In Baptism in the Holy Spirit James Dunn argues that water baptism is only one element in the New Testament pattern of conversion and initiation. The gift of the Spirit, he believes, is the central element. For the writers of the New Testament only those who had received the Holy Spirit could be called Christians. For them, the reception of the Spirit was a very definite and often very dramatic experience - the decisive and climactic experience in conversion-initiation - to which Christians were usually recalled when reminded of their Christian faith and experience.James Dunn uncovers the place of the gift of the Holy Spirit in the total complex event of becoming a Christian.
About the AuthorJames D. G. Dunn was Lightfoot Professor of Divinity in the University of Durham until his retirement in 2009. He is one of the leading New Testament scholars in the world, ranking alongside Tom Wright and E. P. Sanders.
Book InformationISBN 9780334043881
Author James D.G. DunnFormat Paperback
Page Count 272
Imprint SCM PressPublisher SCM Press