Baptism in the Holy Spirit: A Reexamination of the New Testament Teaching on the Gift of the Spirit in relation to Pentecostalism Today

by James D.G. Dunn

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0334043883
• ISBN13: 9780334043881
• Release Date: October 2010
• Publisher: SCM Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.13 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.3" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Must Reading For Studying the Holy Spirit

I purchased Dunn's book to read a differant opinion of those of my persuasion in the Pentecostal Movement. I must admit that this book is very technical and if you are not familiar with Greek than you may want to avoid this book.Dunn's main premise is that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit did occur in Acts as a "second work of grace" but this is only part of Jesus' plan of evangelism and conversion (Acts 1:8). The dramatic Spirit-Baptisms were simply God giving His sign of approval upon their conversions. Thus Dunn views the Baptism in the Spirit as a conversion/initiation experience (1 Cor. 12:13).Dunn's book has become the standard reply by non-Pentecostals and non-charismatics. The book was written in 1970 and has since become standard reading in many evangelical colleges. Even those who do not ascribe to Dunn hold to his theological approach in explaining Spirit-Baptisms in Acts.