According to both the Bible and history, the New Testament church invoked the name of Jesus at water baptism. Its baptismal formula was "in the name of Jesus Christ" or "Lord Jesus," not "in the name of the Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost."
THE SCRIPTURAL RECORD
Every time the Bible records the name or formula associated with an actual baptism in the New Testament church, it describes the name "JESUS." All five such accounts occur in the Book of Acts, the history book of the early church. It records that the following people were baptized in Jesus' name.
The Jews. "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." (Acts 2:38)
The Samaritans. "They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 8:16)
The Gentiles. "And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord." (Acts 10:48)
(The earliest Greek manuscripts that we have say, "In the name of Jesus Christ," as do most versions today.)
The disciples of John (rebaptized). "They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 19:5)
The Apostle Paul. "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16)
Moreover, the Epistles contain a number of references or allusions to baptism in Jesus' name. See Romans 6:3-4;
I Corinthians 1:13; 6:11; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; James 2:7.
The only verse of Scripture that anyone could appeal to in support of a threefold baptismal formula is Matthew 28:19 in which Jesus commanded baptism "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." The word "name" in this verse is singular, however, indicating that the phrase describes one supreme name by which the one God is revealed, not three names of three distinct persons.
The apostles understood Christ's words as a description of His own name, for they fulfilled His command by baptizing in the name of Jesus. There is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4) and He has one supreme name today (Zechariah 14:9). Jesus is the incarnation of all the fulness of the Godhead (Colossians 2:9). Jesus is the name by which the Father is revealed to us (John 5:43; 10:30; 14:9-11), and Jesus is the name in which the Holy Spirit comes (John 14:16-18, 26).
Luke 24:47 is a parallel verse to Matthew 28:19, and it describes Jesus as saying that repentance and remission of sins - and baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) - would be preached "in his name." Jesus is the only saving name, the name in which we receive remission of sins, the highest name made known to us, and the name in which we are to say and do all things (Acts 4:12; 10:43; Philippians 2:9-11; Colossians 3:17).
Thus the one supreme, saving name of Matthew 28:19 is JESUS. We are to fulfill the command of that verse as the early church did, by invoking the name of Jesus at baptism.
