Periodical Reviews -- By: Jefferson P. Webster

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 170:679 (Jul 2013)
Article: Periodical Reviews
Author: Jefferson P. Webster


Periodical Reviews

By The Faculty and Library Staff of Dallas Theological Seminary

Jefferson P. Webster

Editor

“The Gospel and Water Baptism: Another Look at Acts 2:38, with a New Afterword,” Lanny Thomas Tanton, Journal of the Grace Evangelical Theological Society 25 (autumn 2012): 55-89.

Acts 2:38 has long been a puzzle to those who do not believe in baptismal regeneration. The verse seems to suggest that repentance and water baptism are essential for salvation. The verse reads, “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’ “(NKJV). In this article Tanton, who used to believe in baptismal regeneration but rejected it years ago, discusses six views on this verse.

The “Sacramentarian Interpretation” holds that baptism is “necessary in order to receive the remission of sins” (p. 28). As he points out, this view “makes salvation the result of faith and works” (p. 62).

The “Causal Eis Interpretation” suggests that the verse should be read, “Repent and be baptized . . . because of the remission of sins” (p. 64). The Greek word εἰς is used this way in a number of passages, including, for example, Matthew 12:41, which states that the people of Nineveh repented because of (εἰς) Jonah’s preaching.

The “Syntactical Break” view “holds to the normal meaning of eis (‘for’) as indicating purpose, but understands the phrase ‘for the remission of sins’ to be connected with the command for repentance and not directly related to the command to be baptized, which is seen as a parenthetical statement” (pp. 67-68). The verb “repent” is plural and “be baptized” is singular. Baptism is then the outward symbol of repentance, and repentance, not water baptism, brings remission of sins.

Another view is called the “Conversion-Initiation Interpretation.” A person becomes a Christian by a process that includes three elements: faith, water baptism, and the reception of the Spirit. However, receiving the Holy Spirit may come before or after water baptism. In this view the Holy Spirit is given in response to faith, not baptism, but faith is not truly faith unless it is accompanied by baptism.

The “Ultra-Dispensational Interpretation” dismisses the problem by arguing that Acts 2:38...

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