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NASB | Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, |
Bible Question: Matthew 28:19 is the only location in the bible to be found. Question, what is the name of the father, what is the name of the son, and what is the holy spirit. Then how should baptism be done. As in all the examples in Acts, baptizing in Jesus name. Your thoughts. |
Bible Answer: Hi, David1740! I think part of the problem is that we look for Scripture to be unyielding and exact--to our own interpretations... Though the Apostles did not use the exact wording of the text in Matthew 28:19, the formula is evident in the baptism examples included in the Holy Scripture: Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:38-39) This formula is seen throughout the Epistles--sometimes it is related directly to baptism and at other times it is not, yet there's that exactness of belief that there is a unity in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! In the Gosples we find a prayer given to the disciples by Christ, this is an example of how they should pray... never again is it seen in Scripture--yet we constantly pray it, either in whole or in part: We recognize God's Supremacy, we call for His Kingdom to be established, we ask for substenance and for forgiveness, we promise that we are forgiving of others, we ask for His Divine protection... we may reinvent the prayer, but its basic elements are emulated or outright copied! I am sure that there were more baptisms performed by the Thirteen and those that came after them, yet they were not included in Scripture, are they not as valid as the ones that were included? Do you know with any certainty that no one used Jesus precise words (Matthew 28:19) while performing the sacrament of baptism? Just repeating Jesus' words is not enough, this is why Jesus stated that not all who called Him Lord will be saved (Matthew 7:21-23)... He is concerned with the letter of the text, but mostly He is concerned with what we do: "Why do you call me, "Lord, Lord' and not do what I say? (Luke 6:46) So both text and content (the meaning found in the text) are important, but what we do (content) has a greater value... as James said "be doers of the Word, not just hearers!" (James 1:22) God Bless! Angel |