Last updated 7/05/15 this study is nine pages long

Some say that Mathew 28:19 "baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"
confirms the Trinitarian theory of three persons within one God, and therefore Jesus is God.
I will show that this interpretation is incorrect and that Mathew 28:19 does NOT show Jesus to be God.
Whether you agree or disagree, in part or in whole, big or small, please email me any feedback to help improve this
study. I would also appreciate any help with its logic, grammar, typos, editing etc.
Before analyzing the passage in question in Mathew 28:19, and the relationship of Christ with God, I am going to
provide some evidence that has to be taken into account when interpreting our passage.
Part 0 Definitions
Part 1 Name or Names
Part 2A My Name is.
Part 2B In the name of OT
Part 2C In the Name of NT
Part 3 Ways of Baptizing
Part 4 Other Groups of Three
Part 5 Text Comparisons
Part 6 Mathew 28:19-20
Part 7 Is the text Corrupted

Part 0 Definitions
Hebrew H8034 Sem:
Greek G3686 Onama: Called, name

Part 1 Name or Names

Why is it in the "name" of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and not in the names?
The Greek word for name or names is the same word Onoma/G3686, meaning: name, title, reputation.
NIV translated : Name 156, named 31, names 9, and other. So it could be either, it is based on context.
It could be
A/ Name: Meaning the name of the Father and in addition Jesus and the Holy Spirit
B/ Name: Meaning that all three share the same name, as per the Trinitarian claim.
C/ Names: Meaning all three names equally and separately, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
D/ Names: Meaning all three names equally together as one, per the Trinitarian claim.
E/ Names: Meaning one, the Father, has authority over the others
Summary:
There is an argument for and against the idea that it means Jesus is or isn't God based on name or names.
My preference is that; prior to Christ, people were likely baptized into God the Father only (and perhaps into the name
of the baptizer like John the Baptist etc.) Once Jesus Christ had lived and died and the Holy Spirit had come at
Pentecost, then these were significant differences for all believers therefore they have to be included for different
reasons. But because God the Father is always the ultimate forgiver of sins then it is into His name we are baptized,
along with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Par 2A My Name Is.

Of the 174 times G3686/Onama, or name, is in the NT about a quarter of them are written in what we would consider
the normal way. The normal way, where the sentence is referring to the name of someone or something for
identification purposes as in these passages.

Mathew 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus
His name is Jesus
Mathew 26:3 people gathered in the palace of the High Priest, whose name was Caiaphas
Whose name was Caiaphas
Mathew 26:14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
Whose name was Judas
Mathew 27:32 they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry
the cross
Simon by name
Mark 3:16 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter)
He gave the name Peter
Summary:
The usual way most of us understand the meaning of the word "name" is when it identifies a person, place or thing. In
the New Testament it was used in this way the minority of the times it was written.

Part 2B In the Name of, OT

In the OT the Hebrew word H8034/sem was used to both signify a personal identification or as per the following
passages when indicating a meaning of authority or power.
Deuteronomy 18:5 For the LORD your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the
name of the LORD, him and his sons for all time
In the name of the LORD God
Deuteronomy 18:20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded
him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.
People did things in the name of false gods
1 Samuel 25:9 When Davids young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David, and then
they waited
People did things in the name of King David
Esther 2:22 And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told
the king in the name of Mordecai
People did things in the name of Mordecai who was an important man.
Others include King Ahasuerus, there may be more.
Summary:

Deuteronomy 18:5
Deuteronomy 18:20
1 Samuel 25:9
Esther 2:22

In the name of the LORD God

In the name of false gods
In the name of King David and other respected people
In the name of Mordecai who was an important man.

People often did things "in the name of" God, gods, or certain people as a sign of authority and power

Part 2C In the Name of, NT

The predominant way the NT uses G3686/Onama/Name is similar to "in the name of..." to indicate that the meaning
of "authority" or "power."
The Name of God:
Luke 19:37-38 As he was drawing nearalready on the way down the Mount of Olivesthe whole
multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they
had seen,
38 saying, Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the
highest!
The King, Jesus, comes in the name of the Lord, who here is God.
John 5:43 I have come in my Fathers name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own
you will receive him

name,

Jesus came in the name of the Father

John 10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Fathers
name bear witness about me
Jesus did work in the name of his Father
John 17:6 I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were,
and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep
them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and
not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have
loved me may be in them, and I in them.
Vs6 Name of the Father
Vs11 Name of the Father
Vs12 Name of the Father
Vs26 Name of the Father
In several passages Jesus tells us that he came and worked "in the name of" God the Father.
The Name of Jesus:
Mathew 7:22 On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out
demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?
People prophesied, cast out demons, and did mighty works - in Jesus' name

Mark 9:38 John said to him, Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to
stop him, because he was not following us.
People cast out demons in the name of Jesus
Mathew 18:19-20 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done
for them by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
Vs19 The Father of Christ will answer the prayers
Vs20 People are gathered in the name of Jesus
Luke 24:46-47 and said to them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise
from the dead,
47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning
from Jerusalem.
Forgiveness of sins in Jesus' name
In several passages people prophesied, cast out demons, did mighty works, gathered, and forgave sins, "in the name"
of Jesus.
God supports "in the name of Jesus"
John 15:16 so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you
Jesus confirms that the Father will support us when we ask "in the name" of Jesus
John 16:26-27 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your
behalf;
27 for

the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

We will ask the Father "in Jesus name"

Ephesians 5:20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ,
To God the Father in the name of Jesus
Philippians 2:9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every
name,
God gave Jesus the name that is above all names.
Hebrews 1:4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than
theirs
Jesus inherited his name, signifying a point when he had not yet inherited it.
1 John 3:21-23 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another,
just as he has commanded us.

Vs23 God commanded that we believe in the name of Jesus, His Son.
Name of Both Father and Son
1Peter 4:16 if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the
outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
We glorify God in the name Christian (follower of Christ) that we each have.
Christ and God are tied together in this way.
Revelation 3:12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he
go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new
Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
Christians shall have written on them 1/ The name of his God. 2/ The name of Jerusalem. 3/ Jesus' new name
Revelation 14:1 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had
his name and his Fathers name written on their foreheads
John sees that the disciples had the name of Jesus AND the name of God, which is YHWH, on their foreheads.
There is no doubt that the name of Jesus and the name of God are distinct and individual names.
The Name of Paul
1 Corinthians 1:13 Or were you baptized in the name of Paul
In the name of Paul.
Summary:
In the name of God
Luke 19:37-38
John 5:43
John 10:25
John 17:6-26

The King, Jesus, comes in the name of the Lord, God.

Jesus came in the name of the Father
Jesus did work in the name of his Father
Name of the Father

In the name of Jesus

Mathew 7:22
Mark 9:38
Mathew 18:19-20
Luke 24:46-47

People prophesied, cast out demons, and did mighty works - in Jesus' name
People cast out demons in the name of Jesus
People are gathered in the name of Jesus
Forgiveness of sins in Jesus' name

God supports "in the name of Jesus"

John 15:16
Jesus confirms that the Father will support us when we ask "in the name" of Jesus
John 16:26-27
We will ask the Father "in Jesus name"
Ephesians 5:20
To God the Father in the name of Jesus
Philippians 2:9
God gave Jesus the name that is above all names.
Hebrews 1:4
Jesus inherited his name, signifying a point when he had not yet inherited it.
1 John 3:21-23
God commanded that we believe in the name of Jesus, His Son.
Name of both Father and Son
1 Peter 4:16
We glorify God in the name Christian that we each have

Revelation 3:12
Revelation 14:1
foreheads.

Christians shall have written on them 1/ The name of his God. 2/ The name of Jerusalem. 3/
Jesus' new name
John sees that the disciples had the name of Jesus and the name of God, YHWH, on their

There is no doubt that "the name of Jesus" and "the name of God, YHWH" are distinct and individual statements and
individual names. "In the name of " was meant to indicate authority and power.
Therefore, Mathew 28:19 can be shown to mean, or at least include: "baptizing them in recognition of the power or the
authority of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy spirit."

Part 3 Ways of Baptizing

When John the Baptist baptized it was for repentance and most likely in the name of God, and possibly in the name of
John the Baptist. From the time of Jesus onwards baptism was going to be different, there was additions.
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 will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
This happened very shortly after Jesus had ascended to heaven after Mathew 28:19
All authority from God has been given to Jesus, Peter therefore concludes one should be baptized in the name of Jesus.
(There may be other reasons.)
Acts 10:48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Peter made the order, they be baptized into Jesus name.
Acts 19:5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus
Acts continues to baptize only into the name of Jesus
Romans 6:3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his
death
This is more of an explanation of why people are baptized into Jesus name, a parallel with his death.
Galatians 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Perhaps signifying that being "baptized into Christ" was different to other baptisms of the time.
Perhaps signifying our commitment to Christianity.
Acts 8:16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the
name of the Lord Jesus.
People had been baptized only into the name of the Lord Jesus, not the Holy Spirit.
This passage indicates that if the Holy Spirit had come on them that they would have been baptized into the Holy
Spirit also
Summary:
Acts 2:38
Acts 10:48
Acts 19:5

All authority from God has been given to Jesus, Peter therefore concludes one should be baptized
in the name of Jesus.
Peter made the order, they be baptized into Jesus name
Acts continues to baptize only into the name of Jesus

Romans 6:3 an explanation of why people are baptized into Jesus name, a parallel with his death.
Galatians 3:27 we cloth ourselves with Christ
Acts 8:16
People had been baptized only into the name of the Lord Jesus, not the Holy Spirit.
It is interesting to ask, why were all the other NT examples of being baptized always in the name of Jesus Christ only.
There are several examples and none of them have the Father or the Holy Spirit included as per Mathew 28 which had
happened earlier. Are we to conclude that the disciples were being disobedient to Jesus' instruction?
There are a few new differences possible answers:
1/ The people of that time were already baptized into God and Jesus' baptism was an addition.
2/ A baptism into Christ also always now includes the Holy Spirit and God the Father.
3/ It is a parallel with Jesus own death and resurrection, which is now the significant reason.
4/ Because Jesus is the new intercessor which was not available before that time.
5/ Acts 4:12 says we can only be saved through Jesus name.
Baptism:
God the Father is the one that will ultimately save each of us.
The Son is the one that will mediate with the Father for our salvation
God's Spirit is how we will be guided while we are on the earth

Part 4 Other Groups of Three

It is said that because the Father, Son and Holy spirit are in a group of three then all must be God.
1 Timothy 5:21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep
rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality

these

Here God is included with Jesus and with the angels, we don't assume that the angels are God nor should we assume
that Jesus is God because he is grouped together with him in this kind of statement. In fact because it says "and of"
Jesus Christ in this context it shows that Jesus is an addition to God just as the angels are.
Luke 9:26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when
he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels
Again Jesus is grouped with the angels and with God the Father.
Mat 16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will
repay each person according to what he has done
Both the Son of Man and the angels will come in the glory of his Father. Jesus has a Father.
Similar passages are in Mark 8:38, Mat 24:36, Mark 13:32
Summary:
1 Timothy 5:21
Luke 9:26
Math 16:27

Jesus is an addition to God just as the angels are.

Again Jesus is grouped with the angels and with God the Father.
Both the Son of Man and the angels will come in the glory of his Father. Jesus has a Father.

Because God AND Jesus AND angels are in a group of three there is no assumption that any one of these is the other,
in fact it signifies that they are not each other. Should we say that there is God the Father, God the Son, and God the
Holy Angels? Of course not.

Part 5 Text Comparisons

From looking at twenty two different translations they all have it written the same way. (Some say Holy Ghost)
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Darby, ASV, AV, DR, ESV, GW, HCSB, ISV, KJV, LEB, NET, NASB, NCV, NIRV, NIV, NKJV, NLT, NRSV, RSV,
TNIV, YLT
Summary:
At face value, all twenty one translations of this passage say "in the name of the Father," in addition to the Son and the
Holy Spirit. Nothing here signifies that Jesus is God.
All twenty one translations quoted have written "in the name of the Father" etc. As stated elsewhere the Trinitarian
formula is that the one God is singular, and the three persons are plural. Therefore not one of the translations listed is
in accordance with the Trinitarian formula because when the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are listed together they
should be written "in the names" and not "in the name."

Part 6 Mathew 28:19-20

Mathew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given
to me.
19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit,
20
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age."
Vs18 Because all authority was given to Jesus, then obviously there was a point before he had all authority. At the
point Jesus did not have all authority then he could not have been God. Therefore Jesus is not equal to God before or
during the time of authority. If God could give Jesus authority then God could take it away and so clearly there is
hierarchy.
Vs19 The face value understanding is to baptize people in the name of all three but it doesn't say that one is the other.
And it doesn't confirm one way or the other that all three names are one God.
Vs20 A study into Jesus' teachings show that he was taught by God, and therefore there was a point when he didn't
know what he later taught. Because this is true, if he didn't know something he cannot be God in any way.
Summary:
Mathew 28
Vs18 All authority was given by God to Jesus, therefore Jesus is not God who does not need giving authority
Vs19 Doesn't confirm one way or the other that all three names are one God.
Vs20 Jesus was taught by God, therefore Jesus is not God who does not need teaching

Part 7 Is the text corrupted?

There are many people who say that the text in this verse is corrupted and should not include the Father and the Holy
Spirit.
Why does Jesus say "all authority has been given to me" and yet he tells us to baptize not just in his name but in the
name of the Father and the Holy Spirit also? Why do the disciples in Acts baptize into the name of Jesus only, never
including the Father and the Holy Spirit? Why does Jesus say "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded
you" not that the Father and the Holy Spirit have commanded them?

So all authority is given to Jesus, and Teach them to obey everything Jesus has commanded them. Yet baptize in the
name of the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
And even further yet, we find this statement in Luke that Jesus makes after he rises from the dead.
Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for
forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47).
Summary:
There is strong argument that the text is corrupted some of which I have raised here and more that can be read in
detail elsewhere, however I am not going to argue for that theory but continue to assume that it is not corrupted and
that it is correct.
Summaries and Final Conclusion
Part 0
Part 1 There is an argument for and against the idea that it means Jesus is or isn't God based on name or names.
My preference is that; prior to Christ, people were likely baptized into God the Father only (and perhaps into
the name of the baptizer like John the Baptist etc.) Once Jesus Christ had lived and died and the Holy Spirit had
come at Pentecost, then these were significant differences for all believers therefore they have to be included for
different reasons. But because God the Father is always the ultimate forgiver of sins
then it is into His name we
are baptized, along with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Part 2A The usual way most of us understand the meaning of the word "name" is when it identifies a person,
or thing. In the New Testament it was used in this way the minority of the times it was written.
Part 2B Deuteronomy 18:5
Deuteronomy 18:20
1 Samuel 25:9
Esther 2:22

place

In the name of the LORD God

In the name of false gods
In the name of King David and other respected people
In the name of Mordecai who was an important man.

People often did things "in the name of" God, gods, or certain people as a sign of authority and power
Part 2C There is no doubt that "the name of Jesus" and "the name of God, YHWH" are distinct and individual
statements and individual names.
"In the name of " was meant to indicate authority and power.
Therefore, Mathew 28:19 can be shown to mean, or at least include: "baptizing them in recognition of the
power or the authority of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy spirit."
Part 3 God the Father is the one that will ultimately save each of us.
The Son is the one that will mediate with the Father for our salvation
God's Spirit is how we will be guided while we are on the earth
Part 4 Because God AND Jesus AND angels are in a group of three there is no assumption that any one of these
is the other, in fact it signifies that they are not each other. Should we say that there is God the Father, God
the Son, and God the Holy Angels? Of course not.
Part 5 At face value, all twenty one translations of this passage say "in the name of the Father," in addition to the
Son and the Holy Spirit. Nothing here signifies that Jesus is God.
All twenty one translations quoted have written "in the name of the Father" etc. As stated elsewhere the
Trinitarian formula is that the one God is singular, and the three persons are plural. Therefore not one of the

translations listed is in accordance with the Trinitarian formula because when the Father, Son, and
are listed together they should be written "in the names" and not "in the name."

Holy Spirit

Part 6 Mathew 28
Vs18 All authority was given by God to Jesus, therefore Jesus is not God who does not need giving
authority
Vs19 Doesn't confirm one way or the other that all three names are one God.
Vs20 Jesus was taught by God, therefore Jesus is not God who does not need teaching
Part 7 There is strong argument that the text is corrupted some of which I have raised here and more that can be
read in detail elsewhere, however I am not going to argue for that theory but continue to assume that it is
not corrupted and that it is correct.
Final Conclusion:
So in Mathew 28:18-20 should it be "name" or "names"? It seems that "name," is correct for several reasons. People
often did important things "in the name of" God, gods or people to indicate power and authority.
God the Father is our ultimate savior, and Jesus is the one who mediates and intercedes on our behalf.
There is no need to assume that because the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are mentioned in the same passage that one is
the other. This is confirmed because angels are sometimes listed along with the Father and Jesus Christ.
It is always a relative question to ask why there is no mention of the Trinity throughout the book of Mathew and yet
Jesus would be introducing such a concept without explaining what he was talking about right at the end of the book?
Those that speculate that Mathew 28:18-20 means there are three persons in one God, could easily speculate that it
means that people used to be baptized into God the Father but now have to include the son and the Holy Spirit both of
whom were in the process of being revealed.
There are some fairly major reasons to state that this passage doesnt say one way or the other who and what the
Father is, who and what the Son is, or who and what the Holy Spirit is. There are some major reasons to conclude that
it is an instruction on what to do when being baptized, just that the Father Son and Holy Spirit are mentioned together
and each has a function in some way.
This passage refers to all three but does not say that all three are one.
It means God, God's Son, and God's Holy Spirit. Nothing more.
Therefore Mathew 28:18-20 does not prove that Jesus is God