Saturday, June 15, 2019

The use of a Triadic Baptismal Formula in the Didache


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.