Theological glossary · FaithLogic

Infant baptism (paedobaptism)

The practice of baptising the infant children of believers, as members of the covenant community, before they can profess faith.

Greek pais / paidos, 'child' + baptism.

Argued from the household baptisms (Acts 16:15, 33; 1 Cor 1:16), the covenant continuity with circumcision (Col 2:11–12; Gen 17), 'the promise is for you and for your children' (Acts 2:39), and Jesus blessing infants (Luke 18:15–17).

Attested by c. 200 (Tertullian opposes it as an innovation; Origen calls it apostolic tradition); universal in East and West until the Reformation; retained by Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans, Anglicans, Reformed, and Methodists.

The child is baptised on the ground of God's covenant promise; faith is expected to follow, professed later (confirmation). Not (for the Reformed) a guarantee of salvation.

Credobaptists regard it as lacking NT warrant and as blurring the church/world line; paedobaptists regard its rejection as a failure of covenant continuity.

Open in the glossary for related terms and the doctrines this concept appears in.