Matthew 28:19 — "Baptize in the Name"

Biblical Unitarians argue that the baptismal formula in Matthew 28:19 ('baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit') does not require a Trinitarian ontology. They point out that 'name' (onoma) in Jewish usage refers to the power, authority, or character of the person, not necessarily to their numerical distinctness. Baptism in the name of Father, Son, and Spirit is understood as baptism into the authority and power of the God who revealed himself as Father, redeemed through the Son, and sanctifies through the Spirit—three modes or functions, not three co-equal persons.

Biblical Unitarians note that Acts reports several baptisms in 'the name of Jesus' (Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:5) without explicit mention of Father and Spirit, suggesting that the Trinitarian formula in Matthew may be a later liturgical development rather than an original apostolic mandate. The passage is compatible with their understanding of Father, Son, and Spirit as three distinct biblical concepts unified in the one God. The use of 'name' (singular) rather than 'names' (plural) may suggest a unified identity despite the threefold description.