Greater Works Ministries
Discipleship Training
“In the Name of Jesus”
Lesson #7
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
7:00PM
The Baptismal Formula and the Greek Text
The Exercise of Power and Authority:
At the outset, we have to acknowledge that God’s name represents His power and authority. This explains the significance and importance of using Jesus’ name in baptism. Baptism is a vital part of salvation; it is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16; I Pet. 3:21). Jesus is the only saving name in which sins are forgiven and remitted (Acts 4:12; 10:43; I John 2:12). To baptize in Jesus’ name is to baptize with His authority and power.
Jesus gave the church these two elements to cast out demons in His name and to pray for the healing of the sick in His name (Mark 16:17-18; James 5:14).
Invoking the Name:
Theologians and church historians both agree that the Acts of the Apostles give the baptismal formula of the early church. The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible says, “The evidence of Acts 2:38; 10:48, supported by Gal. 3:27, Rom. 6:3, suggests that baptism in early Christianity was administered, not in the threefold name, but in the name of Jesus Christ or in the name of the Lord Jesus”
Moreover Acts 15:17; 22:16, and James 2:7 all indicate that the name of Jesus was orally invoked at baptism. These passages use the Greek verb epikaleo, which is comprised of the preposition epi and the verb kaleo. Kaleo means to call. Epi has a variety of uses, but its most basic and literal meaning is “on, in, above, answering the question ‘where?’
The Greek text confirms that baptism in the name of Jesus means to invoke the name of Jesus orally upon the candidate. In this manner, one expresses his faith in Jesus, reliance upon his saving work, and exercise of his authority.
