What is paedobaptism?

Paedobaptism (pedobaptism) is the practice of baptizing infants. The Greek word pais means “child.” There are differences of beliefs among churches that practice paedobaptism on what happens to the child when it is baptized. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that baptism removes original sin and strongly urges parents to baptize infants. It teaches that such baptism saves the child.

There are Reformed groups such as the Presbyterian Church in America which practice infant baptism, but unlike the Roman Catholic Church, does not teach that such baptism saves the child. Instead, it teaches that infant baptism is a covenant sign and does not save, just the same as Old Testament circumcision was a covenantal sign that did not save.

The Lutheran Churches, like the Roman Catholic Church, practice infant baptism and maintain that such baptism saves the child.

There is no explicit command in the Bible to baptize infants, but some hold that it is prefigured in the Old Testament circumcision of infants by which God commanded them to be entered into the Abrahamic covenant. This Abrahamic covenant spoken of in Genesis 12:3 was quoted by Paul in Galatians 4:8 as being the gospel. Therefore, some hold that the Abrahamic Covenant which included infants is still in effect. Therefore, infants are said to be worthy of such covenantal participation in the present-day (Col. 2:11-12 relates circumcision and baptism which now includes both males and females). Also, as the Old Testament taught that entire households were circumcised (females obviously excluded), as were entire households baptized in the New Testament.

Acts 16:15 “And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.’ And she prevailed upon us.”
Acts 18:8, “And Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized.”
1 Cor. 1:16, “Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other.”

Christian denominations that oppose infant baptism would include the Baptists, Churches of Christ, and Pentecostal groups. They would deny infant baptism by saying that belief must precede baptism and that infants cannot believe. 1The non-Christian groups such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and the Christadelphians also deny infant baptism.

Didactic biblical passages

I Corinthians 1:14?16

?I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don?t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel ? not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.?
Colossians 2:11?12

?In him also ?you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.?

Supporters of infant baptism observe the linkage in Colossians among circumcision, baptism, and life in Christ.
Parallels between OT and NT

Based on the linkage in Colossians, supporters of paedobaptism note that circumcision and baptism are both signs and seals of the covenant of grace.

Gen 17:9?14
Then God said to Abraham, ?As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner ?- those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.?

A few observations about Genesis 17.

The covenant was between God and Abraham.
The covenant was also between God and Abraham?s descendants.
The sign of the covenant was in circumcision.
The eight-day-old male could not give his assent to enter into a covenant with God. It was the covenental relationship of the male?s father with God that demanded the circumcision.
Compliance with the sign of circumcision was commanded; it was not optional.
Circumcision was commanded for all of the household. In particular, it was not just for the believing Abraham, but also for:
the never-to-believe Ishmael, and
the not-yet-believing Isaac, and
those slaves that Abraham purchased.
The sign of circumcision was given on the basis of Abraham?s covenant with God, not on the basis of the recipient?s covenant.

Romans 4:11
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

A few observations about Romans 4:11.

The ?he? is Abraham.
Circumcision is a seal.
The sealing ordinance is for ?all who believe.?

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