Offering a clear understanding of the doctrine of baptism in the Holy Spirit. In the Seventies, James Dunn's publication of Baptism in the Holy Spirit gave rise to a heated debate within Pentecostals' milieu. Atkinson brings his contribution to the discussion and undertakes the job of synthesizing, evaluating and reviewing the key elements of the debate, with respect to Luke-Acts. Atkinson concludes that Pentecostals are right: for Luke, receiving the Spirit was not the inception of new covenant life; itwas a powerful enabling for prophecy and miracles; for the church's outward mission and its internal life.

This book is about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, being filled with the Spirit, and spiritual gifts, including the gift of tongues and speaking in tongues. All my books can be read online for free at http://wayneodonnell.com. “Freely you have received, freely give” (Mt. 10:8). This booklet is included in and comprises several sections in my book “Paul’s Decision Making in Acts: Anti-Charismatic, Pro-Jewish Commentary on Acts.” Whole denominations base their distinctiveness on their interpretations about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Millions of individuals build their lives on their understanding of the filling and gifts of the Spirit. Much suffering and discouragement can be avoided by a right interpretation of the passages about these things in the book of Acts.

The Pentecostal experience of Spirit baptism remains an important topic of discussion more than a century after the inception of the Pentecostal movement. In Spirit Baptism: The Pentecostal Experience in Theological Focus David Perry moves beyond traditional debates by focusing on the meaning and function of the experience within the Pentecostal community. Grounded in the Pentecostal experience itself, he explores the meaning of the experience in terms of its cognitive, effective, constitutive and communicative function. He demonstrates the enduring value of the experience of Spirit baptism to the Pentecostal community and emphasises what is centrally important – a powerful and transformative encounter with the Holy Spirit.

A comprehensive survey of the doctrine and practice of baptism in the first five centuries of Christian history, arranged geographically within chronological periods.

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.

Christians who otherwise love each other and work together on shared projects and causes nonetheless often disagree on the subject of baptism. Should infants be baptized, or is baptism for believers only? What exactly does baptism mean? What happens, if anything, when someone is baptized? Which is better -- sprinkling or immersion? These disagreements are disheartening to some and confusing to many. The sacrament of baptism from a Reformed perspective is clearly and thoughtfully outlined in this useful book. James Brownson explains the scriptural basis, the theological underpinnings, and the practical implications of this particular element of the faith. Organized into thirty brief, tightly focused chapters -- each of which centers on a key question -- and enhanced by thoughtful discussion questions, The Promise of Baptism will be an important resource for pastors, students, and laypersons seeking to better understand this sacrament that lies at the heart of the church's life. A sampling of key questions addressed: What is a sacrament, and how does it differ from an "ordinance"? What's the relationship between baptism and being "born again"? How do the sacraments bring God's grace to us? Can someone be "saved" without being baptized? Can someone be baptized without being saved? Does baptism take the place of circumcision as the mark of the new covenant? What is "confirmation" or "profession of faith," and what is its relationship to baptism? What happens after baptism?

In the web of cultural processes of late antiquity ablution rites and initiation rites were performed in different forms and in different contexts. Such rites existed in Early Judaism and Greco-Roman cults and were also applied in early Christianity under the label “baptism”, however, not as one fixed rite uniformly performed and interpreted. Baptismal rites developed diversely corresponding to the diversity among Christian groups of which some later came to be perceived as heretical. Remains of art, architecture and texts from these contexts were discussed in two conferences gathering scholars who are excellent within their respective fields: text studies, studies of rites, archaeology, architecture, history of art, and cultural anthropology. These different fields of research have in recent years generated new knowledge that is relevant for the discussion of ablution and initiation rites and their function in late antiquity. At the same time interests of research have altered in favour of a growing cooperation across discipline borders. The present volumes are the outcome of two conferences in Rome 2008 and at Metochi (Lesbos) 2009.