“This video is going to be a history of infant baptism in the early church. It will have four sections. First, a summary of the argument. Second, I’ll explain the goal of this video. Third, we’ll look at the New Testament. Fourth, we’ll look at the early church data century by century.” - Gavin Ortlund
“I personally believe that God brings infants and the mentally disabled immediately into presence after death. I briefly explain my understanding of Scripture on this matter in what follows.” - P&D
Nowhere in the New Testament do we find either a command to baptize infants or even an instance of babies being baptized. No verse hints at this practice in the first century church.1 So, Christians who hold to this ritual try to forge a link between Jewish circumcision and Christian baptism. The lone New Testament passage they can find that could possibly be read to make this connection is Colossians 2:11–12.
“Because he used the words ‘We baptize’ rather than ‘I baptize’ during the rite, thousands of baptisms have been deemed invalid.” - C.Leaders
“To baptize infants is to misunderstand more than the sign, but the nature of the new covenant and the people it creates. Circumcision and baptism are both covenant signs, but baptism is the sign of a new and better covenant.” - 9 Marks
Some of my best friends and my most admired heroes of the Christian faith believe in the practice of baptizing infants and bringing them into the membership of the church apart from any profession of faith. My love and respect for these dear brothers and venerable men of God has on more than one occasion inclined me to reconsider whether they’ve got it right and I’ve got it wrong.
But after “revisiting” the issue several times, I’m still a Baptist. I could offer several reasons. But one reason involves the teaching of a text that’s often overlooked in the Infant Baptism (Paedobaptism) vs. Believer Baptism (Credobaptism) debate. That text is John 1:12-13.
Should infants be baptized? William Shedd thought so. Here, in this excerpt from his text Dogmatic Theology, he explains why:1
From Faith Pulpit, Winter 2018, with permission. Read Part 1.
From Faith Pulpit, Winter 2018, with permission.
