Baptism “in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19) in Biblical Perspective: From Exegesis to Actualization

Abstract

This article is an attempt to answer the question what it means to be baptized “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”. The point of departure for analyses is the only text of the New Testament which mentions such a baptism, namely Mt 28:19. To be baptized “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” signifies that we are directed to a new identity of God as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This identity of God determines the identity of a Christian who, as a result of baptism, belongs to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Baptism enables Christians to take an attitude of abandoning everything that belongs to their existence, such as their own reasons or visions of life, etc. The attitude of abandoning is the attitude of God the Father who gave his only Son so that the sinners will have eternal life and the attitude of Jesus Christ who was obedient to His Father to “death, even death on the cross” (Phil 2:8). Finally, through baptism the faithful receive the Holy Spirit which enables them to discover the truth that they are the sons of God and their sins are forgiven. Moral life and spirituality of a baptized person should be transformed by baptism. A Christian is in the process of discovering the mystery of this sacrament and his life should be illuminated by it.