Biblical Arguments Used by Traditions that Reject Infant Baptism

1. Foundational Principle: Baptism Follows Personal Faith

Core Claim

Baptism in the New Testament is consistently administered after an individual personally believes in Christ.

Key Biblical Passages

• Acts of the Apostles 2:38
• “Repent and be baptized…”
• Acts of the Apostles 8:12
• “When they believed Philip… they were baptized, both men and women.”
• Acts of the Apostles 8:36–38
• The Ethiopian eunuch is baptized after confessing faith.
• Acts of the Apostles 10:47–48
• Cornelius’ household receives baptism after receiving the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

The consistent New Testament pattern is:

belief → baptism

not

birth → baptism

---

2. Baptism Symbolizes Personal Union with Christ

Core Claim

Baptism represents an individual’s conscious participation in Christ’s death and resurrection.

Key Biblical Passages

• Epistle to the Romans 6:3–4
• Baptism symbolizes being buried and raised with Christ.
• Epistle to the Colossians 2:12
• “Buried with him in baptism… through faith.”

Argument

Since the symbolism involves personal faith and identification with Christ, it presumes a believing participant.

Infants are seen as incapable of this faith expression.

---

3. The New Covenant Is Entered Through Faith, Not Birth

Core Claim

The New Covenant differs from the Old Covenant because membership is based on personal faith rather than physical descent.

Key Biblical Passage

• Book of Jeremiah 31:31–34

Key line:

“They shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.”

Interpretation

Under the New Covenant:

• Every member personally knows God.
• Therefore only believers should receive the covenant sign (baptism).

---

4. Circumcision and Baptism Are Not Identical Signs

Credobaptists challenge the claim that baptism simply replaces circumcision.

Argument

Circumcision marked:

• ethnic Israel
• male descendants of Abraham

Whereas baptism marks:

• personal faith in Christ
• spiritual membership in the church

Supporting Passages

• Epistle to the Galatians 3:26–29
• Membership in God’s people comes through faith.
• Epistle to the Romans 9:6–8
• Not all physical descendants belong to the true Israel.

Conclusion

Because covenant membership is faith-based rather than hereditary, baptism should be limited to believers.

---

5. Household Baptisms Do Not Prove Infant Baptism

Paedobaptist argument: households likely included infants.

Credobaptist response: the texts indicate belief within the household.

Key Passages

• Acts of the Apostles 16:31–34
• The Philippian jailer’s household rejoiced because they believed.
• Acts of the Apostles 18:8
• The household of Crispus believed.

Conclusion

Household baptisms appear to involve believing members, not infants.

---

6. Baptism Is Linked to Discipleship

Key Passage

• Gospel of Matthew 28:19–20

Sequence in the Great Commission:

1. Make disciples
2. Baptize them
3. Teach them

Argument

Baptism follows discipleship, which implies understanding and faith.

---

7. Early Church Practice

Credobaptist traditions often argue that early Christian baptism was primarily believer baptism.

Evidence Sometimes Cited

• Delayed baptisms in early centuries.
• Lack of explicit infant-baptism commands in the New Testament.

Figures Often Discussed

• Tertullian (who discouraged infant baptism)

Interpretation

Some argue infant baptism became widespread later in church history, especially after sacramental theology developed.

---

8. Theological Concern: Avoiding Presumption of Salvation

Many traditions emphasize that church membership should reflect genuine faith.

Supporting Passages

• Gospel of John 1:12–13
• Children of God are those who believe.
• Epistle to the Ephesians 2:8–9
• Salvation comes through faith, not ritual.

Conclusion

Restricting baptism to believers guards against confusing church membership with saving faith.

---

Key Differences Between the Two Positions

Issue		Infant Baptism Traditions		Believer Baptism Traditions
Covenant continuity		Strong OT–NT continuity		New Covenant differs fundamentally
Covenant sign		Applied to children		Applied to believers only
Pattern of NT baptisms		Household inclusion assumed		Faith precedes baptism
Role of circumcision		Precursor to baptism		Separate covenant sign
Meaning of baptism	Covenant inclusion		Public profession of faith