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The Baptismal Formula: Difference between revisions

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We deal with this in more detail below.
We deal with this in more detail below.
==The Scriptural Witness==
Matthew 28:18-20
:''And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, '''baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit''', teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”<ref>New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 28:18–20.</ref>
Acts 2:38
:''Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be '''baptized in the name of Jesus Christ''' for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.<ref>New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ac 2:38.</ref>
Acts 8:14-16
:''Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been '''baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.'''<ref>New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ac 8:14–16.</ref>
Acts 10:48
:''And he ordered them to be '''baptized in the name of Jesus Christ'''. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.<ref>New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ac 10:48.</ref>
Acts 19:5
:''On hearing this, they were '''baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus'''.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ac 19:5.</ref>
Romans 6:3
:''Or do you not know that all of us who have been '''baptized into Christ Jesus''' have been baptized into His death?<ref>New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ro 6:3.</ref>


==Examples==
==Examples==
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Our view is that you can't.
Our view is that you can't.
=The Scriptural Witness=
Matthew 28:18-20
:''And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, '''baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit''', teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”<ref>New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 28:18–20.</ref>
Acts 2:38
:''Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be '''baptized in the name of Jesus Christ''' for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.<ref>New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ac 2:38.</ref>
Acts 8:14-16
:''Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been '''baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.'''<ref>New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ac 8:14–16.</ref>
Acts 10:48
:''And he ordered them to be '''baptized in the name of Jesus Christ'''. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.<ref>New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ac 10:48.</ref>
Acts 19:5
:''On hearing this, they were '''baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus'''.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ac 19:5.</ref>
Romans 6:3
:''Or do you not know that all of us who have been '''baptized into Christ Jesus''' have been baptized into His death?<ref>New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ro 6:3.</ref>


==What does the scriptural witness tell us?==
==What does the scriptural witness tell us?==
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==When did the baptismal formula change?==
==When did the baptismal formula change?==


When was the first person baptized in the Trinitarian baptismal formula?  Again, we don't know.  But it was certainly hundreds of years earlier than the date proposed by William Branham.  Could it have been that some were baptizing in the Trinitarian formula during the time of the disciples?  That is definitely possible.  Again, we just don't know and it is impossible to arrive at any definitive conclusion.
When was the first person baptized in the Trinitarian baptismal formula?  We don't know.  But it was certainly hundreds of years earlier than the date proposed by William Branham.  Could it have been that some were baptizing in the Trinitarian formula during the time of the disciples?  That is definitely possible.  Again, we just don't know and it is impossible to arrive at any definitive conclusion.
 
==Reference to Polycarp==
 
It is true that Polycarp did get embroiled in the dispute over the date which Easter should be celebrated (see our article on the [[Controversy over the Date of Easter]]).
 
However, this is strange given Paul's admonition in Colossians 2:16:
 
:''Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Col 2:16.</ref>


==Why did the baptismal forumula change?==
==Why did the baptismal forumula change?==
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"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).
   
   
=Some baptismal formulas that would not be acceptable=
===Reference to Polycarp===
 
It is true that Polycarp did get embroiled in the dispute over the date which Easter should be celebrated (see our article on the [[Controversy over the Date of Easter]]).
 
However, this is strange given Paul's admonition in Colossians 2:16:
 
:''Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Col 2:16.</ref>
 
==Some baptismal formulas that would not be acceptable==


It is clear that someone baptized in the name of William Branham (yes, it happens) would not have undergone Christian baptism.   
It is clear that someone baptized in the name of William Branham (yes, it happens) would not have undergone Christian baptism.   
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:''Given that you believe that God sent William Branham, the last prophet to the last age, I now baptize you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."
:''Given that you believe that God sent William Branham, the last prophet to the last age, I now baptize you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."


If is clear that such baptism is not based on faith in Jesus Christ but rather in faith in William Branham as a prophet.
If is clear that such baptism is not based on faith in Jesus Christ but rather in faith in William Branham as a prophet. This is not what baptism is for.
 


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[[Category: Unfinished articles]]
[[Category: Unfinished articles]]