Matthew 28:19 — "Baptize in the Name"

Presbyterian Church in America affirms Matthew 28:19 as establishing the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The Great Commission requires baptism 'in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.' This formula affirms the equality and distinct personhood of all three members of the Trinity. The PCA's Reformed theology is deeply Trinitarian, and the baptismal formula is seen as a clear expression of this doctrine.

The Westminster Standards consistently affirm the doctrine of the Trinity and its implications for baptism and the Christian life. Baptism administered in the Trinitarian name invokes God the Father as Creator and Covenant-Maker, God the Son as Redeemer, and God the Holy Spirit as Sanctifier. To baptize in any other formula would be to depart from Christ's command.

For the PCA, the baptismal formula is not merely ceremonial but theologically significant. It binds the believer into covenant with the triune God and pledges submission to the authority and grace of all three persons. The formula reflects the PCA's conviction that right theology leads to right practice.