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About Bock
Dr. Darrell Bock is Research Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. He also is Professor for Spiritual Development and Culture there. He is an Editor at Large for Christianity Today and is a Past President of the Evangelical Theological Society (2000-2001). He is the author of over twenty books and is a New York Times Best Selling author. He has been blogging on this site since May, 2006.
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The point about baptism in Jesus' or the Trinity's name is really a point about the authority under which something is carried out. That makes the current usage ironic. For if one baptizes in Jesus' name it is an affirmation of Jesus' authority to forgive sins. If one baptizes in the name of the Father, Son, and the Spirit, the point is extended to the Spirit. In either case, Jesus is elevated. My own preference is the Trinitarian formula because the Father is responsible for the forgiveness, Jesus is the means of it, and the Spirit is the gift that is given as a result (see Romans 6-8 imagery). I am not sure there was only one apostolic formula in the beginning, since both expressions point out the centrality of Jesus and the role of the Father would be a given, as woudl the idea that the Spirit is central (See remarks about the Spirit and Messiah by John the Baptist (Luke 3:15-17).
DLB