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

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<div style="float:left; width:20%; background-color:#cedff2; padding:.3em 0; margin:2px 2px 0; background-color:#cedff2">[[Water Baptism|Introduction]] </div>
<div style="float:left; width:20%; background-color:#cedff2; padding:.3em 0; margin:2px 2px 0; background-color:#cedff2">[[Water Baptism|Introduction]] </div>
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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).


==What is the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit?==
Matthew 28:19 states:
, and Peter, being filled with the Holy Spirit identifying the NAME as that of "the Lord Jesus Christ". Of course, nobody was ever baptized in Scripture using that formula, and Peter said "name of Jesus Christ", and omitted Lord if he had a revelation to share God's unique name.
WMB stated that " The Name of The Father,Son and Holy Ghost is The One and only LORD JESUS CHRIST. "
Then the Bible is wrong, because it NEVER calls the Father or the Holy Ghost Jesus Christ. Jesus is called, "Lord" all the time.
And in Exodus, God says that His name is Yahweh and THAT will be His name FOREVER.
Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you. 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.


=Footnotes=
You can't go inventing your own Bible. Thank God that His Word never changes, and He needs no New message. The old, timeless Gospel of Jesus Christ is just fine.
Only the Son is ever referred to as Jesus, or Lord Jesus, or Jesus Christ, or Lord Jesus Christ.


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