| Subject: Re: Matt 28:19 |
Author:
Ronald
|
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Date Posted: 14:28:41 10/12/02 Sat
Author Host/IP: nycmny1-ar3-4-35-071-169.nycmny1.elnk.dsl.genuity.net/4.35.71.169
In reply to:
Mack
's message, "Matt 28:19" on 07:35:20 10/12/02 Sat
>Go ye therefore . . . . . .Baptising them in the name
>of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
>
>If this is the proof of 3, why do "they" have one name?
>
>And what is that name?
First we should note that there is nothing in Matthew 28:19 that says the three mentioned are co-equal or co-eternal. Matthew 28:19 does not say that these are three persons, although two of those mentioned are persons. But even if it was speaking of three persons, it does not say or imply that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three persons in one Supreme Being.
We should also note that the word "name" here does not refer to any separate appellations of the three mentioned. We have the personal name of the Father -- Yahweh. We have the personal name of the Son -- Jesus. But the scriptures do not give a personal name for the holy spirit.
The Greek word for name is also used in Revelation 3:1, which reads: "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, says this: I know your deeds, that you have a name that your are alive, but you are dead." Here "name" is singular, but is applied to a body of individuals. One could not say that each individual member of the church in Sardis was the Sardis church, only that he was one part of the Sardis church. The word "name" here is not referring to a specific "word" or "appellation", but it refers rather to the "reputation" of the church. We use the word "name" similarly today, as someone might say "the US received a bad 'name' for the acts done in Vietnam." The thought is not that the US is receiving any kind of new name, but rather that the reputation was marred because of what was done.
Another usage of the word "name" in the Bible is that of authority or power. Thus David sent his men to Nabal in his name, that is, with his authority. (1 Samuel 25:5,9) In Matthew 7:22, many are described as claiming to have done many works in the Master's name, that is, with his authority. Peter and Paul were asked by the priests: "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?" (Acts 4:7) These references all show that by coming in the name of another means to come with the authority given by that person. It does not necessarily refer to the word or appelation itself that is used to distinguish that person.
There is no reason to conclude that the singular use of the word "name" in Matthew 28:19 indicates three persons in one Supreme Being. The word "name" is often used singularly to denote a commonality even when speaking of many individuals, especially when speaking in the sense of reputation or authority: Genesis 5:2; 48:6; Deuteronomy 7:24; 9:14; 12:3; 18:20; Joshua 23:7; Ruth 1:2; Ezra 2:61; Nehemiah 7:63; Psalm 9:5; 109:13; Hosea 32:14; Zephaniah 3:19; Revelation 3:1.
Additionally, we have the verse preceding the statement that all authority that Jesus has is given to Jesus, thus indicating that the Son receives his authority from another, a superior being to himself, that is, the Father. This agrees with John 17:1,3, where Jesus refers to his Father as the "only" true Supreme Being, and then excludes himself from being any part of that only true Supreme Being by saying that he was sent forth by that only true Supreme Being. This is further corroborated by John 20:17, where Jesus refers to the Father as the Supreme Being over himself. Nor could this have been a temporary condition, for we find similar statements by Jesus in Revelation 3:12, after his exaltation by the Father. This is also shown in Ephesians 1:17-22, in that the Supreme Being of our Lord Jesus "set him" at his own right hand in the heavenly places. Thus Jesus has been given authority above all the governments and dominions. -- Daniel 7:13,14; Psalm 2:6-8; 110:1,2; Matthew 11:27; John 3:35
Therefore there is no reason to believe that Matthew 28:19 is speaking of a trinity -- that three persons constitute one Supreme Being. Such an idea would have to be read into the scripture.
Christian love,
Ronald
http://reslight.addr.com/l-trinity.html
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