Peter J. Leithart

What does baptism do to the baptized? Nothing? Something? In this study, Peter Leithart examines this single question of baptismal efficacy. He challenges several common but false assumptions about God, man, the church, salvation, and more that confuse discussions about baptism. He aims to offer a careful and simple discussion of all the central biblical texts that speak to us about baptism, the nature of signs and rites, the character of the church as the body of Christ, and the possibility of apostasy. In the end, the author urges us to face up to the wonderful conclusion that Scripture attributes an astonishing power to the initiation rite of baptism.

The Baptized Body

Sean Wilson

In addition to exegesis of some of the key passages, Leithart explores the sociological and philosophical dimensions of baptism. It did remind me of previous eras of Christian writing where the theology and philosophy were not so clearly demarcated (e.g., Augustine on free will, or Jonathan Edwards on man's affections).

A great little point which Leithart relays from Rosenstock-Huessy: we know ourselves and form our identities not principally in the first-person, but in the second-person. When we first come into the world, we are surrounded by persons and rituals which tell us who we are, and on that basis, we come to know ourselves.

The Baptized Body

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