Matthew 28:19

[gbausc]

Secondly, he (Mr. Wierwille) notes that Eusebius "cited Matthew 28:19 eighteen times without once using the" (i.e., the words "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost") (p. 20). Instead Eusebius used the words, ".. . in my name." To Mr. Wierwille this is evidence that the manuscripts Eusebius used "could not have used the trinitarian words" (p. 20). However, Mr. Wierwille's logic is destroyed if Eusebius can be quoted even once as having used the "trinitarian words." In a letter to the people of his diocese, Eusebius writes:

. . . as also our Lord, sending forth His disciples for the preaching, said, "Go-teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."[5]

Thus Mr. Wierwille's attempt to find support from Eusebius has failed and his logic shown to be biased. Mr. Wierwille then raises the valid question concerning the different baptismal formulas used in Scripture, i.e., Matthew 28:19 states ". . . in thename of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," whereas in the book of Acts the phrases "in the name of Jesus Christ" or "in the name of the "Lord" are used. To this A. T. Robertson, probably the greatest Greek scholar of our century and listed in Mr. Wierwille's own bibliography, says,

The use of name (onoma) here is a common one in the Septuagint and the papyri for power or authority.[6 ]

and,

This use of onoma means in the name or with the authority of one as eis enoma prophetou (Matthew 10:41) as a prophet, in the name of a prophet. In the Acts the full name of the trinity does not occur in baptism and in Matthew 28:19, but this does not show it was not used. The name of Christ is the distinctive one in Christian baptism and really involves the Father and the Spirit . . . "Luke does not give the form of words used in baptism by the Apostles, but merely states the fact that they baptized those who acknowledged Jesus as Messiah or as Lord."[7]

Baptizing "in the Name" , according to A.T Robertson, means "in the authority". It does not mean the words must be recited "In the Name of the Father and The Son and the Holy Spirit."

Besides, as I have written before, The Name "Christ" or "Messiah" (Anointed) involves The Father, Son and Spirit, as Robertson also points out. (The Anointer is The Father; The Anointed is The Son; The Anointing is The Holy Spirit). Scripture, (not man made theology) makes this plain. See former posts.

Dave