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William Branham's Teachings on Water Baptism: Difference between revisions

William Branham's Teachings on Water Baptism (view source)

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People in the message are taught that the only '''true''' form of Christian baptism is in the triune name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is an highly important issue for message believers and we are aware of at least one instance where a deacon baptized an individual in the name of the Lord Jesus and was required to baptize the person again in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
People in the message are taught that the only '''true''' form of Christian baptism is in the triune name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is an highly important issue for message believers and we are aware of at least one instance where a deacon baptized an individual in the name of the Lord Jesus and was required to baptize the person again in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.


=An Invitation to Prove William Branham Wrong=
=The Challenge from William Branham=


==The Challenge from William Branham==
William Branham invited people to prove him wrong:


HEBREWS.CHAPTER.TWO.2 JEFF.IN  HEB  57-0825E
:''Nowhere was we ever commanded to baptize, "In the name of the Father, and in the name of the Son, and name of the Holy Ghost," not nowhere in the Scriptures. It's a Catholic creed, and it's not for the Protestant church. '''I'll ask anybody to show me one Scripture where any person was ever baptized any other way than in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Come, show it to me, and I'll put a sign on my back, "A hypocrite, and a false prophet, a false teacher," and go through the streets.''' There's no such a thing. Never was anybody baptized that way. It's a Catholic creed, and not a Protestant doctrine.<ref>HEBREWS.CHAPTER.TWO.2 JEFF.IN  HEB  57-0825E</ref>
:Nowhere was we ever commanded to baptize, "In the name of the Father, and in the name of the Son, and name of the Holy Ghost," not nowhere in the Scriptures. It's a Catholic creed, and it's not for the Protestant church. '''I'll ask anybody to show me one Scripture where any person was ever baptized any other way than in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Come, show it to me, and I'll put a sign on my back, "A hypocrite, and a false prophet, a false teacher," and go through the streets.''' There's no such a thing. Never was anybody baptized that way. It's a Catholic creed, and not a Protestant doctrine.


So there is the challenge laid down by William Branham - Find one scripture where any person was ever baptized any other way than in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
So there is the challenge laid down by William Branham - Find one scripture where any person was ever baptized any other way than in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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The Bible should be simply understood and therefore it seems quite obvious that William Branham has interpreted the scripture to say something that it clearly doesn't.  The phrase "Lord Jesus Christ" appears 6 times in the book of Acts so it would have been very easy for Luke to have stated clearly that people were to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  But since he didn't, it is not possible to make that claim.
The Bible should be simply understood and therefore it seems quite obvious that William Branham has interpreted the scripture to say something that it clearly doesn't.  The phrase "Lord Jesus Christ" appears 6 times in the book of Acts so it would have been very easy for Luke to have stated clearly that people were to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  But since he didn't, it is not possible to make that claim.


===Scriptures referring to how baptism was conducted in the New Testament===
==Scriptures referring to how baptism was conducted in the New Testament==


Acts 2:38
Acts 2:38
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It is clear from the Bible that there did not appear to be an emphasis on the exact formula of baptism, thereby proving one of the fundamental doctrines of William Branham's message to be flawed.
It is clear from the Bible that there did not appear to be an emphasis on the exact formula of baptism, thereby proving one of the fundamental doctrines of William Branham's message to be flawed.


==Another Challenge from William Branham==
=Another Challenge from William Branham=


THE.REVELATION.OF.JESUS.CHRIST  JEFF.IN  60-1204M
THE.REVELATION.OF.JESUS.CHRIST  JEFF.IN  60-1204M
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However, William Branham's assertion that no one was baptized in the name of "Father, Son, Holy Ghost" is historically incorrect.  While it appears clear that the very earliest forms of water baptism in the Book of Acts do not reference the trinitarian formula, it is also clear that the use of the trinitarian baptismal formula does predate the First Council of Nicea by at least a hundred years or more.
However, William Branham's assertion that no one was baptized in the name of "Father, Son, Holy Ghost" is historically incorrect.  While it appears clear that the very earliest forms of water baptism in the Book of Acts do not reference the trinitarian formula, it is also clear that the use of the trinitarian baptismal formula does predate the First Council of Nicea by at least a hundred years or more.


===The Didache===
==The Didache==


The '''Didache''' or '''The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles''' (''Didachē'' means "Teaching") is a brief early Christian treatise, dated by most scholars to the late first or early 2nd century.<ref name=Draper2006>The Apostolic Fathers: The Didache, 2006, Draper, J. A., ''The Expository Times, Vol. 117, No.5, pp.177–81</ref> Some even date it as contemporary with the books of the New Testament (c. A.D.40-60).<ref name=Robinson1976>John A. T. Robinson, ''Redating the New Testament'' (SCM Press 1976)</ref>
The '''Didache''' or '''The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles''' (''Didachē'' means "Teaching") is a brief early Christian treatise, dated by most scholars to the late first or early 2nd century.<ref name=Draper2006>The Apostolic Fathers: The Didache, 2006, Draper, J. A., ''The Expository Times, Vol. 117, No.5, pp.177–81</ref> Some even date it as contemporary with the books of the New Testament (c. A.D.40-60).<ref name=Robinson1976>John A. T. Robinson, ''Redating the New Testament'' (SCM Press 1976)</ref>
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:''And concerning baptism, thus baptize ye: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...
:''And concerning baptism, thus baptize ye: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...


===Church Fathers===
==Church Fathers==


====Hippolytus====
===Hippolytus===


"When the one being baptized goes down into the water, the one baptizing him shall put his hand on him and speak thus: ‘Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty?’ And he that is being baptized shall say: ‘I believe.’ Then, having his hand imposed upon the head of the one to be baptized, he shall baptize him once. Then he shall say: ‘Do you believe in Christ Jesus . . . ?’ And when he says: ‘I believe,’ he is baptized again. Again shall he say: ‘Do you believe in the Holy Spirit and the holy Church and the resurrection of the flesh?’ The one being baptized then says: ‘I believe.’ And so he is baptized a third time" (The Apostolic Tradition 21 - A.D. 215).  
"When the one being baptized goes down into the water, the one baptizing him shall put his hand on him and speak thus: ‘Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty?’ And he that is being baptized shall say: ‘I believe.’ Then, having his hand imposed upon the head of the one to be baptized, he shall baptize him once. Then he shall say: ‘Do you believe in Christ Jesus . . . ?’ And when he says: ‘I believe,’ he is baptized again. Again shall he say: ‘Do you believe in the Holy Spirit and the holy Church and the resurrection of the flesh?’ The one being baptized then says: ‘I believe.’ And so he is baptized a third time" (The Apostolic Tradition 21 - A.D. 215).  


====Tertullian====
===Tertullian===


"After his resurrection he promises in a pledge to his disciples that he will send them the promise of his Father; and lastly, he commands them to baptize into the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, not into a unipersonal God. And indeed it is not once only, but three times, that we are immersed into the three persons, at each several mention of their names" (Against Praxeas 26 - A.D. 216).  
"After his resurrection he promises in a pledge to his disciples that he will send them the promise of his Father; and lastly, he commands them to baptize into the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, not into a unipersonal God. And indeed it is not once only, but three times, that we are immersed into the three persons, at each several mention of their names" (Against Praxeas 26 - A.D. 216).  


====Origen====
===Origen===


"The Lord himself told his disciples that '''they should baptize all peoples in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit''' . . . for indeed, '''legitimate baptism is had only in the name of the Trinity'''" (Commentary on Romans 5:8 - A.D. 248).
"The Lord himself told his disciples that '''they should baptize all peoples in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit''' . . . for indeed, '''legitimate baptism is had only in the name of the Trinity'''" (Commentary on Romans 5:8 - A.D. 248).


====William Branham should apologize====
===William Branham should apologize===


''If there's a historian, a minister, any other person, on air, in tape, that can produce one Scripture or '''one speck of history, where anybody was ever baptized any other way than in the Name of Jesus Christ, till the Roman Catholic church at Nicaea, Rome, you're duty bound to bring it to me, let me apologize.''' There is no such thing. No. And every person that was baptized by immersing, that was not baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, was commanded, before they could enter Glory, to come back and be rebaptized again. Now it's up to you.<ref>William Branham  63-0623E - The Flashing Red Light Of The Sign Of His Coming, para, 205</ref>
''If there's a historian, a minister, any other person, on air, in tape, that can produce one Scripture or '''one speck of history, where anybody was ever baptized any other way than in the Name of Jesus Christ, till the Roman Catholic church at Nicaea, Rome, you're duty bound to bring it to me, let me apologize.''' There is no such thing. No. And every person that was baptized by immersing, that was not baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, was commanded, before they could enter Glory, to come back and be rebaptized again. Now it's up to you.<ref>William Branham  63-0623E - The Flashing Red Light Of The Sign Of His Coming, para, 205</ref>
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