Apostolic Antiquity

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” 

This verse ultimately works against the trinitarian notion that it was God the Son alone who became incarnate in Christ. This verse is not an explicit narrative example of water baptism but rather an interpretive command of it. Since this is a command and not a record of practice it is not yet fully revealed what it would look like to obey this command that is why we look for the apostolic example of the practice which was commanded. We find this in the book of Acts.

• Acts 19:5 – “ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

• Acts 10:48 – “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”

• Acts 2:38 – “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

• Acts – “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Many claim that in these instances the phrase “In the name Jesus” of simply refers to the authority Jesus distinct from the verbal invocation of “Father Son and Spirit” but this has zero backing. Also Acts 22:16 clearly dismantles this “ And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” here we see that there is verbal invocation of the Lord, who is called Lord all throughout the New Testament? Jesus. Also Matthew 28:19 reads “name” singular. What is that name? Some might say God. But God is not a name it is the property of what He is. Neither is Father a name nor Son nor Spirit. Rather these are all titles. If there is one name that can be applied to Father Son and Spirit what is it. The example of the Apostles show us that that name is undeniably JESUS. 

Catholics even admit that this was the case, that is until they changed the baptisimal formula. Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, page 263 says that the original Apostolic method of baptism was done exclusively in the name of Jesus Christ and was latter changed during the 2nd and 3rd century to in the name of the Trinity. 

Is Matthew 28:19 an example of the Trinity? No but it is a revelation of the three manifestations and titles of God all of which can be attributed to Jesus Christ.