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Dr. Hare also says in his Church History: "Baptism as an initiatory rite was performed simply in the name of Jesus." This sentence occurs in his chapter on the "Apostolic Church," in his History of the Christian Church. Robinson, in his History of Baptism, says: "There is no mention of baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, in immediately post-Apostolic times." This testimony, of a negative character, certainly becomes very strong and significant in view of the fact that Peter enjoined baptism "in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:38); that when Philip preached in Samaria, to which place Peter and John were sent upon hearing "that Samaria had received the Word of God," those who believed "were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 8:5-16); and that under the instructions of Paul those who had been baptized "unto John's baptism" were "baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 19:3-5). As soon as the doctrine of the Trinity was developed, and the Gospel of Matthew brought from India to Egypt, trine immersion, with individual exceptions, became gradually the rule.

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Polycarp was Bishop at Smyrna. He was one of the most illustrious of the early Christian martyrs. His martyrdom occurred under the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Irenæus states that Polycarp was taught the doctrines of Christianity by the Apostles, particularly by John, with whom he had familiar intercourse. Only one of his Epistles is preserved, addressed to the Philippians, and in it there is no reference to baptism. But, for two reasons, we accept him as a silent witness against trine immersion. As Bishop of the church at Smyrna his doctrine touching baptism would agree with that of the Epistle of Ignatius addressed to said church. This Epistle speaks of baptism, but fails to say a word in favor of a triple baptism. Ignatius also addressed an Epistle to Polycarp while the latter was Bishop of Smyrna in which he speaks of baptism without a word of a threefold immersion. This repeated mention of baptism without any allusion to three immersions indicates an efficient cause for the silence. The silence of Irenæus on trine immersion is another indication that Polycarp did not teach and practice it. Irenæus was the pupil of Polycarp, and a faithful disciple. He speaks admiringly of his teacher, saying, "I can tell also the very place where the blessed Polycarp was accustomed to sit and discourse; and also his entrance, his walks, the complexion of his life, and the form of his body, and his conversations with his people, and his familiar interactions with John, as he was accustomed to tell, and also his familiarity with those that had seen the Lord. Also concerning his miracles, his doctrines; all these were told by Polycarp in consistency with the Holy Scriptures." And yet Irenæus, in his extant writings, fails to testify to the practice of a threefold baptism. For these reasons we count Polycarp with the other Apostolic Fathers as silent on trine immersion. The silence of all these Fathers touching trine immersion is certainly quite singular, except upon the supposition that it was not practiced until a later period.