One verse in scripture states that Jesus said to the eleven disciples to go to the nations and teach them baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost - Matthew ch 28 v 19. However, having been present when Jesus said this, Peter’s action a short time later when he ordered approximately 3000 converts at Pentecost to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ instead (Acts 2 v 38) raises the question why?

Philip, down in Samaria, had his converts baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus as well

Acts ch 8 v 14-16             

“Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God they sent unto them Peter and John who, when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost for as yet he had fallen on none of them only they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus”.

Peter at the house of Cornelius again commanded the believers to be baptised in the name of the Lord (Acts 10 v 48).

The apostle Paul who was chosen by God to be the apostle to us Gentiles did not receive his teaching from man, but by revelation of Jesus Christ –

Galatians 1 v 12. 

He came to Ephesus and finding certain disciples he said unto them, “have ye received the Holy Ghost since you believed?” and they said unto him, “we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost”, and he said unto them, “unto what then were ye baptised?, and they said, “unto John’s baptism”.

Then said Paul, “John verily baptised with the baptism of repentance saying unto the people that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is on Christ Jesus”, when they heard this they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them the Holy Ghost came on them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied - Acts 19 v 1-6.

Paul again in Romans 6 v 3-5 says

“know ye not that so many of us (including himself) as were baptised into Jesus Christ were baptised into his death.”

Jesus is the only one of the Godhead being referred to here, as the Father or the Holy Spirit did not die.

Romans 6 v 5  

“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection”.  

 In Galatians 3 v 27 Paul says

“For as many of you as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ”.  

 Colossians 2 v 12

 “Buried with Him in baptism...”   

The fundamental principal teaching of water baptism in the Bible is in the name of Jesus Christ and this compares favourably with the comprehensive evidence that exists throughout the New Testament that we have to be identified with Jesus Christ for salvation by faith in his finished work on the cross at Calvary.

There are a few questionable issues with the statement to go and baptise in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost:

·     There is not another word in the New Testament to support or give witness to this statement, it is totally isolated.

·     There is no record in the Bible of anyone ever having been baptised in these three names.

·     The water baptisms where the name they were baptized in is not recorded.  These baptisms were carried out by Philip and Paul who always baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

·     The apostles didn’t need to be told how to baptize for they were baptizing all the believers during the three and a half years of Jesus’ ministry John ch 4 v 2

·     If Peter had got it wrong at Pentecost using the name of Jesus Christ instead of the Father Son and Holy Ghost, the other ten apostles who heard the same statement in Matthew 28 v19 would have put him right.

·     Peter, who was supposed to have been given the instruction to baptise in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost didn’t obey it, but went and baptised in the name of Jesus Christ instead.

There are only three possibilities concerning this final point;

1.      Peter forgot what he was told to do

2.      He disobeyed it

3.      He never heard it.

One thing is certain, God does not have two different doctrines on the ordinance of Water Baptism, and in this document the true principal teaching of water Baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus is comprehensively established.