Anthony R. Cross – författare

The question of the meaning and significance of baptism is explored from a number of different perspectives in this volume. Inspired by the honoree of this volume and his important work on the subject, the contributors approach baptism from biblical, historical, theological and practical perspectives. Some of the essays re-examine the well-known biblical texts, feeling free to probe their implications. Others tease out the implications of the concept of baptism in a variety of contexts, both ancient and modern. Contributors include Joel Green, Geoffrey Bromiley, Larry Kreitzer, John Nolland, Ramsey Michaels and J.D.G. Dunn.

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.

This sequel to "Baptism, the New Testament and the Church" (JSNT Supplements 171) brings together work by J. Ramsey Michaels, Joel Green, Howard Marshall, Bruce Chilton, Craig Evans and the editors, as well as several others, and deals with aspects of baptism from the New Testament and beyond 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's blessing of th 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 m1iracle and as falling into and out of power.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.

Explorations of the English Baptist reception of the Evangelical Revival often--and rightfully--focus on the work of the Spirit, prayer, Bible study, preaching, and mission, while other key means are often overlooked. Useful Learning examines the period from c. 1689 to c. 1825, and combines history in the form of the stories of Baptist pastors, their churches, and various societies, and theology as found in sermons, pamphlets, personal confessions of faith, constitutions, covenants, and theological treatises. In the process, it identifies four equally important means of grace. The first was the theological renewal that saw moderate Calvinism answer "e;The Modern Question,"e; develop into evangelical Calvinism, and revive the denomination. Second were close groups of ministers whose friendship, mutual support, and close theological collaboration culminated in the formation of the Baptist Missionary Society, and local itinerant mission work across much of Britain. Third was their commitment to reviving stagnating Associations, or founding new ones, convinced of the vital importance of the corporate Christian life and witness for the support and strengthening of the local churches, and furthering the spread of the gospel to all people. Finally was the conviction of the churches and their pastors that those with gifts for preaching and ministry should be theologically educated. At first local ministers taught students in their homes, and then at the Bristol Academy. In the early nineteenth century, a further three Baptist academies were founded at Horton, Abergavenny, and Stepney, and these were soon followed by colleges in America, India, and Jamaica.

Bristol Baptist College is the oldest continuing Baptist College in the world, and has a rich story of faith, service, challenge, and people. As the College moves into its fourth century, this book explores the story of the first three centuries.

This book re-examines Baptist theology and practice in the light of contemporary biblical, theological, ecumenical, and missiological perspectives. It is not a study in denominationalism, but rather attempts to revision historical insights from the believers' church tradition, seeking to re-appropriate forgotten emphasis, bringing them together in a revised ecclesiology.

Since its first publication in 2000, Baptism and the Baptists has become the definitive work on the subject. It examines the theology and practice of believers' baptism among twentieth-century Baptists associated with the Baptist Union of Great Britain, and identifies the major influences which have led to its development. In the nineteenth and early twentieth century, the majority of Baptists concentrated predominantly on the mode and subjects of baptism (immersion and believers), understanding the rite merely as an ordinance--the believer's personal profession of faith in Christ. However, in continuity with a tradition of Baptists going back as far as the first Baptists in the second and third decades of the seventeenth century, there were also a significant number of ministers and scholars who saw the inadequacy of this view of baptism both biblically and theologically. This sacramental view developed and grew throughout the twentieth century, and influenced a resurgence of baptismal sacramentalism in the early twenty-first century among Baptists not just in Britain, but also in North America, Europe, and further afield.

The subject of baptism continues to be of considerable interest--though it frequently appears within broader studies of sacraments, liturgy, worship, and ecumenical studies, and within confessional bounds: credobaptist or paedobaptist--yet it is rarely discussed by Evangelicals. This book, however, is neither an apologetic for credobaptism nor paedobaptism; rather Cross believes that, as practiced today, both forms are a departure from New Testament baptism, which, he maintains, was an integral part of becoming a Christian and part of the proclaimed gospel. He argues that the "e;one baptism"e; of Ephesians 4:5 is conversion-baptism and that the baptism referred to in the various New Testament strata refers to this "e;one baptism"e; (of Spirit and water). The study sets out the case for this interpretation and contends that in key passages "e;baptism"e; is an example of synecdoche. The case is then made for a sacramental interpretation of baptism from a thoroughgoing Evangelical perspective. Cross concludes with reflections on the necessity of baptismal reform and the relevance of a return to conversion-baptism for the contemporary church in a post-Christian, post-Christendom, mission setting.

Beyond an internal transformation or mere "e;moment of salvation,"e; how does Christian faith envision the good life? This question demands not only a Christian view of how individuals should live, but of how social institutions are best arranged for human flourishing. In the advanced modern world, our common public life is mainly lived out in the domains of work and commerce, so a Christian view of economic life is essential to a modern Christian view of human flourishing. In this volume, established evangelical scholars in theology, biblical studies, and history explore their disciplines in connection with economic wisdom to yield insights about what it means to live wholly, fruitfully, and well. Faithful and provocative, these essays uncover fresh ground on topics ranging from poverty to work ethic to capitalism/socialism to slavery to non-profit entities to the medieval indulgence industry.

The first two volumes of Baptist Sacramentalism helped give momentum to a renewal of sacramental theology among Baptists. In the years since, this conversation has come to include a more diverse range of voices and explore a broader range of topics. Baptist Sacramentalism 3 both reveals and shares in these trends, contributing to the continued expansion of Baptist sacramental theology. Essays from Scandinavian and Eastern European scholars reveal the ways in which sacramental thought is taking shape in non-English speaking contexts. Other essays demonstrate the ways in which sacramental thought informs questions ranging from disability to virtual reality. And in keeping with the first volumes, there is continued exploration of the sacramental witness of the Baptist past.