paul. First, let us examine the six churches whose charter members were baptized by the apostles.
The Church at Jerusalem -- Acts 2:37-41
Peter instructed the Jews whose hearts had been pricked by his message, thus:
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ (Yeshua Messiah) for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Remember, this was the birthday of the church. Peter made no mistake, for God blessed
his ministry with about 3,000 souls who gladly received his words, and were baptized.
The Church of Samaria -- Acts 8:12-17
The people of Samaria believed Philip's preaching concerning the Kingdom of
God and the name of Jesus Christ. Therefore, both men and women were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Where did Philip
get the formula of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ? From his home church in Jerusalem, no doubt.
The Church of Caesarea -- Acts 10:44-48
While Peter preached Jesus to these Gentiles, the Holy Ghost fell on all that
heard the Word. A baptismal service followed immediately, for they were commended to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
The American Revised Version says, "...in the name of Jesus Christ." Thus we see the Jews of Jerusalem, the Samaritans, and
the Gentiles of Caesarea were all baptized into the same name.
The Church of Philippi -- Acts 16:14, 15 also verses 25-34
The first convert in Europe was a woman named Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened
at the preaching of Paul. After she had attended unto the words of Paul, she and her household were baptized. Also the Philippian
jailer and his household were baptized. These people were the first members of the church at Philippi. There is nothing said
as to what name these people were baptized into, but, as we shall see later, Paul baptized the Ephesians in the name of the
Lord Jesus. Therefore, it is evident that the converts of Philippi were likewise baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
The Church at Corinth -- Acts 18:1-11
The first fruits of Paul's ministry at Corinth were Crispus and his household
with others who believed and were baptized. In Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, we find the clue as to the name in
which they were baptized -- 1 Cor 1:13, "...was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" That the
Corinthians were baptized in the name of the One who was crucified for them, is evident.
The Church at Ephesus -- Acts 19:1-7
Here Paul found certain disciples who knew only the baptism of John. After
proper instruction, Paul baptized them in the name of the Lord Jesus. God bore witness to their obedience, for they were filled
with the Holy Ghost, and spake with tongues, and prophesied.
In Acts 8:34-39, we find that Philip baptized the Ethiopian. It is certainly
not unreasonable to believe that, if Philip baptized the people of Samaria in the name of Jesus Christ, he baptized the Ethiopian
likewise.
The last record of baptism to be considered is that of the Apostle Paul --
Acts 9:15. Paul was told that he must bear the name of Jesus to the Gentiles. His personal testimony is given in Acts 22 verse
16. He quotes Ananias as saying, "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the
name of the Lord." Also in Romans 6:3, Paul says, "...so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into
his death." Paul includes himself among those baptized into Jesus Christ.
The Galatians were baptized into Christ --
Galatians 3:27. The Colossians were buried with him in baptism -- Colossians 2:12. It was simply baptism in the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ, without exception, or apology concerning any other formula.
We have cited every baptismal service
recorded under the ministry of the apostles. We have found no conflict. It cannot be honestly said that confusion was born
on this subject in the early church. Naturally, there is a question in the minds of some Christians as to the use of Matthew
28:19 in baptism. The truth is, there is not one record where an apostle baptized a convert repeating the words in Matthew
28:19 in baptism. The truth is, there is not one record where an apostle baptized a convert repeating the words in Matthew
28:19. Also, we find no explanation for not using the so-called trinitarian formula, and no effort to reconcile it with baptism
in the name of Jesus Christ. There can only be one answer, and that is that the triune formula of baptism was not known until
the second and third centuries. If you question this statement, I invite you to study church history. Such proof is too abundant
to be ignored.
In all fairness, I ask, "Are we bringing confusion because we continue to teach and practice that which
was fundamental in the first church?" Would it not be right to say that confusion was born when men supplanted truth with
tradition? We are willing to bear the guilt of opposing and discomfiting tradition with Gospel Truth.
Important excerpt taken from the Glossary of The Power New Testament Revealing
Jewish Roots, Third Edition by William J. Morford
Matthew 28:19 in the Greek text contains a reference to Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit. There is considerable evidence that this phrase was added at the Nicean Council in 325 AD. Several
early Christian theologians, who had seen the complete book of Matthew, attested that the early copies of Matthew did not
contain the phrase. Eusebius was one of those and even though he believed in the Trinity, he wrote that the phrase, "baptizing
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost" was not in the early texts. Today there are only two copies
of Matthew earlier than the fourth century and the last page of each of those was destroyed.
William R. Conner, Litt.D.
writes, "While no manuscript of the first three centuries is in extistence, we do have the writings of at least two men who
did actually possess, or had access to manuscripts much earlier than our earliest now in existence. These bring forward evidence
from the following, either to direct quotation from their writings, or indirectly through the writings of their contemporaries,
viz. Eusebius of Casesarea, the unknown author of De Rebapismate, Origen, Clement of Alexandria, Justin Martyr, Macedonius,
Eunomius and Aphraates." Dr. Connor's discussion of these covers twenty-one pages so it is not included here, but the evidence
he cites is overwhelming that the original Matthew 28:19 did not include the phrase "baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." For that reason the phrase does not appear in the text of this translation.
