Dimensions of Baptism

Book excerpt: This book brings together work by J. Ramsey Michaels, Joel Green, Howard Marshall, Bruce Chilton, Craig Evans and the editors, as well as several others. The first section covers baptism in the New Testament, including the meaning of the word "baptize," the baptism of John, Paul's own baptism and his theology of it, and baptisms in John 13, Acts and Hebrews. The second section deals with baptism in the Early Church, including essays on Jesus' blessing of the children, and baptism in the Epistle of Barnabas and in Gregory of Nyssa. The third section addresses baptism in contemporary theology, embracing ecumenical perspectives, baptism as a trinitarian event, and baptism as memorial, as miracle and as falling into and out of power. This wide-ranging volume forms a sequel to Baptism, the New Testament and the Church (JSNT Supplements 171) and makes indispensable reading for all concerned with this topic.