baptism – The Two Cities

John of History, Baptist of Faith with Professor James McGrath (Podcast)

Jan 29, 2025

In this episode we’re joined by Prof. James McGrath, who is Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University, and the author of the book that we’re discussing in this episode: John of History, Baptist of Faith: The Quest for the Historical Baptizer (published by Eerdmans). In our conversation we talk about the differences between this book with Christmaker and delve more deeply into various historical matters surrounding John the...

The Christmaker with Professor James McGrath (Podcast)

Jul 10, 2024

In this episode we’re joined by Prof. James McGrath, who is the Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University and the author of the book that we’re discussing here, Christmaker: A Life of John the Baptist (published by Eerdmans). Over the course of our conversation, we talk about biographical details that we can glean about John the Baptist, whether and how Mandaean literature can fill out our knowledge of...

Becoming the Baptized Body with Dr. Sarah Jean Barton (Podcast)

Apr 26, 2023

Alt txt: Image of our guest, Dr. Sarah Jean Barton, and three of our co-hosts: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Stephanie Kate Judd, and Rev. Daniel Parham. In this episode, which is the penultimate episode in our series on Disability & Theology, we’re talking about Becoming the Baptized Body with Dr. Sarah Jean Barton, who is Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Theological Ethics at Duke Divinity School, and the author of Becoming the Baptized Body:...

Baptism and a Circumcision without Hands

Aug 21, 2017

A few weeks ago, I was asked to write a supplemental reading for our Life Group curriculum here at Fellowship Dallas. It was an awesome week at our church where we baptized over 25 people who had made a profession of faith and had decided to follow Jesus. Being the nerd that I am, I chose a difficult passage where Paul alludes to the rite of Old Testament circumcision without much in the way of...

Where did Christian Baptism Come From?

Jun 16, 2016

Question of Origins What are the origins of Christian baptism? A quick perusal of the biblical texts might leave one perplexed as to the sudden appearance of baptism in the New Testament.1 Immediately and without explanation one is confronted with the appearance of John “the Baptist” and the practice of baptizing in water (Matt 3:1ff). Everyone except the reader (i.e., the author of the text itself, the people in the accounts, and perhaps even the...

Let Christmas Continue

Dec 26, 2013

It’s been 27 days since most American’s have begun the bell curve that is participation in Christmastide, and the participation in Advent, for those who chose to devotionally and/or liturgically relive the anticipation of the coming of Messiah. Yet now, the gift wrap is all torn asunder, and presents have all been revealed. The holiday classics have all aired for the year. The eggnog carton is empty. The ugly sweater parties have ceased. The derives, caroling...

The Failure of Evangelicalism

Oct 21, 2013

This is a post I wrote on my personal blog a few years ago. I think it still holds true but would like to hear your thoughts I think evangelicalism has failed on two major fronts. One is the preaching and teaching of the Sanctification process through the power of the Holy Spirit. So much of evangelicalism is about prompting people to make a decision for Christ and then counting them as a statistic. Baptisms...

John of History, Baptist of Faith with Professor James McGrath (Podcast)

The Christmaker with Professor James McGrath (Podcast)

Becoming the Baptized Body with Dr. Sarah Jean Barton (Podcast)