Troubled Waters
Rethinking the Theology of Baptism
By Ben Witherington III
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Subjects: All Biblical Studies, All Religious Studies, All Theology, New Testament |
Baptism has been a contested practice from the very beginning of the church. In this volume, Ben Witherington rethinks the theology of baptism and does so in constant conversation with the classic theological positions and central New Testament texts. By placing baptism in the context of the covenant, Witherington shows how advocates of both believer’s baptism and infant baptism have added some water to both their theology and practice of baptism
Introduction
1 Getting Our Feet Wet
The antecedents of Christian baptism outside the New Testament
2 John’s Baptism—Totally Immersed in His Work
Pre-Christian initiations in the New Testament and pre-sacramental texts
3 Parting the Waters
The beginnings of water baptism as a Christian rite—Acts
4 Trial by Water Ordeal
Paul and burial with Christ
5 Breaking the Waters of Birth
Water baptism in the Johannine literature?
6 Down in the Flood
Baptism in Hebrews and I Peter
7 A Rite of Passage
A theology of water baptism in the New Testament
8 Postscript—Coming Up for Air
Where do we go from here?
(Witherington) offers pastoral guidance and correctives for both baptismal practices so that the fuller goals for Christian baptism will be achieved.
—David A. deSilva, Trustees' Professor of New Testament and Greek, Ashland Theological Seminary
Baptism debates flooded churches and seminaries a generation back and, without settling issues once and for all, the flood subsided. Standing now alone, with a peaceful olive branch in his hand, is Ben Witherington, asking Christians once again to go back both to those debates and to the Bible. Let's join him.
—Scot McKnight, Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies, North Park University
Ben Witherington III (Ph.D. University of Durham) is Professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary and the author of more than 20 books, including The Problem of Evangelical Theology (Baylor University Press 2005).
Troubled Waters - Rethinking the Theology of Baptism - Paperback cover
Troubled Waters - Rethinking the Theology of Baptism - Hardback cover
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