The Meaning and Mode of Baptism

Rating:
Summary: Convincing and potent polemic for aspersion and/or affusion
Review: Don't be deceived by the comments of the other review. Adams' book does indeed contain many quotations from numerous authors - some quite long - but Adams only does this because he can't improve upon the way the originals put it themselves.
If you're interested in the topic as I am, you'll find this book to be very convincing for the argument against immersion as the legitimate mode of baptism (at least I did).
There are a few reasons why you should buy this book. It's
(1) inexpensive
(2) short
(3) an easy read
(4) contains numerous other sources for further study
(5) a convincing argument against immersion
(6) good at highlighting the importance of the topic (answers the question, "Who cares, anyway!?")

This book is certainly not the end-all of the immersion/aspersion-affusion debate, but it is a helpful tool to introducing the problems with the immersionist view while showing the importance of the debate itself. The mode by itself is not at the heart of the debate, but the meaning which the mode portrays.

Rating:
Summary: Purpose...
Review: Great and easy read. This small 56-paged book is not intended to be a "complete in-depth" look at baptism, but rather the intentions are to simply search and confirm the importance of the proper meaning and mode of baptism. Yes, there are quotes from other writers, and yes, you will also find scriptural references within this book as well, this has been an ongoing debate, and such references are necessary to present a well brought out case. As for me, though I was already well on my way into covenant theology, this book worked out many details for me regarding baptism in just one sitting. I would and always recommend this short read to anyone questioning the meaning and mode of baptism (hence the title). Another book on this topic is 'Baptism in Scripture and History', by Rowland S. Ward (ISBN: 0949670189); this too is a small book (80-paged). This one actually goes to a more in-depth look into baptism.

Rating:
Summary: Not Top Quality
Review: Jay Edward Adams has the right heart when he "wrote" a book on the meaning and mode of baptism, but its not that good. The Book is pretty much nothing but quotes from other theologens and it seems that is all the book stand on. (In other words it seems more like Jay Edwards Adams believed more about what he was told and read in other books than from his own study of the subject.) Secondly, there are many holes in several arguments that are brought up in the book (some logical, some theological, and some historical.) For example: Adams argues that Christians could not immerse 3000+ inductees on pentacost because of the lack of available water (he does have a quotes that agree with him). Unfortunately this is so inaccurate that writers like John Murray when arguing against immersion wouldn't even talk about the subject.

This book is a typical study on the Calvinistic view of baptism, and contains some quotes of other writers that could be of use. But for a more thorough and accurate study on the the Calvinistic view of baptism I would highly recommend John Murray's Christian Baptism, or for baptism in general G. R. Beasly Murray.