The Messiah’s Baptism reexamines scripture to reveal whether Church tradition—Roman or Protestant—has overlooked key truths about this vital subject.
Some of the earliest Jewish followers of the Messiah questioned water baptism, and their disputes with first-century author Tertullian (considered the Father of Latin Christianity) remain almost unknown today. When they claimed that water baptism was no longer necessary for salvation, an angry Tertullian fought back in his treatise, On Baptism. With the full power of Rome backing him, these early Jewish Messianic voices were lost to time and tradition.
Was there a transition period in the baptism doctrine as seen in the Book of Acts as Christ’s followers moved into the promised New Covenant? (Remember that John the Baptist said that God called him to baptize in water, but that Jesus would baptize in the Holy Spirit.) And Jesus himself said similar things at several different times.
With painstaking analysis and careful attention to interpretive nuance, this book invites readers to view baptism from another vantage point—through the original idioms and perspective of first-century Jewish believers. You will never think about baptism the same way again.
The Messiah’s Baptism takes a closer look at baptism, one of Christianity’s oldest rites. With his trademark meticulous research, thorough analysis, and scholarly yet approachable tone, Tennent explains the history behind baptism. We then see how it came to hold so much importance today at the expense of what God actually intended for us—to be baptized with His Holy Spirit, not with a mere sprinkling or immersion in water.
The Messiah’s Baptism examines scriptures and topics involving the history of baptism that were misunderstood in Rome, including the true reason why Paul said that Christ did not send him to baptize. By comparing Old Covenant laws with New Covenant truth, the author analyzes the true meaning behind 1 Peter 3:21 (where Peter really seems to say that baptism in water is what saves us), and even tackles one of the most difficult (and often misinterpreted) scriptures relating to baptism—1 Corinthians 15:29, where Paul mentions those being “baptized for the dead.”
When we consider the scriptures from the perspective of the first-century Jewish believers, the Bible comes together in perfect harmony to reveal crucial, newly uncovered truths on baptism. The Roman concept inherited by churches today then comes into question, conflicting with the baptism the Lord wanted.
I found this book to be scripturally accurate and so helpful in understanding the true meaning of baptism. I think some people jump to conclusions without thoroughly reading and proving what Alex Tennent is teaching, which is sad. I believe it’s so important to come out of religious traditions and highly recommend reading this book-especially before giving reviews or forming an opinion.
In this groundbreaking work, T. Alex Tennent explains: ‘We are not cleansed and sanctified by ceremonial washing in water but by the spiritual washing that comes from the Lord and the word of God.’ There is a lot I enjoy about this book. T. Alex Tennent makes a lot of sense and I believe does a better job cutting the word straight than any author I have ever read.
The Messiah’s Baptism reexamines scripture to reveal whether Church tradition—Roman or Protestant—has overlooked key truths about this vital subject.