Question for christians who are opposed to infant baptism?

Question

If infant baptism was so wrong why did the early christians practice it as shown in the writings of the apostolic fathers, especially Polycarp (a disciple of the apostle/prybester John) and Irenaeus a disciple of Polycarp...

"Polycarp declared, 'Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and Saviour?" Polycarp, Martyrdom of Polycarp, 9 (A.D. 156). ( He started serving the Lord at his baptism, polycarp at this age was 86 years of age)

He [Jesus] came to save all through himself; all, I say, who through him are reborn in God: infants, and children, and youths, and old men. Therefore he passed through every age, becoming an infant for infants, sanctifying infants; a child for children, sanctifying those who are of that age . . . [so that] he might be the perfect teacher in all things, perfect not only in respect to the setting forth of truth, perfect also in respect to relative age" (Against Heresies 2:22:4 [A.D. 189]).

"And many, both men and women, who have been Christ's disciples from childhood, remain pure and at the age of sixty or seventy years..." Justin Martyr, First Apology, 15:6 (A.D. 110-165).

"I, therefore, brethren, who have lived sixty-five years in the Lord." Polycrates, Fragment in Eusebius' Church History, V:24:7 (A.D. 190).

"And they shall baptise the little children first. And if they can answer for themselves, let them answer. But if they cannot, let their parents answer or someone from their family." Hippolytus of Rome, Apostolic Tradition, 21 (c. A.D. 215).

"[T]herefore children are also baptized." Origen, Homily on Luke, XIV (A.D. 233).

"For this reason, moreover, the Church received from the apostles the tradition of baptizing infants too." Origen, Homily on Romans, V:9 (A.D. 244).

"Baptism is given for the remission of sins; and according to the usage of the Church, Baptism is given even to infants. And indeed if there were nothing in infants which required a remission of sins and nothing in them pertinent to forgiveness, the grace of baptism would seem superfluous." Origen, Homily on Leviticus, 8:3 (post A.D. 244).

"It shows no crease when infants put it on [the baptismal garment], it is not too scanty for young men, it fits women without alteration." Optatus of Mileve, Against Parmenium, 5:10(A.D. 365).

But in respect of the case of the infants, which you say ought not to be baptized within the second or third day after their birth, and that the law of ancient circumcision should be regarded, so that you think one who is just born should not be baptized and sanctified within the eighth day...And therefore, dearest brother, this was our opinion in council, that by us no one ought to be hindered from baptism...we think is to be even more observed in respect of infants and newly-born persons…" Cyprian, To Fidus, Epistle 58(64):2, 6 (A.D. 251).


and so much more.

NONE OF THEM ARE FROM THE BIBLE BECAUSE IM ASKING ABOUT THE EARLY CHRISTIANS.

Answer 1

Yes, there is a lot more, and I'm surprised you didn't include any Bible verses in there to support your position. No matter, plenty of white papers and apologetics available if people really want to research the issue. Or they can just listen to what they've been told and disagree with you via their lack of education in this matter.

Answer 2

Baptism is only symbolic of a person having accepted Jesus as Savior, and Lord. It has ZERO meaning beyond that. It is a type of testimony. No where in the Bible is there a requirement to be baptized as a needed action for salvation. What MAN decides is right does not always hold to what the Bible says is right. If someone wants to use some kind of baptism in a christening ceremony, that is between them and God. It does not, however, save that child from it's sin. What Ploycarp thought, is what he thought, that is binding on no one, especially not on God. Infant baptism ranks as a "gee that's so nice", and that is ALL that it is.

Answer 3

The Holy Bible is the only book with the authority of God (2Tim, 3:16-17) and there is no where in the Bible where infants are baptized.We are sent to preach repentance and to baptize those that believe (math.28:18-19 ; Mark.1:5-6) An infant has no capacity to believe nor repent. Babies were dedicated to the Lord (Lk,2:21-23) Even Jesus was not baptized when he was an infant, and that should tell us something.

Answer 4

According to the Bible:

Although Christian baptism does not wash sins away, it is a symbol indicating that the individual being immersed in water has made an unconditional dedication to Jehovah God through Jesus Christ. (Compare Matthew 16:24.) To dedicate means “to declare, to affirm, to devote.” Dedication to God refers to the act whereby a person is unreservedly set apart by an agreement to do God’s will through Christ. Figuratively, when the baptismal candidate is temporarily “buried” under the water and then lifted out of it, he dies to his previous course and is raised to a new way of life, to do Jehovah’s will unreservedly.—Compare Romans 6:4-6.

Clearly, baptism is a serious step. Baptizing an infant is wrong because a baby cannot understand, make a decision, and become a disciple. (Matthew 28:19, 20) Those baptized during Philip’s ministry in Samaria were “men and women,” not mere infants. (Acts 8:4-8, 12) Baptism is for those old enough to learn, believe, and exercise faith. (John 17:3; Acts 5:14; 18:8; Hebrews 11:6) In this regard, historian Augustus Neander wrote: “Faith and baptism were always connected with one another; and thus it is in the highest degree probable . . . that the practice of infant baptism was unknown [in the first century C.E.]. . . . That it first became recognised as an apostolic tradition in the course of the third century, is evidence rather against than for the admission of its apostolic origin.”—History of the Planting and Training of the Christian Church by the Apostles (New York, 1864), page 162.

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Answer 5

I for one can testify that I was baptized as an infant, but it did nothing so far as dealing with my sinful Adamic nature. At a very early age I became a skilled liar and thief and a rebel against all authority. I learned early to drink and smoke and curse and blaspheme. I became sexually abusive towards my own sister and addicted to drugs by the time I was 18. I told God to get out of my life, blaming Him for all my problems and all the evils of the world. It was when I was most hardened against God that He came to me in my miserable state and spoke a simple word into my heart, saying "Maybe Jesus really did die for your sins"
With that one word I was transformed from a hopeless benighted vile rebel into a true believer and lover of the Living God. I became born again, as mentioned by one of the Church Fathers you cite, and experienced a complete change in my nature. I stopped blaspheming that day and have not uttered a hard word against God since that day - over 36 years ago. I stopped lying, I stopped stealing, I stopped hating people, and I have never doubted since that day the love God has for me in Jesus Christ.
As a Catholic, I was taught that a sacrament was an outward sign of an inward grace. I never had the inward grace until the day the Holy Spirit caused me to be born again, and it was at that time I was baptized into Christ, being identified with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection; and the Scripture was fulfilled in me which says "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things passed away, and behold, new things have come." (II Corinthians 5:17)
Jesus said "You must be born again." (John 3:7)

Answer 6

It all depends on which side you will believe in -
the Word of God or the traditions of men.

Infant Baptism:

Infant Baptism is one of the most critical doctrines of the Catholic church:

"Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called. The sheer gratuitousness of the grace of salvation is particularly manifest in infant Baptism. The Church and the parents would deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth." Pg. 319, #1250 (Cathechism)

The Catechism tells us where this cornerstone doctrine originated:

"The practice of infant Baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church. There is explicit testimony to this practice from the second century on..." Pg. 319, #1252 (Emphasis author's)

Here, the Catechism admits that this doctrine is not based upon Scripture. It is a man-made tradition. Paul's warning might fit well here:

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." Colossians 2:8

-Baptism in the Bible

What makes this practice especially disturbing is that the Bible does not record a single occurance of an infant being baptized. On the contrary, every mention of baptism involves people old enough to hear and receive the gospel.

Jesus was an adult when he was baptized:

"... Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water..." Matthew 3:16

Throughout the Bible, baptism always followed salvation. The Ethiopian eunuch who was led to salvation by Philip was an adult when baptized:

"... they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." Acts 8:38

Others were baptized after they believed:

"And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." Acts 18:8

After people heeded John the Baptist's message to "repent," they were:

"... baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins." Matthew 3:6

Obviously, newborn infants can not repent, believe or confess their sins. Therefore, they are never qualified to be scripturally baptized.

The Philippian jailer

When the Philippian jailer who guarded the Apostle Paul asked, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30), Paul answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 31)." After the jailer believed, Paul baptized him (v. 33).

When Peter preached in Acts, chapter two:

"... they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41

When Philip preached to the people of Samaria, men and women were baptized, but no infants were baptized:

"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." Acts 8:12

If God's Word is so explicit that only those old enough to hear and receive God's Word should be baptized, then why does Catholicism demand that newborn infants be baptized? Is it to bring people into bondage to the church from shortly after their birth? You must settle this question in your own heart.

Conclusion

When you were baptized as an infant, were you really baptized, or did you just have some water sprinkled on you? It all depends on which side you will believe in - the Word of God or the traditions of men. Please keep in mind the words Jesus spoke to the religious leaders of His day:

"Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." Mark 7:9

Answer 7

Baptism is symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It is the symbol of our sins being washed clean, but before our sins can be forgiven, we must repent. Children can't appreciate what sin is, they don't know the difference between good and evil. It's not until they can understand the abstract concept of what sin is, and how to avoid it, that they can be baptised.

Some Christians believe that without baptism, you are bound for hell, even little babies. Some look at it as a form of blessing, or the promise that they will bring up their child as a Christian.

Answer 8

Baptism does not get you to heaven, nor does church membership. Excepting Jesus as your savior and the baptism after wards is an outward showing of your faith.
I think it is dangerous to baptize your baby with the thought of giving it salvation. A child grows up thinking he has salvation and may never receive Christ as his Savior, having a false sense of being redeemed.

Answer 9

Nowhere in scripture is infant baptism prohibited.

Infant baptism remains the strongest possible demonstration of salvation without works.

The Church freely provides all that is necessary for salvation, including the faith.

Baptism at any age is always 100% effective, simply because God desires all to be saved.

One who dies without baptism, even in infancy, has no assurance of heaven.

Protestant typically don't baptize infants because Catholics do!

Answer 10

Baptism is supposed to be a voluntary decision. Because infants are not capable of deciding they should not be baptized. Early christians may have done this unfortunately they were not following Christ's example.