Baptism - Lesson 5

LESSON FIVE

2003-2004

BAPTISM

I. The Baptismal Formula: Baptism in the Name of the Triune God.

A. Mt 28:19.

1. Problem arises re: necessity of trinitarian formula.

2. Acts references Baptism in name of Jesus Christ.

a. Ac 2:38.

b. Ac 10:48.

B. Some try to assert formula of Mt 28.

1. Was a later development of theology.

2. Can not be attributed to Jesus.

C. But rest of Matthew offers an explicit and high Christology, with all components of a trinitarian theology.

1. Mt 1:20-25.

2. Mt 2:15b.

3. Mt 1:18.

4. Mt 3:16,17.

5. Mt 11:27.

D. Didache

1. Contemporary with or perhaps earlier than Matthew.

2. Does not use “in the name of Jesus” as a baptismal formula.

E. 1 Cor.

1. Arguably more liturgically oriented than any of the apostles’ other epistles.

2. Working with the “nitty-gritty” of congregational life.

3. 1Co 1:16,17.

a. He may have administered Baptism to a congregation which had this particular person as a pastor or elder.

b. But, obviously did baptize and familiar with formula

4. 1Co 1:13: note use of “in the name of”.

5. 1Co 6:11.

a. “God” is Paul’s normal reference to the Father.

b. E.g. 2Co 13:14.

c. “washed…in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God”.

d. Would certainly suggest trinitarian formula was part of the ritual.

e. Undeniable that their baptismal theology was clearly trinitarian.

f. Shed’s light on baptisms of Acts.

(1) Ro 1:4.

(2) Ac 2:33,38.

(3) Ac 10:38.

(4) Jesus, not only Lord and Christ, but God’s Son, given the Holy Spirit by Father in His Baptism.

(5) Jesus is both Revealer of God and the content of His revelation.

(6) Jesus provides access to God as triune.

(7) Jn 1:12,13

6. Some theorize that there was a carry-over hesitancy to use the name of God to account for the absence of the trinitarian formula in other N.T. books.

F. Christ with the Father and Spirit

1. No less present in Baptism then He is in the Supper.

2. All this intended in phrase.

a. “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.

b. But also in “in the name of Jesus”.

II. The Apparent Absence of Baptismal Commands in Mark and Luke

A. Mk 16:16 (authenticity discussed before).

B. Lk 24: 46-49.

1. cf Mt 28:19,20.

2. Both include “all nations” in the apostolic task.

3. Mark specifies “the whole creation” (16:15)

4. Trinitarian formula in Lk emerges in promise of Jesus to send the Promise of the Father, i.e. the Holy Spirit.

a. Ac 1:4.

b. Ac 2:33.

c. Jesus, as the Father’s Son, is both the agent and the source of the Spirit.

5. “repentance and forgiveness”

a. cf Lk 3:3.

b. Now connected to the Baptism of Jesus administered by the apostles.

C. Most agree that Mark’s longer ending is in some sense dependent on both Matthew and Luke.

1. Mk 16:16.

2. Thus reflects unified testimony of the apostolic church.

III. Other References to the Name

A. Mt. 18:20.

1. Divine name made known by Jesus.

2. Jas 2:7: shows significance of divine name in Baptism in the context of the actual ritual.

B. Rev 14:1: may well be intended to remind the hearer of the divine name said over him at his baptism.

C. In Rev., the Christian bears the name of Jesus, presumably in Baptism.

D. Therefore, “rebaptism” shows contempt for the divine name of the three persons of the Trinity and their work in the world through Baptism.

IV. The Trinitarian Baptismal Formula and Its Necessity

A. No dispute re: necessity of water.

B. Dispute exists re: whether tripartite formula must be used in every case.

C. Baptism is the possession of the trinitarian community.

1. Those who confess by the Spirit’s working that Jesus Christ is Lord (1Co 12:3).

2. To the glory of God the Father (Php 2:11)

D. Community that does not identify itself by this confession:

1. Not standing in succession with original apostolic community.

2. Hence is not trinitarian in the N.T. sense.

3. e.g. Mormons, Unitarians, and others.

a. May use tripartite baptismal formula with water.

b. But rites not equated in any way with baptism commanded by Christ.

E. However, sometimes precise formula not used due to inadvertence or misreading.

1. No question that a true and right Baptism has taken place.

2. Not the same as those with undeveloped doctrine or where original Christian confession denied openly and consistently.

F. The water “used according to God’s command and connected with God’s Word” (S.C. IV. 2).

1. Involves the entire revelation of the crucified and resurrected Christ.

2. Therefore, mere recitation of a formula under any circumstance can not assure that a Baptism has taken place.

3. But, misspeaking a formula does not detract from otherwise valid administration of the sacrament.

4. A sacrament has its life within the community of believers.

5. They are not formulas individuals make valid by the correct mixture of element and rite (not magic).

V. Church as the Location of the Sacraments

A. Baptism usually held in the presence of the worshipping congregation today.

B. Sacraments.

1. Not only the marks of the church.

2. But they give the church her form.

C. The church emerges from Baptism (e.g. child and mother’s womb)

D. Therefore, they should not be administered apart from the church, except in real emergencies.

1. Should take place ordinarily where the church gathers.

2. But, administration of Baptism need not be restricted to the regular worship of the congregation; e.g.

a. Ac 8:38.

b. Original Baptistries did not have provisions for eucharistic worship.

VI. The Ministers of Baptism

A. Jn 4:1,2.

1. Disciples did the baptizing for Him.

2. Baptism’s efficacy does not depend on whether Jesus Himself carried it out!

3. Apostles, ministers of the Word: Lk 1:1,2.

4. Also, administrators of the sacraments.

B. Still carried out by those who stand in the place of Jesus.

1. Historical proximity to Jesus guarantees nothing.

2. Christ’s proximity in Baptism guarantees everything.

C. Calvin insisted valid Baptism only if by recognized ministers within regular services.

D. Lutherans: the congregation at worship is the manifestation of the una sancta, the church which Christ has redeemed.

E. Baptism belongs to the church as the body of Christ and not as an association of believers.

1. An act of grace.

2. Who did it is of secondary importance.

3. Where no pastor to be found, parents must do it.

F. Unregenerate Clergy and Imposters.

1. Imposters posing as clergy a remote possibility.

2. Unregenerate (later discovered or never discovered)

a. Their’s should not be questioned.

b. AC VIII. 2.

c. Baptism, as the preached Word, has an objective reality worked entirely by God.

d. For same reason, may be in an emergency administered by a lay person.

G. What about a known non-Christian performing an emergency Baptism?

1. If at the request of the family or another Christian, just as valid as if performed in a church by the pastor.

2. Was authorized by person who is a member of the church.

H. Both “emergency-type” and “known non-Christian-type” should be confirmed in church, but only to show that the church recognizes the one baptized as part of its fellowship.

I. Ac 18:14-17.

J. Investigation required.