MATTHEW 28:19 AUTHENTIC OR FALSE?

Ten Tests to verify the authenticity of a text

1. Test of context         
2. Test of frequency
3. Test of Doctrine
4. Test of analogy
5. Test of consequence
6. Test of practice
7. Test of significance
8. Test of parallel account
9. Test of complimentary citation
10. Test of principle

INTRODUCTION

•      1 Tess. 5:21: “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good”.

•      In this verse, the Greek word translated as “prove” is DOKIMAZO and it means: “to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not)

•      To recognize as genuine after examination; to approve, deem worthy”

1.    The Test of Context

In our effort to determine which reading of Matthew 28:19 is original we will submit both rendering to ten “tests”.

In doing so we will be able to recognize the genuine, and the spurious.

•      In our effort to determine which reading of Matthew 28:19 is original we will submit both rendering to ten “tests”.

•      In doing so we will be able to recognize the genuine, and the spurious.

•      When examining the context we find that today’s Trinitarian wording lacks syntax, that is, the true understanding of the verse is obscured by a failure of the varying concepts to harmonize.

Definition of Syntax

•      a :  the way in which linguistic elements (as words) are put together to form constituents (as phrases or clauses)

•      b :  the part of grammar dealing with this

•      2 :  a connected or orderly system :  harmonious arrangement of parts or elements <the syntax of classical architecture>

(Merriam Webster

•      The sequence in which words are put together to form sentences. In English, the usual sequence is subject, verb, and object. Note: Syntactic languages, such as English, use word order to indicate word relationships. (Dictionary .com)

•      syn·tax

•      noun

the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.

•      Exegesis is concerned with discovering the true meaning of the text, respecting its grammar, syntax, and setting.

•      Hermaneutics: The theory and methodology of interpretation, especially of scriptural text.

•      When looking for a Bible hermeneutics definition, the simplest is: Bible interpretations. Bible hermeneutics even occur within the Bible itself.

1.    THE TEST OF CONTEX

·         If however, we read as follows, the whole context fits together and the progression of the instructions is comprehensible

·         “All power is given unto me…go therefore…make disciples in my name, teaching them… whatsoever I have commanded … I am with you… Matthew. 28:18-20.

2.    THE TEST OF FREQUENCY

·         Is the phrase “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit” used elsewhere in the Scripture?

·         NOT ONCE did Jesus use the phrase.

·         IN MY NAME on the other hand, YES. 17 times to be exact.

3.    PROOF OF FREQUENCY 

Examples of Jesus using “In My name”

·         Matt. 18:20

·         Mark 9:37, 39, 41

·         Mark 16:17

·         John 14:13, 14, 26

·         John 15:16

·         John 16:23, 24, 26

·         THE TEST OF DOCTRINE:

·         Is any statement in Scripture based on the fact of baptism in the name of Jesus?

·         YES.

·         In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost       ( one time)

·         In MY NAME                                                                   ( 17 TIMES )

4.    THE TEST OF DOCTRINE:

·         This is clarified in 1 Cor. 1:13:

·         “Is Christ divided?

·         Was Paul crucified for you?

·         Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

·         These words, when carefully analyzed, suggest that believers should be baptized in the name of the One who was crucified for them.

·         Therefore believers must be baptized in water in His name.

·         “To put Christ on; to be invested with His name, the person is immersed into His name. Romans 13:14

·         Baptism is linked inseparably with the death of Christ.

·         It is the means of the believer’s identification with the Lord’s death”. (God’s Way, pg. 190)

·         “Buried with Him (Jesus) in baptism” Rom. 6:3-5.

·         We should never displace Jesus from His position

·         Read Acts 4:12

·         Acts 4:12 “And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved.”

·         THE TEST OF ANALOGY:

·         Does any other Scripture make reference to baptism in the Triune name? NO

·         Does any other Scripture reference baptism in the name of Jesus? YES

·         The Holy Spirit was promised by Jesus to come in “His name”

·         “Send in my name” John 14:26.

·         John 14:26 - But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.

·         Baptism by water in HIS NAME

·         Baptism of the Holy Spirit in HIS NAME

·         John 16:7: “If I depart, I will send Him unto you.”

·         John 14:26: “The Holy Ghost sent in My name”

·         Acts 8:12: “Believers in the name of Jesus are baptized”

·         Acts 8:12 - But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

·         Note: They were baptized as a result of the preaching of the name of Jesus Christ, NOT the titles “Father, Son and Holy Ghost”

·         Example:

·         Acts 2:38, 39 -  And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

·         ³⁹ For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him.

·         Acts 19:1-5  1. While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.  And he said to them “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

·         And they said, “No, we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

·          ³ And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”

·         ⁴ And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”

·          ⁵ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

5.    THE TEST OF CONSEQUENCE:

·         When we are baptized, do we put on the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost? NO

·         Do we put on the name of Jesus? YES

·         When we are baptized in the name of Jesus, according to all baptismal account rendered in Scripture, “we are literally being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ”

·         Gal. 3:27 – “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ”.

·         Every baptism mentions a clear connection with the person of Christ and His atoning sacrifice.

6.    THE TEST OF PRACTICE

• As the disciples were implementing the great commission, did they ever baptize in three names? NEVER

·         Did they ever baptize in the name of Jesus? ALWAYS.

·         Examples: Acts 2:38;

·         And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

·         Acts 8:16 - for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

·         Acts 10:48 (inferred) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

·         Acts 19:5 - On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

7.    THE TEST OF SIGNIFICANCE

·         What significance is mentioned in Scripture for baptizing in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost? NONE

·         The Bible teaches that baptism in the name of Jesus is an act of repentance leading to the forgiveness of sins. Acts 2:38

·         Baptism in His name alone is associated with the promise of His Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38; Acts 19:1-5; Mat. 3:11

·         Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

·         Acts 19:1-5 “And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples

·         ² he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

·         So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

·         ³ And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”

·         So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”

·         ⁴ Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”

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

·         Baptism in Jesus name states our willingness to be a living sacrifice or even to die with Christ. Rom. 6:1-4; Col. 2:12

·         Being baptized into Christ is how we put on Christ. Gal 3:27

·         Baptism in His name is called the “circumcision of Christ” and reflects our “putting off” of the Man of sin therefore becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus. Col. 2:11, 12; 2 Cor. 5:17.

·         Baptism in the name of Jesus expresses faith in the physical life of Jesus; the crucifixion for our sins and the remission of sin through His name.

a.    Note: Trinitarian baptism can only express faith in Catholic Theology itself.

8.    THE TEST OF PARALLEL ACCOUNTS

·         Matthew 28 is not the only record in the gospels of the Great Commission.

·         Luke also recorded this event in great detail in Luke 24:46, 47.

·         Luke 24:46-47 “Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,

·          ⁴⁷ and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

·         He (Luke) wrote of Jesus speaking in the third person “And that repentance preached in His name among all nations.”

·         This passage recorded by Luke in contradiction to the falsified text establishes the correct wording of Matthew 28:19 where Jesus spoke in the first person: “in My name”.

·         Mark also records another version of the Great Commission using some of the same pattern of speech:

·         Mark 16:15-18.“Go ye… all the world, preach the gospel… every creature … baptized .. IN MY NAME”   THE COMMISSION

·         The Great Commission that Jesus instructed His disciples, including baptism, was to be done in Jesus name “My name”.

9.    THE TEST OF COMPLIMENTARY CITATION

·         There is no complimentary citation of Trinitarian baptism anywhere in the Bible

·         Matthew contains the commission of Christ to His apostles while the Romans account is Paul’s acceptance of his own commission as an apostle.

·         Matthew 28:18-20

·         1. All power is given to me

·         2. Go ye

·         3. Teaching them to observe

·         4. All nations

·         5. In My name

1.    THE TEST OF PRINCIPLE

·         It is written: “Whatsoever we do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” Col. 3:17

·         In this principle laid down by Paul, the implication is clear.

·         The word “whatsoever” would of certain necessity include baptism, which is a command involving both word and deed.

·         The traditional wording of Matthew containing the Trinitarian wording is clearly NOT in accordance with the above principle.

·         The shorter wording without the falsified insertion follows this principle.

·         Which of the two wording is the contradictory one?

·         God’s word does not contradict itself, rather it compliments and explains itself.

·         Paul not only expressed this principle, but he applied it specifically to the topic of baptism.

·         In Acts 19:1-6 there is an account concerning the disciples of John who had been baptized under his ministry.

·         Like baptism in Jesus name, John’s baptism was one of repentance for the remission of sin (Mark 1:4; Acts 2:38).

·         John’s message which accompanied his baptism, was that ONE would come after him, who would “take away the sins of the world” and baptize with the Holy Spirit”. John 1:29

·         Paul introduced these disciples to that ONE and applied the above principle.

·         “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

·         “And when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came upon them”. Acts 19:2-6.

·         And so, applying the test of the principle to our two readings of Matthew 28:19 , we find very strong support for the phrase: “In My name” and not the Trinitarian version we find in the King James Bible.