How is it logical to baptize a baby?

Question

Matthew 28:19:
Jesus said, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit."

Mark 16:15-16:
He said to them, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Acts 2:38
Peter (said) to them, "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.


***** According to the bible, this is what it is to baptize. Now tell me, what baby knows what to believe and what on earth would a baby have to repent even if it could understand?

Adoptive Father:

I am not sure where you came up with excluding a baby from being baptized due to it's age...I was merely asking if it was logical to have them baptized if you went by the wording in the bible.

Answer 1

I see your point. You mean that if in order to be baptized you need to repent, it means you have to not only have something to repent, but you have to be aware that you are expected to in order to take this task on.

Answer 2

OK, so it isn't biblical, we agree on that one. I once read a book by Michael Greene on infant baptism that said it is in attempt to "seal" a child for God and His kingdom. It's like a special "protection" until the age of confirmation when the child can make its own decision.

I remain unconvinced. I was converted at the age of 30 and baptised as an adult; when after several years I returned to the Anglican church where I was baptised I offered to take confirmation if it would make the new bishop feel better about it; I was told I didn't need confirmation...I suppose, because I had made an adult decision before baptism. However, some new members who had been baptised in another denomination as adults, *were* confirmed.

Doesn't make much sense to me. Adult baptism all the way...or at least a child who's old enough to understand what they're doing. Some people say 8 is old enough...I'd say it goes to the individual case.

Answer 3

There are five references in the New Testament to the Baptism of entire households. Peter baptized the household of Cornelius (Acts 11: 14). In Philippi, Paul baptized the household of Lydia and the household of the jailer (Acts 16: 15, 33). He also baptized the household of Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue in Corinth. In his first epistle to the Corinthians, he speaks of baptizing the household of Stephanas (1: 16). The Greek word for household is oikon and refers to all the inhabitants of the house including slaves, servants, infants and children.

Can anyone seriously suggest that within the households of Cornelius, Lydia, the Jailer, Crispus and Stephanas there were no children or infants present?

Answer 4

Please do a search, this question has been asked and answered here many times.

The verses you cite do not state that anyone is excluded from baptism because of age. "Whoever believes and is baptized" does not mean the same thing as "you must achieve the age of reason (whatever that might be) to be baptized".

In Acts chapter 16 an entire family was baptized. Again, it says nothing about anyone being excluded because of their age.

ADDED:
Yes, because an entire family was baptized in Acts.

Answer 5

If you are going to treat the Old Testament as baggage to be ignored, circumcision as a covenant that mysteriously disappeared in the New Testament, and play word games with finding exact verses in the Bible rather than looking at a weight of scriptural evidence, then sure, you win. But you also get to deal with all of the conundrums involved with the age of reason and verses that don't make sense unless you gloss over them with even more lack of logic. Good luck with that.

Answer 6

Baptism is a non-magical ceremony that has little effect other than getting someone a little wet and whatever meaning the participants imagine for it. In the case of infant baptism it's of the parent's commitment to raise the child as a Christian. As you said, it's symbolic anyways, so why get your pants in a bunch about it? There are certainly more dangerous things that grown ups with an imaginary friend do to society.

Answer 7

The logic is based on the Old Testament (or 'Covenant'). God's chosen nation, Israel, had circumcision as a sign of the Covenant. At 8 days old, all male babies were to be circumcised. Male prosylites to Judaism (at an age of reason, obviously) had to be circumcised. Females were never circumcised but came 'under' the Covenant sign by virtue of males they were related/married to who were circumcised.

After Christ inaugurated the New Covenant (through his shed blood) then God's chosen nation became spiritual Israelites, those who by faith in Christ were born again / adopted into God's family. Paul explains why they had to avoid circumcision. Baptism became a sign of the New Covenant. Again, male heads of households were to take the lead and ensure all their family were 'covered'. Five entire households were baptised in one go in the New Testament.

The similarity between both Covenants is that the children are included by virtue of their parents' position. Paul said, 'For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified [set apart by God] through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy...Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? [to faith] He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts.' (1 Cor 7:12-24)

Alas, high infant mortality combined with the mistaken idea that baptism saves, stampeded many into getting babies baptised almost as soon as they were born. They'd lost sight of the sanctification of either, or both, parents. That baptism in itself does not save is proved by the repentanat thief on the cross and 1 Peter 3:18-22: The Ark of Noah, going through the flood waters, 'symbolises baptism that saves - not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience towards God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ...'

Answer 8

No it is not logical to baptize a baby. However I do agree with parents dedicating a baby that means to promise before the Church to raise this child up in a christian home. It is up to that child when they reach an age where they are able to make the decision to be baptized.

Answer 9

Born-Again Catholic has done a wonderful job of making a strictly biblical case for infant baptism. For the answerers who can't find any Bible evidence for infant baptism, check out her references and arguments.

Well-informed biblical interpretation weighs the evidence from the early Church, the people who wrote, read, and authorized the collection of scriptures in the New Testament.

Here's a sample:

Irenaeus: "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" (Against Heresies 2:22:4, A.D. 189).

Hippolytus: "Baptize first the children, and if they can speak for themselves let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them" (The Apostolic Tradition 21:16 [A.D. 215]).

Origen: "In the Church, baptism is given for the remission of sins, and, according to the usage of the Church, baptism is given even to infants." (Homilies on Leviticus 8:3. A.D. 248).

"The Church received from the apostles the tradition of giving baptism even to infants." (Commentaries on Romans 5:9, A.D. 248).

Cyprian of Carthage: "As to what pertains to the case of infants: You [Fidus] said that they ought not to be baptized within the second or third day after their birth, that the old law of circumcision must be taken into consideration, and that you did not think that one should be baptized and sanctified within the eighth day after his birth. . . Rather, we all judge that the mercy and grace of God ought to be denied to no man born" (Letters 64:2, A.D. 253).

Gregory of Nazianz: "Do you have an infant child? Allow sin no opportunity; rather, let the infant be sanctified from childhood." (Oration on Holy Baptism 40:7 [A.D. 388]).

John Chrysostom: "For this reason we baptize even infants, though they are not defiled by [personal] sins, so that there may be given to them holiness, righteousness, adoption, inheritance, brotherhood with Christ, and that they may be his [Christ’s] members" (Baptismal Catecheses in Augustine, Against Julian 1:6:21, A.D. 388).

As Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 3:21, "Baptism saves you." It is not some sort of outward reminder, but it is the act by which we are born again.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 10

Let's take a look at the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist: 'Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now, it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness."... As soon as Jesus was batised, he went up out of the water...'

Baptism is a symbol of dying to our past, sinful life and being born again as a Christian. Some Christian faiths insist upon full bodily immersion - such a Jehovah's Witnesses and Baptists. Other Christian faiths think it is sufficient to sprinkle water, even upon babies. One thing is crystal clear from the Bible. You have to have taken a conscious decision to change your life, to give it to Christ and to put your trust in him.

Babies cannot do that. Young children cannot do that. Jesus was 30 years old when he did that.

I think the act of infant baptism is done to (a) make the parents and family feel good and (b) help the Church to hold onto its current members whilst keeping an eye out for the next generation.

I was in my 40's when I made a public declaration of my faith by being fully immersed in a pool of water - in front of a packed house. I also gave my testimony. I cannot find any Biblical evidence or examples to support infant baptism.