William the Baptist

by James M. Chaney, J. Ed Eubanks Jr. (Editor)

We proudly offer this edited, updated, and annotated re-publishing of the classic book, William the Baptist by James M. Chaney. First published in 1877, Chaney’s excellent book has taught generations of Christians the biblical foundation for the Reformed, covenantal view of baptism. Written in a winsome, dialogical style, William the Baptist answers questions regarding application vs. immersion, infant baptism vs. believer’s baptism, and more. Long out-of-print (except in the occasional, and difficult to find, facsimile edition), Doulos Resources is proud to bring this work back into print for a contemporary audience.

Our edition is updated with language that accommodates the changes of 130+ years, and replaces Scripture citations from the King James version with that of the English Standard Version (ESV). Footnoted Scripture references have been added, as has a Scripture index. At the same time, care has been taken not to alter the substance of Chaney’s wonderful book, which has proven itself against the test of time.

Genres: Theology, Christian

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1877

Reviews

[Ken Kunkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent dialogue between a Presbyterian and a Baptist about the issue of baptism. It is an entertaining view but also full of Scriptural truth.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phenomenal. Dismantles much baptistic confusion. I commend it.

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I found this a very engaging work, it was not persuasive. In fact, it seems to me to be a case study in misleading argumentation. The "word study" on the meaning of baptism makes several missteps, such as appealing to remote contexts in order to control what must be meant in an immediate context, imputing to the baptist view a false assumption about technical meaning, selective use of the evidence, and so on.

The dialogue gets stuck on the importance of "burial" to the symbolism of baptism, and in doing so misses the point of the baptist position. Allow me to cite one contemporary Baptist scholar.

“It may be objected that many were buried above the ground in caves during the NT era, and hence the notion of burial underground as pictured in baptism does not clearly portray death. The objection helps us to clarify the Pauline intention, but it does not succeed in terms of its main point. In saying that baptism pictures death and resurrection, the point is not that death is always underground. Baptist pictures death because submersion under water kills. The waters represent the flood of God’s judgment on account of sin (see 1 Pet 3:20-21), and hence even Jesus himself, as Mark 10:38-39 explains, underwent a baptism in which he absorbed God’s wrath on the cross for the sake of his people. Submersion under the water in baptism – which is in Jesus’ name – indicates that the persons baptized have experienced God’s judgment in Christ. That is, since they are incorporated in Christ, he has borne the judgment they deserved. Submersion under the water, then, does not specify that the dead are buried underground. The picture is not meant to be taken so literally. It does communicate, however, death and burial. Submersion is an apt picture because it demonstrates that death overwhelms and conquers its subjects. Pouring and sprinkling simply do not have the same effect….Similarly, newness of life is represented by emerging from the water. Believers now enjoy the resurrection life of Christ because they have been incorporated into him (Rom 6:4). I conclude, then, that the imagery used in Col 2:12 and Rom 6:3-5 points to immersion (“going into”) and emersion (“coming out of”)." (Thomas R. Schreiner, Believer's Baptism, 82)

Without belaboring the point, let me just conclude that this is an intriguing book, but certainly not a convincing one. I would encourage readers to study the issue much more broadly than this book. On a positive note, I believe the book can help baptists to understand how others perceive their arguments, and to clarify them accordingly.

[Shea Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good. Gets better towards the end. Could be read in one sitting quite easily.

[Grace LaLonde · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so good!!! I wish I read this sooner in my study on paedobaptism. I loved the format and will be recommending this to anyone I come across who is interested in studying the subject!

[Richard LaLonde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written in a clever, unique format where a Baptist and Presbyterian dialogue about infant and believer’s baptism. It’s not an exhaustive read, and I was satisfied with the amount of questions answered. This is a great resource that successfully separates the western bias and exegesis when it comes to the claim of adherence to Sola Scriptura. It was humbling to see the Word explained in its plain natural reading while sifting out the modern day assumptions inserted into the text. For anyone wanting to learn about what baptism is and why believers should baptize their covenant children, this will not disappoint. Paedobaptism is NOT an argument from silence.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite entertaining. The presentation of the Baptist as headstrong etc and the Presbyterian as understanding and gracious will likely annoy my Baptist brothers and probably turn them off the book a bit. Some good points.

[Eli Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very simple read. I wanted a more neutral book, but it was still interesting and easy to process.

[Austin Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a shame that a book filled with such good content is overshadowed by its tone of arrogance. Nevertheless, its information is helpful and thorough.

[Andrew Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the back and forth dialogue method of instructing.

[Josh Anders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read. Only giving it 4 stars because it spent 3/4 of the time on mode, which is of much less importance to me than touching on covenant theology and “who”.

This was the best PCA/Westminster book in favor of infant baptism I’ve read to date. Dr. Guy Richard’s is helpful as well. It’s definitely given me a few things to think about. Excited to keep diving into the subject.

[Bmquiram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received William the Baptist by James M. Chaney and updated and annotated by J. Ed Eubanks, Jr. from Goodreads first reads. This book is highly informative on the subject of baptism using immersion verses sprinkling or pouring. It also speaks of infant baptism and the scripture related to this topic.
After reading this book I find I, like one of the main characters (speakers) in the book have drastically changed my opinion on baptism. Some of the explanations given might be somewhat complex for an individual who just found his or her faith, but the overall content is easy even for a new Christian to understand. A devout Christian would find the context enlightening.
I would recommend this novel to any Christian or anyone interested in Christianity.

[Rick Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just reread William the Baptist for the fourth or fifth time. What a phenomenal little book! Every time I read it I see more clearly the truth that the Scriptures teach conclusively and convincingly that baptism is properly done by sprinkling or pouring, and that infant children are included in that covenantal command. This book teaches me more than baptism, though. It illustrates how to read the Bible, and how to draw conclusions from the text. I can’t recommend this little (147 pages) book highly enough! It is a treasure!

[Matt Gurtler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this book thinking that the argument for 'sprinkling' was mainly one of convenience. "We can't immerse children, so let's find a different way to do baptism". I'm pleasantly surprised to read a strong scriptural argument for why sprinkling is the more proper mode of baptism. Though I do not think the argument is watertight (no pun intended), I found it made sense.

My issue with the argument as a whole is how strongly people stand on a position and ridicule those who disagree, when it is clear from the centuries of debate on the subject that neither position is "the only biblical view". Sometimes Chaney is a bit nasty towards those who take an opposing view (and I would level the same charge at some baptist writers). You can make a case from scripture for both positions (and I'd like to read something on biblical arguments for immersion that deals with the stuff outlined in this book), so can't we all be a bit more gracious to each other?

At times I enjoyed the dialogue style of this book, it made it more readable than it simply being theological prose. At other times, the Presbyterian minister felt smarmy and irritating and the young baptist man seemed to roll over and say words like "Oh I am dreadfully sorry I was so wrong". This is natural, as he is a creation of someone who holds a different view, but it's an unfortunate coincidence of the dialogue style, which in some ways I like, and others I don't.

[Ben Franks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book, but a bit of a different book than I had anticipated. Based on how the book was described to me, I was expecting a dialogue driven exploration of baptism which would help someone understand the covenantal/paedobaptist position. This book does that in part, but the main focus of the book seems to be an exploration of the question: does baptism = immersion? That's a valid question of course, but hardly the most pressing aspect of discussion between paedos & credos in my experience. Perhaps the reason for this is because the book was originally written towards the end of the 19th century. Nevertheless, the author does take the last 40 or so pages to explore other questions related to baptism such as the nature of the covenant and the argument for giving the covenant sign to children. The book was helpful overall and the dialogue/story format makes it a quick read. I don't agree with all the conclusions he draws (namely, the idea that immersion is not a legitimate mode and his assertion that Christ's burial is not related in any way to His work of redemption) but it's helpful enough in other areas. I don't know that it would be the first book I'd hand to a credobaptist friend but it would certainly be worth adding to the stack.

[Kelle Craft · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very helpful dialogue between a new Baptist believer and a Presbyterian.

Some may say that the dialogue was not very charitable or that it was one sided. It was written by a Presbyterian! But I honestly think he was charitable where he could be. But growing up baptistic myself, and dialoging with baptists myself, baptists do tend to come across as a bit prideful in their view. The Baptist position assumes baptism = immersion, or that there’s “no scriptural warrant for baptizing babies,” but the help of this volume and countless others shows directly from the Bible why those arguments simply do not hold any water. They are assertions without proof. There are no provable scriptural evidences of immersion; no denial that children continue in the church age to still belong to the covenant people of God. In fact, the whole of the NT assumes this is still the case, many references which the Baptist position cannot account for. And this dialogue does a great job in pointing out the folly of those who hold to such unquestioned assumptions without the warrant of scripture, and yet, call on us as if the burden of proof is for us to supply a verse that says “baptize your babies.”

Read your Bible. All of it. And baptize your children because the Lord commands it. :)

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a topic, fraught with complications and emotional tension, is helpfully handled through this dialogue format. The author clearly sets out many of the arguments of the Presbyterian in favor of sprinkling and paedobaptism.

I give the book 4 stars for the simple reason that the dialogue is somewhat uncharitable to the Baptist. While I agree with the thrust of the book, it paints the Baptist as helpless and without response to the various Presbyterian arguments. Again, I agree with the author that the Baptist position is faulty. However, Baptists have much more thorough reasons for not accepting the Presbyterian’s view.

All in all, this book helpfully presents the arguments to the Baptist, who may not have heard these arguments before, even if the dialogue is a bit contrived. Recommend.

[Austin Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book presents a fictional story of a Baptist coming to Presbyterian convictions on baptism through dialogue with a Presbyterian minister.

While this is a strong and engaging method of promoting paedobaptism (fictional dialogue), the arguments presented are weak and the poor Baptist is written as an uneducated dimwit who hasn’t thought through his convictions. While those people exist, is it really helpful to write a book promoting a position by only bringing up the worst the other side has to offer?

One thing that I found ironic is that the paedobaptist pastor fell into a hard biblicism in the book insisting that the Baptist not quote any lexicons or Greek dictionaries when attempting to define “baptizo.”

Nevertheless, I give it three stars because it is written persuasively using a powerful rhetorical method.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The dialogue is entertaining and an effective pedagogical tool for understanding the issue at hand. Namely, who is entitled to receive the sign of the covenant of grace under the new administration? Regardless, of where one lands on this contentious issue there is one major take away from this book. To paraphrase the Presbyterian characters, one cannot go about the business of the rites (in this book baptism) of religion without settled conviction. To go against one's settled conviction about the rites (baptism) of religion would be a wicked thing.

[Makayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read concerning baptism. The format was very readable, and some of the arguments were quite unique and ones I hadn't heard before. I was mainly surprised that a large majority of the book surrounded the mode of baptism (sprinkling vs immersion) primarily rather than paedobaptsim. Covenant theology only really came into the conversation briefly at the end. I enjoyed learning about the arguments over mode, but I don't think this would be my first recommendation on a book about Baptism if you are wanting to study it.

[Matt Calio · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone coming from a credobaptist position looking to be informed on the paedobaptist position. The format is that of a conversation between a Baptist and a Presbyterian on the issue of infant baptism in the church. As a Baptist myself, this book gave me a lot to consider from the Presbyterian understanding and even challenged the way I look at the Scriptures regarding the topic.

[Josiah Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good and engaging read. The format of a conversation is great. Chaney, through the character Pastor Cowan, spends most of the book convincingly showing that immersion is an unbiblical mode of baptism and that pouring and sprinkling are the biblical modes.

I do wish there was more than the last thirty pages or so on infant baptism. The biblical evidence presented for the proper mode of baptism is almost overwhelming, but there could be a lot more on the proper subjects.

[Cris Zelaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me reconsider the mode of Baptism.

I have transitioned from a Baptist understanding of Baptism to a Presbyterian, one of the things I never questioned was the mode of Baptism. I always assumed immersion to be the proper formed. This conversational style book, has made reconsider by making a strong case for sprinkling/pouring.

[James Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book and great readable format. Some proof-text appeals were made to textual variants which weakened his case. But overall a solid argument for the propriety of pouring or sprinkling in baptism. Weak on infant baptism; especially with not sufficiently grappling with Galatians and Paul’s statements on circumcision.

[Stephen Mccollum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set out in the form of a dialogue between a Baptist and a Presbyterian this book primarily defends the Presbyterian mode of baptism with a final (and rushed) chapter on infant baptism. It is useful as far as it goes. As with all books set out in dialogue form it can be a bit stilted.

[Andrew Hoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A helpful presentation of the paedobaptist position presented as an engaging dialogue. Those who are sympathetic with the baptist position, however, are likely to be put off by the ease with which W. is convinced by the arguments of P.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is life changing. It challenges you to view scripture not through your own personal lense of what you've always been "told", but to view scripture with the truth it actually reveals. Regardless of one's beliefs, I truly believe all should read this.

[Rock Conner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because I was struggling with the issues of sprinkling baptism & infant baptism. It certainly addressed my concern on those issues. I recommend it for anyone studying those issues.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very easy to read introduction to the Presbyterian understanding of baptism, particularly dealing with very basic objections Baptists tend to have, such as to mode of baptism.

[Amanda Forry-Fino · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very inspiring book for some who want to be baptized in the name of the father, son, and the Holy Spirt as an adult.