Revision #15623
Infant Baptism
Localized for English-speaking readers (msgbatch_01GvFKF6zaroxwZ2RCatyoPp)
Status: approved
Changes from the previous English revision
= ## 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.
+ Infant baptism 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.
+ 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 receive 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). They 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.
+ The practice of infant baptism reportedly appears as early as the writings of the Church Fathers of the second and third centuries. It later became the general practice of the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. During the Reformation, Martin Luther and John Calvin retained it. The Anabaptists rejected it and recognized only believer's baptism, and 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
+ ## Practice in Korean Churches
=
- - **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.
+ - **Denominations that practice it**: In Korea, 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 the child's head or wets it. A child who has received infant baptism is entered on the church membership roll. Upon reaching a certain age, the child is admitted to Holy Communion after a confirmation examination. Korean Holiness (Sungkyul) denominations reportedly practice it as well.
+ - **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 as rites, including baptism.
Infant baptism is baptism administered to young children who cannot yet profess faith for themselves, on the basis of their parents' profession of faith. Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, among others, practice it, while denominations such as the Baptists, which regard a believer's own profession of faith as a condition of baptism, do not.
Infant baptism is baptism administered to young children who cannot yet profess faith for themselves, on the basis of their parents' profession of faith. Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, among others, practice it. Denominations such as the Baptists, which regard a believer's own profession of faith as a condition of baptism, do not.
Full revision
Infant baptism is baptism administered to young children who cannot yet profess faith for themselves, on the basis of their parents' profession of faith. Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, among others, practice it. Denominations such as the Baptists, which regard a believer's own profession of faith as a condition of baptism, do not.
Definition and Meaning
Infant baptism 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 receive 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). They hold that baptism should be administered only to believers who have professed faith for themselves.
The practice of infant baptism reportedly appears as early as the writings of the Church Fathers of the second and third centuries. It later became the general practice of the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. During the Reformation, Martin Luther and John Calvin retained it. The Anabaptists rejected it and recognized only believer's baptism, and 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 Korean Churches
- Denominations that practice it: In Korea, 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 the child's head or wets it. A child who has received infant baptism is entered on the church membership roll. Upon reaching a certain age, the child is admitted to Holy Communion after a confirmation examination. Korean Holiness (Sungkyul) denominations reportedly practice it as well.
- 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 as rites, including baptism.