BIB1072/3 Paul's Salvation Letters: Galatians and Romans

Many books explore baptism from doctrinal or theological perspectives, and focus on issues such as the correct mode of baptism, the proper candidate for baptism, who has the authority to baptize, and whether or not baptism is a symbol or means of grace. By contrast, Caesar and the Sacrament investigates the political nature of baptism. Very few contemporary Christians consider baptism's original purpose or political significance. Only by studying baptism in its historical context, can we discover its impact on first-century believers and the adverse reaction it engendered among Roman and Jewish officials. Since baptism was initially a rite of non-violent resistance, what should its function be today?

government, charged with monitoring the human race. In effect, he is God's Minister of Justice, bent on exposing sin and vice, especially in virtuous-seeming persons like Job and Jesus. He fills the roles of investigator, tempter (that is, tester), accuser, prosecutor, and punisher, but also obstructer, preventer of vice, and rehabilitator. He is much feared and despised, accused of underhanded and immoral tactics. His removal from office is promised and his eventual punishment hoped for. The later misreading of Satan as radically depraved transformed Christianity into a highly dualistic religion, with an ongoing contest between good and evil. Seeing Satan in his true nature, as a cynical and sinister celestial bureaucrat, will help to remedy this distorted view.

Dr. Knox begins with a consideration of the Crucifixion in its historical setting. Then, in Part II, he considers its significance to Jesus himself, and in Part III he explores its significance to the Church. Examining the two New Testament views of the Atonement (victory and sacrifice) Dr. Knox concludes that although they are logically contradictory, both are actually necessary. We must regard these interpretations, he says, as the work of the One who moved through the ancient event to bring the Church itself into being. The final chapter is a powerful application of this view of the Cross to our lives today. All those who seek to find the meaning of life in terms of the Christian faith will find this discussion of the Cross both intellectually stimulating and spiritually satisfying.