The Great Baptism Formula Debate: Matthew 28:19 or Acts 2:38

Let’s dig a bit deeper. What of taking on “the name.”

“Baptizontes autous eis to onoma tou patros kai tou huiou kai tou hagiou pneumatos.”

Translation (Greek text):  “Immersing them into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

In New Testament days, “the phrase eis (to) onoma tinos is frequent in the papyrii with reference to payments made ‘to the account of any one’…(Hollerman).

As part of the transaction, the person concerned is “the possession of and comes under the protection of the one whose name he bears; he is under the control of the effective power of the name and the One who bears the name, i.e., he is dedicated to them” (Hollerman). Cottrell (1989) states, “a person’s name was considered to be intrinsically related to the person himself, representing his qualities, his character and his nature”(p. 16). Baptism therefore signifies union with God (taking on His name); one becomes an acquired property (1 Cor. 6:19-20; 1 Pet. 1:18-19); sealed with Christ, marked as His property (Eph. 1:13; Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12).

Note – “the baptized disciple is united with, enters into a relationship with, becomes the possession of, and becomes a disciple of the person who is referred to as the object of the preposition” (Hollerman).

Regarding the word “name” (of) – Greek word onoma, it refers to:

1.       Reputation: “And King Herod heard of it, for His Name had become well known” (Mark 6:14). “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Rev. 3:1). “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man” (Luke 6:22). “A good name is to be more desired than great riches” (Prov. 22:1a). “A good name is better than a good ointment” (Eccles. 7:1a).

 2. Authority: “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” (Acts 4:7). “Your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake” (1 John 2:12b). “You were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11). “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him” (John 5:43). “In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled. . .” (1 Cor. 5:4a).

3. Character: “And James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means ‘Sons of Thunder’)” (Mark 3:17). 

4. Rank or category: “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward” (Matt. 10:41-42).

 5. Person or Personality: “A gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons [names] was there together” (Acts 1:15b). You have a few people [names] in Sardis who have not soiled their garments” (Rev. 3:4a; cf. v. 5; 11:13). 

6. Titles or Descriptions: “And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6b; Isaiah 7:14). [Hollerman].