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From this question, are there any Christian denominations that baptise ONLY in the Name of Jesus and not by the Trinitarian baptismal formula?

Would such a baptism be considered valid by those who use the Trinitarian baptismal formula? And if not valid, would Trinitarians consider those with such a baptism Christian?

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Oneness believers believe that for water baptism to be valid, one must be baptized in the name of Jesus, rather than the mainstream baptismal formula in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. They believe this follows the example found in Acts 2:38;

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

"Jesus-Name" is a description used to refer to Oneness Pentecostals and their baptismal beliefs. The Oneness revival movement was sparked by a sermon given by R. E. McAlister in 1913 in which he stated,

"Apostolic baptism was administered as a single immersion in a single name, Jesus Christ...The words Father, Son, and Holy Ghost were never used in Christian baptism."

Churches that accept the oneness belief include: United Pentecostal Church International, Affirming Pentecostal Church International, Apostolic Assemblies of Christ, Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus, Apostolic Gospel Church of Jesus Christ, Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church of God, and Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Those who hold to the Trinitarian formula most certainly would not consider such a baptism to be valid because Trinitarians recognize Oneness believers as Modalists, and modalism was named a heresy in the third century. Considering that up until the year 1826 the Catholic Church used to execute heretics, I would assume that they would not consider those individuals Christian today unless they were re-baptized using the traditional formula.

ShemSeger
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  • I have added to the original question. –  Sep 25 '14 at 04:42
  • Your additions have changed your question to be opinion based. – ShemSeger Sep 25 '14 at 13:33
  • Questions that ask whether some group or person is considered christian are not appropriate for the format of this site. See the example questions in the tour under, "Don't ask about..." – ShemSeger Sep 25 '14 at 13:46
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    I assumed that the questioner meant 'would people who use a Trinitarian formula consider them Christians', which is factual. I've edited the question to reflect this. Please revert if you didn't mean that. – DJClayworth Sep 25 '14 at 14:42
  • To answer the question, most denominations do not believe you have to be baptized to be a Christian. Therefore even if you have been invalidly baptized, you can still be a Chrsitian. They would probably require a rebaptism for someone baptized in Jesus name only to be admitted to their church (assuming they knew). – DJClayworth Sep 25 '14 at 14:44
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    @DJClayworth Thank you for your contribution. You don't have to be baptized to be Christian? Perhaps matter for another question. –  Sep 25 '14 at 18:51
  • @FMS That question is already answered elsewhere on the site. – DJClayworth Sep 25 '14 at 18:57
  • Technically, in your last sentence, the term 're-baptized' doesn't fit. In the professed belief (Nicene Creed) of the group you refer to, it is stated that there is one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. (which as you'd noted earlier is the trinitarian formula and water). The closing would be more accurate say ... "until they were baptized using the traditional formula." There are some churches who do believe/practice re-baptism but the Church you refer to in that paragraph does not. – KorvinStarmast Feb 04 '17 at 18:13