The Bible and Baptism

“In The Bible and Baptism, Isaac Morales offers a sparklingly clear account of the baptismal imagery that ripples throughout Scripture. Particularly impressive is his exposition of the significance of water as a poetic figure of life, death, freedom, and purity in the Old Testament. Equally compelling is his close reading of the way in which the New Testament interprets baptism as a pointer to Christ’s death and resurrection. This book not only enriches our understanding of baptism but also illuminates the way in which early Christian interpreters understood the unity of the biblical story. This is a book that deserves to be read and pondered by church study groups, theological students, and anyone who desires a deeper understanding of the sacrament of baptism.”—Richard B. Hays, George Washington Ivey Distinguished Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Duke University

“Fr. Morales’s keen and careful scholarship on the biblical understanding of baptism leads the reader to a deep appreciation of the ‘pattern of dying and rising with Christ’ by which the baptized ‘attains to a freedom’ like no other. As Fr. Morales so ably shows, it is baptism that transforms the believer ‘into a temple fit for God’s dwelling.’”—Peter John Cameron, OP, founding editor in chief, Magnificat

“This study is both timely and traditional. Moving deftly through Scripture and drawing on Christian thought through the ages, Morales explores how central themes of Scripture are enriched through meditation on baptism in response to perennial and contemporary challenges. Thus he demonstrates that baptism, more than an initiation rite, is a call to a lifelong journey of liberation and transformation, one that requires reckoning seriously with the limitations and inevitable distortions of human existence.”—Ellen F. Davis, Amos Ragan Kearns Distinguished Professor of Bible and Practical Theology, Duke Divinity School

“Baptism—the central Christian sacrament and, indeed, the entrance to all the other sacraments—is nevertheless often theologically understudied, even outright neglected. But in this sweeping biblical study encompassing the Old and New Testaments, Fr. Morales establishes the scriptural roots and foundation of baptism, its utter centrality in the Christian’s life with God, and the ecumenical import of a biblically grounded understanding of baptism. Sound exegesis, solid theological interpretation, and salutary application make this lucidly written book a must-read for seminarians, deacons, priests, and all Christians eager to rediscover and reclaim the meaning of their own baptism. Tolle lege—take and read!”—Reinhard Hütter, Ordinarius Professor of Fundamental and Dogmatic Theology, The Catholic University of America