When the pope speaks ex cathedra ("from the chair"), millions believe that his words are infallible. Alexander Campbell dared to speak ipse dixit ("he himself said it"):

However, the One who speaks pasa exousia ("all authority") did not say that a believing penitent who "obeys him in all things according to his measure of knowledge of his will" is "a Christian."

Campbell’s ipse dixit gives ease of mind and false comfort to (1) millions of innocent people sprinkled as babies, (2) to millions of innocent people whose personal "knowledge of his will" makes baptism non-essential, and (3) to the thousands of innocent members of the Society of Friends Church whose personal "knowledge of his will" makes water baptism wrong.

Campbell’s ipse dixit stands opposed to inspired Scriptures:

The verses of Scripture that make baptism a part of "his will" do not say that baptism compares to the two greatest commandments (Matthew 22:34-40). Yes, some commandments are more important than others. Back in Judaism, "A tithe of everything, from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord" (Leviticus 27:30-31).

The tithing commandment was important, "a tenth of your spices or mint, dill and cummin," but not to be compared with "the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness" (Matthew 23:23).

Similarly, in Christianity, baptism is important, but not to be compared with "the greatest" commandment: "love one another" (1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 John 4:7). "[A]bove all things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection" (Colossians 3:14). Unfortunately, some Christians, having learned that baptism is necessary, and having been baptized, have not gone on to the greater commandments: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Such non-growing Christians Jesus would rebuke: "These you ought to have done, without leaving" baptism "undone" (Matthew 23:23). On the otherhand, many dedicated people, whose "measure of knowledge of his will" (Campbell) lacked baptism, are more loving than some people who have learned of the lesser commandment of baptism, but have not gone on to maturity.

Oh! How we need to respect all of the Lord’s commandments, the greater and the lesser! If we add to baptism a deepening faith and virtue and knowledge and self-control and perseverance and godliness and brotherly kindness and love, "an entrance will be supplied to" us "abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:5-7, 11).