On Infant Baptism
I’m not arguing for something that I haven’t once defended or attacked. If a Protestant asks a question, it is a question I’ve asked myself. I have taken every possible attack against the Catholic church to the “nth” degree. I’ve spoken to lay, priests, professors, and everything in between. I’m STILL doing this in order to continue to learn, refine, and grow. Therefore, I’m not coming from a box but rather I am coming from a position of “having been there”.
Infant Baptism is one that was the first to go for me back in 2014 during college because the second you realize it’s not only the historical tradition, but it’s also held by most reformers and only not held by most American Christians, you arrive at “oh, I need to revert”.
Biblical Arguments
Household Baptisms: The practice of baptizing entire households, which almost certainly included Children, is documented in several New Testament passages. For instance, Acts 16:15 mentions, "When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home." Similarly, Acts 16:33 notes, "At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized." These passages suggest that children were not excluded from the sacrament of baptism.
Jesus' Attitude Toward Children: In Mark 10:14, Jesus says, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." This indicates that Jesus did not see children as unworthy of the kingdom of God, supporting the notion that they should be included in the sacrament of baptism, which is an initiation into that kingdom.
Covenant Theology: In Genesis 17:12, God commands Abraham to circumcise every male child when they are eight days old as a sign of the covenant. In Colossians 2:11-12, Paul parallels circumcision and baptism: "In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self-ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism." This should prove that just as infants were included in the Old Covenant through circumcision, they should also be included in the New Covenant through baptism. We know that Jews circumcised their newborns after a certain period of days, it wasn’t a faith proclamation or a “believers’ affirmation” and it’s not now. Again, fulfillment doesn’t necessitate change — it necessitates fulfillment.
Early Church Fathers
Origen (185-254 AD): Origen explicitly supports infant baptism, stating, "The Church received from the Apostles the tradition of giving baptism even to infants. For the Apostles, to whom were committed the secrets of divine mysteries, knew that there is in everyone the innate stains of sin, which must be washed away through water and the Spirit" (Commentary on Romans 5:9).
Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200-258 AD): In his letter to Fidus, Cyprian argues for infant baptism, stating, "But in respect of the case of the infants, who you said 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 that one who is just born should not be baptized and sanctified within the eighth day... we all thought very differently in our council. For as far as possible, we must guard the mercy and grace of God... as soon as they are born we ought to cherish and welcome with all care lest by any means the soul be destroyed by us waiting for a time determined" (Epistle 58:2).
Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD): Augustine's writings strongly affirm the practice of infant baptism. He argues, "The custom of our mother Church in baptizing infants is certainly not to be scorned... nor is it in any way to be believed that its tradition is anything except Apostolic" (On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants, Book I, Chapter 23).
David F. Wright: In his article, "Infant Baptism in Historical Perspective," Wright discusses the historical and theological foundations of infant baptism. He concludes that infant baptism is deeply rooted in early Christian practice and theology, emphasizing its continuity with Jewish traditions of including children in the covenant community. Everett Ferguson: In his book, "Baptism in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries," Ferguson provides extensive evidence that infant baptism was practiced in the early church. He notes, "The widespread practice of infant baptism by the third century indicates its acceptance and the theological justification given for it, reflecting a continuity of thought regarding the inclusion of children in the covenant community."
Philosophical Notions
From a philosophical standpoint, infant baptism can be justified through the concept of communal identity and initiation. Baptism is not merely an individual act of faith but a sacrament that initiates one into the Christian community. In many religious and cultural contexts, initiation rites for infants symbolize their inclusion in the community and the responsibilities of that community to nurture their spiritual growth.
Additionally, the concept of original sin, as articulated by Augustine and other theologians, provides a philosophical basis for infant baptism. If human beings are born with an inherent propensity toward sin, baptism represents a necessary sacrament to cleanse the infant and initiate them into a state of grace. Augustine argues, "For the guilt of original sin is by carnal generation contracted by infants, and it is by spiritual regeneration removed" (On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants, Book I, Chapter 9).
In conclusion, infant baptism is supported by biblical precedents, early church teachings, scholarly research, and philosophical reasoning. It signifies the inclusion of children in the covenant community, cleanses them from original sin, and aligns with the historical practice of the early church, thus providing a robust and comprehensive argument for its continuation.
The only churches that don’t perform infant baptism are the ones who don’t believe Jesus gave us sacraments in the New Covenant. They believe all is symbol and not worthwhile.