Contents
1. The Antecedents of Christian Baptism
I. Lustrations in the Old Testament
II. Jewish Baptizers and the Qumran Community
III. Jewish Proselyte Baptism
IV. The Baptism of John Baptist
2. The foundation of Christian Baptism
I. The Baptism of Jesus
II. Did Jesus Baptize during His Ministry? John 3:22 ff, 4.1ff
III. The Significance of Mark 10:38, Luke 12.50
IV. The Missionary Commissions of the Risen Lord and Baptism: Matthew 28: 18-20

3. The Emergence of Christian Baptism: The Acts of Apostles
I. Baptism an Institution in the Earlest Church
II. The Nature of Early Christian Baptism
III. Baptism and the Spirit in the Acts
Note of the laying on of Hands
4. The Development of Christian Baptism in the Apostolic Writings
I. Baptism in Pauline literature
1. Romans 6: 1ff
2. Galatians 3:26-27
3. Colossians 2:11f
4. Colossians1:13f, 2:15
5. 1 Corinthians 6:11
6. 1 Corinthians 12:13
7. 2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:30, 4-30
8. 1 Corinthians 1: 11-17
9. 1 Corinthians 10:1ff
10. 1 Corinthians 15:29
11. 1 Corinthians 7:14
12. Ephesians 4:5
13. Ephesians 5:25-27
14. 1 Timothy 6.12-13
15. 2 Timothy 2: 11-12
16. Titus 3:5-7
ii. Baptism in the Johannine Literature
1. The Sacramentalism of the Fourth Gospel
2. John 3:3-5
3. 1 John 2:20, 27
4. 1 John 5:5-8
iii. Baptism in Hebrews and 1 Peter
1. Hebrews 6:1-6
2. Hebrews 10:22-23
3. The First Letter of Peter: a Baptismal Treatise?
4. 1Peter 3:20-21
5. The Doctrine of christian Baptism in the New Testament
i. Baptism and Grace
ii. Baptism and Faith
iii. Baptism and the Spirit
iv. Baptism and the Church
v. Baptism and Ethics
vi. Baptism and Hope
vii. The Necessity of Baptism
6. The Rise and Significance of Infant Baptism
1. The Origin of Infant Baptism
a. Infant Baptism a New Testament Institution?
i. Household Baptism a New Testament and the Solidarity of the Family
ii. Jesus and the Children
iii. Proselite Baptism and the Church
iv. The Covenant, Circumcision and Baptism
v. The Objectivity of Baptism and the function of Faith
b. Infant Baptism and Alien influences
2. The Signicance of Infant Baptism
i. Infant Baptism and Confession
ii. Infant Baptism and Dying and Rising with Christ
iii. Infant Baptism and the Forgiveness of Sins
iv. Infant Baptism and Entry into the Chuch
v. Infant Baptism as a Promise of Salvation
vi. Infant Baptism and Prevenient Grace
vii. Infant Baptism a Symbolic rather than an Instrumental Rite
Postscript: Baptismal reform and inter-church relationships
Selected bibliography
Index of subjects
Index of authors
Index of Scripture references

This enduring study of Christian baptism by Beasley-Murray presents a critical defense of the doctrine of believers' baptism on the basis of New Testament evidence. Murray discusses preceding rites such as Old Testament ritual washings, Jewish proselyte baptism, the lustrations practiced at Qumran, and John the Baptist's baptism--all in relation to baptism in the New Testament. He also presents a well-balanced examination of the rise and significance of infant baptism.