Is infant baptism biblical?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible does not teach or mention infant baptism. Household baptisms are mentioned in the New Testament but were reflective of the head of the household’s coming to faith and a declaration of a change of priorities and leading of the household. Baptism is an act of obedience after a personal decision to follow Christ, not a rite that imparts salvation or removes original sin. Since infants cannot profess faith, the practice of infant baptism is not supported by biblical teachings. Parents should raise their children in the ways of the Lord, helping them to understand the gospel and supporting them in their journey toward baptism when they are ready to express their personal faith in Christ.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Infant baptism is not mentioned in the Old Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The Bible says nothing explicit about infant baptism.
• Household baptism is mentioned (Acts 10:44–48; 16:14–15, 31–34; 1 Corinthians 1:16), but that did not mean everyone was saved. It meant that the family would now follow new religious rites. When the patriarch (or matriarch—Acts 16:15) of a household converted to Christianity, they often led their household to worship as a Christian, even including being baptized, but that didn't mean they all had saving faith in Christ.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Got Questions Ministries believes that baptism is an act of obedience that occurs after salvation. This seems to be the pattern of the New Testament, such as in Acts 2:41; 8:12–13, 38; and 18:8. Baptism has no salvific effect, nor does it remove original sin. Also, salvation is an individual matter, not something a parent can choose for his or her child. We believe that only those who have trusted the gospel message should be baptized. While baptism may be appropriate for children who have professed faith, we believe infants are unable to do this and should therefore not be baptized. Many churches have a baby dedication ceremony that may be most appropriate for parents who wish to demonstrate a desire for their child to come to faith and to commit themselves to raising their child to know the truth of God. Believers are encouraged to raise their children in the Lord, teaching them the ways of God (Ephesians 6:4). Parents should focus on nurturing their children’s faith, guiding them to understand the gospel, and preparing them to be baptized when they are ready to profess saving faith in Christ.

UNDERSTAND

• The Bible does not specifically mention or teach infant baptism.
• Household baptisms in the New Testament reflect the faith of the household leader, not necessarily the personal faith of each member.
• Baptism in the Bible is a public declaration of personal faith in Christ, which infants are unable to make.

REFLECT

• How does understanding that baptism is a personal declaration of faith impact your view on infant baptism?
• How can you nurture and guide your children in their spiritual journey to be prepared for baptism later?
• How can the biblical concept of household baptism influence your approach to sharing faith and spiritual practices within your family?

ENGAGE

• Water baptism is an area of debate among Bible-believing Christians. Many Protestants ascribe to credobaptism, meaning that baptism is intended for those who believe in Jesus. It is a public profession and demonstration of an internal change that has occurred. If baptism is a willful act of identifying oneself with Jesus Christ, then clearly an infant should not be baptized. Others ascribe to paedobaptism or infant baptism. Some view it as a parent's way of demonstrating that they want their child to follow the Lord, somewhat like child dedication. Some equate it with circumcision as a sign of the covenant. Others believe it sets a child apart for salvation. We believe baptism occurs as an act of obedience after salvation.
• What are the main differences between credobaptism (believer’s baptism) and paedobaptism (infant baptism), and how do they reflect different theological views?
• How can the concept of baptism as a public declaration of faith influence how we approach biblical education and formation for children in different stages of their development?