Re-Examining Baptism in the Name of Jesus Part 4

Next we look at a chart presented by Don McClain, where Don appeals to the lexical definition of "in the name of" as found in Joseph Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon. One of the main problems here, is that Don is about one hundred years behind in knowledge of Koine Greek. Thayer's lexicon was obsolete the day it rolled off the printing press. This is acknowledged by Moulton-Milligan, the foreword of Bauer's lexicon, and Dr. Daniel Wallace, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics.

But there's an even greater problem here with Don's appeal to Thayer's lexicon, and that is that Don (and his other "no-formula" preachers) are VERY SELECTIVE on what they quote from Thayer!!

Don likes to quote Thayer's comments on "in the name of" referring to authority, as if this means "no verbal pronouncement." Just because Thayer defined "in the name of" as "by the authority" this doesn't mean that Thayer was saying "no verbal pronouncement. Actually, Thayer very much believed that "in the name of" referred to verbal pronouncement of the name!!

Thayer qualified his definition of "in the name of" by first saying, "... the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is roused in the mind by MENTIONING, HEARING, remembering the name..." But Don doesn't like to quote this part of Thayer's lexicon!! He wants it to appear that Thayer meant "no verbal pronouncement" when that is absolutely FALSE!! Notice what else Thayer said about "in the name of"

Thayer went on to say that "The phrase 'in the name of Christ' is used in various senses: a by the command and authority of Christ b. in the USE of the name of Christ i.e. the power of his name being INVOKED for assistance..." There are about twice as many references to oral invocation in Thayer's definition of "in the name of" than references to "authority," but again, Don chooses not to mention these in his sermons!! It's not like Don doesn't know that Thayer's lexicon says these things, it is simply Don's choice to misrepresent the lexicons!!

Joseph Thayer very much believed that "in the name of" in relationship to water baptism referred to an oral invocation or verbal profession of the name!!

So, as we can see already, the "no-formula" teaching of Don McClain is built upon a false premise. From there Don misrepresents the Greek lexicons in order to validate his doctrine. But we see upon further examination that scholar Don appealed to in fact DOES NOT agree with his position. Thayer's lexicon mentions time and time again that "in the name of" means a verbal profession of the name, and specifically defined "in the name of" as a verbal profession in relationship to water baptism.

Thus when we speak of baptizing "in the name of Jesus Christ" this means baptizing while verbally professing the name of Jesus Christ!

Jason L. Weatherly