This is the one book on baptism that you must read. It was seven years in the making. The author believes that until a new approach is taken, separations over the meaning, mode, and recipients of baptism will never be bridged. This new approach traces the roots of baptism deep into the OT Scriptures. When understood properly, we discover that baptism is always the sign that God has used to initiate his people into a new creation. Baptism in the NT is not "new." Rather, it derives its origin from OT predecessors. When we understand that baptism comes from baptism, especially in its sacramental expression in the priestly covenant, reasons for the NT practice begin to make perfect sense. Now Baptists have an argument that infant Baptists can finally understand, because we are beginning our argument in the same place. Yet, we continue to have very baptistic conclusions as to the mode and recipients of baptism, because we root baptism in baptism rather than circumcision.

In From the Beginning to Baptism, Linda Gibler takes readers on a journey—from the depths of space and the beginning of time through sacred Scripture and church history— to discover the origins and creative power of water, oil, and fire. She traces the lives of those elemental entities through their cosmic history, to the point at which they are poured over the head and light the way of one being baptized. These elemental sources of all life are the substances through which new life in Christ begins in the sacrament of baptism. The journey through space and time, through the birth of the Universe and of life, and Gibler's reflections on this drama, help readers to enter into the "cosmocentric spirituality" at the heart of all things. No one who reads this book will ever again look at a drop of water, an olive, or a candle with the same eyes. Linda Gibler, PhD, a Houston Dominican Sister, is currently associate academic dean at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. She has several years’ experience as a parish minister and is the science editor and a contributing author for the Collins Foundation Press, which hosts conferences on the significance of recent scientific revelations for faith, meaning, and the well-being of Earth and all her species.

"This book represents a substantial accomplishment, one that provides a useful resource for those wanting to deepen their understanding of the sacraments, particularly baptism. Reflecting a massive amount of research, against the background of an in-depth survey of various views of baptism in church history, Fesko provides an extensive exegetical and biblical-theological study of the covenantal and eschatological significance of baptism followed by systematic theological reflections on key issues like baptism as a means of grace, the efficacy of baptism, the biblical warrant for infant baptism (and against paedocommunion) and the importance of baptism for the church. One need not agree with his reflections at every point to benefit from his considerable labors." - Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology, Emeritus, Westminster Theological Seminary "J. V. Fesko¿s Word, Water, and Spirit is a major work that both models how to do theology by moving from historical theology to biblical and systematic theology and, most importantly, presents fresh insights for a Reformed understanding of baptism. Fesko¿s fair-minded, page-turning history of the doctrine of baptism is itself worth the price of the book. Most enlightening, however, is his biblical-theological survey of baptism as new creation, covenant judgment, and eschatological judgment. The book¿s emphasis on God¿s judgment in baptism is particularly innovative and helpful. These insights pave the way for treating baptism systematically as a means of grace and as a sacrament in relation to its recipients and ecclesiology. Highly recommended for all who wish to grapple seriously with the doctrine of baptism and its implications." - Joel Beeke

"This book represents a substantial accomplishment, one that provides a useful resource for those wanting to deepen their understanding of the sacraments, particularly baptism. Reflecting a massive amount of research, against the background of an in-depth survey of various views of baptism in church history, Fesko provides an extensive exegetical and biblical-theological study of the covenantal and eschatological significance of baptism followed by systematic theological reflections on key issues like baptism as a means of grace, the efficacy of baptism, the biblical warrant for infant baptism (and against paedocommunion) and the importance of baptism for the church. One need not agree with his reflections at every point to benefit from his considerable labors." - Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology, Emeritus, Westminster Theological Seminary

In this book David Pawson teaches what the Bible says about Water Baptism.

"Scripture is far from silent on the subject of baptism, yet history is strewn with such a variety of perspectives that it becomes difficult to gain a clear view of what the Bible itself actually has to say: How would the original readers of Acts, Romans, or Colossians have understood the texts concerning baptism when they read them for the very first time? How do readers of today understand the baptismal references of the New Testament if they have no particular commitment to a certain theological point of view? In thirteen chapters, Dr. Cottrell discusses the twelve major texts in the New Testament and does so by examining the meaning of the original words, the historical background, and the comparative references. The texts covered: Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, John 3:3-5, Acts 2:38-39, Acts 22:16, Romans 6:3-4, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27, Ephesians 5:25-27, Colossians 2:11-13, Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 3:21"--P. [4] of cover.

Water. It’s in nearly every book of the Bible! The world was made from water and was flooded by it. People were both killed and saved by it. Life requires water. It was in Eden and will be in the New Jerusalem. Moses, David, and most of the Old Testament prophets spoke about it, as did Jesus, Peter, and John. So why has no one yet figured out what all this water talk is about? God is revealing something exciting using water as his means of communication. In this book nearly all the uses of water throughout the Bible have been examined and organized into common categories. The mentions of water have ramifications for other major biblical teachings such as on the work of the Holy Spirit, salvation, and baptism. This work unveils something that has remained hidden to most until now: a biblical theology of water.