Baptism in the name of Jesus

== History ==
=== Early Christianity ===
The first baptisms in early Christianity are recorded in the [[Acts of the Apostles]]. [[Acts 2]] records the [[Apostle Peter]], on the day of [[Pentecost]], preaching to the crowds to "repent and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (or forgiveness) of sins" ({{Bibleref2|Acts|2:38}}). Other detailed records of baptisms in Acts show the first apostles baptizing in the name of Jesus.<ref>{{Bibleref2|Acts|8:16}}</ref><ref>{{Bibleref2|Acts|10:48}}</ref><ref>{{Bibleref2|Acts|19:5}}</ref><ref>{{Bibleref2|Acts|22:16}}</ref> The [[Apostle Paul]] also refers to baptism into Christ Jesus.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Romans|6:3}}</ref>

According to Oneness theologian [[David K. Bernard]], the Trinitarian formula from {{Bibleref2|Matthew|28:19}} became popularized over time.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bernard |first1=David |title=The Oneness of God |date=30 September 2000 |publisher=Word Aflame Press |isbn=978-0-912315-12-6 |page=138 |access-date=1 November 2021 |chapter=Father, Son, and Holy Ghost |url=http://www.pentecostalsofdadeville.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/the-oneness-of-god.pdf |quote=Many encyclopedias and church historians agree that the original baptismal formula in early church history was "in the name of Jesus."}}</ref> The ''[[Didache]]'', a church manual dating to the first century on the other hand,<ref>{{cite book |last=O'Loughlin|first=Thomas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IfpqBgAAQBAJ|title=The Didache: A window on the earliest Christians|date=2011-02-15|publisher=SPCK|isbn=978-0-281-06493-9|language=en}}</ref> instructs baptism to be done "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," according to the [[Great Commission]], though [[eucharist]]ic instruction states "but let none eat or drink of your Eucharist except those who have been baptised in the Lord's Name." This, according to Oneness Pentecostals, could be a reference to early century "Jesus name" baptism against the Trinitarian formula often interpreted as according to the authority of Jesus.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bernard |first1=David |title=The Oneness of God |date=30 September 2000 |publisher=Word Aflame Press |isbn=978-0-912315-12-6 |page=238 |access-date=1 November 2021 |chapter=Oneness Believers in Church History |url=http://www.pentecostalsofdadeville.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/the-oneness-of-god.pdf |quote=...an early writing called the ''Didache'' says communion should be administered only to those who are baptized in the name of the Lord, but it also mentions baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Contrasting, Roman Catholic scholarship supports the "authority" argument.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why Don't We Baptize in the Name of Jesus? |url=https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/why-dont-we-baptize-in-the-name-of-jesus |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Catholic Answers}}</ref>

=== Modern Christianity ===
[[Charles Parham]], one of the central figures in the development and early spread of American [[Pentecostalism]], is recorded to have baptised new believers in Jesus name during the [[Azusa Street Revival]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Johnston |first1=Robin |title=Howard A. Goss - A Pentecostal Life |date=2010 |publisher=Word Aflame Press |language=English|isbn=978-0757740299
}}</ref> The controversy occurred when [[R.E. McAlister]] preached just prior to a baptismal service to be conducted at the World-Wide Apostolic Faith Camp Meeting held in [[Arroyo Seco (Los Angeles County)|Arroyo Seco, California]]. He preached that pastors should stop baptising in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and only baptize in Jesus’ name because that was what the [[Early Christianity|early Church]] did; this became known as [[R.E. McAlister#"The New Issue"|"The New Issue"]]. In 1914, a year after McAlister gave his sermon over baptism, [[Frank Ewart]] and Glenn Cook rebaptised each other in the name of Jesus. This led a number of adherents to a reexamination of the doctrine of the Trinity, birthing the [[Oneness Pentecostalism|Oneness Pentecostal movement]].