Mennonites interpret Matthew 28:19 as the risen Jesus's command to baptize 'in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.' This passage is central to Anabaptist understanding of baptism as a believers' ordinance (not infant baptism), administered in the name of the Trinity.

However, Mennonites note that Acts records baptisms 'in the name of Jesus Christ.' Rather than viewing this as contradiction, Mennonites understand that both formulations affirm baptism within the Trinitarian confession. The essential meaning is baptism into the community of faith in God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). The mode (immersion), the person baptized (believers confessing faith), and the theological significance (covenant with God and the community) are all emphasized in Mennonite practice.