A Doctrine & Theology Reflection | The Way Bible Series
A Simple Question, a Deep Divide
For many Christians, baptism is a moment of public confession and sacred joy. Yet within the global church, the words spoken over the baptismal waters have become a line of demarcation. The question: When Jesus said in Matthew 28:18–20 to baptize “in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,” was He prescribing a formula of divine titles? Or, as Acts 2:38 records, does the baptism “in the name of Jesus Christ” represent the true apostolic pattern? This is not simply a difference of ritual — it’s a theological crossroads that has divided believers for over a century.
The Two Sides of the Divide
Trinitarian Christians hold that God exists eternally as one divine essence in three co-equal Persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Baptism “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” reflects obedience to Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19 and confesses the triune nature of God. The phrase “in the name of Jesus Christ” in Acts 2:38 is understood as a declaration of authority, not a rigid formula.
Oneness (Jesus-Name) Christians, including the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) and other Apostolic assemblies, hold that God is one Person who reveals Himself as Father in creation, Son in redemption, and Spirit in regeneration — a view historically labeled Modalism. Baptism must be performed in Jesus’ name only, since that is the revealed name of God under the New Covenant. Many Oneness groups require rebaptism for those previously baptized using the Trinitarian titles, regarding the Jesus-Name baptism as the only valid mode.
