Excellent work that creates important questions

books:

	• Believer's Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ (Nac Studies in Bible & Theology) B&H Academic, 2007 - 364 pages average customer review:based on 9 reviews view larger image
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Excellent work that creates important questions

This is a marvelous study of the subject of baptism written for the pew member, the scholar, and everyone in between. It is written by Baptists for Baptists to encourage a return among the Baptist people to a biblical position on the purpose and result of baptism, namely, that baptism brings the forgiveness of sins to those who submit to it in faithful obedience to the gospel message.

I hope this book finds a wide circulation among its intended audience and others who sincerely desire to know what the Bible teaches on this vital subject.

A Strong Case for Believer's Baptism

What is the biblical case for believer's baptism? What biblical support do paedobaptists point to for their belief in infant baptism? What is the relationship between the old and new covenants? What did Alexander Campbell, one of the first voices of the Restoration movement, actually think about baptism?

These questions and more are answered splendidly in Believer's Baptism: Sign of hte New Covenant in Christ. A host of well-known Baptist scholars have collaborated to provide a resource for all who seek to better understand the biblical underpinnings for believer's baptism.

The book begins with three important New Testament scholars mapping out the New Testament teaching on baptism. Andreas Kostenberger writes about baptism in the Gospels; Robert Stein describes baptism in Luke and Acts; Tom Schreiner treats baptism in the epistles. Throughout the summary chapters, the authors maintain a steadfast commitment to taking the text seriously and demonstrate a willingness to question popular assumptions about believer's baptism.

Steve Wellum writes a chapter on baptism and the relationship between the covenants that is well worth the price of the book. The force of the paedobaptist argument comes from a misunderstanding of the nature of the two covenants. Wellum persuasively argues against infant baptism and shows how the practice stems from a misinterpretation of the different covenants.

Steven McKinion shows that infant baptism was not accepted as commonly and widespread in the early church as has been assumed. Archeological evidence shows that most early baptisms were by immersion. Many of the church fathers argue against infant baptism. Others argue for it, demonstrating that the issue was debated, not settled in the first few centuries. This chapter takes away one of the main arguments of paedobaptists for infant baptism: the historical practice.

Shawn Wright tackles the logic of Reformed paedobaptists and pokes holes in the Reformational view, showing how Zwingli's divorcing of faith from baptism was an innovation, never believed by anyone before that period in history. A.B. Caneday offers a helpful summary of the Stone-Campbell doctrine of baptism. The churches of Christ and the Christian Church are less united on baptism than one might think. Finally, Mark Dever ends the book with helpful suggestions on practicing baptism in the local church.

There are times when the authors disagree with each other (appropriate age, immediate baptism, etc.), but each writer seeks to filter his understanding of baptism through a rigorous study of Scripture. Believer's Baptism is one of the most important books on the subject to come out in recent years. It belongs on every pastor's library shelf.

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reviews: page 1, 2

Is believer?s baptism the clear teaching of the New Testament Scriptures? What are the historical and theological challenges to believer?s baptism? What are the practical applications for believer?s baptism today? Volume two in the NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY STUDIES IN BIBLE & THEOLOGY (NACSBT) series for pastors, advanced Bible students, and other deeply committed laypersons addresses these compelling questions.

Indeed, Believer?s Baptism begins with the belief that believer?s baptism (as opposed to infant baptism or other faith proclaiming methods) is the clear teaching of the New Testament. Along the way, the argument is supported by written contributions from Andreas Kostenberger, Robert Stein, Thomas Schreiner, Stephen Wellum, Steve McKinion, Jonathan Rainbow, Shawn Wright, and Mark Dever.

Users will find this an excellent extension of the long-respected NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY.

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