Was Matthew 28:19 fabricated?

Long Answer: The claim is: “There are many Christian scholars who say Matthew 28:19 is fabricated (including former priest Tom Harpur), and Eusebius used the right version of the verse.”* The same Tom Harpur whom the Muslim quoted also denies Quranic records about Jesus. Tom Harpur believes that Jesus Christ, or Isa Ibn Maryam, did not exist but was merely a fictional or mythological figure.  Secondly, there are only a few scholars who say Matthew 28:19 is fabricated. The faulty reading of Eusebius’ quotation is their ONLY reference. The NET Bible footnote explains:

1. F. C. Conybeare, “The Eusebian Form of the Text of Mt. 28:19, ” ZNW 2 (1901): 275-88, based his view on a faulty reading of Eusebius’ quotations of this text. The shorter reading has also been accepted, on other grounds, by a few other scholars. For discussion (and refutation of the conjecture that removes this baptismal formula), see B. J. Hubbard, The Matthean Redaction of a Primitive Apostolic Commissioning (SBLDS 19), 163-64, 167-75; and Jane Schaberg, The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (SBLDS 61), 27-29.

Even Bart Ehrman, the famous agnostic Bible critic, agrees that the long form of the verse is original. The same blog reproducing Ehrman on this passage has a statement from another New Testament scholar who is also an authority on Eusebius. He notes:  

a. Eusebius’ short form (Demonstratio 3.6, 7(bis); 9.11; Hist. Eccl. III.5.2; Psalms 65.6; 67.34; 76.20 (59.9 not the same reading); Isaiah 18.2; 34.16 (v.l.); Theophania 4.16; 5.17; 5.46; 5.49; Oratio 16.8) is the only textual evidence for the short reading
b. Eusebius tends to abbreviate elsewhere
c. Eusebius quotes the long form in Contra Marcellum I.1.9; I.1.36; Theologia III. 5.22; EpCaesarea 3 (Socrates, Eccl.Hist 1.8); Psalms 117.1-4; and Theophania 4.8

It is worth noting that Eusebius in Demonstratio Evangelica, one of the places where he is supposed to be quoting the short version of Matthew 28:19, also “quotes” Philippians 2:9. However, the statement is certainly not a quotation. Eusebius writes it as: 

1. God bestowed on him the name above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee shall bow of things in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

However, the full text is:

1. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Eusebius is certainly refering to Phil 2:9, but his writing of it is not a quotation. This is an example to prove his tendency in abbreviating texts as Bart Ehrman explained above. This explanation is enough to refute THE ONLY reference of the short reading of Matthew 28:19, and to dismiss the Muslim’s claim.

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Evidence for Matthew 28:19

1. EXTERNAL EVIDENCE

All manuscripts of Matthew’s gospel use the long version of verse 19. This includes Greek manuscripts, Latin, Syriac, etc. Although there are textual variants on verses 18 and 20, there are no textual variants for v19. Not even one. One might argue using the Hebrew translation of Matthew known as Shem Tob. While it does not have the long reading, it does not count for several reasons.

1. It dates from the late 1300s (the medieval period, not antiquity). Far too late to be of any significant textual help.
2. It doesn’t even have the short reading of “baptizing in my name.” Instead, Matt 28:19-20 reads “Go and teach them to carry out all the things which I have commanded you forever.” It mentions nothing of baptizing at all.

Samples of Matthew 28:19 manuscripts:

Sinaiticus: … πρς (πατρὸς = Father) και του υιου (Son) και του αγιου πνς· (ἁγίου πνεύματος = Holy Spirit)

Vaticanus: … πατρος (Father) και του υιου (Son) και του αγιου πνευματος (Holy Spirit)

Alexandrinus: … πρς (πατρὸς = Father) και του υυ· (υιου = Son) και του αγιου πνς· (ἁγίου πνεύματος = Holy Spirit)

Bezae: … πατρος (Father) και υιου (Son) και του αγιου πνς (ἁγίου πνεύματος = Holy Spirit)

Peshitta (interlinear Aramaic)

2. PATRISTIC EVIDENCE

All quotations of Matthew 28:19 that include the “name” formula have the long version and not the short:

1. a. Didache 7:1 (ca. AD 120-150)
   Concerning baptism, you should baptize this way: After first explaining all things, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in flowing water
2. b. Tertullian (160-220 AD) On Baptism paragraph 13
   Go, he says, teach the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.
3. c. Tertullian (160-220 AD) Against Praxeas, chapter 2 
   “After His resurrection ..He commands them to baptize into the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost”.
4. d. Gregory Thaumaturgus (205-265 AD) in A Sectional Confession of Faith Chapter 13
   the Lord sends forth His disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
5. e. Justin Martyr (mid-second century), First Apology Chapter 61: 
   “For, in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they then receive the washing with water.” 
   
   It might be noted that Justin did not consider the exact wording of Matthew 28:19 essential as long as all three (God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit) were recognized.
6.   f. Irenaeus (190 AD) in Demonstration of Apostolic Preaching, 1:3
   “we have received baptism for the remission of sins, in the name of God the Father, and in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
7. g. The Apostolic Constitutions (end of 4th century AD): 
   “After that, either you, the bishop, or a presbyter that is under you, will in the solemn form pronounce over them the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and will dip them in the water.”
8. h. Hippolytus (170-236 AD) in Fragments: Part II.-Dogmatical and Historical.–Against the Heresy of One Noetus
   Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
9. i. Cyprian (200-258AD) in The Seventh Council of Carthage Under Cyprian
   as our Lord says, “Go ye and baptize the nations, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Triune Formulas elsewhere in the New Testament

3. TRIUNE FORMULAS ELSEWHERE IN NT

1. a. At the baptism of Jesus, all three persons are present (Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:10-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:32).
2. b. 2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you
3. c. 1 Peter 1:2-3a …who have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood: May grace and peace be yours in abundance. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Conclusion: Matthew 28:19 is not fabricated. The only reference on the short version of this verse is from Eusebius who is known to abbreviate phrases in his writings.