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-Introduction
The Great Commission is a commandment, not a suggestion. No wonder then, that Matthew 28:19-20 is such a debated passage of Scripture. Controversy, contention, and contradiction are words that readily come to mind when discussion begins. Usually the debate is focused upon the words of Jesus concerning baptism. Those who espouse the Trinitarian mode of baptism use verse 19 as their proof text, but seem to ignore or gloss over the abundant biblical support for baptism in the name of Jesus. As for those who claim that Jesus name baptism is the clear scriptural norm, Matthew 28:19 represents a hurdle that must be examined and reconciled. As an advocate for Jesus name baptism, I am alarmed by the methods and explanations that we have asserted in order to prove our point. We live in an age that demands and deserves integrity in our presentation of biblical truth, but when it comes to this one verse we are desperately in need of some correction and redirection. Specifically, we are suffering with respect to our grammar, the use of logic and the application of hermeneutic principles. What we risk losing in the process is credibility, and possibly the very souls we hope to reach. We really need to take a closer look at the text, and handle it with the care and honor deserving of God's precious Word. Paul understood how important this was when he wrote: "But [we] have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." II Corinthians 4:2 According to the Message paraphrase of the Bible, not handling the Word of God deceitfully means that "we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves." Yet without using sound principles of interpretation, we can easily fall prey to this self-serving mindset. We may reach the right conclusions, but our methods will fail the test. And lest we become tempted to justify a less than honest approach, we should remember that in theology and in life, the ends never justify the means. The Apostle Paul, who wrote to the church at Corinth above, elsewhere admonished Timothy to "rightly divide" the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15). This was a challenge not only to understand the scriptures properly, but to teach them with integrity. We have the same mandate today. This article is not meant to be condemning or condescending, but to challenge us to a more honest approach in our effort to explain Matthew 28:19. To do so will not only make us more effective in our presentation of the Gospel, but will also make us more God honoring in the process.
When discussing the meaning and application of Matthew 28:19, especially with regard to Jesus' instructions concerning baptism, we Oneness Pentecostals have traditionally appealed to the grammar of the text as our saving grace. We challenge the mainstream Christian view on baptism based upon the use of a single word. Let's look at the verse: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" Notice that Jesus said "in the name" as opposed to "in the names." We insist that because the word "name" is singular and not plural, Jesus is suggesting that only one name, not three, is being spoken of. We have apparently lost sight of the proper use and interpretation of the common prepositional phrase. In the latter half of our verse, there are three prepositional phrases: 1) of the Father, 2) of the Son, and 3) of the Holy Ghost. The parallel structure allows the noun "name" to refer to all of the succeeding prepositional phrases. Therefore our verse would mean exactly the same thing if it were written the following way: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and in the name of the Son, and in the name of the Holy Ghost." There is no difference between the actual wording of Matthew 28:19 and the above illustration. If I were to ask you to take your Sunday School attendance sheet and give me the name of the teacher, the secretary and the substitute you would not think for a moment that I was speaking of just one name. It would be clear that I wanted three names, even though I used the word "name" in singular form. Furthermore, if the verse actually did say "names" instead of "name" it would imply two or more names for each prepositional phrase that follows. We would be potentially speaking of several names of the Father, several of the Son, and several of the Holy Ghost. This is not a matter of interpretation or even application. This is simply a matter of properly understanding the grammar of the text. Unfortunately, this is not our only mistake. After establishing the "singular" name of our verse, we then embark on a biblical quest to define what that "one name" actually is. You see, we properly understand that Father, Son and Holy Ghost are not names, but titles. And so we ask the question, What is the one name that Jesus is talking about that represents the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost? Here is where our argumentation goes from bad English to bad logic and poor hermeneutics.
After deciding that Jesus can only be speaking of a single name in Matthew 28:19, we then begin some strenuous logical and hermeneutical gymnastics. We begin by addressing the first prepositional phrase, which begs the question, "What is the name of the Father?" Turning to John 5:43, we point with confidence to the immutable words of Jesus Himself: "I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive." Jesus said, "I am come in my Father's name." Somehow we think that this statement is just like saying, "Hey guess what? My name is Jesus! I have come in my Father's name! So that must mean that the Father's name is Jesus!" Are we twisting the Word of God to suit ourselves? The fact is, for Jesus to say "I am come in my Father's name" has nothing to do with His own name being Jesus, or the Father's name being Jesus. He is making a clear claim to the authority of Heaven. As a man, Jesus had His commission from His Father, and did all for His glory. He said over and over that His words and His works were not His own, but were of and from the Father (John 5:19, 5:30, 5:36, 8:26-29, 10:25, 10:38, 12:49-50, 14:10 and 14:24). Of these many references, one of the most telling in our discussion is John 10:25: "Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me." If the name of the Father is Jesus, wouldn't that imply that Jesus was healing and teaching in the name of Jesus? Why then would He say that He was not representing Himself (John 5:30), if all He did and said were prefaced by and credited to His own name? Logically it makes no sense, and hermeneutically it just doesn't fly. He was saying that His works were done by the authority and power of Heaven, and as such testified that He was who He said He was. In other words, Jesus' central message and claim to Messiahship was confirmed by the signs and wonders that accompanied His ministry. Consider the fact that while Jesus was claiming to do miracles in the name of the Father, he was not actually saying "in the name of the Father" as an injunction over His deeds. Clearly, doing the works that Jesus did, and saying the things that Jesus said, was only "in the name of the Father" inasmuch as He acted and spoke by the authority and on the behalf of the Father. The scripture is clear that Jesus, as a man, was the physical representation of the invisible God (Hebrews 1:3). He did not rely on His deity for His message or His miracles, but on the anointing of the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:38, Luke 4:1). He was completely submitted to the purpose and calling of God (Philippians 2:5-8). And so when Jesus claimed to have come in His Father's name, He was claiming to be under the Father's authority, and to be operating in both word and deed on His behalf, by His command and for His glory.
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26 Following our former cue, we quickly deduce that the name of the Holy Ghost must be Jesus. Once again, we have done violence to the text. Why did Jesus say that the Holy Ghost would come "in His name"? One commentator writes, "The Father will send him in my name; that is, for my sake, at my special instance and request” or, “as my agent and representative.” He [Jesus] came in his Father's name, as his ambassador: the Spirit comes in his name, as resident in his absence, to carry on his undertaking, and to ripen things for his second coming. Hence he is called the Spirit of Christ, for he pleads his cause, and does his work." (Matthew Henry's Commentary of the Whole Bible) Well said. In John chapters 14-16, Jesus was preparing His disciples for both His eminent departure and the Holy Spirit's arrival. He made it clear in John 16:7 that He had to depart before He could impart. He said, "If I don't go, the Holy Ghost won't come." We can understand why when we consider what He had already told them in John 14:16-18: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." (Emphasis added) Let's look more closely at the italicized portions of the above text, "another Comforter...the Spirit of truth...he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you...I will come to you." It should be clear from the above text that Jesus was identifying Himself with the Holy Spirit. Not in His humanity, but in His deity, hence the designation, "another Comforter." As a man, Jesus lived among them. But as the Spirit, He would live within them. The baptism of the Holy Spirit would be "the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead," or as Paul also wrote, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Romans 8:10-11, Colossians 1:27). The fact that the Spirit would come "in the name of Jesus" means that while Jesus would be absent physically, He would be present spiritually. The Holy Spirit would come "in His place" and "on His behalf." That is why He first had to depart. He would ascend, so the Holy Spirit could descend. And just as Jesus represented His Father, the Holy Spirit would represent Jesus. As with the name of the Father, the "name" implies authority and representation.
Over and over in scripture the principle of authority and representation is equated with the use of God's name. In several Old Testament passages prophets were warned not to presume to speak in the Lord's name, or to falsely speak in His name. Invoking God's name was tantamount to claiming to speak on His behalf, as His agent. In Deuteronomy 18:20, the warning against this false representation was made clear: "But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die." Acts of service, not words only, could be conveyed in the name of the Lord. Jesus promised that "whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward." (Mark 9:41). Given with the love of God and for the glory of Christ, a simple act of kindness is said to be done in His name. When we do what we do because Jesus has commissioned us to do it, and because it is our pleasure to please Him, we are acting (or speaking) in His name. This is what the Apostle Paul spoke of when he wrote: "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." Colossians 3:17 Some suggest that we should actually say "in Jesus name" as an injunction over all that we do or say. That is not only unpractical, but it misses the point. This commandment means wherever you are, whatever you do and whatever you say should be governed by an understanding that you represent the Master. Whether in word or deed, you should do all things as His ambassador. You have been given authority to represent His purpose in the world (Luke 10:19, II Corinthians 5:20), and ultimately all that you do and say should give glory to God (I Corinthians 10:31). Simply put, doing all in the name of Jesus means that we act as his legal representative, for His sake, on His behalf and for His glory. The notion that simply saying the name of Jesus, whether in prayer or in baptism, is enough to effect the power of Heaven is an idea that borders on magic. I've seen people, well intentioned, who chant the name of Jesus in prayer as if saying it long enough and loud enough would eventually produce the miraculous. The name of Jesus is not a magic word. To treat it like an "abracadabra" or "open sesame" is not only insulting, it simply will not work. This is a lesson that the seven sons of Sceva learned the hard way (Acts 19:13-16). And worse than making fools of ourselves, it must surely grieve the heart of God. His name is powerful because He is powerful. His name is beautiful because He is beautiful. His name can and should be invoked in prayer, in baptism and in praise, not because of some formulaic or mystical power that we attribute to the word, but because in saying His name we are acting as His agents, speaking by His authority and being motivated by an unyielding passion for His glory.
Shedding light on the proper meaning and application of John 5:43 and John 14:26 takes courage considering that to do so means letting go of two major weapons in the "Jesus Name" arsenal. But the truth is, taken out of context these verses hurt our credibility. So what was Jesus saying? Consider again the flow of Jesus' words: "Go and make disciples...baptize them...teach them to do all that I have commanded" These imperatives reveal the tone of Jesus' command. He did not say "repeat after me" with His injunction to baptize, but rather enjoined them to do so "in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." They were to act as God's personal representatives in the world. As His ambassadors, they were to go and do, not simply to go and "say." And as a matter of biblical record, that is exactly what they did. Nowhere in the Bible do we read of any of Jesus followers baptizing people while calling upon the titles of Father, Son or Holy Ghost. Make no mistake about it, baptism does involve the invoking of a name. It is a clear scriptural fact. When we examine the evidence we find that over and over it is the name of Jesus that is invoked, declared and commanded. The book of Acts reveals how the disciples understood and obeyed the command of Jesus. They above all others knew what Jesus was talking about, and they consistently baptized new Christians in the name of Jesus. Were they wrong? Did they disobey? Clearly not, for over and over, when people were baptized in the name of Jesus, God honored their obedience by baptizing them with the gift of the Holy Spirit (See Acts 2, Acts 8, Acts 10 and Acts 19). Historians and biblical encyclopedias all agree that it was the name of Jesus that was invoked in baptism for the first 100 years of the newly founded Church. Some (such as Eusibius of Caesarea) contend that Matthew 28:19 originally did not contain the triune formula at all, but rather stated, "Go ye and make disciples of all the nations in my name." While all extant manuscripts contain the triune formula, many early church records seem to indicate that the text was changed within the first 100 years to reflect the emerging doctrine of the Trinity. However, we will surely gain more ground in the long run by letting the text read as it does, and then simply asking better questions. What did the disciples actually do? What name did they invoke audibly over those who they baptized? What does the Scripture teach us that baptism symbolizes? When we look at the whole counsel of God's Word, it is clear that baptism in the name of Jesus was the clear scriptural norm, as it should continue to be today.
This article is by no means exhaustive. The evidence for Jesus name baptism has been collected and presented in many outstanding books by Apostolic writers, and I commend them to you. The purpose of this article has been to address the ways that I feel we fall short in presenting this beautiful truth with biblical integrity. We can do better. For that matter, so can I. I welcome your feedback, and desire your input. In the end, it is my sincere desire that the message of the mighty God in Christ will reach this world in unimagined splendor before the soon return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May His name be ever exalted. |
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