Are baptisms performed by Iglesia ni Cristo (1914) and Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC – Quiboloy) valid in Christian teaching? Discover the biblical, historical, and Catholic perspective on valid baptism rooted in apostolic tradition.
Introduction
Baptism is the first sacrament of initiation instituted by Jesus Christ Himself (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16). From the Apostolic Age, the Church has safeguarded its form, matter, and intention as essential for its validity.
But what about baptisms conducted by groups such as Iglesia ni Cristo (INC, founded 1914 by Felix Manalo in the Philippines) and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC, founded by Apollo Quiboloy in 1985)? Are these considered authentic Christian baptisms rooted in Scripture and apostolic tradition?
The Catholic Church, following Scripture and tradition, teaches clear criteria for valid baptism. Let us examine these criteria and apply them to INC and KJC.
Biblical Foundation of Baptism
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Christ’s Command:
“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.” (Matthew 28:19) -
Effect of Baptism:
“He saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5) -
Unity of Baptism:
“One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians 4:5)
📌 Conclusion: From the start, baptism required (1) water, (2) the Trinitarian formula, and (3) the intention to baptize into the Body of Christ.
The Early Church on Baptism
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Didache (c. 1st century): “Baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Didache 7)
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St. Justin Martyr (2nd century): Baptism as regeneration through Christ (First Apology, ch. 61).
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St. Cyprian of Carthage (3rd century): Baptism outside the Trinitarian faith is invalid.
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St. Augustine (4th century): The minister’s holiness is not the issue, but the form, matter, and intention must conform to Christ’s command (On Baptism, Against the Donatists).
📌 Patristic Principle: Baptism done without Trinitarian formula or intention to enter the true Body of Christ is invalid.
Catholic Teaching (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
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CCC 1256: Baptism is valid if conferred with proper matter, form, and intention.
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CCC 1271: Baptism unites a person to Christ’s Body, the Church.
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CCC 1272: Baptism imprints an indelible spiritual mark.
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Council of Trent (1547): Condemned baptisms not done in the Trinitarian formula.
Criteria for Valid Baptism
The Catholic Church recognizes a baptism as valid if:
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Matter: Water (pouring, immersion, or sprinkling).
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Form: Trinitarian formula (“I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”).
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Intention: The minister intends to do what the Church does—bring the baptized into Christ’s Body.
INC (Iglesia ni Cristo 1914) Baptism
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Beliefs:
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Denies the Trinity.
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Teaches Jesus is only man, not God.
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Claims all other churches are apostate.
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Baptismal Practice:
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Performed only within INC.
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Does not use the Trinitarian formula in the full Christian sense since they deny the Trinity.
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📌 Catholic Verdict: Invalid.
Because INC denies the Trinity and does not baptize with the true intention of uniting a person into the Trinitarian Body of Christ, its baptism is not valid Christian baptism.
KJC (Kingdom of Jesus Christ – Quiboloy) Baptism
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Beliefs:
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Founded in 1985 by Apollo Quiboloy.
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Teaches Quiboloy is the “Appointed Son of God.”
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Denies apostolic tradition and Catholic/Orthodox sacraments.
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Baptismal Practice:
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Conducted in the name of their sectarian understanding of Christ.
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Often not in the Trinitarian formula.
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Intention is incorporation into KJC, not the one Body of Christ.
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📌 Catholic Verdict: Invalid.
Since KJC does not use the proper Trinitarian formula and denies essential apostolic doctrine, its baptism cannot be considered valid.
Comparative Table: Validity of Baptism
| Group | Uses Water | Trinitarian Formula | Intention to Baptize into Christ’s Church | Valid? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic Church | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Valid |
| Eastern Orthodox | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Valid |
| Mainline Protestant | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Valid |
| INC (1914) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (denies Trinity) | ❌ No (INC-only incorporation) | ❌ Invalid |
| KJC (Quiboloy) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (distorted Christology) | ❌ No (into sect, not Christ’s Church) | ❌ Invalid |
Historical Development
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Early Church (1st–3rd century): Strict Trinitarian formula (Didache, Cyprian).
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Nicene Creed (325 AD): Affirmed full Trinitarian baptism.
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Medieval Period: Clarified that the minister’s personal faith does not invalidate baptism if form and intent are correct.
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Council of Trent (1547): Condemned anti-Trinitarian baptisms.
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Modern Catholic Church (Vatican II, Unitatis Redintegratio, 1964): Recognizes baptisms of Trinitarian Protestants, but excludes sects that reject the Trinity.
Conclusion
Baptism is valid only when performed with water, the Trinitarian formula, and intention to bring the baptized into Christ’s Body, the Church.
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INC (1914) and KJC (Quiboloy) do not meet these requirements.
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Both deny the Trinity and proper apostolic intention, making their baptisms invalid according to biblical, historical, and Catholic teaching.
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Therefore, those baptized in INC or KJC who enter the Catholic Church must receive valid Christian baptism.
📌 Final Apologetic Point: True Christian baptism has never changed since the Apostolic Age. Any group that denies the Trinity or baptizes into a sect rather than into Christ’s Body cannot claim continuity with the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3).
READ ALSO:
Are All Baptisms Spiritually Valid? The Catholic Understanding of Baptism in Apostolic Tradition and Protestant Churches
Baptism in the Cloud and in the Sea: 1 Corinthians 10 and the Catholic Understanding of Baptism
Baptism in the Bible and the Early Church: Immersion, Pouring, Sprinkling – Which is True?
Was Baptism by Immersion the Only Form in Acts 2:41? A Biblical and Historical Catholic Perspective
Biblical Examples of Baptism Not by Immersion: A Scriptural and Historical Study
Can Protestants Baptize Validly? What the Bible, Church Fathers, and Catholic Teaching Reveal
Is Immersion the Only Biblical Way to Baptize? A Catholic Perspective with Bible, Early Church, and Scholars’ Insights
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