No, You Shouldn’t Get Baptized “in the Name of Jesus”

Oneness Baptism debunked. 

The Bible says that we should get baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Trinitarian formula is the only correct method for Baptism.

Oneness Pentecostals have tried to twist certain scriptures in the book of Acts to promote their “Jesus Only” Baptism doctrine, but their position makes no sense. In this article, I’ll go through some of their so-called proof texts and explain why the “Jesus Only” movement is a fraud.

These verses supposedly prove that we should get baptized in the name of Jesus:

Act_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.

Act_3:6  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Act_19:5  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Meanwhile, Jesus himself commanded that Baptism be done this way:

Mat_28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Did Peter make a mistake? How about Paul, did he fail to heed Christ’s commandment? I believe the answer is NO. They didn’t make a mistake by baptizing in the name of Jesus because they DID NOT baptize in the name of Jesus.

Just because you see the phrase “in the name of” doesn’t mean it means a specific name came out of anyone’s mouth. “In the name of” can also mean “by the power of” or “in the authority of.”

Don’t believe me? Read this:

Act_4:7  And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

Notice it says: by what power OR by what name. “Name” and “power” are used interchangeably in this verse.

The first commandment to baptize came from the Lord Jesus Christ, therefore we can conclude that the apostles baptized the way HE instructed them to do so. We can also conclude that the Bible is telling us in the book of Acts that Baptism was administered BY THE AUTHORITY of Jesus.

If you’re still not convinced, consider this: If baptism is supposed to be done in the name of Jesus, verbatim, then why does this formula change in the book of Acts?

Act 10:48  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Peter baptized “in the name of the Lord” in Acts 10. The name “Jesus” is omitted.

Are we supposed to believe that Peter forgot to say “Jesus?” This only makes sense if “in the name of” means “in the authority of” and it isn’t a literal baptismal formula.

If you’re STILL not convinced that “Jesus only” is wrong, then I challenge you to make sense of the following scripture:

In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul says that if he had baptized those in the church who were causing division and exalting men to a higher pedestal than Christ, the Corinthian Christians would have THOUGHT he was baptizing “in his own name.”

1Co 1:13  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
1Co 1:14  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
1Co 1:15  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 

This verse is nonsensical if you take the same hyper-literal interpretation from Acts to come up with the oneness baptismal formula.  Why would Paul be happy that he baptized none of the Corinthians, lest they get confused and think he baptized by his own name? Am I supposed to believe Paul was afraid these people would hear him literally say “I baptize you in the name of Paul?” That’s preposterous!

In reality, Paul says the Corinthians would’ve assumed he was baptizing by his own AUTHORITY, because they were exalting men above God through their carnality. THAT actually makes sense.

I believe it matters how you get baptized. If you want to obey God and do it right, go to a church that baptizes using the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. “Jesus Only” is wrong, it’s a landmark of the modalist heresy and it’s not found in scripture.

Christ wanted baptism done a specific way, who are we to change it?