Understanding Four Views on Baptism - (Counterpoints: Church Life) by Zondervan (Paperback)

About the Book

Christians have long differed with one another on both the meaning and the practice of water baptism. Using the classic Counterpoints forum of presentation-critique-response, this insightful book explores four prominent views of baptism held by different branches of Protestantism: Baptist, Christian Church/Church of Christ, Lutheran, and Reformed.

Book Synopsis

Gain an understanding of baptism from four main traditional perspectives.

Of all the sacraments, the practice of baptism is often the most disputed. Christians hold different views of its exact significance, who should receive baptism and how old they need to be, the practice of rebaptism, and baptism as a requirement for church membership.

In Understanding Four Views on Baptism, four historic views on baptism are considered in depth:

• Baptist view: baptism of the professing regenerate by immersion (presented by Thomas J. Nettles)
• Reformed view: infant baptism of children of the covenant (presented by Richard Pratt Jr.)
• Lutheran view: infant baptism by sprinkling as a regenerative act (presented by Robert Kolb)
• Church of Christ view: believers' baptism on the occasion of regeneration by immersion (presented by John Castelein)

Each view is presented by its proponent, then critiqued and defended in dialogue with the book's other contributors. Here is an ideal setting in which you can consider the strengths and weaknesses of each stance and arrive at your own informed conclusion.

The Counterpoints series presents a comparison and critique of scholarly views on topics important to Christians that are both fair-minded and respectful of the biblical text. Each volume is a one-stop reference that allows readers to evaluate the different positions on a specific issue and form their own, educated opinion.

From the Back Cover

What is the significance of water baptism? Who should be baptized? Is infant baptism scriptural? Which is the proper baptismal mode: sprinkling, pouring, or immersion? Should people be rebaptized if they join a church that teaches a different form of baptism? Should baptism be required for church membership? These and other questions are explored in this thought-provoking book. Four historic views on baptism are considered in depth: * Baptism of the professing regenerate by immersion (Baptist) * Believers' baptism on the occasion of regeneration by immersion (Christian Churches/Churches of Christ) * Infant baptism by sprinkling as a regenerative act (Lutheran) * Infant baptism of children of the covenant (Reformed) Each view is presented by its proponent, then critiqued and defended in dialogue with the book's other contributors. Here is an ideal setting in which you can consider the strengths and weaknesses of each stance and arrive at your own informed conclusion.