Born again : a biblical and theological study of regeneration

208 Pages·1987·60.96 MB·English

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BornAgain

Born Again
J. ‘__ M 4 .1’ -I ‘l ' r\':'e.. m'jvQI.if_ H’ ‘C)lUC:‘§'
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Peter Toon
N(E?
,,»‘-2°:-l‘&E~ B18539
Kane!‘
Cqyright 1987 by
Baker Book House Company
$5314: 0-Ml0—B8B5-2
Ullruy d-Cfilflfi Catalog Card Number: 86-72755
Prinhd in the United States ofAmerica
hunt for citations from the King James Version, which are specifically marked
iii-IVL all quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version
Copyright O 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of
Eda-no Bible Publishers.
To my good friend
Jim Douglas,
editor of fine reference books
and a kind, witty, and caring brother
Contents
Preface 9
The Biblical Evidence
PART ONE
1 Jesus and Nicodemus 13
2 Jesus and the Spirit 16
3 Born of God 24
4 Individual Internal Renewal 37
5 Cosmic Regeneration 49
6 Old Testament Roots 55
7 Complementary Doctrines 62
PART TWO Theological Interpretations
8 Patristic and Medieval Interpretations: By Water
and the Spirit 71
9 The Reformation: By Word, Spirit, and
Water 89
10 Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican
Teaching: Baptismal Regeneration 108
11 Reformed Theology: Effectual Calling 118
12 Puritans, Pietists, and Evangelists 136
13 Modern Evangelism: A Decision for Christ 166
Epflogue
14 Born from Above 185
Bibliography 190
Scripture Index 199
Subject Index 203
Preface
The expression "born again” became increasingly common in North
America in the 1970s--much to the amazement of us Europeans, for
whom personal religion is a more private affair. We noticed articles in
prestigious magazines (e.g., Time, 27 Sept. 1976) and concluded that
America mustbe a very religious country sincethere are so manytwice-
born people in it! We realized that “born again” was taken from the old
translation of John 3:3, and, rightly or wrongly, many of us tended to
attribute the modern-day emphasis on the new birth to the evangelistic
activity ofBilly Graham. We picturedhimalwayspreachingon“Yemust
be born again.”
In the late 1980s, it is still perhaps true that many in Europe think of
"born again” as a peculiarly Americanexpressionpointingto some kind
ofconversion experience followed by religious activism. As a minister of
the Church of England, I am better informed than most of my fellow
Europeans as to the “born again” phenomenon because I have had the
time and taken the opportunity to study the theology ofthe new birth.
This book is the result ofmy study ofboth the sacred Scriptures andthe
teaching of the church throughout history.
I see the book as primarily for those who preach or who teach in
colleges and seminaries. However, I hope that it iswritten in such a way
that the person who is not schooled in theology will be able, with a little
extra effort, to understand it. To help such a person and any who are
slow starters in theological thinking, I begin the book with a simple
chapter paraphrasing the famous conversation between Jesus and Nic-
odemus which is recorded in John 3. This easy-to-read chapter sets the
scene forthe restofPart One, a studyofthebiblical evidence concerning
what is called personal regeneration. In Part Two I present a chro-
nological study ofthe most important approaches to and explanations of
regeneration. Theologians from the patristic period up to Billy Graham
are represented. Finally, in the Epilogue Ioffer a summary ofwhatI see
as the doctrine of new birth.
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