Bible and Baptism

by Morales, Timothy Gray (Series Editor), John Sehorn (Series Editor)

This addition to the Catholic Biblical Theology of the Sacraments series provides readers with a deeper appreciation of God's gifts and call in the Sacraments through a renewed encounter with God's Word.

New Testament scholar Isaac Morales, OP, offers a biblical theology of the initiatory rite of baptism that will be interesting and informative to the church catholic. Morales provides a synthetic biblical account of the sacrament of baptism, rooted in the rich water symbolism of the Old Testament and finding its full flourishing in baptismal participation in the saving events of Christ's passion, death, and resurrection as described in the New Testament. This book provides lay teachers with background and depth on topics taught frequently in the parish, making it suitable for classroom use and parish ministry.

The series editors are Timothy C. Gray and John Sehorn. Gray is president of the Augustine Institute, which has one million subscribers to its online content channel, Formed.org. Gray and Sehorn both teach at the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology, which prepares students for Christian mission through on-campus and distance-education programs.

256 pages, Paperback

Published August 2, 2022

Reviews

[Caleb Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been following Fr. Isaac Augustine Morales, OP's work on Baptism is an excellent introductory work of biblical exegesis. I say introductory because this work is quite accessible to any interested layman, and does not require much previous knowledge of Baptism or the Scriptures.

This book contains three main sections: the role of and imagery associated with water and water rituals in the Old Testament, an assessment of the New Testament data on baptism, and then a brief conclusion. My favorite section is that which focused on the Old Testament, because I am less familiar with the role of water/water imagery there.

My biggest takeaway of the book is Fr. Morales's insistence on how, for the Bible, it is "salvation through worship". If do not recall God's words to Pharaoh through Moses, "let my people go, that they may SERVE me", then we will not understand the Scriptures. In connection with this theme of salvation through service to God/worship of God, the notion of the baptismal priesthood is put on great display. This is not an idea that Christians should shy away from, but embrace. See the Second Vatican Council, Lumen gentium, no. 9 - 13 for more (yes, it is good stuff I promise).

I am giving this 4 stars because I wasn't blown away by it and wanted a little more, but I definitely recommend it as the accessible go-to book for someone interested in looking at what the Scriptures reveal about Baptism. It is an introduction that will inspire the reader to do more in-depth study on this topic, and more importantly enrich their interaction with the Sacred Page.

[Kristjan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian Baptism is probably the one key rites of initiation shared by all Christian traditions in some form or another. Over the years I have extensively contemplated on the nature and meaning of this sacrament as a preacher’s kid, catholic catechist, lay dominican and deacon candidate, so I thought that I had a pretty good handle on the subject. This book managed to surprise me with a well organized exploration of the central themes (redemption/salvation, communion/unity, new life/spirit and the new priesthood, which were comfortably familiar) as well as several nooks and crannies where I never thought to look before (such as how water is used within the OT - Part 1).

Although this book was written by a Catholic theologian, his fundamentally solid biblical exegesis and accessible writing makes the book suitable for anybody who wants to understand the many dimensions of this sacrament, and why it forms the principle foundation for christian life (I would strongly recommend this as a group study as well).

Introduction: The Foundation of Salvation
Part 1 - Written for Our Instruction: Water in the Old testament

1. The Waters of Life
2. The Waters of Death
3. The Waters of Freedom
4. The Waters of Purity

Part 2 - The Substance Belongs to Christ: Baptism in the New Testament

5. Christ, the Model of Baptism
6. Christ, the Source of Baptism
7. Baptism “in the Name”
8. Dying and Rising with Christ
9. Being Clothed with Christ
10. Baptism and New Birth
11. Baptismal Purity
12. Baptismal Unity

Conclusion: Salvation through Worship
Appendix: Infant Baptism

I was given this free advance review copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#TheBibleAndBaptism #NetGalley.

[Douglas Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a superb biblical theology mapping the images, symbolism and metaphors of water through the Old testament and connecting to the sacrament of Baptism in the New Testament. This is an academic level book in its detail and references, but is readable and applicable for ministers, lay leaders and to all who are interested in Biblical theology. Isaac Morales is a Dominican friar and an Associate Professor of Theology at Providence College but, as stated in the introduction, this book is useful for the church catholic. As someone who teaches and preaches regularly, I have found this book to be immediately helpful in teaching others and preparing discipleship materials. I thoroughly recommend this book and will be encouraging other ministers, leaders and students to read it.