Matthew 28:19 & Parallelism

The method and/or formula for water baptism is a centuries old debate.  I do not expect to end that debate.  What I do have to offer is an angle that I have NEVER heard taught nor found in my internet searches. Once you see it, you’ll wonder why such a simple concept has not been brought to light. (And it won’t even be necessary to use the argument that perhaps the Catholic fathers edited or added to this scripture).¹After I began writing this essay I did find an author on the internet that said essentially the very same thing.  I failed to copy the reference to that article and can no longer find it. So it is my hopes that if the author stumbles across this blog post that he/she will contact me.

One afternoon while sitting around the dining room table, a friend and I were discussing the Bible.  He quoted aloud Matthew 28:19.  As soon as I heard it, the rhythm of it (similar to Deuteronomy 6:5  “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” And Exodus. 3:16, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob), I knew immediately that I was hearing a classic Hebrew parallelism.

In that instant the whole controversy was over in my mind and I understood that Jesus’ words on baptism do NOT contradict the Apostles baptizing in the name of the Lord Jesus. Jesus was using a literary device (emphatic parallelism) that was very familiar to his Hebrew disciples in which several words or a series of words in a sentence refer to the same subject for emphasis. An example is Deuteronomy 6:5. The terms heart, soul, and might do not refer to separate parts of a person, but are actually synonyms referring to the whole person (singular).

More on parallelism:  It is a literary device frequently used in the Hebrew language, prevalent in the Old Testament. It is used to bring more light to the subject, to emphasize the point, etc, and it takes many forms.  I urge the reader to learn more about this literary device as it will greatly enhance your Bible study.  Once you become acquainted with the syntax, the rhythm, the meter, the formulas of parallelism you will see them everywhere in the Bible (and other literature). The following is a good definition:

A common literary feature of Hebrew poetry in the Old Testament is called parallelism, in which the words of two or more lines of text are directly related in some way. This feature can be found in any poetic passage, and sometimes even in narrative, although it is more common in the Psalms and Proverbs. Recognizing parallelism as a poetic feature can sometimes aid in understanding or interpreting a passage. For example, the use of parallelism usually means that the message of the text is in the larger passage and its overall point or impact rather than individual words or single lines. Also, specific words that may be ambiguous or used in unusual ways can be clarified or more narrowly defined by seeing them in the context of a parallel structure.

Dennis Bratcher (https://www.crivoice.org/parallel.html)

And this from bibletools.org:

Parallelism is similar to the use of appositives in English. When we say, “Fred Jones, the pharmacist, often rode his bicycle to work,” we restate the subject of our sentence and add information at the same time. The Hebrew writer did the same thing, but he was not limited merely to renaming nouns; he worked in phrases, clauses, and whole sentences.

bibletools.org

There are many different types of parallelisms.  Emphatic is the example I refer to Matthew 28:19 and Deuteronomy 6:5. and Exodus 3:6, which uses synonymous words for emphasis.

Another type of parallelism is called synonymous parallelism which can be applied in this study as well:

1) The synonymous, in which the same sentiment is repeated in different but equivalent words:(Ps. xxv. 5; comp. ib. exiv.; Num. xxiii. 7-10; Isa. lx. 1-3; etc.). “Shew me thy ways, O Lord; Teach me thy paths” Frequently the second line not merely repeats but also reinforces or diversifies the idea:(Prov. i. 31);”They shall eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices” .

https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/11902-parallelism-in-hebrew-poetry

So. . . in the verse, “of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all synonyms repeating the same sentiment, synonyms emphasizing the same sentiment.  What is the sentiment being repeated? What is sentiment being emphasized? That ALL authority is given to Jesus.  He came in his Father’s name (John 5:43); the Holy Spirit was to be sent in Jesus name (John 14:16). All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Him (Jesus) bodily. (Col 2:19)  So, Jesus IS the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (I am not debating the Trinity here).

Furthermore, the Apostles baptized in Jesus name. ( Act 2:38, Act 8:12, Act 10:48,  Act 22:16, Rom 6:3, Gal 3:27).  Surely they heard what Jesus commanded . ²Paul the Apostle did not hear Jesus teach. He arrived at his revelations by studying the Old Testament.  That makes it even more creditable that he was in agreement with the other Apostles’ teaching on baptism.  Yes, and they understood the Hebrew poetry that he was using.

Also, to use a common principle in Bible interpretation, that is, taking the majority of like scriptures to explain the one that is different, we must conclude from the above evidence that EVERYTHING is to be done in the name of Jesus, even baptism.

So lets consider all the points:

• Matthew 28:19 is a classic Hebrew parallelism and the disciples were very familiar with that literary devise.
• Matthew 28:19 is the ONLY place that mentions baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
• Baptism in the name of Jesus is commanded, performed and alluded to in the rest of the New Testament by the Apostles who HEARD Jesus teach and by Paul.

In light of these points we can safely conclude that there is no contradiction in Matthew 28:19 and the rest of the New Testament scriptures on baptism. Jesus was referring to HIS name.  After all, He had just said that ALL authority in heaven and earth had been given Him. The power is in His name!

For me, the controversy is settled.

• 1
  After I began writing this essay I did find an author on the internet that said essentially the very same thing.  I failed to copy the reference to that article and can no longer find it. So it is my hopes that if the author stumbles across this blog post that he/she will contact me.
• 2
  Paul the Apostle did not hear Jesus teach. He arrived at his revelations by studying the Old Testament.  That makes it even more creditable that he was in agreement with the other Apostles’ teaching on baptism.