Scriptural Baptism: Its Mode and Subjects as Opposed to the Views of the Anabaptists

by Thomas Witherow

Shall we obey the command of Christ as He intended or shall we obey the command in a way that pleases us? Thomas Withrow clears all controversy surrounding Baptism, founding his claims solely on Scripture.

Baptism changes one's state from an alien to a citizen of God's kingdom, surrenders one's life to faith and obedience, and opens the gates of Heaven. Imagine not doing it as per the instructions Christ gave.

Withrow discusses two topics in this small book, the methods of baptism and its subjects. First he elaborates on immersion, pouring, and sprinkling, then he states whether baptism should be performed on infants or adult believers.

He's organized in his thoughts, and he lays the facts of both sides of the dispute before he affirms a definitive conclusion, giving the readers space to think and decide for themselves.

62 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1860

About the author

Irish Presbyterian minister and historian

Reviews

[Maxime N. Georgel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une défense brève et claire de la position réformée sur le mode et les sujets du baptême, comprenant une réfutation de l'immersionnisme et de l'anabaptisme.

Quelques arguments que je n'avais pas lu ailleurs, une belle illustration en conclusion. Loin d'être le meilleur sur le sujet mais utile tout de même, notamment pour ses remarques de bon sens.

[Levi Moss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thomas Witherow certainly makes some compelling points; his garden parable especially made the argument vivid and understandable. However, his polemic, divisive, and caricutaristic tone towards Baptists is completely unpalatable. It is not communicate the Christian love or brotherhood that we are all called to have, and thus sours all of his pleas for biblical faithfulness. Witherow dedicates the final 3 pages to an argument that being Baptist necessarily leads to being a pedantic, embittered, and divisive—he should inspect the way that he himself talks about his brothers in Christ! He says Baptists inflate the doctrine of baptism so as to neglect others, when in fact Witherow inflates baptism to the extent of questioning the salvation of Baptists.

This tone was a disservice to his argument. It continually made me frustrated and unreceptive to his point of view, as he leaned more on strawman-ing than debating. I still am a denominational nomad on this issue, so this book was helpful on the journey to parse through the arguments.