These important and incisive essays, spanning more than two decades of
research and engagement, probe facets and episodes of infant baptism's
fortunes over twenty centuries. The story of pedobaptism is traced from
its shadowy beginnings as a variant of faith-baptism, through inflated
Reformation defenses as infant-baptism monopolized baptismal thought and
practice, to biblical and ecumenical reevaluations and hopeful
contemporary rapprochements across divisive waters. ""Professor David
Wright has done a tremendous service to both the academy and the Church
with this truly impressive volume of essays probing the history and
theology of infant baptism from the New Testament to the present day. In
its erudition, independence of judgment, and challenging relevance for
today, this is an indispensable resource."" --Timothy Bradshaw, Senior
Tutor, Regent's Park College; member of the Oxford Faculty of Theology
""In these essays, Professor Wright brings his prodigious knowledge of
Church history and historical theology to bear on a vital theme for the
Christian faith. He traces, with clarity and insight, both the Church's
understanding of baptism through the centuries and the continuing
debates."" --Stewart J. Brown, Professor of Ecclesiastical History,
University of Edinburgh ""This well-developed volume of essays contains
the fruit of David Wright's many labors on this topic and will become a
standard resource for scholarly work on the history and meaning of
infant baptism in the future."" --Timothy George, Dean of Beeson
Divinity School of Samford University, executive editor of Christianity
Today ""This is an outstanding and eminently coherent collection of
studies on aspects of baptismal theologies and practices spanning the
Christian era. They help restore the topic to a high place on the
theological agenda--all with a characteristic spirit of catholicity,
evangelical concern, scholarly expertise, and literary finesse."" --Ian
Hazlett, Professor of Ecclesiastical History, University of Glasgow
""There is much learned historical scholarship here illuminating the
history of the practice of baptism in general and infant baptism in
particular. There is also much wise reflection on the pastoral
implications of the practice for the church then and now. No one with a
serious interest in the doctrine of baptism can afford to neglect this
volume."" --Anthony N. S. Lane, Director of Research and Professor of
Historical Theology, London School of Theology ""Wright's penetrating
historical vision is combined with persuasive arguments for the unduly
neglected but critical importance of baptism for the whole church. The
result is a book that challenges both the received traditions and
current practices, but in the most edifying way imaginable."" --Mark A.
Noll, McAnaney Professor of History, University of Notre Dame ""An
invaluable resource for the history and understanding of infant baptism
in the Church from the New Testament to the present day."" --David M.
Thompson, Fellow and President of Fitzwilliam College; reader in Modern
Church History, University of Cambridge ""Wright's expertise in
patristic, reformation, and ecumenical theology comes to full fruition
here, yielding an invaluable resource for reflection among historians,
theologians, exegetes, and church leaders. David Wright has bequeathed a
sterling example of how historical theology can and must inform
systematics and practical theology today."" --John L. Thompson,
Professor of Historical Theology; Gaylen and Susan Byker Professor of
Reformed Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary David F. Wright is
Emeritus Professor of Patristic and Reformed Christianity, New College,
University of Edinburgh.
