The Trinitarian formula is the phrase "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit", or words to that form and effect, referring to the three persons of the Christian Trinity. It is often followed by an "amen".
Biblical origin
These words are quoted from a command of the risen Jesus in the Great Commission: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" ; a small minority of other translations read, "into the name". Whereas some have argued that Matthew 28:19 was an interpolation on account of its absence from the first few centuries of early Christian quotations, scholars largely accept the passage as authentic due to its supporting manuscript evidence and that it does appear to be quoted in the Didache or at least reflected in the Didache as part of a common tradition from which both Matthew and the Didache emerged.
According to the doctrines of Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, and most forms of Protestantism, a baptism is not valid if the Trinitarian formula is not used in the administration of that sacrament. Consequently, they may not recognize religious communities that baptize without this formula – e.g.Unitarians, Branhamists, Frankists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Oneness Pentecostals, all of whom deny the Trinity – as Christian religions. This is also the case with baptisms within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although LDS members baptize with the same Trinitarian formula, they reject the Nicene Trinitarian conception and regard the three persons of the Trinity as being distinct personages united not in substance, but in dominion and purpose. Other faiths use the formula "In the name of Jesus Christ" for baptism, and in turn re-baptize converts who were first baptized under the Trinitarian formula, sometimes claiming that such persons would not have been previously aware that "Jesus is the Lord". Likewise, converts to Trinitarian denominations from Mormonism and other nontrinitarian denominations have to be baptized in the name of the Trinity.
Other uses
Together with baptism, the Trinitarian formula is used in other prayers, rites, liturgies, and sacraments. One of its most common uses apart from baptism is when Roman Catholics, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, and others make the sign of the cross while reciting the formula.
Scholars have challenged the work of the Jesus Seminar, who state the verse is an extrapolation, arguing that those working on the project began with a conclusion and worked to justify it through their research and eisegesis.
