Despite the Holy Spirit’s work at conversion, here Dr David Petts refutes the arguments that suggest that all believers are baptised with the Holy Spirit at conversion.
Scripture References:
A Distinct Purpose:
Luke 24:49
Acts 1:4-8
Mark 16:15ff
Hebrews 2:4
1 Corinthians 12:7, 13
A Different Manner of Reception:
Acts 8:18, 19:6
Acts 2:4, 10:46, 19:6
A Delay in Timing:
after water baptism:
Acts 8:4-25
Acts 19:1-6
Acts 2:38
Mark 16:16
Matthew 28:19
The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 12:13:
The problems disappear if we translate the first part of 1 Corinthians 12:13 as follows:
For we have all been baptized in one Spirit for (i.e. for the purpose or benefit of) the one body.
This may be justified on the following grounds:
Although eis frequently bears the meaning ‘into’, this is by no means its only meaning.
eis polemon = for war,
eis ti = ‘for what?’ or ‘why?’
Matthew 3:11 where NIV translates eis as for. I baptise you in water for repentance.
Paul himself understood and used eis with this force:
1 Corinthians 8:6
Ephesians 4:30
For further discussion of this theme, see the article Baptism in the Spirit in Pauline Thought in JEPTA, Vol. 7, No.3, p. 98ff. See also the article in Pentecostal Perspectives, K. Warrington (Ed), Paternoster, 1998, p98ff.