John Kline

“We are bound to conclude, therefore, that the newness of the New Covenant cannot involve the elimination of the curse sanction as a component of the covenant and that this newness consequently poses no problem for the interpretation of Christian baptism as a sign of ordeal embracive of both blessing and curse. In confirmation of this conclusion we may recall that John the Baptist analyzed the work of the coming One as a baptism of judgment in the Holy Spirit and fire. Christ so baptized the Mosaic covenant community and he so baptizes the congregation of the New Covenant.Pentecost belongs to both the old and new orders. It was the beginning of the messianic ordeal visited on the Mosaic community. Those who received that baptism of Pentecost emerged vindicated as the people of the New Covenant, the inheritors of the kingdom. Pentecost was thus a baptismal ordeal in Spirit and fire in which redemptive covenant realized its proper end.””

“Jeg kan ikke minnes å ha vært så skjelvende vettskremt noen gang i min oppvekst. Hva i herrens navn var det som forestod? Kom denne brystfagre valkyrien til å gå løs på meg med knytnevene? Da var jeg fortapt. Eller planla hun det som langt verre var: leke far og mor i høyet, - voksen klining og sånt der som bare hadde vage teorier om? I så fall var jeg slått ut og fornedret for all fremtid. Aldri skal jeg glemme Holmboe-stallen! Dunkel, lummer med ram stank av hest og høy. Svanger av synd og gru. Jeg håpet: nå slår hun.””