Water That Divides

by Donald Bridge, David Phypers

Book by Bridge, Donald, Phypers, David

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1996

Reviews

[Ryan Jankowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent summary of paedobaptism and credobaptism. A helpful historical summary and presentation of strengths and weaknesses of each view. This would be a great book to read in a group as it raises some fine points for discussion.

[Ethan Zimmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A helpful primer to the debate between paedobaptists and credobaptists.

[Wallace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book as part of my research reading for a talk I am to give on Baptism, not because I don't know what baptism is but because I wanted to engage with the alternative paedobaptist view; I hold to a believer's baptism view.

The book is written around 3 BIG ideas: (1) Baptism and Scripture (3 chapters); (2) Baptism and History (8 chapters); and (3) Baptism Today and Tomorrow (4 chapters). This structure tells you where the focus of the book lies!

I found the first 3 chapters very helpful, especially engaging for the first time with a well-developed and presented paedobaptist view.

Chapters 4 through 11 were informative, interesting, and helpful in parts, but didn't really 'scratch my itch!'

Chapter 15: Baptism in a Postmodern World was excellent and well worth reading. The best sentence in this chapter reads as follows, "There really is a metanarrative; we call it Scripture."

If this is so in our current postmodernist world, then it must also be so in any doctrinal or practical discussion on the Bible. Methinks the paedobaptist supporter (David Phypers) gives the ground beneath his feet away when he says, "There is no direct reference to paedobaptism in the New Testament itself" (Pg. 26). He could have also extended that to include the Old Testament as well!

At best a 2-star read, but then it was perhaps a 'taster' rather than a 'full meal!' But for all that, it is an interesting and useful read and makes a useful contribution to our understanding of 'the water that divides!'

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Kate]

978-1845503086

[Matthew Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you wanted to read one book on the baptism debate to get a handle on both sides, this one is not too bad.

[Dylan Mayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little bias to the Anglican (Church of England) view of Christian Baptism, but a great book to talk about denominational differences o the issue.