Some claim
that the earliest form (wording) of baptism was "in Jesus' name" and
not in the Triadic manner from Matt 28:19. However, that Matt 28:19 was
understood at least as the normative form of water baptism in early
Christianity can be seen from what has to be my favourite early Christian
document, the Didache. In 7:1-3, we read:
Concerning baptism, baptise thus: Having
first rehearsed all these things, “baptise, in the Name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” in running water; 2 but if thou hast no running water, baptise
in other water, and if thou canst not in cold, then in warm. 3 But if thou hast neither, pour water three
times on the head “in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” (Kirsopp
Lake translation)
The Greek
uses βαπτίσατε εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος ἐν ὕδατι
ζῶντι ("baptise into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit in living [i.e., running water]) and again to baptise/pour εἰς ὄνομα
πατρὸς καὶ υἱοῦ καὶ ἁγίου πνεύματος ("into the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit"). Therefore, from this text (dated between
50-100), we see that early Christians did not baptise "in Jesus'
name" but using a Triadic formula, contra Oneness Pentecostals who think such is a non-biblical and later concept.
