Answer:
Actually, isa ito sa mga pinakapaboritong conspiracy claims ng mga anti-Trinitarian groups, Oneness Pentecostals, at maging ilang dating Katoliko na naging cultic teachers. Pero kung bubusisiin natin exegetically, historically, at textually, makikita natin na walang ebidensya na ang Matthew 28:19–20 ay “dinagdagan” o “binago” ng Katoliko.
The Claim vs. The Facts
Claim:
"Yung part na ‘baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit’ daw ay dagdag lang ng Katoliko. Ang original daw ay ‘in Jesus’ name’ lang.”
Facts:
Walang kahit isang ancient Greek manuscript ng Matthew na may shorter version. Lahat ng extant manuscripts mula sa 2nd century hanggang sa modern copies ay naglalaman ng “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Kung idadagdag mo ’yan sa isang text na sinulat ni Matthew (1st century), kailangan mo ring patunayan na lahat ng kopya sa buong mundo ay nabago which is historically impossible before printing existed.
What the Early Church Said
Even before the so-called “Catholic Church” of Rome became powerful (3rd–4th century), the earliest church fathers already quoted Matthew 28:19 in full Trinitarian form.
Examples:
-
Didache (AD 70–100) — the earliest Christian teaching manual, contemporary with the apostles:
“Baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Didache 7:1–3)
-
Tertullian (AD 200) —
“The law of baptism has been imposed and its formula prescribed: ‘Go, teach the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’” (Against Praxeas, 26)
-
Hippolytus (AD 215) —
“When he who is to be baptized goes down into the water… he is baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” (Apostolic Tradition, 21)
Walang sinuman sa mga early Christians ang nagtanong o nagduda na dinagdagan ito. The only people who question it today are those who deny the Trinity kaya natural lang na gusto nilang burahin ’yung verse na nagpapakita ng Trinitarian pattern.
The Theological Coherence
Kapag sinabi ni Jesus “in the name,” notice singular form siya not “names.” Ibig sabihin, iisa ang pangalan, pero tatlong Persona: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It fits perfectly with the Trinity, not with any oneness or modalist system. And if babasahin mo ang buong context ng Matthew 28:18–20, ang emphasis ay sa divine authority ni Jesus (“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me”) na Siya ring nag-uutos in the name of the Triune God, the very same God who revealed Himself in three Persons.
“In Jesus’ Name” in Acts, Not a Contradiction
Ngayon baka tanungin mo:
“Eh bakit sa Acts, puro in the name of Jesus lang?”
Simple lang: sa Book of Acts, summary statement lang ’yon, hindi baptismal formula. ‘Yung “in the name of Jesus” ay nangangahulugang by His authority, katulad ng “Stop sa ngalan ng batas!” tatanungin mo ba muna kung ano ang pangalan ng batas?
Sa Acts, ginagamit nila ang phrase na iyon to distinguish Christian baptism from John’s baptism (Acts 19:5). Pero ang formula na sinabi ni Jesus mismo ay sa Matthew 28:19. The apostles obeyed it, not contradicted it.
Summary
| Issue | SDA/Anti-Trinitarian Claim | Biblical & Historical Fact |
|---|---|---|
| “Dagdag ng Katoliko” | No ancient evidence. | All manuscripts & early fathers quote the full verse. |
| “Acts says in Jesus’ name only.” | Supposed contradiction. | “In Jesus’ name” = by His authority, not a formula. |
| “The Trinitarian formula was invented later.” | 4th-century invention. | Found in Didache (1st century) and early Christian writings. |
Parang ganito: Kung sinabi ng teacher mo, “Write your paper in my name,” hindi ibig sabihin literal mong isusulat yung name niya sa title. It means with my authority, representing me, and that’s what baptism in the name of Jesus means.
Pero kapag sinabi ni Jesus na “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”, He’s revealing the divine relationship of the Godhead, the full revelation of who God truly is under the New Covenant.
Pastoral Reflection
Maraming gustong baguhin ang Scripture kasi hindi nila maipaliwanag ang Trinity. Pero tandaan: hindi mo kailangang “simplify” ang Diyos para Siya’y paniwalaan. The Trinity isn’t a contradiction it’s a revelation. At kung si Jesus mismo ang nagsabi ng formula, sino tayo para baguhin?
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.”— Matthew 24:35
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