Paul said of his own commission: "Christ send me not to baptize but to
preach the gospel" and that "the gospel is the power of God unto
salvation to all who believe."[31]
Paul's commission was essentially the same as that given to other
apostles to preach among all nations repentance and remission of sin in
his name with power from on high; for there can be no salvation without
repentance and remission of sin.[32]
Had our Saviour ordained water baptism to the end of the world the four
evangelists would certainly have all known it and would have testified
to it as they and Peter all bear testimony to Christ's own baptism of
the Holy Spirit. Paul would have known it and would not have denied it.
Peter would not have said "Christ commanded us to preach to the people"
without making any allusion to water baptism.[33]
That Peter should say Christ commanded his apostles to preach to the
people and never at any time intimated that he commanded them to baptize
with water, certainly suggests that no such command was given and that
the present popular conception of the apostolic commission has
originated since Peter's time and is a human invention and has no divine
authority.
Neither the apostles nor first Christians could have understood that
Christ commanded them to baptize with water nor that he prescribed any
formula therefor, otherwise they would have used this formula and have
referred to this command as authority for their subsequent water
baptism. But so far as Scripture informs, no one in those early days
ever did baptize with water in the name of "The Father, Son and Holy
Spirit," nor ever heard of such formula.
Sometimes they baptized in the name Jesus, Lord or Christ, but never one
word about the Father nor the Holy Spirit.[34]
Some baptized without formula, or if they did use formula it was not
considered of sufficient importance to mention.[35]
They baptized with water before Christ gave them their commission, and
continued to baptize in the same way after, which is another proof that
their authority for water baptism did not originate in Christ's
command.[36] Nearly thirty years after Christ, some believers who were
fervent in Spirit and instructed in the ways of the Lord, continued to
baptize with John's baptism and we don't know how much longer it
continued.[37]
When was Christ's command first quoted as authority for water baptism?
Not in apostolic times, not until long after.
When did man first presume to baptize with water, in the name of the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
Some of our oldest writings[38] indicate the use of this formula in some
places, probably in the early part or middle of the second century. Yet,
Schaff, who was familiar with all these old records, says this formula
is not traceable in its present shape earlier than the fourth century.
Evidently the apostles and first Christians continued to baptize with
water, because it was a conspicuous feature in the special mission of
John the Baptist as well as a Jewish rite in which they and their
fathers were educated. They had no thought of Christ's command as
authority for water baptism.
Paul said plainly that he had no such authority. Christ sent him not to
baptize but to preach the Gospel.[39]
Paul thanked God that he had baptized so few.[40] He could not have
spoken thus slightly of Christian baptism. It must have dawned upon him
that in the fulness of the Christian dispensation there was no place for
water baptism; otherwise how could he thank God that he had baptized so
few? What dispenser of water baptism could give such thanks in this day?
Paul circumcised Timothy, and perhaps Titus, because of the Jews. Did he
not baptize those few with water for the same pacific purpose, or did he
not at first receive full light upon this subject?[41]
Some assume that Christ gave others authority to baptize which did not
extend to Paul.
We cannot believe that all Christ's ministers to the end of the world
were commissioned to baptize with water, Paul only rejected.[42] This
reflects unjustly upon Paul, the great apostle to us Gentiles.[43] Is it
not a mere evasion of the gospel truth here and elsewhere inculcated,
that Christ gave no commission to baptize with water?[44]
John the Baptist was sent or commissioned to baptize with water and the
Holy Spirit once descended as John baptized with water.[45]
The apostles were commissioned to go preach the Gospel after they should
be endued with power from on high.[46]
We read that the Holy Spirit descended as the apostles preached the
Gospel. [47] Neither the apostles nor disciples were ever commissioned
to baptize with water; and so far as we read, the Holy Spirit never
descended as they did baptize with water.