What name do we baptize in?

[Tracy783]

I have a Protestant friend who says that being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ is the same as in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He uses Col 2:8-9 to say that the Trinity dwells in Christ so it is the same as saying Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He also uses Acts 2:38, 10:48, and 19:5 to cite three places in the book of Acts where the Apostles baptize in the name of Jesus only.
How should Ianswer him?

Thanks, Tracy

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I have a Protestant friend who says that being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ is the same as in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He uses Col 2:8-9 to say that the Trinity dwells in Christ so it is the same as saying Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He also uses Acts 2:38, 10:48, and 19:5 to cite three places in the book of Acts where the Apostles baptize in the name of Jesus only.
How should Ianswer him?

Thanks, Tracy

And then you have what Jesus himself said:

Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 28:18-19).

 

[Todd_Easton]

If there was only one rite of Christian baptism in the ancient Church, the Bible does not describe that rite in enough detail to resolve this issue. It is quite possible that “baptism in the name of Jesus” is shorthand for “baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

The ambiguity of the Bible on this issue is one of the reasons why we need Apostolic Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church to sort things out. If you check out other ancient Christian writings, such as the Didache, the *First Apology *of St. Justin Martyr, etc., you will see that the use of a trinitarian baptismal formula in the ancient Church was apparently the norm.

 

[Tracy783]

Thank you. That is very good advice. I’ll have to pray that opportunities for him to understand the Magisterium and Apostolic Tradition arise.
Tracy

 

[Sabda]

Hi,

The ones I know who believe this are usually Holiness Pentecostals. Am I right in guessing that is what your friend is? I have noticed they are a growing group around here.

In regard to Baptism. When your friend points out those passage about being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, in the name of the Lord Jesus you should ask “how did Jesus say to be baptized?” You see those passages are simply pointing back to Jesus. Jesus, himself, said “if you love me you will obey my commands.” Well at the Great Commission, listed above in Matt 28, Jesus told the apostles to go and baptize in the name of the Trinity. The apostles loved Jesus so they would have obeyed his commands. Keep in mind, also, that the writer of Acts was speaking to people who were already Christians and as such had already been baptized. They knew how they had been baptized, they didn’t need to be reminded of the formula.

We know from the Didache (written approximately 50-120 A.D.) that the early Christians baptized in the Trinitarian formula. Check out the passage below. Click here to read it in full.

7:1 But concerning baptism, thus shall ye baptize.
7:2 Having first recited all these things, baptize {in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit} in living (running) water.
7:3 But if thou hast not living water, then baptize in other water;
7:4 and if thou art not able in cold, then in warm.
7:5 But if thou hast neither, then pour water on the head thrice in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
7:6 But before the baptism let him that baptizeth and him that is baptized fast, and any others also who are able;
7:7 and thou shalt order him that is baptized to fast a day or two before.

In regard to Col 2:8-9, which says:

4
2 I say this so that no one may deceive you by specious arguments.
5
For even if I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing as I observe your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
6
So, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,
7
rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
**8
See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to human tradition, according to the elemental powers of the world 3 and not according to Christ.
9
For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity 4 bodily, **10
and you share in this fullness in him, who is the head of every principality and power.
11
In him 5 you were also circumcised with a circumcision not administered by hand, by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ.
12
You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
13
And even when you were dead (in) transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions;

That passage, overall, is simply exhorting us to keep the faith. It also is simply saying that Jesus is divine. It’s not denying the Trinity. Yes, Jesus is divine but he is not the whole Trinity. We have a gentleman on here by the name of PhilVaz and he does a wonderful job of explaining the Trinity using Scripture. I would suggest you visit the Apologetics section of his website and scroll down to those sections dealing with the Trinity.