Everything about The Trinitarian Formula totally explained
The
trinitarian formula is the phrase
"in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (original Greek εις το ονομα του Πατρος και του Υιου και του Αγίου Πνεύματος,
eis to onoma tou Patros kai tou Huiou kai tou Hagiou Pneumatos, or in Latin
in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritūs Sancti), or words to that form and effect referring to the persons of the
Holy Trinity.
Biblical origin
These words are quoted from a command of the resurrected Jesus in
Matthew 28:19, commonly called the
Great Commission: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Use in baptism
According to
Roman Catholicism,
Eastern Orthodoxy and most forms of
Protestantism, a
baptism isn't valid if the trinitarian formula isn't used in the administration of that
sacrament. Consequently, they may not recognize religious communities that baptize without the trinitarian formula—
for example Unitarians,
Branhamists,
Frankists, all of whom deny the Trinity—as Christian religions. Some of these other religions (Frankists and Branhamists in particular) use the formula
In the name of Jesus (based on Acts 2:38) for baptism, and in their turn re-baptize converts baptized under the trinitarian formula. They claim that previously these wouldn't have been aware that 'Jesus is the Lord', Jesus being the name of the Son, Father and Holy Ghost).
Jehovah's Witnesses baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" but deny the Trinity. They believe Jesus is the "Son of God" not "God the Son" and that the Holy Spirit is God's active power not "God the Holy Spirit".
Other uses
As well as baptism, the formula is used in other
prayers,
rites,
liturgies, and
sacraments. One of the most common uses of the Trinitarian invocation is when Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Anglicans, Lutherans, and others make the
Sign of the Cross while reciting the formula.
Views from historical criticism
Some scholars of the
historical Jesus regard this formula as an early Christian elaboration. Biblical scholars from the controversial
Jesus Seminar, a group of textual critics (including figures like
Robert W. Funk,
John Dominic Crossan,
Marcus Borg,
Bruce D. Chilton, and
John S. Kloppenborg), have said that the whole of chapter 28 is the result of later editorial work on the Gospels and was never uttered by Jesus or his immediate disciples. Luke Timothy Johnson, often a critic of the methods of the Jesus Seminar, says in his book
The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation that his research affirms a view of Matthew 28:19 as
apocryphal.
While denying that Jesus spoke the formula, these scholars acknowledge that the verse does represent Trinitarian ideas in the early Christian church. Most Christians belong to denominations that recognize church history as at least partially inspired by the Holy Spirit, so they'd see the formula as valid even if not spoken by Jesus himself. The formula, however, doesn't amount to the specific Nicene Trinitarian doctrine that has been orthodox since the 4th century. For example, this formula doesn't show that 1st-century Christians believed in the mysterious unity, equality, or co-eternity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Others have challenged the work of the Jesus Seminar, arguing that the scholars working on the project began with a conclusion and worked to justify it through their research and exegesis.
Fears of patriarchal influence
From the late
twentieth century onwards, many in
liberal Christianity have become uncomfortable with the traditional male representation of God and have sought to de-emphasise or eliminate altogether gender-specific references to God.
Some of these individuals and groups prefer the formula "
in the name of the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sanctifier." The traditionalists respond that all persons of the Trinity are involved in
creation,
redemption and
sanctification, and that attempting to redefine the Trinity in terms of "functions" is essentially a form of
Sabellianism, or modalism.
Because of this, the
Roman Catholic Church has declared that baptisms carried out under such a formula are not only illicit, but also invalid. The same position has been enunciated by several authorities in the
Eastern Churches.
Further Information
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