The words of the scripture, Matthew 28:19, have been changed from the original. At first, the verse read, “Go ye and make disciples of all the nations in my name, teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19, 20) CHANGED TO “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19, 20).
The Nicean council (325 AD) and subsequent Church councils in the 300s thought they had the authority to modify the text of the Bible. This error was researched by Professor F.C. Conybeare, Doctrinal Modifications Matthew 28:19, The Hibbert Journal, London, England (Volume 1, October 1902) pages 102-108. The text of Matthew originally read “in my name.” The Apostle Peter gave the same instruction in Acts 2:38 (ESV), “Peter replied, ‘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.’”
Professor Conybeare summarizes his findings noting that the reading for Matthew 28:19 “in my name,” appears in Justin, Eusebius, and perhaps Bishop Stephen of Rome. After the Nicean council, Eusebius uses the Trinitarian formula “in the name of the father the son and the holy spirit,” permitting us to know when the change was made. A link reprinting the Hibbert Journal article in its entirety with a translation of the Greek, Latin and German may be found at http://www.beautiesofthetruth.org . Once there, go to “Past Issues” and hit August 2006.
There are no scriptures (aside from the altered text of Matthew 28:19) in the New Testament which teach us to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
