CROSS Spirit- and Water-Baptism 121
be explored which understands the reference here to baptism as an exam-
ple of metonymy, or, more precisely, synecdoche.
- Water-Baptism as the Locus for the Reception of the Spirit
The most widely held view of 1 Cor. 12.13 is that Paul is referring to
water-baptism which is the means by which the Spirit is given to the
believer and by which they are incorporated into the body of Christ.
Representative of this view is F.F. Bruce:
Faith-union with Christ brought his people into membership of the Spirit-
baptized community, procuring for them the benefits of the once-for-all
outpouring of the Spirit at the dawn of the new age, while baptism in water
was retained as the outward and visible sign of their incorporation 'into
Christ' (cf. Gal. 3.27). And it was in one Spirit that they were all baptized,
therefore it was into one body that they were all baptized}
- F.F. Bruce, 1 and 2 Corinthians (NCBC; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans; London:
Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1971), p. 121, italics his. See also H.G. Marsh, The Origin
and Significance of the New Testament Baptism (Manchester: Manchester University
Press, 1941), pp. 132,136-37,161; G.W.H. Lampe, The Seal of the Spirit: A Study in
the Doctrine of Baptism and Confirmation in the New Testament and the Fathers
(London: SPCK, 2nd edn, 1967), pp. 56-57 and 92; W.F. Flemington, The New Testa-
ment Doctrine of Baptism (London: SPCK, 1957), pp. 56-57, 69, 122, 150-51; H.W.
Robinson, Baptist Principles (London: Carey Kingsgate Press, 4th edn, 1960), pp. 25,
67-68; R.E.O. White, The Biblical Doctrine of Initiation (London: Hodder & Stough-
ton, 1960), p. 203; R. Schnackenburg, Baptism in the Thought of St Paul: A Study in
Pauline Theology (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1964), pp. 110,126,163; C.K. Barrett, A
Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians (BNTC; London: A. & C. Black,
2nd edn, 1971), p. 289; D.E.H. Whiteley, The Theology ofSt Paul (Oxford: Basil
Blackwell, 2nd edn, 1974), p. 177; H. Conzelmann, 1 Corinthians: A Commentary
(Hermeneia; Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1975), p. 212; H. Ridderbos, Paul: An
Outline of His Theology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1975), pp. 398-99; D. Guthrie, New
Testament Theology (Leicester: InterVarsity Press, 1981), p. 756; K.W. Noakes,
'Initiation: From New Testament Times Until St Cyprian', in C. Jones, G. Wainwright,
E. Yarnold and P. Bradshaw (eds.), The Study of Liturgy (New York: Oxford Uni-
versity Press; London: SPCK, rev. edn, 1992), pp. 112-27 (113-14); S.J. Grenz, Theol-
ogy for the Community of God (Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 1994), p. 560; K. McDonnell
and G.T. Montague, Christian Initiation and Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Evidence from
the First Eight Centuries (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2nd edn, 1994), pp. 42-
43, 61 and 351; D. Wenham, Paul: Follower of Jesus or Founder of Christianity?
(Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995), pp. 230, 346; Turner, Holy Spirit, pp. 44-45; A.R.
Cross,' "One Baptism" (Ephesians 4.5): A Challenge to the Church', in S.E. Porter and
A.R. Cross (eds.), Baptism, the New Testament and the Church: Historical and