Paul and Baptism

I just posted this 5 min ago... about the same subject.... So it seems to fit here too!

Mat 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the
Holy Spirit,

Name - This word of course brings to mind an actual name, such as John Doe. But what does it mean to a Jew.

Name - 1. designates more than the external person; it tends to express his basic character, his personality. We might say it is an emanation of the person himself. 2. authority of, expressing attributes, in acknowledgment or confession of (NABD & VED).

This definition helps us in a verse like John 17:26:

"I (Jesus) made known to them your name and I will make it known."

Jesus obviously did not come to inform the Apostles that God’s name is YHWH. He came to explain God’s character, His attributes, His will, so that we could come to truly know God and follow His ways. This understanding of the word "name" along with the definition of the next word "baptize" will clear up this misunderstood verse.

Baptize - We always think of being baptized in water, either as infants or adults. Yes, this definition is used many times in the New Testament, but there is also another meaning that we must store in the back of our minds.

Baptize - 1. to unite together, to become closely bound to.

Now we will put together the definitions of "name" and "baptize" to get the true meaning of Matthew 28:19. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words has this commentary on this verse:

"The phrase in Matthew 28:19, ‘baptize them in the name’ would indicate that the baptized person was closely bound to, or became property of, the one in whose name he was baptized."

With these definitions we can safely paraphrase this verse as follows:

"Go out into the world and introduce or bring them into the knowledge of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

Which is exactly what they did. The Apostles had to go into the world and explain to the Gentiles who God is, who the Son (The Messiah) is, and also about the power that they would receive from God’s Spirit. If we take it to mean that we are to water baptize people in the actual name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, then why is it that no one in the Bible ever uses this formula to water baptize believers?

Act 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Act 8:16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Act 10:47 "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?" 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

Act 19:3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Gal 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Rom 6:3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have Been baptized into His death?

As we share the gospel and make disciples, we’re not simply telling people to memorize a doctrine or repeat a prayer. We’re inviting them to be bound to the very essence of God’s presence and purpose. And we do this in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—not just as a formula, but as a reflection of God’s ongoing work in the world.

So let us go out and introduce people not just to a title but to a living relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Let’s baptize them into a community of love, grace, and transformation.

I like what The Complete Jewish Study Bible Insight for Jews and Christians.... has to say about Matthew 28:19

Mat 28:19 Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim, immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh, and teach them to obey everything that I have commanded you.

As to water baptism… there is only one that truly matters!!!

Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians settles this with characteristic economy. There is, he says, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:5-6). One baptism. Not one correct formula distinguished from incorrect ones — one reality into which every sincere act of baptism has been pointing across the whole history of the church. The infant baptized in a cathedral while a priest spoke ancient words over them. The adult immersed in a river while a congregation sang on the bank. The prisoner baptized in a prison sink. The deathbed believer baptized with a cup of water in a hospital room. All of them — imperfect vessels, varying forms, different words — all of them being incorporated into the one reality. The one baptism that is immersion into Christ himself.

That is what Jesus commanded at the end of Matthew. Not a formula to protect. A reality to enter. Go and immerse them into the reality of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. The church has been doing exactly that — however imperfectly, however varied the forms — across every century since.

ONLY the Blood of Jesus washes away sins!

So what's the harm of being baptised.
I don't understand people's objection to it.
Jesus himself was baptised.
Aren't all Christians baptised.
It fullfils what the scriptures tell us to do.
One must ignore these parts of scripture in order to reject baptism.

Armour of God said:

So what's the harm of being baptised.
I don't understand people's objection to it.
Jesus himself was baptised.
Aren't all Christians baptised.
It fullfils what the scriptures tell us to do.
One must ignore these parts of scripture in order to reject baptism.

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Who's rejecting water baptism? Not me. I was baptized in Jesus' Name as they did in Acts.

Jack said:

Who's rejecting water baptism?

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Some people seem to want to criticise it in one way or another

Jack said:

Who's rejecting water baptism?

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Great question!

Armour of God said:

Some people seem to want to criticise it in one way or another

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With God's Precious Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided, we find This, eh?:

13 Bible baptisms

Thus, no criticism, simply determining Which One God Has For us Today, Under Grace?

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And, precious friend(s), Please Be Very Richly Encouraged and Edified
In The Lord Jesus Christ and In His Precious Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided:

The Bible: The BIG Picture

Amen.

Armour of God said:

Some people seem to want to criticise it in one way or another

Click to expand...

Water baptism is a great public way of showing your faith in Christ but does NOT justify you nor is it a justification requirement today.
1 Cor 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: .....
If it was a justification requirement TODAY then Paul would have taught it in the Gospel that Christ taught to him :)
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Gal 1:11-12
11But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 15:1-4
1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Eph 1:13
13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,