Conversion in the New Testament

Ronald D. Witherup, PSS, is superior general of the Sulpicians, an order of diocesan priests dedicated to initial and ongoing formation of priests. He holds a doctorate in biblical studies and is the author of numerous books and articles on Scripture, including The Word of God at Vatican II: Exploring Dei Verbum, and Biblical Fundamentalism, What Every Catholic Should Know, published by Liturgical Press. He is also a contributor to Give Us This Day.

The upsurge of "born again" Christianity has made conversion, a perennially important topic, especially popular today. With its special emphasis on the Bible and its teachings, evangelical Christianity has championed the need for conversion in modern life. But what does the Bible really say about conversion? Is the New Testament view of conversion uniform? Is it a one-time occurrence or an ongoing process? According to the gospels, how central to the message of Jesus is conversion?Many studies focus on psychological or anthropological aspects of conversion, but they give only a nod to the biblical data. This book contends that an overly narrow view of the biblical teaching on conversion has effectively distorted the average Christian's understanding of this topic. The New Testament contains a much broader and more diverse perspective on conversion than is usually recognized, which Father Witherup organizes and presents.