Baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy Spirit?

Go, then, and disciple all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to be keeping all, whatever I direct you.
Matthew 28:19 (CLNT)

corrupt text?

Much has been discussed throughout church history concerning the wording of the above verse. If Jesus intended to give a baptismal formula with these words, the question naturally arises why we never read that His disciples actually used this formula.

It is noteworthy that among theologians it is fairly widely held that the wording of Matthew 28:19 may not be original, but was adjusted for liturgical reasons to match the confession of the Council of Nicaea. The three major manuscripts (Alexandrinus, Sinaiticus, and Vaticanus), dating from the time of this council, would thus have been influenced and projected their theology into the translation.

no trinitarian doctrine

However, if we assume the reliability of the three major manuscripts, then we must seek the explanation in a very different direction. Indeed, the wording of Matthew 28:19 does remind one of the formulation of the doctrine of the Trinity. But it is no more than an association. Consider this: Matthew 28:19 does not mention the word “Trinity,” nor does it refer to it in content. It does not claim that “the Son” is God Himself. Nor does it teach that the holy Spirit is a separate person within the Godhead.
In other words: the wording of Matthew 28:19 is neither proof nor even an argument for the doctrine of the Trinity.

no water baptism

When, toward the end of this eon (Matt.28:20), the evangel of the Kingdom will be heralded by Israel, then all nations will be immersed in pure instruction concerning the name of (God) the Father. There is no need to think here of a baptism in water (cf. Mark 10:38; 1 Cor.10:2); the subject here is teaching. Nowhere in the NT do we read of a commission where non-Israelites are to be baptized in water. Water baptism is an Israelite ritual (John 1:31; Heb.6:2), in which gojim (the nations) partake only as “strangers within the gates” (Acts 10:47).

This explanation of the baptism is confirmed by the variants of this text that are older than the previously mentioned three major manuscripts. For instance, the church father Eusebius (260–339 AD) quotes this verse seventeen times in his writings and reads:

“Go then and make all nations disciples in My name, teaching them to keep whatever I direct you…”

In this reading, there is mention of teaching and instructing, but the idea of water baptism is absent.

the last generation

When, in the last generation of this eon, ‘the great commission’ will be fulfilled by Israel (Matt.24:14; Acts 15:16,17), then all nations will be taught (literally, discipled) in the name of the Father. But also in instruction concerning the Son of God and God’s holy Spirit.

Delen: