The Washing of the Saints' Feet.The Washing of the Saints' Feet. By J. Matthew Pinson. Nashville, TN: Randall House Publications, 2006, 120 pp. J. Matthew Pinson, the Yale and Vanderbilt-trained president of the Free Will Baptist Bible College Free Will Baptist Bible College is a private four-year college in Nashville, Tennessee affiliated with the National Association of Free Will Baptists. All students are involved in some type of Christian service outside the classroom, such as conducting services at jails and in Nashville, Tennessee “Nashville” redirects here. For other uses, see Nashville (disambiguation). Nashville is the capital and the second most populous city of the U.S. state of Tennessee, after Memphis. , has gathered his thoughts into a small book, The Washing of the Saints' Feet, elucidating a topic important to him and to his denomination. His aim in writing was to "prepare the way for a renewal of the ordinance in our time" (xiv). After a chapter of "Introductory Reflections," Pinson proceeded to define an ordinance as "a practice that God ordained or·dain tr.v. or·dained, or·dain·ing, or·dains 1. a. To invest with ministerial or priestly authority; confer holy orders on. b. To authorize as a rabbi. 2. for literal perpetuation by the New Covenant This article is about the theological concept of the New Covenant. For other uses, see New Covenant (disambiguation). The term New Covenant (Hebrew: ברית חדשה, People of God." He next focused on "literal perpetuation" as it assuredly relates to feet washing. Thereafter, he discussed the rite's symbolism: while suggesting love and humble service, it also introduces the reality of Christ's redemptive incarnation and human sanctification sanc·ti·fy tr.v. sanc·ti·fied, sanc·ti·fy·ing, sanc·ti·fies 1. To set apart for sacred use; consecrate. 2. To make holy; purify. 3. , reconciliation both to God and to our neighbor. In addition to John 13, Pinson found the ceremony in 1 Timothy 5:9-10, and also in the writings of Tertullian, Ambrose, and Augustine (as examples of many other church fathers). In conclusion, Pinson insisted that the Lord's Supper and feet washing should be observed together, thereby symbolizing "the whole [two-pronged] gospel in the worship of the church" (87). A scholar attempting to edify ed·i·fy tr.v. ed·i·fied, ed·i·fy·ing, ed·i·fies To instruct especially so as to encourage intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement. a diverse audience, Pinson has produced about sixty pages of text readily accessible to all of his readers and about thirty-six pages of notes, appendixes, and a list of books "For Further Reading," which will be of interest primarily to those who want to examine the issue more thoroughly. Pinson left little unsaid, it seems, unless he had wished to multiply the comments from countless biblical scholars and ecclesiologists during two millennia of Christian history--which thankfully he did not. Over the years, Pinson has practiced faithfully, thought carefully, and read widely and well, and only time will tell whether he achieves his aim. Meanwhile, many of his readers will find his work convincing; all will find it profitable.--Reviewed by Robert G. Gardner, senior researcher in Baptist history, Jack Tarver Library Special Collections In library science, special collections (often abbreviated to Spec. Coll. or S.C.) is the name applied to a specific repository within a library which stores materials of a "special" nature. , Mercer University, Macon, Georgia. |
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