From the beginning of New Testament Christianity at the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2: 38-39) to our time, unbroken and uninterrupted; the church has baptized babies. Entire households (Jewish, proselytes and Gentiles) were baptized by Christ�s original 12 Apostles (I Corinthians 1: 16; Acts 11: 14, 16: 15, 33, 18: 8) and that practice has continued with each generation.
The Early Church
Polycarp (69-155), a disciple of the Apostle John, was baptized as an infant. This enabled him to say at his martyrdom. "Eighty and six years have I served the Lord Christ" (Martyrdom of Polycarp 9: 3). Justin Martyr (100 - 166) of the next generation states about the year 150, "Many, both men and women, who have been Christ�s disciples since childhood, remain pure at the age of sixty or seventy years" (Apology 1: 15). Further, in his Dialog with Trypho the Jew, Justin Martyr states that Baptism is the circumcision of the New Testament.
Irenaeus (130 - 200), some 35 years later in 185, writes in Against Heresies II 22: 4 that Jesus "came to save all through means of Himself - all. I say, who through him are born again to God - infants and children, boys and youth, and old men."
Church Councils and Apologists
Similar expressions are found in succeeding generations by Origen (185 - 254) and Cyprian (215 - 258) who reflect the consensus voiced at the Council of Carthage in 254. The 66 bishops said: "We ought not hinder any person from Baptism and the grace of God..... especially infants. . . those newly born." Preceding this council, Origen wrote in his (Commentary on Romans 5: 9: "For this also it was that the church had from the Apostles a tradition to give baptism even to infants. For they to whom the divine mysteries were committed knew that there is in all persons a natural pollution of sin which must be done away by water and the Spirit."
Elsewhere Origen wrote in his Homily on Luke 14: "Infants are to be baptized for the remission of sins. Cyprian�s reply to a country bishop, Fidus, who wrote him regarding the Baptism of infants, is even more explicit. Should we wait until the eighth day as did the Jews in circumcision? No, the child should be baptized as soon as it is born (To Fidus 1: 2).
To prevent misunderstanding by rural bishops, perhaps not as well-schooled as other or even new to the faith, the Sixteenth Council of Carthage in 418 unequivocally stated: "If any man says that newborn children need not be baptized . . . let him be anathema."
Augustine
Augustine (354 - 430), writing about this time in De Genesi Ad Literam, X: 39, declares, "The custom of our mother church in baptizing infants must not be . . . accounted needless, nor believed to be other than a tradition of the apostles."
He further states, "If you wish to be a Christian, do not believe, nor say, nor teach, that infants who die before baptism can obtain the remission of original sin." And again, "Whoever says that even infants are vivified in Christ when they depart this life without participation in His sacrament (Baptism), both opposes the Apostolic preaching and condemns the whole church which hastens to baptize infants, because it unhesitatingly believes that otherwise the), cannot possibly be vivified in Christ."
Specific directions, with detailed instructions, for the baptizing of infants were given by bishops to pastors and deacons during this era of Christian history. In the year 517, seven bishops met in Gerona, Catelina, and framed 10 rules of discipline for the church in Spain. The fifth rule states that ". . . in case infants ill . . . if they were offered, to baptize them, even though it were the day that then, were born . . . " such was to be done (The History of Baptism by Robert Robinson, [London: Thomas Knott, 1790], p.269.).
The foregoing pattern, practiced in both East and West, remained customary in Christianity through the Dark and Middle Ages until modem times. Generally, the infant was baptized during the first week of life, but in cases of illness this took place on the day of birth. An example of this already comes from about 260 in North Africa in an inscription from Hadrumetum (Inscriptiones Latinae Christianae Veteres II, 4429-A):
Arisus in pace natus bixit supra scriptas VIIII
This Latin inscription indicates that a child who died nine hours after its birth was baptized. Such practice of Baptism within the first days of life. or on the day of birth in an emergency, remained for both Protestants, Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox.
The Witness of the Catacombs
The witness of the literary texts of the early church fathers, councils and apologists for the practice of infant Baptism in the first Christian centuries receives valuable confirmation from the catacombs and cemeteries of the Middle East, Africa and southern Europe, Below are epitaphs from the 200�s of small children who had been baptized. it is interesting to note that there are no Christian epitaphs in existence earlier than 200. As soon as the era of Christian Inscriptions begins, we find evidence for infant Baptism.
In that century there are attributes and symbols in tombstones inscriptions of little children which allows us to clearly infer we are dealing with baptized children. The following is as early as 200 or shortly thereafter:
In the second last line is the phrase Dei Serv(u)s which means slave of God followed by the Chi Rho symbol for Christ. The last line is the Greek ichtheos familiar as the "fish symbol" - an anagram for Jesus Christ God�s Son Savior. These words and symbols mark the one-year, two months, and four-day-old child as a baptized Christian.
From the Lateran Museum, also from the 200�s, is a Greek inscription that gives information about the religious status of the parents. It reads, "I, Zosimus, a believer from believers, lie here having lived 2 years, 1 month, 25 days."
Also from this era are headstones for children who received emergency baptism with ages ranging from 11 months to 12 years. Since the patristic sources of the third century, as those earlier, give us to understand that the children of Christian parents were baptized in infancy, we must conclude that these emergency baptisms were administered to children of non-Christians. The inscriptions themselves confirm this conclusion. In the Roman catacomb of Priscilla is reference to a private emergency baptism that was administered to the one-and-three-quarter-year-old Apronianus and enabled him to die as a believer. The inscription reads:
Dedicated to the departed Florentius made this inscription for his worthy son Apronianus who lived one year and nine months and five days. As he was truly loved by his grandmother and she knew that his death was imminent, she asked the church that he might depart from, the world as a believer.
The fact that it was the grandmother who urged the baptism makes it very probable that the father of the child, Florentius, was a pagan. This is confirmed by the formula in the first line which is pagan and not found on any other Christian epitaphs. We have thus in this inscription evidence for a missionary baptism administered to a dying non-Christian infant.
Sole Opponent - A Heretic
In the 1,500 years from the time of Christ to the Protestant Reformation, the only bonafide opponent to infant Baptism was Tertullian (160 - 215), bishop of Carthage, Africa. His superficial objection was to the unfair ability laid on godparents when the children of pagans joined the church, However, his real opposition was more fundamental. It was his view that sinfulness begins at the "puberty, of the soul,,, that is "about the fourteenth year of life" and "it drives man out of the paradise of innocence" (De Anima 38:2). This rules out the belief in original sin.
Tertullian�s stance, together with other unorthodox views, led him to embrace Montanism in 207. Montanism denied the total corruption and sinfulness of human nature. With its emphasis upon the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, it was the precursor to the modern Charismatic Movement.
Except for Tertullian�s heretical views, marking his departure from mainstream Christianity, the only other opposition to infant Baptism came during a brief period in the middle of the fourth century. The issue was the fear of post-Baptismal sin. This heretical view also denied Baptism to adults until their death-bed. It was not in reality a denial of infant baptism in and of itself In fact, the heresy encouraged the Baptism of infants when death seemed imminent, as it also did for adults.
The Anabaptists
Not until the 1520s did the Christian Church experience opposition specifically to infant Baptism. Under the influence of Thomas Muenzer and other fanatics who opposed both civil and religious authority, original sin and human concupiscence was denied until the "age of accountability." Although there is no basis in Scripture for this position. a considerable number of Swiss, German and Dutch embraced the Anabaptist cause. So offensive was this position that Roman Catholics, Lutherans and Reformed alike voiced strong warning and renunciation. It was considered a shameless affront to what had been practiced in each generation since Christ�s command in the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 18-20) to baptize all nations irrespective of age.
Regeneration for All Ages
Who would be so blind as to limit this expression of God�s grace and mercy to adolescents and adults and to exclude infants and children�s. If John the Baptizer could be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother�s womb (Luke 1: 15), and if Jesus could say (Matt. 18: 6), "Whoever offends one of these little ones (Gk."toddlers") who believe in Me, it were better that he were drowned in the depth of the sea," and if the Apostle Peter could say on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2: 39), "The promise is unto you and to, your children, "what mere mortal dare declare so gracious an invitation to be invalid for infants, or forbid the continuance of the Baptism of infants for coming generations?
If the entire families and households of the Philippian Jailer, Lydia, Cornelius, Crispus and Stephanas of the New Testament were incorporated into the household of faith through Baptism, surely that testimony is immutable and established for all time.
Yes, we baptize babies. Unmistakably Scriptural proof substantiates that doctrine. Christian history, unbroken and uninterrupted. reflects such practice in each generation. Conscientious Christians do not delay but hasten with their children to Baptism that they may received the gift of salvation and regeneration and gratefully embrace the Apostle�s affirmation extended to those of all age groups: "For as many of you as have been baptized have put on Christ" (Galatians 3: 27).
Dennis Kastens is pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in St. Louis, Missouri.
Bible References
Acts 2: 38-39
38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."
1 Corinthians 1: 16
(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.)
Acts 11: 14
He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.'
Acts 16: 15, 33
15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
Acts 18: 8
Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
Matthew 28: 18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Luke 1: 15
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.
Matthew 18: 6
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Galatians 3: 27
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Why come ET picking on my cooking? There's nothing wrong w/ it... except for the fact that I DID slip some geritol into my CAKE for InHisHonor's benefit!!
Why come if I pushed InHisHonour over, I'd probably trip over him and then... well... we'd be in a rather compromising position :stop:
Here is a wonderful scripture about being born in sin but God not holding it against you. It also goes on to talk about our sin once we are in covenant relationship with Him. It is about God's love for Jerusalem, but I think it applies here as well.
Eze 16:4 As for your nativity, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. Eze 16:5 No eye pitied you, to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you; but you were thrown out into the open field, when you yourself were loathed on the day you were born. Eze 16:6 "And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!' Yes, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!' Eze 16:7 I made you thrive like a plant in the field; and you grew, matured, and became very beautiful. Your br**sts were formed, your hair grew, but you were naked and bare. Eze 16:8 "When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine," says the Lord GOD. Eze 16:9 "Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil. Eze 16:10 I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. Eze 16:11 I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. Eze 16:12 And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. Eze 16:13 Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate pastry of fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty. Eze 16:14 Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you," says the Lord GOD.
This is one of my favorite scriptures in the Bible. It is so beautiful, and shows the extent of our Father's love.
In verses 4-6 we see we are born in sin and God grants us a pardon by His saying live.
Verses 7-10 show how we are after we are saved. How God does it all, all the cleansing, all the making over, giving us the Holy Spirit. (Oil)
The rest is about us maturing in the word. How we grow spiritually as God slowly shapes us to the person we were meant to be. Notice it describes our beauty that He gives us in verse 14. There is also this verse to take into account: Jas 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Deut. 1:39Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
I believe the "age" of accountability is whenever a child can discern the difference between right and wrong. I believe any child that dies before that will be in heaven. I don't think we can "know" the moment when "accountability" occurs...but that's not our job anyway. When a child/young adult fully understands the significance of "taking God's name" upon themselves and the duty surrounding it...then they should be baptized.
Infant baptism is a faulty doctrine that comes from another faulty "original sin" doctrine...at least in my opinion...
38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, *** every one of you,*** in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for *** you and your children *** and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."
Matthew 28: 18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Galatians 3: 27
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Scriptural Guidelines:
A. Jesus commanded baptism for believers (Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 16:15-16).
B. The apostles commanded believers to be baptized (Acts 2:38).
C. Baptism is for those who believed in Jesus as their Lord
(Acts 8:5, 12, 35-38).
1. You must believe first, before baptism.
2. Baptism is an outward demonstration of an inward faith.
D. In baptism, the believer identifies with Christ.
1. When I am baptized, I demonstrate what Christ did for me in His death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:3-6).
2. I die to sin. I am buried like Christ. I am raised in the power of the Spirit.
3. When I am baptized, I declare that I am a new person in Christ.
E. Baptism is an immersion in water for believers.
1. The Greek word used in the New Testament means to dip under or immerse.
2. Since baptism symbolizes a burial, we do not just sprinkle with water, but completely immerse the person. When a dead person is buried, they are placed completely under the ground. It is the same with baptism in water.
3. Through water baptism, the believer declares that his old life of sin is dead and that he now has a new life with Christ.
4. Because baptism declares a person�s faith in Christ, We do not baptize infants. In order to be baptized, a person must make a conscious decision to follow Christ. *** A child must be old enough to understand that decision in order to make it.***
Personal Note � The Hebrew/Israel/Jew of Old performed a Water Cleansing�complete submersion in water of the entire household including Children for purification prior to All Sabbaths�/Feasts�
Gentiles/Christians of which most of Us are�do not perform this Ritual on Infants for they are not of the Age of Accountability/Understanding.
Depending on the Order of a Messianic or Completed Jew ( A Jew that has Accepted the Messiah Christ Jesus ) this could vary�..Study�Study�Study�.xo
Friends too bad I missed most of this. what a debate.
These are some facts.
Jewish boys at 13 have a barbitzwa party. That is when they become a man. By custom of ancient times. This is a point I am making. When is the age of accountability- 13????
This may be a Jewish custom but you can not over look it.
Point 2 I forget where it is, but Paul did write that if one parent was serving the Lord the child was covered.
What does this mean?????
I believe it means only christian childern go to heaven if they die before they have a chance to make the call themselves.
I do not believe other religions are covered.
When I attened the Luthern church they said only baptized people go to heaven. This is not true, No bible verse supports that. I believe any child that is able to want to be baptized can be.I have seen 8 year olds get baptized. If the child wants it then I say do it. I knew what sin was in the1st grade. Dennis
In Mark 16:15-16:He that believes and is Baptized shall be saved;but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Baptism is not necessary for Salvation,only believing,faithing,trusting Yeshua is necesaary unto
Salvation.
Acts 2:29-42;Lets look at verses 38-41
Repent #3340 SGC=Strongs Greek Concordance;
Metanoeo:Having a change of heart towards God;Can man do this on his own since he is dead in his
trespasses and sins,absolutely not.
This is and must be the total and complete work of God within the person.
Mark 1:15;Yeshua says to repent and believe the Gospel;Repentance here is to turn from unbelief to
believing the gospel.
Again the complete work of God,John 6:44
Acts 2:39..Unless the Lord calls a person to trusting Yeshua,and gives them saving faith to trust Him,then
the promise is not unto them...
Acts 2:41..Then they that glady recieved his words..John 1:12 But as many as recieved Him(Yeshua),to them gave He power to become the sons of God,even to them which believe on His name.
It is to those that recieve Him;these recieve power,Baptism in not mentioned.
The call of the LORD upon the lives of some young people.
Samuel:1st Samuel 3:1-21
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Josiah(8 years old):2nd Kings chapters 22&23
Josiah: 2nd Chronicles chapters 34&35
Psalm 8:2;Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength,because of thine
enemies,that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
I do not want to discredit children and young people,nor do i want to limit the Lord in what
