What Does It Mean To Do Something “In the Name of Jesus”?

Matt 28:19 does not contradict Acts 2:38 because neither verse is talking about a certain formula of words that must be said when someone is baptized. That is easy to see when we notice the same phrase “in the name of the Lord Jesus” in Col 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus …” Obviously we don’t have to say a certain formula of words every time we do anything, do we?

But what does it mean, to do something "in the name of Jesus"? Consider the following definitions …

· "in the name of Christ" – "to do a thing … by one’s command and authority, acting on his behalf, promoting his cause" (Thayer, p.447)

· "in the name of" – "(a) in appeal or reference to; (b) by the authority of; as the representative of; (c) as belonging to." (Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language, 1976 edition, page 1193).

Relating specifically to baptism in the name …

· Vine’s (page 100) – in the name … representing the authority of Christ … in recognition of the authority of … Matt 28:19, Acts 8:16

· Thayer (Strong’s #907) – “baptize in the name of Jesus Christ” – by the authority of the Lord, Acts 10:48

Water baptism must be done “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38), but it doesn’t matter what the baptizer actually says, as long as he teaches the truth.

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