Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 23:19 is the only record of Jesus specifically commanding baptism, but the necessity of this rite may also be seen in his words in Mark 16:16 and John 3:5.
It’s interesting that the baptismal formula given here is unique in that it is naming the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In all other places in scripture the formula is simply “baptized in (or into) the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Consider:
Acts 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus)
Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
“There is also the possibility that the words ‘in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’ were a later addition. This idea is supported by the fact that they were never included in quotations of Matthew 28:19 by the ‘early Fathers’. For example, Eusebius, who died about the year 340 quotes the verse at least 18 times, but always in the form ‘Go ye into and make disciples of all the nations in my name, teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I commanded you.’”
Considering that the formula given in Matthew 28:19 is not consistent with the formula in other places in scripture and that there is some evidence the words, “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” were a later addition, this is a poor choice of a passage to use as a proof text for the Trinity.
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