A Baptism of Judgment in the Fire of the Holy Spirit: John's Eschatological Proclamation in Matthew 3 by Daniel Wayne Mcmanigal

Abstract

Reviewed by: A Baptism of Judgment in the Fire of the Holy Spirit: John's Eschatological Proclamation in Matthew 3 by Daniel Wayne Mcmanigal Charles Nathan Ridlehoover daniel wayne mcmanigal, A Baptism of Judgment in the Fire of the Holy Spirit: John's Eschatological Proclamation in Matthew 3 (LNTS 595; London: T&T Clark, 2019). Pp. xv + 208. $102.60. Daniel W. McManigal is senior pastor at Hope Presbyterian Church in Bellevue, Washington. The book is a thorough examination of Matt 3:11, ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ καὶ πυρί, in its Matthean form. As M. states, "This study will argue that the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire is the eschatological judgment that will come upon the unrepentant nation in Jesus's generation, upon Jesus himself as he hangs upon the cross for the sins of his people, and upon the wicked on the last day, when the judge returns in glory" (pp. 2-3). To accomplish this task, M. arranges his argument into thirteen chapters. In chap. 1, M. establishes the issues, defines the terms, justifies the study, and gives the plan of the volume. In chap. 2, he deals with the grammatical points in Matt 3:11, arguing that the phrasing refers to one baptism as opposed to two separate baptisms and that this baptism refers to a future event. This issue is important for his conclusion. From this point forward, M. begins to work from the broadest angles of inquiry toward an understanding of his specific test case. Chapter 3 details the various interpretive options for Matt 3:11; this chapter functions as a survey of the relevant scholarship. Chapters 4 through 6 closely examine Isaiah 11, Malachi 3–4, and Daniel 7, respectively. These texts are chosen because [End Page 715] of their close ties with the message of John and the life of Jesus as well as sharing the theme of future judgment. In chap. 7, M. examines the use of OT quotations in Matthew's opening chapters (1–3), providing in this overview the background of John's proclamation. In chap. 8, M. discusses the time, location, and identity of John the Baptist, arguing that Matthew's presentation of John and his role as prophet emphasize the significance of Jesus as the future king and fulfillment of the Abrahamic and Davidic promises. In chap. 9, M. turns to the preaching of John against the backdrop of the OT prophets. This comparison is helpful for emphasizing the shared judgment motifs. Chapter 10 works inwardly from John's preaching in general to the specific emphasis on baptism. Like chap. 2, this chapter begins with a brief survey of the interpretive options. M. opts for a hybrid of the options to emphasize the harmonization of John's preaching of future-oriented judgment with a baptism that also concerns future-oriented judgment. In chap. 11, M. examines the baptism of Jesus in light of his earlier conclusions concerning John's baptism of spirit and fire. He contends that this baptism was an acting-out of the "royal son's messianic mission as the faithful embodiment of Israel" (p. 141). The baptism's main point was conceivably a messianic judgment which makes way for a new and repentant Israel to secure their promised new exodus. Chapter 12 gives an overview of the judgment motifs that follow Matthew 3 to show the consistency of Matthew's message. Chapter 13 concludes the volume with a review of the argument. McManigal's study is a fascinating analysis of the historical John and his message. Although the information on John is limited in the Gospel accounts, M. is able to provide a thorough analysis of John's preaching and baptism. Taking cues from N. T. Wright and others, M. finds an extensive new exodus motif underlying Matt 3:11. His conclusions seem reasonable given the extensive backgrounding and exploration of Matthew's typological recasting of Jesus and John. Yet, one often wonders how much of these readings are Matthew's intentions versus the reader's interpretation. M. footnotes a conclusion from John Nolland that seems appropriate for these occasions: when analyzing Jesus's baptism, the various options are typically "little more than projections from understandings of the historical...