A Bombshell in the Baptistery

Who should be baptized? Should a person who has not been baptized be allowed to become a member of a church? What happens when a person is baptized? There are a number of important questions about baptism that call for biblical and theological reflection on a more fundamental question--what is baptism? Perhaps no one in the twentieth century addressed that question more thoroughly than British New Testament scholar George Beasley-Murray. While touching on a range of issues related to baptism, this book explores the influence that Beasley-Murray's work has had on the debate about the meaning of baptism, and shows why his work was referred to as ""a bombshell in the baptistery."" ""George Beasley-Murray was a New Testament scholar who served as principal of Spurgeon's College, London, from 1958 to 1973. His 'Baptism in the New Testament' (1963), the 'bombshell' of the title of this book, argued for a much higher view of baptism than had been customary among Baptists. Justin Nalls shows the central place of Beasley-Murray in debate among Baptists about the meaning of baptism during the twentieth century."" --David Bebbington, Professor of History, University of Stirling ""Baptism lies at the heart of Christian faith. It also lies at the heart of some of its fiercest controversies. In his careful treatment of the baptism theology of George Beasley-Murray, Justin Nalls spans both sides of the Atlantic and takes his re...