Infant Baptism

Definition and Meaning

Infant baptism (paedobaptism) is the rite of administering baptism to young children. Instead of the child professing faith directly, the parents, who are themselves baptized members, vow to raise the child in the faith. Churches that practice it regard baptism as a sacrament (a holy rite instituted by Christ). The rite in which a person baptized as an infant later professes faith personally is called confirmation.

Biblical and Historical Background

No passage of Scripture directly commands or records infant baptism, so interpretations differ. Proponents cite the accounts of entire households being baptized (Acts 16:15; Acts 16:33; 1 Corinthians 1:16), the passage linking circumcision and baptism (Colossians 2:11–12), and the words "For the promise is unto you, and to your children" (Acts 2:39). Reformed churches explain the practice through covenant theology: because God's covenant extends to the children of believers, those children are given the sign of the covenant, just as circumcision was given in the Old Testament. Opponents point to passages in which repentance and faith precede baptism (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16) and hold that baptism should be administered only to believers who have professed faith for themselves.

The practice of infant baptism is reported to appear as early as the writings of the Church Fathers of the second and third centuries. It subsequently became the general practice of the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. During the Reformation, Martin Luther and John Calvin retained it, while the Anabaptists rejected it, recognizing only believer's baptism. The Baptists later adopted the same position. The arguments on both sides are treated in detail in the articles Infant Baptism Controversy and Baptism and Immersion.

Practice in the Korean Church

• Denominations that practice it: The various Presbyterian denominations, the Korean Methodist Church, the Anglican Church of Korea, and the Lutheran Church in Korea, among others, practice infant baptism. Generally, at least one parent must be a baptized member. During a worship service, the pastor receives the parents' vows and sprinkles water on or moistens the child's head. A child who has received infant baptism is entered on the church membership roll and, upon reaching a certain age, is admitted to Holy Communion after a confirmation examination. Holiness (Sungkyul) denominations are also reported to practice it.
• Denominations that do not practice it: Baptist churches such as the Korea Baptist Convention recognize only baptism by immersion administered after a person's own profession of faith. In its place, they often hold a child dedication service, in which the child is entrusted to God. The Salvation Army Korea Territory does not observe any of the sacraments, including baptism, as rites.