Each view from its own texts, and what Acts can carry
Each of the four views starts from a text and a reading of it. Dunn and Stott start from Paul: "in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13), read as the baptism Christ gives every believer. From that, Spirit baptism comes at conversion, and if it comes at conversion there is no second one to seek. The Assemblies of God start from the same verse read another way, as the Spirit baptizing the believer into the body, and then from Luke: in Samaria and at Ephesus people who had believed and been baptized received the Spirit afterwards, when the apostles laid hands on them (Acts 8:14–17; 19:1–7). Read as a pattern of empowerment for believers today, those episodes give a second baptism in the Spirit to seek. The Church of the Nazarene starts from entire sanctification, the second work of grace, and holds that it is wrought by the baptism with the Spirit. Rome starts from Peter at Pentecost:
"Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)
The Spirit is given in water baptism and fully in confirmation, so there is no second baptism to seek beyond the sacraments.
Each view, granted its premises, delivers its conclusion, and each can be held
without contradiction (conversionCase_establishes,
pentecostalCase_establishes, holinessCase_establishes,
sacramentalCase_establishes). That much is a check of validity. It does not
show that any of the readings is right, and every reading of 1 Corinthians 12:13
here is rated disputed, because each side rejects the other's.
What Acts can carry
So much rests on how Luke's narratives are read that two further arguments are
set out about them. The first is from the variety of Acts. The Spirit falls on
Cornelius's household as they hear the word, before they are baptized (10:44);
at Pentecost it is promised with baptism (2:38); in Samaria and at Ephesus it
comes later, with hands laid on (8:17; 19:6). Acts gives no one order, so no one
episode is the pattern (varietyCase_establishes). The second is Stott's. The
later reception of the Spirit in Samaria and at Ephesus marks steps in the
gospel's spread, unrepeatable transitions, and so sets no norm for believers
today (transitionCase_establishes).
A Pentecostal cannot also read Acts as Stott does. The view's own premise is
that the narratives are a pattern, and Stott's reading denies it, so the two
claims, taken at their word, cannot both be held
(pentecostal_cannot_read_acts_as_transitions). Read as a pattern, the
narratives then collide with the variety of Acts, at one step: from Acts 10 and
2:38 to "no one episode is the pattern". The Assemblies of God deny that step.
They grant Acts 10, and their paper lists Acts 10:44–46 as evidence for a
later experience (whereTheVarietyMeetsThePattern). So the Pentecostal view
must read Acts as a pattern and answer its variety, and its answer is a reading
of Acts 10 that the step's rating records as disputed.
The other views' readings of Acts are not checked here: Stott's reason for holding that Luke's narratives set no order for later believers, Dunn's argument that the Samaritans were not yet believers before they received the Spirit, and Rome's reading of Acts 8:17 and 19:6 as confirmation (Catechism 1288). The chapter Weighing the four views sets the four views against one another.
How this is checked
The positions, steps and results behind this chapter, each with the formula or the Lean that checks it
The conversion view
From 1 Corinthians 12:13, read as Christ baptizing in the Spirit, to Spirit
baptism at conversion. Rated disputed, conservatively: the Assemblies of God
deny its conclusion by denying a ground, the conversion reading.
- \((\href{claims.html#claim-1}{P_{1}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-5}{P_{5}}) \rightarrow \href{claims.html#claim-13}{P_{13}}\) — would give: Every believer is baptized in the Spirit at conversion
If every believer is baptized in the Spirit at conversion, there is no second
Spirit baptism to seek. Rated disputed: Menzies grants that Paul's baptism in
the Spirit comes at conversion and holds that Luke's is a second gift, to be
sought. Whether he denies this step or uses the word in two senses is not yet
encoded.
- \(\href{claims.html#claim-13}{P_{13}} \rightarrow \lnot \href{claims.html#claim-14}{P_{14}}\) — would deny: A baptism in the Spirit distinct from and after conversion is to be sought
conversionCase — At conversion (Dunn, Stott)
The conversion view, as Dunn and Stott hold it: every believer is baptized in the Spirit at conversion, so there is no second Spirit baptism to seek.
- (1) \(\href{claims.html#claim-1}{P_{1}}\) — 1 Corinthians 12:13 — in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body
- (2) \(\href{claims.html#claim-5}{P_{5}}\) — 1 Corinthians 12:13 is the baptism in the Spirit Christ gives, received by every believer at conversion
- (3) \((\href{claims.html#claim-1}{P_{1}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-5}{P_{5}}) \rightarrow \href{claims.html#claim-13}{P_{13}}\)
- (4) \(\href{claims.html#claim-13}{P_{13}} \rightarrow \lnot \href{claims.html#claim-14}{P_{14}}\) — would deny: A baptism in the Spirit distinct from and after conversion is to be sought
- \(\vdash\) \(\href{claims.html#claim-13}{P_{13}}\) — at issue: Every believer is baptized in the Spirit at conversion
Grounded in scripture alone: 1 Corinthians 12:13 — in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.
The Pentecostal view
instrumentalReadingExcludesConversion
The Pentecostal reading of 1 Corinthians 12:13 excludes the conversion
reading: if the Spirit is the instrument baptizing into the body, the verse is
not Christ baptizing in the Spirit. Rated disputed, conservatively: Dunn and
Stott deny its conclusion by denying a ground, the instrumental reading.
- \((\href{claims.html#claim-1}{P_{1}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-6}{P_{6}}) \rightarrow \lnot \href{claims.html#claim-5}{P_{5}}\) — would deny: 1 Corinthians 12:13 is the baptism in the Spirit Christ gives, received by every believer at conversion
From the Acts narratives, read as a pattern of empowerment, to a second Spirit
baptism to be sought. Rated wellSupported: its rejecters deny a ground, not
the step.
- \((\href{claims.html#claim-2}{P_{2}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-7}{P_{7}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-8}{P_{8}}) \rightarrow \href{claims.html#claim-14}{P_{14}}\) — would give: A baptism in the Spirit distinct from and after conversion is to be sought
pentecostalCase — After conversion (Assemblies of God; Menzies, Stronstad)
The Pentecostal view, as the Assemblies of God hold it: at conversion the Spirit baptizes into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13); in a subsequent and distinct experience Christ baptizes in the Spirit, as in Samaria and at Ephesus, for empowerment.
- (1) \(\href{claims.html#claim-1}{P_{1}}\) — 1 Corinthians 12:13 — in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body
- (2) \(\href{claims.html#claim-6}{P_{6}}\) — 1 Corinthians 12:13 is baptism by the Spirit into the body, not Christ baptizing in the Spirit
- (3) \(\href{claims.html#claim-2}{P_{2}}\) — Acts 8:14–17 and 19:1–7 — believers, already baptized, receive the Spirit afterwards (so the Assemblies of God; Dunn denies they were yet believers)
- (4) \(\href{claims.html#claim-7}{P_{7}}\) — In Luke-Acts, baptism in the Spirit is prophetic empowerment, distinct from the gift Paul ties to conversion
- (5) \(\href{claims.html#claim-8}{P_{8}}\) — Luke's narratives of receiving the Spirit are a pattern for believers today
- (6) \((\href{claims.html#claim-1}{P_{1}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-6}{P_{6}}) \rightarrow \lnot \href{claims.html#claim-5}{P_{5}}\) — would deny: 1 Corinthians 12:13 is the baptism in the Spirit Christ gives, received by every believer at conversion
- (7) \((\href{claims.html#claim-2}{P_{2}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-7}{P_{7}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-8}{P_{8}}) \rightarrow \href{claims.html#claim-14}{P_{14}}\)
- \(\vdash\) \(\href{claims.html#claim-14}{P_{14}}\) — at issue: A baptism in the Spirit distinct from and after conversion is to be sought
Grounded in scripture alone: 1 Corinthians 12:13 — in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.
The holiness step: the second work of grace is the baptism with the Spirit,
to be sought after conversion. Rated disputed: Wesley grants the second work
and denies that it is "receiving the Holy Ghost".
- \(\href{claims.html#claim-10}{P_{10}} \rightarrow \href{claims.html#claim-14}{P_{14}}\) — would give: A baptism in the Spirit distinct from and after conversion is to be sought
holinessCase — A second work of grace (the holiness tradition)
The holiness view, as the Church of the Nazarene confesses it: entire sanctification is a second work of grace, and it "is wrought by the baptism with or infilling of the Holy Spirit" (Manual 2023, Article X). Contested from within its own tradition, by Wesley and by the Nazarene seminary faculty.
- (1) \(\href{claims.html#claim-10}{P_{10}}\) — Entire sanctification is a second work of grace after justification
- (2) \(\href{claims.html#claim-10}{P_{10}} \rightarrow \href{claims.html#claim-14}{P_{14}}\)
- \(\vdash\) \(\href{claims.html#claim-14}{P_{14}}\) — at issue: A baptism in the Spirit distinct from and after conversion is to be sought
No premise here rests on scripture alone.
The sacramental view
From Acts 2:38, with the Spirit given in water baptism and fully in
confirmation, to the Spirit given in the sacraments, not in an experience to be
sought. Rated disputed, conservatively: Westminster, which holds that the grace
of baptism is not tied to the moment of the rite, denies a ground, not the
step.
- \((\href{claims.html#claim-4}{P_{4}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-11}{P_{11}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-12}{P_{12}}) \rightarrow \href{claims.html#claim-15}{P_{15}}\) — would give: The Spirit is given in baptism and confirmation, not in a second baptism beyond the sacraments
If the Spirit is given in the sacraments, there is no second Spirit baptism to
seek beyond them. Rated disputed, conservatively: the Catholic charismatic
renewal is its natural contester, not yet cited.
- \(\href{claims.html#claim-15}{P_{15}} \rightarrow \lnot \href{claims.html#claim-14}{P_{14}}\) — would deny: A baptism in the Spirit distinct from and after conversion is to be sought
sacramentalCase — In baptism and confirmation (Catholic)
The sacramental view, as Rome holds it: the Spirit is given in water baptism — "new birth in the Holy Spirit" — and fully in confirmation, "as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost". A later gift, then, but a sacramental one, not a second baptism beyond the sacraments. Lutherans hold the first half, and have no sacrament of confirmation, so the view as encoded is Rome's.
- (1) \(\href{claims.html#claim-4}{P_{4}}\) — Acts 2:38 — repent and be baptized, and you will receive the gift of the Spirit
- (2) \(\href{claims.html#claim-11}{P_{11}}\) — The Spirit is given in water baptism: new birth in the Holy Spirit
- (3) \(\href{claims.html#claim-12}{P_{12}}\) — Confirmation gives the full outpouring of the Spirit, as at Pentecost and in Samaria
- (4) \((\href{claims.html#claim-4}{P_{4}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-11}{P_{11}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-12}{P_{12}}) \rightarrow \href{claims.html#claim-15}{P_{15}}\)
- (5) \(\href{claims.html#claim-15}{P_{15}} \rightarrow \lnot \href{claims.html#claim-14}{P_{14}}\) — would deny: A baptism in the Spirit distinct from and after conversion is to be sought
- \(\vdash\) \(\href{claims.html#claim-15}{P_{15}}\) — at issue: The Spirit is given in baptism and confirmation, not in a second baptism beyond the sacraments
Grounded in scripture alone: Acts 2:38 — repent and be baptized, and you will receive the gift of the Spirit.
What Acts can carry: two readings of the narratives
Acts gives no one order: the Spirit falls as Cornelius's household hears
(10:44), is promised with baptism (2:38), and comes later with the laying on of
hands (8:17; 19:6). So no episode is the pattern. Rated disputed: the
Assemblies of God grant Acts 10 and read it as evidence for subsequence.
- \((\href{claims.html#claim-3}{P_{3}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-4}{P_{4}}) \rightarrow \lnot \href{claims.html#claim-8}{P_{8}}\) — would deny: Luke's narratives of receiving the Spirit are a pattern for believers today
varietyCase — Acts gives the Spirit in more than one order
The variety of Acts, as an argument: Acts gives the Spirit in more than one order, so no one episode is a pattern for believers today.
- (1) \(\href{claims.html#claim-3}{P_{3}}\) — Acts 10:44–48 — the Spirit falls on Cornelius's household before baptism
- (2) \(\href{claims.html#claim-4}{P_{4}}\) — Acts 2:38 — repent and be baptized, and you will receive the gift of the Spirit
- (3) \((\href{claims.html#claim-3}{P_{3}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-4}{P_{4}}) \rightarrow \lnot \href{claims.html#claim-8}{P_{8}}\)
- \(\vdash\) \(\lnot \href{claims.html#claim-8}{P_{8}}\) — at issue, the denial of: Luke's narratives of receiving the Spirit are a pattern for believers today
Grounded in scripture alone: Acts 10:44–48 — the Spirit falls on Cornelius's household before baptism, Acts 2:38 — repent and be baptized, and you will receive the gift of the Spirit.
If the Samaritan and Ephesian episodes are unrepeatable transitions, they set
no norm: no second Spirit baptism is to be sought on their strength. Stott's
step, rated disputed conservatively.
- \((\href{claims.html#claim-2}{P_{2}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-9}{P_{9}}) \rightarrow \lnot \href{claims.html#claim-14}{P_{14}}\) — would deny: A baptism in the Spirit distinct from and after conversion is to be sought
transitionCase — Acts 8 and 19 as transitions (Stott)
Acts read as transitions, as Stott reads it: the later reception of the Spirit in Samaria and at Ephesus marks steps in the gospel's spread, and sets no norm.
- (1) \(\href{claims.html#claim-2}{P_{2}}\) — Acts 8:14–17 and 19:1–7 — believers, already baptized, receive the Spirit afterwards (so the Assemblies of God; Dunn denies they were yet believers)
- (2) \(\href{claims.html#claim-9}{P_{9}}\) — The episodes of Acts 8, 10 and 19 are unrepeatable steps in the gospel's spread, not a pattern
- (3) \((\href{claims.html#claim-2}{P_{2}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-9}{P_{9}}) \rightarrow \lnot \href{claims.html#claim-14}{P_{14}}\)
- \(\vdash\) \(\lnot \href{claims.html#claim-14}{P_{14}}\) — at issue, the denial of: A baptism in the Spirit distinct from and after conversion is to be sought
No premise here rests on scripture alone.
Reading the narratives as a pattern: the Assemblies of God and Stronstad.
def narrativesReadAsPattern : Source :=
{ primary := Reference.work stronstadCharismaticTheology,
supporting := [Reference.work agBaptismPositionPaper],
tradition := Tradition.christianHistoricalGrammatical,
confidence := Confidence.disputed }
The Acts narratives, read as a pattern for believers today.
def asAPattern : Reading Claim :=
{ name := "as a pattern for believers today",
commits := p Claim.actsNarrativesAreNormative,
source := narrativesReadAsPattern }
pentecostalOnAPattern — After conversion (Assemblies of God; Menzies, Stronstad), read as a pattern for believers today
The Pentecostal view, with the Acts narratives read as a pattern.
- (1) \(\href{claims.html#claim-1}{P_{1}}\) — 1 Corinthians 12:13 — in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body
- (2) \(\href{claims.html#claim-6}{P_{6}}\) — 1 Corinthians 12:13 is baptism by the Spirit into the body, not Christ baptizing in the Spirit
- (3) \(\href{claims.html#claim-2}{P_{2}}\) — Acts 8:14–17 and 19:1–7 — believers, already baptized, receive the Spirit afterwards (so the Assemblies of God; Dunn denies they were yet believers)
- (4) \(\href{claims.html#claim-7}{P_{7}}\) — In Luke-Acts, baptism in the Spirit is prophetic empowerment, distinct from the gift Paul ties to conversion
- (5) \(\href{claims.html#claim-8}{P_{8}}\) — Luke's narratives of receiving the Spirit are a pattern for believers today
- (6) \((\href{claims.html#claim-1}{P_{1}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-6}{P_{6}}) \rightarrow \lnot \href{claims.html#claim-5}{P_{5}}\) — would deny: 1 Corinthians 12:13 is the baptism in the Spirit Christ gives, received by every believer at conversion
- (7) \((\href{claims.html#claim-2}{P_{2}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-7}{P_{7}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-8}{P_{8}}) \rightarrow \href{claims.html#claim-14}{P_{14}}\)
- (8) \(\href{claims.html#claim-2}{P_{2}} \rightarrow \href{claims.html#claim-8}{P_{8}}\) — would give: Luke's narratives of receiving the Spirit are a pattern for believers today
- \(\vdash\) \(\href{claims.html#claim-14}{P_{14}}\) — at issue: A baptism in the Spirit distinct from and after conversion is to be sought
Grounded in scripture alone: 1 Corinthians 12:13 — in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.
Readings, written down
The conversion view's world: every believer baptized in the Spirit at conversion, 1 Corinthians 12:13 read as Christ baptizing in the Spirit, the episodes of Acts as transitions, no pattern, and no second baptism to seek.
def conversionReading : Valuation Claim :=
fun a =>
match a with
| Claim.cor12_13IsBaptismByTheSpirit => False
| Claim.actsNarrativesAreNormative => False
| Claim.secondSpiritBaptismToBeSought => False
| Claim.entireSanctificationIsSecondWork => False
| x => True
The Pentecostal view's world: 1 Corinthians 12:13 as baptism by the Spirit into the body, Luke's Spirit baptism as empowerment, the narratives a pattern, and a second baptism to seek.
def pentecostalReading : Valuation Claim :=
fun a =>
match a with
| Claim.cor12_13IsChristBaptizingInTheSpirit => False
| Claim.spiritBaptismAtConversion => False
| Claim.actsEpisodesAreTransitions => False
| Claim.spiritGivenInTheSacraments => False
| x => True
Each position holds
Grant 1 Corinthians 12:13 read as Dunn and Stott read it, and every believer is baptized in the Spirit at conversion.
theorem conversionCase_establishes : Establishes conversionCase
-- axioms: propext, Quot.sound
The conversion view can be held without contradiction.
theorem conversionCase_is_satisfiable : Satisfiable conversionCase.premises
-- axioms: propext, Quot.sound
Grant the Acts narratives as a pattern of empowerment, and a second Spirit baptism is to be sought.
theorem pentecostalCase_establishes : Establishes pentecostalCase
-- axioms: propext, Quot.sound
pentecostalCase_is_satisfiable
The Pentecostal view can be held without contradiction.
theorem pentecostalCase_is_satisfiable : Satisfiable pentecostalCase.premises
-- axioms: propext, Quot.sound
Grant that the second work of grace is the Spirit's baptism, and it is to be sought.
theorem holinessCase_establishes : Establishes holinessCase
-- axioms: propext, Quot.sound
The holiness view can be held without contradiction.
theorem holinessCase_is_satisfiable : Satisfiable holinessCase.premises
-- axioms: propext, Quot.sound
Grant the Spirit given in water baptism and fully in confirmation, and the Spirit is given in the sacraments, not in an experience to be sought.
theorem sacramentalCase_establishes : Establishes sacramentalCase
-- axioms: propext, Quot.sound
sacramentalCase_is_satisfiable
The sacramental view can be held without contradiction: the conversion view's world holds it too.
theorem sacramentalCase_is_satisfiable : Satisfiable sacramentalCase.premises
-- axioms: propext, Quot.sound
The variety of Acts delivers its conclusion.
theorem varietyCase_establishes : Establishes varietyCase
-- axioms: propext, Quot.sound
The variety of Acts can be held without contradiction.
theorem varietyCase_is_satisfiable : Satisfiable varietyCase.premises
-- axioms: propext, Quot.sound
Acts read as transitions delivers its conclusion.
theorem transitionCase_establishes : Establishes transitionCase
-- axioms: propext, Quot.sound
Acts read as transitions can be held without contradiction.
theorem transitionCase_is_satisfiable : Satisfiable transitionCase.premises
-- axioms: propext, Quot.sound
What Acts can carry
pentecostalOnAPattern_is_satisfiable
The first reading is coherent: the Pentecostal view with the narratives as a pattern contradicts nothing by itself.
theorem pentecostalOnAPattern_is_satisfiable : Satisfiable
pentecostalOnAPattern.premises
-- axioms: propext, Quot.sound
whereTheVarietyMeetsThePattern
Why the variety of Acts stands against reading it as a pattern. The crux is the step from Acts 10 and 2:38: the Spirit comes as they hear, is promised with baptism, and comes later with hands laid on, so no one episode is the pattern. What it breaks is the Pentecostal view's premise that the narratives are a pattern. The step is disputed: the Assemblies of God grant Acts 10 and read it as evidence for subsequence.
Why Acts gives the Spirit in more than one order stands against After conversion (Assemblies of God; Menzies, Stronstad), read as a pattern for believers today.
- The crux: \((\href{claims.html#claim-3}{P_{3}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-4}{P_{4}}) \rightarrow \lnot \href{claims.html#claim-8}{P_{8}}\), a premise of Acts gives the Spirit in more than one order.
- What it does: its conclusion does not follow without it.
- Granted: \(\href{claims.html#claim-3}{P_{3}}\), \(\href{claims.html#claim-4}{P_{4}}\), which the break also needs.
- Where the rival breaks: \(\href{claims.html#claim-8}{P_{8}}\) cannot be held together with \((\href{claims.html#claim-3}{P_{3}} \land \href{claims.html#claim-4}{P_{4}}) \rightarrow \lnot \href{claims.html#claim-8}{P_{8}}\) and \(\href{claims.html#claim-3}{P_{3}}\), \(\href{claims.html#claim-4}{P_{4}}\); each is needed for the break, and without the crux they stand.
- What this rests on:
- \(\href{claims.html#claim-3}{P_{3}}\) Acts 10:44–48 — the Spirit falls on Cornelius's household before baptism — consensus: Acts 10:44-48
- \(\href{claims.html#claim-4}{P_{4}}\) Acts 2:38 — repent and be baptized, and you will receive the gift of the Spirit — consensus: Acts 2:38
- the step itself — disputed: General Presbytery of the Assemblies of God 2010