Journal: Central Bible Quarterly
Volume: CENQ 06:2 (Summer 1963)
Article: Infant Baptism Examined By History And Scripture
Author: Anonymous

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CenQ 6:2 (Summer 1963) p. 21

Infant Baptism Examined By History And Scripture

The Baptist Encyclopedia, 1811 edition

I. Infant Baptism In The First Four Christian Centuries

There is not a single recorded case in the first two ages of Christian history of the baptism of an unconscious babe. Men have searched this period with a scrutiny and a measure of learning never surpassed to find one undeniable instance of the kind, but the literature of Christianity has been examined in vain, and it ever will be. Justin Martyr gives a full account of the manner of conferring baptism in the latter half of the second century. “As many, “says he, “as are persuaded and believe that the things which we teach and declare are true, and promise that they are determined to live accordingly, are taught to pray to God, and to beseech him with fasting to grant them the remission for their sins, while we also pray and fast with them. We then lead them to a place where there is water, and there they are regenerated in the same manner as we also were; for they are there washed in that water in the name of God the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Patrologia Graeca, vol. vi. p. 240. Migne. Parisiis, 1857.)

In Justin’s time candidates for baptism believed that the statements of Christian teachers were true; they premised to live according to gospel requirements, and

CenQ 6:2 (Summer 1963) p. 22

they prayed for pardon. These were believers, and he names no other class of persons who were baptized. Tertullian, just at the close of the second century, while yet orthodox, says, “It behooves those who are going to be baptized to pray with frequent supplications, fasts, kneeling s, and vigils, and with the confession of all past faults, that they may show forth even John’s baptism; they were immersed,” he says, “confessing their sins.” (De Baptismo, cap, xx.) No unconscious babe could make these preparations, or at this period enjoyed Christian baptism. There was in Tertullian’s time an effort made to introduce, not the baptism of new-born infants, but of little children, which he denounced. The learned Salmasius and Suicerus have been criticized by Bingham for the statement, “For the first two ages no one received baptism who was not first instructed in the faith and doctrine of Christ, so as to be able to answer for himself that he believed, because of those words, ‘He that believeth and is baptized. ‘“ (Antiquities of the Christian Church, Book xi. chap„ iv, sec. 5.) But Bingham, profoundly versed as he was in the doctrines and practices of the early church, brings forward no case of the baptism of an unconscious infant during this period, or a positive account of the exis...

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