The Baptism Debate, by Peter Goeman. Raleigh, NC: Sojourner Press, 2023. xii + 230 pp. $21.99.
Peter Goeman is Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages at Shepherds Theological Seminary and serves as a minister at Shepherd’s Church in Cary, NC. Goeman also hosts a popular podcast: “The Bible Sojourner.” He earned all his degrees from The Master’s University (BS) and The Master’s Seminary (MDiv, ThM, PhD).
Goeman has dared to grapple with the third rail of conservative evangelical theology—the debate between credobaptism and paedobaptism. This debate is not trivial or arbitrary. The main thesis is an insistence that the Bible requires that only believers in Christ should be baptized. A minor thesis is the consideration that covenantal (Reformed) theology and its view of continuity is biased toward paedobaptism. This minor thesis identifies the artifice of the “continuity” claimed by paedobaptism. Goeman offers an apologetic for credobaptism but also a gracious opportunity for his opponents to understand his hermeneutic.
This book is a specific attempt to understand and to evaluate the view of infant baptism held by Reformed theologians. It does not specifically engage Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, or Anglican perspectives; this narrower focus proves to be a great asset in the author’s approach. He gives three reasons for this focus: (1) Goeman asserts that Reformed theology has the most complicated and robust defense; (2) he identifies Reformed theology as a movement holding to sola Scriptura; and (3)he has Reformed, paedobaptist friends and thus, a personal interest in offering his apologetic for credobaptism. The author is eminently fair in his description of the paedobaptist position and does not avoid an honest assessment of its strengths as well as its weaknesses. This results in the book becoming an honest arena where the reader can see the legitimate difference between the two positions. Few polemical books are courageous enough to take this approach.
Goeman gives a comprehensive summary of the relationship between faith and baptism, historically and hermeneutically. He correctly identifies how a Reformed covenantal view requires the artificial continuity of the covenant of gracesomehow linking circumcision and baptism. The discussion on circumcision is very helpful. Further, Goeman counters the Reformed view of the people of God with a dispensational understanding of Israel and the church. He includes a necessary examination of the question of household baptisms and makes the case that the New Testament actually insists on believer’s baptism or what Goeman would like to call biblical baptism. Goeman includes chapters on the mode and significance of baptism and a chapter on the importance of baptism. The importance of baptism is often assumed or denied. That assumption or denial often leads the uninformed to ignore or minimize the significance of biblical baptism.
This book is eminently readable. There are several stylistic strengths: footnotes (instead of endnotes), a Scripture index, and an extensive bibliography (over 200 referenced works). These features demonstrate the author’s familiarity with the pertinent literature. The book lacks a subject index which should be considered in the next edition. The author writes clearly and carefully; he demonstrates a scholar’s hand but also a pastor’s heart. This is not mere academics; this deals with intense, intimate issues of faith including its possession and profession.
Goeman’s analysis of relevant New Testament passages is both detailed and definitive. He does not avoid difficult passages or principles. He deals forthrightly with apostasy, for example (91–93). He also demonstrates considerable historiographical skill in surveying early, medieval, and Reformation church history. He combines exegetical, historical, and logical threads to present an outstanding case for credobaptism. He maintains an honest, yet humble, tone that should invite paedobaptists to engage his arguments.
He summarizes the issue: “I believe Scripture is clear on baptism. Although Reformed paedobaptism is a logically coherent system, it does not have biblical support. If we prioritize the biblical evidence over theological system and tradition, we will inevitably embrace the biblical position of baptism. The Bible teaches that those who embrace Christ in faith are baptized as a profession of that faith. Therefore, we call it believer’s baptism. But we should call it biblical baptism” (201). Goeman’s book is the most candid, complete, and careful defense of biblical baptism I have read. Its approach to Scripture is correct. Its exegesis of Scripture is clear. And its presentation of Scripture is coherent. Credobaptists should celebrate this volume and paedobaptists should seriously consider it. Credobaptists should hold this truth for the right reasons and this book will be an invaluable resource. I give this work my highest recommendation and urge its widest possible distribution.
