Should Infants Be Baptized — In Biblical Context
Christians disagree — some baptize infants as a sign of the covenant community, while others practice believer's baptism only, requiring personal faith first.
Christians disagree — some baptize infants as a sign of the covenant community, while others practice believer's baptism only, requiring personal faith first.
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." — Acts 2:41 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
This is one of the oldest debates in Christianity. Those who practice infant baptism (paedobaptists) — including Reformed, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Anglican, and Catholic traditions — point to household baptisms in Acts (Acts 16:15, 16:33, 1 Corinthians 1:16), the parallel with circumcision as a covenant sign given to infants (Colossians 2:11-12), and Jesus welcoming children (Mark 10:14). Those who practice believer's baptism (credobaptists) — Baptists, many evangelicals, and Pentecostals — argue that every clear example of baptism in the New Testament follows conscious faith and repentance: 'They that gladly received his word were baptized' (Acts 2:41). They note that baptism symbolizes personal identification with Christ's death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). Both sides agree that baptism does not save (Ephesians 2:8-9) and that children are precious to God. The disagreement is about the proper recipients of the sign, not its importance.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Acts 2:41, sits inside Acts 2. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."
Supporting Passages
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
"And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway."
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