By Kathy Schley
Is Infant Baptism condemned in the Scriptures? The Sacrament of Infant Baptism that is practiced in the Catholic Church, and in several other Christian churches, is condemned by many in Christendom as being believed that at an age without reason the child cannot possibly understand the Gospel and salvation. Therefore, according to many in Christendom the child must be at an age of reason to make that profession of faith.
But did Jesus or his apostles condemn infant baptism? St. Paul tells us that our baptism replaces circumcision. (Colossians 2:11:12) And to come into the old covenant of God male infants were required to be circumcised. Their circumcision was performed on the 8th day of their birth. John the Baptist was circumcised on the 8th day of his birth. (Luke 1:59) And Jesus, Himself, was circumcised at 8 days old. "And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb." (Luke 2:21)
God did not condemn male infants from circumcision to enter into His covenant due to the child not being at the age of reason to make a profession of faith. The male infants came into the old covenant of God through the faith of their parents. Therefore, why would God condemn infant baptism to enter into His New Covenant? It wouldn't make any sense to a Jew not to include infants in baptism to enter into God's New Covenant after hearing St. Paul's words. And there is not an existing Scripture in the New Testament of God condemning infant baptism to enter into His New Covenant.
When my husband and I baptized both our sons in their infancy years, I was not a practicing Catholic. But I grew up with the belief that baptizing our babies for Heaven's sake (pardon the pun) is important, and so I went along with the ritual. I did not understand the Sacrament of Baptism until about 9 years later when I learned about Sacramental grace. I learned that grace is not just a mere sign of our faith in God, but is actually the LIFE OF GOD that He instills in our soul to make us into His image. The Life of God instilled in our soul makes us aware of God, but we still have the freewill to respond or reject to God and His calling. A soul, regardless of age, is touched by God, and never loses their gift of freewill. The Sacrament of Confirmation is the second part to the Sacrament of Baptism. It is through the Sacrament of Confirmation that the participant confirms their faith in our Trinitarian God and His Gospel. It is the Sacrament of Confirmation that is made at an age of reason. It should make non-Catholic Christians relieved that our Sacrament of Confirmation is our second half of Baptism that they perform as one.
All early Christians practiced Infant Baptism, and there isn't any recorded writing that teaches Baptism is only for older participants who have reached an age of reason.
We see St. Peter inviting both adults AND CHILDREN to be baptized. "And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children...." (Acts 2:38-39)
We also see St. Paul baptizing a woman by the name of Lydia along with her household. (Acts 16:14-15) Children could be included in her family that is under the same roof.
St. Paul also baptized a jailer along with ALL of his family. "And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with ALL of his family." (Acts 16:33) The jailer's entire family was also baptized, and children could have been included in this jailer's family.
St. Paul also baptized the household of Stephanas. (1Corinthians 1:16) Children could be included in Stephanas' household.
The apostles baptized households and families, and there is more reason to believe infants were included in these households and families, than disbelieve. St. Paul tells us that sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to ALL men because ALL men sinned...." (Romans 5:12) Therefore, infants are also affected by original sin. Even infants must be born-again--born of water and spirit (baptism) to enter the Kingdom of God. (John 3:5)
There is early writings by our apostles successors, the early Church fathers, who show infant baptism was practiced in the early Church.
"For He came to save all through means of Himself -- all, I say, who through Him are born again to God -- infants, and children, and boys, and youths, and old men."
(IRENAEUS, Adversus haereses, Book 2, Chapter 2:4 [A.D. 178])
"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."
(HIPPOLYTUS, The Apostolic Tradition [A.D. 215])
"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, Homilies on Leviticus, Homily 8, 3 [A.D. 185-253])
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.
(ORIGEN, Commentaries on Romans 5:9 [A.D. 185-253])
There are more writings of our early Church fathers that show infant baptism was practiced in the early Church. Below is an image of a drawing on the walls of the Catacombs that show infant baptism.