Bruce Leiter
A sinner saved by God's astounding grace and love
- Jun 16, 2018
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(a) We baptize "actual physical babies" in anticipation of their coming to faith later, for which we work and pray. Infant baptism is a sign of the new covenant, which involves God's promises to bless the parents' testimonies and efforts to bring the baby up in the Christian faith. It is different from the Baptists' dedication, which involves only the parents' promises, not God's promises. After all, a biblical covenant has two sides, God's and humans' promises in personal and communal relationship. The Jewish literature of that time shows that the Jews baptized Gentile babies in households when the families became Jewish converts. The early church took over that practice to replace circumcision.Looking at the context of Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 1:17, we read that he only baptized:
(a) Crispus
(b) Galius
(c) Household of Stephanas.
“I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas:” (1 Corinthians 1:14-16).
Notice also Paul saying that he thanked God that he baptized none of the Corinthian believers.
This ties in with Paul saying the following words:
“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” (1 Corinthians 1:17).
If baptism was for all, then why is Paul appear to say that he:
#1. Thanks God that he didn't baptize the Corinthians?
#2. Was sent not to baptize but to preach the gospel?
When you speak of infant baptism: Are you refering to...
(a) The baptism of actual physical babies?
(b) The early church being baptized?
(c) Something else?
Note: If you are referring to actual physcial babies being baptized, we do not see this practice anywhere in the New Testament. Just because a whole household was baptized, we cannot assume that the babies were baptized, too. For we do not know if they had babies in the household, etc.
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