Infant Baptism in Historical Perspective

These important and incisive essays, spanning more than two decades of research and engagement, probe facets and episodes of infant baptism's fortunes over twenty centuries. The story of pedobaptism is traced from its shadowy beginnings as a variant of faith-baptism, through inflated Reformation defenses as infant-baptism monopolized baptismal thought and practice, to biblical and ecumenical reevaluations and hopeful contemporary rapprochements across divisive waters. ""Professor David Wright has done a tremendous service to both the academy and the Church with this truly impressive volume of essays probing the history and theology of infant baptism from the New Testament to the present day. In its erudition, independence of judgment, and challenging relevance for today, this is an indispensable resource."" --Timothy Bradshaw, Senior Tutor, Regent's Park College; member of the Oxford Faculty of Theology ""In these essays, Professor Wright brings his prodigious knowledge of Church history and historical theology to bear on a vital theme for the Christian faith. He traces, with clarity and insight, both the Church's understanding of baptism through the centuries and the continuing debates."" --Stewart J. Brown, Professor of Ecclesiastical History, University of Edinburgh ""This well-developed volume of essays contains the fruit of David Wright's many labors on this topic and will become a standard resource for scholarly work on the history and meaning of infant baptism in the future."" --Timothy George, Dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University, executive editor of Christianity Today ""This is an outstanding and eminently coherent collection of studies on aspects of baptismal theologies and practices spanning the Christian era. They help restore the topic to a high place on the theological agenda--all with a characteristic spirit of catholicity, evangelical concern, scholarly expertise, and literary finesse."" --Ian Hazlett, Professor of Ecclesiastical History, University of Glasgow ""There is much learned historical scholarship here illuminating the history of the practice of baptism in general and infant baptism in particular. There is also much wise reflection on the pastoral implications of the practice for the church then and now. No one with a serious interest in the doctrine of baptism can afford to neglect this volume."" --Anthony N. S. Lane, Director of Research and Professor of Historical Theology, London School of Theology ""Wright's penetrating historical vision is combined with persuasive arguments for the unduly neglected but critical importance of baptism for the whole church. The result is a book that challenges both the received traditions and current practices, but in the most edifying way imaginable."" --Mark A. Noll, McAnaney Professor of History, University of Notre Dame ""An invaluable resource for the history and understanding of infant baptism in the Church from the New Testament to the present day."" --David M. Thompson, Fellow and President of Fitzwilliam College; reader in Modern Church History, University of Cambridge ""Wright's expertise in patristic, reformation, and ecumenical theology comes to full fruition here, yielding an invaluable resource for reflection among historians, theologians, exegetes, and church leaders. David Wright has bequeathed a sterling example of how historical theology can and must inform systematics and practical theology today."" --John L. Thompson, Professor of Historical Theology; Gaylen and Susan Byker Professor of Reformed Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary David F. Wright is Emeritus Professor of Patristic and Reformed Christianity, New College, University of Edinburgh.