ENDTIME ISSUES NEWSLETTER No. 200

“A BRIEF HISTORY OF INFANT BAPTISM”

Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D.,

Retired Professor of Theology and Church History,

Andrews University

INDEX OF TOPICS OF THIS NEWSLETTER

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* EXCITING NEWS!!! Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical?

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* “A BRIEF HISTORY OF INFANT BAPTISM”

This is the essay of this newsletter

* UPCOMING SEMINARS for the Months of May and June

* CRISTINA PICCARDI’S NEW DVD RECORDINGS done

at Loma Linda. Special Package Offer on four albums.

* SPEAKING IN TONGUES by William Richardson, Ph. D.,

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* NEW DVD REVELATION SEMINAR by Prof. Jon Paulien.

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We will try to find out who is responsible for this illegal action. If you contact us, we will be glad to enter your address again. In the meantime you may wish to check with your internet service provider to find out if their server has made a mistake. Sorry for the inconvenience.

EXCITING NEWS!!! POPULAR BELIEFS: ARE THEY BIBLICAL? 

IS OUT!!! WE ARE PROCESSING YOUR ORDERS!!!

The long-awaited book Popular Beliefs: Are They Biblical? came off the press few days ago on Friday, April 25, 2008. On the same evening we had a special dedication service attended by about 30 persons. Each of us invoked God’s blessings on this book, asking the Lord to use it in a mighty way to lead many sincere persons to understand why some of their popular beliefs are unbiblical and why the less popular Adventist beliefs are biblical.

Popular Beliefs: Are They Biblical? consists of 384 pages with a very attractive, laminated colorful cover, with pictures representing seven of the ten popular beliefs examined in the book. Take a look at the cover by clicking at this link: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/pbcover.htm

Last week was extremely busy for our office team. By God’s grace we processed all the pre-publication orders amounting to over 6000 copies. This was an unprecedented experience. Never before I received so many orders for a book not yet published. The excerpts of each chapter that I posted in our Endtime Newsletter convinced many readers of the timeliness and quality of the book.

We spent all our time last week typing labels, boxing books, and taking them to the Post Office. We made three trips a day to the Post Office to unload all the packages that filled the SUV.

The Cost of Airmailing is Higher Than Anticipated

The cost of airmailing overseas Popular Beliefs is higher than anticipated, because the book is thicker and heavier than all the other 17 books that I have published. I thought I could use the standard $37.00 FIXED RATE AIRMAIL BOX to airmail 15 copies of the new book overseas, but to my disappointment I discovered that I could fit in this box only 11 copies. The reason is that the book is bigger than the other books.

To resolve the problem, I had to use the larger and more expensive $50.00 FIXED RATE AIRMAIL BOX, which can take up to 15 copies of Popular Beliefs. This means that I paid an additional $26.00 to airmail overseas all the orders we received for a case of 30 copies. For this time I took the loss, but from now on the cost of airmailing overseas 30 copies of Popular Beliefs, is $100.00, instead of $80.00.

My Legacy to our Adventist Church

In many ways Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? represents for me my legacy to our Seventh-day Adventist Church. This may be my last and hopefully my most important contribution to the mission of our Adventist church. All my previous 17 books are making a contribution by helping truth-seekers to understand and accept fundamental Bible teachings held by our church. For example, lately congregations of different denominations have been ordering quantities of Wine in the Bible, because the book has convinced them that the Bible teaches total abstinence, and not moderation. A pastor ordered 1000 copies and supplied me with over 1000 ballpoint pens designed to promote Wine in the Bible. But the impact of Popular Beliefs most likely will be greater than any of my previous books, because it examines, not one, but 10 popular beliefs, which are clearly unbiblical.

When I was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer on February 2007, one of my deep regrets was the inability to complete Popular Beliefs during the remaining few months I was expected to live. I promised to the Lord that if He would extend my life, I would put forth my best efforts to complete Popular Beliefs, to express my gratitude for His providential healing.

The Lord answered my prayer in an unexpected way. He led me to Cancer Research Center in Goshen, Indiana, which is only one hour away from Andrews University where we live. The Center is a pioneer in the field of nuclear oncology and treated my liver cancer with a combined strategy of chemotherapy and microsphere embolization – a treatment unavailable at other cancer centers. Within two months my cancer was reduced by 95%. Grateful to God for a new lease on life, I fulfilled my promise by devoting every spare moment of this past year to complete Popular Beliefs.

When Popular Beliefs came off the press on April 25, I was overwhelmed by a deep sense of gratitude to God for restoring my health and for enabling me to complete this important research project. I felt that an appropriate way to express my gratitude to God, was to plan for a dedication service for the book and in a special way for a re-dedication of my life to His service.

A Most Effective Witnessing Publication

Fellow-believers often ask me this question: What book would you recommend for a neighbor or office worker who has questions about our Adventist beliefs? My common answer has been: I am not aware of any particular Adventist book that answers questions about our beliefs in the context of what other Christians believe. Most of our Adventist books, including the ones that I have written, deal with one particular belief like the Sabbath, the Second Advent, the State of the Dead, Temperance, the Sanctuary, etc. But we do not have a book that compares and contrasts our Adventist beliefs with popular Christian beliefs.

The Good News is that this much needed book is finally available. Popular Beliefs: Are They Biblical? is designed to meet this specific need. Adventists who have been looking for a book to give their friends with questions about our Adventist beliefs, will be glad to give to their friends this book, because it exposes false teachings and affirms biblical truths in a calm, dispassionate, and objective way.

Popular Beliefs should prove to be a most effective witnessing book, because it examines not just the Sabbath/Sunday question, but other popular beliefs such as the immortality of the soul, life after death, hell as eternal torment, purgatory, the veneration of Mary, speaking in tongues, once saved always saved, and infant baptism.

Encouraging Initial Response from non-Adventists

The initial response from non-Adventist readers is very encouraging. Several ministers of different denominations have already ordered Popular Beliefs. One pastor who has served as missionary in South America and is currently pastoring a 170 members congregation in California, called me to tell me how much he appreciated the chapters of Popular Beliefs he had read in our newsletter. He then gave me an order for 65 copies for his congregation.

The B & H Publishing Company is publishing a symposium entitled Perspectives on the Sabbath. Four different perspectives of the Sabbath/Sunday question will be presented by a Catholic, Lutheran, Calvinistic, and Adventist scholar. I have been invited to present the Adventist perspective, as it is found in chapter 7 of Popular Beliefs.

I look forward in the coming months to interact with Christians of different persuasion who will be asking me questions after reading Popular Beliefs. This has been an important aspect of my ministry during the past 35 years. I am always willing to make time for those who sincerely seek to understand and to do the will of God.

The Story Behind Popular Beliefs: Are They Biblical?

Sometimes the story behind a book is as interesting as the book itself. Let me share with you three major factors that compelled me to write Popular Beliefs: Are They Biblical?

The first factor is the frequent discussions I have with Christians of different denominations about their beliefs. Participants at my weekend seminars, as well as subscribers to my Endtime Issues Newsletter, often ask me: Why are some of my beliefs biblically wrong? How can they be unbiblical, when they are held by the vast majority of Christians?

To answer these questions, I have devoted the past thirty years of my life researching and writing 18 books which examine some of today’s popular beliefs from a biblical perspective. Furthermore, a large number of the 200 Endtime Issues Newsletters which I have emailed during the past 10 years to over 35,000 subscribers, examine popular beliefs historically and biblically. Popular Beliefs represents an expansion of several studies I posted in my newsletters. These are readily accessible at http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/endtimeissues/

My Passion for Biblical and Historical Accuracy

The second factor is my passion for biblical and historical accuracy. An example is the five years I spent at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, investigating for my doctoral dissertation the popular belief that the change from Sabbath to Sunday worship came about by the authority of Christ and the apostles to commemorate the Lord’s Resurrection. Incidentally, Pope Benedict XVI made this categorical statement at the 2007 international Eucharist congress.

The findings of my dissertation From Sabbath to Sunday are summarized in chapter 6 of this book, entitled “Sunday Sacredness.” My study shows that the popular belief of Sunday sacredness lacks both biblical and historical support. Historically, I found that the origin of Sunday observance began approximately one century after Christ’s death, during the reign of Emperor Hadrian (117-138), as a result of an interplay of political, social, pagan, and religious factors.

The conclusions of my investigation were well-accepted by the examining commission made up of five distinguished Jesuit scholars. An indication is the gold medal of Pope Paul VI awarded to me for earning the summa cum laude distinction in my school work and dissertation From Sabbath to Sunday. This experience has greatly encouraged me to re-examine the biblical validity and historical accuracy of other popular beliefs, such as those examined in this book.

Incidentally, if you do not have a copy of From Sabbath to Sunday, we will gladly mail you one. The twentieth reprint was delivered to us last week and we now have an ample supply. It is an ideal book to give to a Catholic person because it is published by the Pontifical Gregorian University with the official Catholic imprimatur. Call us at (269) 471-2915 and we will supply you as many copies as you need.

The Demand for a Biblical Re-examination of Popular Beliefs

The third factor that has motivated me to write this book is the increasing demand for a study that can help sincere and open-minded Christians to test the validity of their beliefs on the basis of the normative authority of the Bible. More and more Christians today are questioning the biblical validity of some of their denominational beliefs. This is partly due to the new climate of intellectual freedom that encourages people to take a fresh look at social, political, and religious issues. In Western countries most people no longer feel bound to blindly accept the beliefs of their churches. They want to find out for themselves if what they have been taught is based on biblical teachings or on church traditions.

My Sincere Hope

I have written this book with the earnest desire to help Christians of all persuasions to re-examine their popular beliefs in the light of the normative authority of the Bible. At a time when most Christians still hold to popular beliefs that derive from human traditions rather than from biblical revelation, it is imperative to recover those biblical truths that God has revealed for our eternal salvation.

It is my fervent hope that this book, fruit of many months of dedicated research, will help Christians of all persuasions to “come out” of the Babylonian confusion of popular but unbiblical beliefs, and accept God’s glorious plan for our present life and our future destiny.

Your Help is Needed!!!

Your help is needed to introduce Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? to our church leaders and to Christian leaders of other faiths. On my part I am offering a free review copy to church leaders of any denominations. This means that I need your help.

You can help us in two ways. First, you can email to us the name and address of a local minister with whom you had a contact. We will mail him a free review copy. Second, you may wish to send a donation for covering the cost of mailing free copies to Adventist and non-Adventist church leaders.

To facilitate a massive distribution of Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? we offer the book until May 31, 2008 by the case of 30 copies for only $5.00 per copy, postage paid for the USA, instead of the regular price of $30.00. See below for details.

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER ON POPULAR BELIEFS: ARE THEY BIBLICAL?

Until May 31, 2008, we offer Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? at the following introductory prices:

1 copy of Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? at $30.00 per copy. Mailing expenses are included for the USA. Add $10.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

10 copies of Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? at $10.00 per copy, postage paid, instead of the regular price of $30.00. ($100.00 for 10 copies). Mailing expenses are included for the USA. Add $50.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

30 copies (one case) of Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? at $5.00 per copy ($150.00 for 30 copies). Mailing expenses are included for the USA. Add $100.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

100 copies of Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? at $4.00 per copy, postage paid. ($400.00 for 100 copies). Mailing expenses are included for the USA. Add $300.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

HOW TO ORDER POPULAR BELIEFS: ARE THEY BIBLICAL?

You can order Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? at the introductory prices given above, in four different ways:

(1) ONLINE: By clicking here: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/cart/catalog/index.php?cPath=26_35

(2) PHONE:  By calling us at (269) 471-2915 to give us your credit card number and postal address.

(3) EMAIL:  By emailing your order to <sbacchiocchi@biblicalperspectives.com>. Be sure to provide your postal address, credit card number, and expiration date. 

(4) REGULAR MAIL: By mailing a check to BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES, 4990 Appian Way, Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103, USA. We guarantee to process your order as soon as we receive it.

WOULD YOU LIKE US TO PRESENT AT YOUR CHURCH OUR POPULAR SEMINARS WITH WORDS AND SONGS ?

Would you like us to present at your church one of our popular seminars on the SABBATH or SECOND ADVENT or CHRISTIAN LIFE with Words and Songs? These seminars have been greatly enhanced by the participation of Cristina Piccardi, an outstanding soprano from Brazil who joined my ministry seven months ago. She sings several times before and after each of my lectures. She also gives a sacred concert on Sabbath afternoon. Her powerful and passionate singing touches the hearts of people everywhere. Her singing has almost double the attendance at the seminars.

Our 2008 calendar is already filled for the next few months, but we still have a few openings in the latter part of the year. We will be glad to email you the list of the open weekends so that you can choose the weekend that best suits your church.

To make it possible for many churches to benefit from our seminars, we keep the cost of the seminar down by asking only for the refund of two airline tickets and two nights for two rooms in a reasonable hotel. We do not ask for any honorarium. Instead, we trust in the Lord to meet our financial obligations through the sale of our publications and recordings on Saturday night.

Who is Cristina Piccardi?

Cristina was born in Brazil 26 years ago and came to Andrews University two years ago to accompany her husband who is studying at the seminary. She has earned degrees in voice performance both in Brazil and at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, where she received full scholarship during the two years of her studies, graduating in December of 2005 with a Master in Voice Performance. In the same year she performed in a leading role with symphonic orchestras in the USA and overseas. At the annual 2005 International Competition for Opera Singers she won the first prize as the best soprano singer of the year.

Cristina left the opera world to dedicate her singing talents to sing sacred music. She is far the best soprano I have ever heard during the past 30 years of itinerant ministry around the world. You can enjoy a preview of Cristina’s outstanding singing by clicking at this link:  http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/cristina/ You can see and hear her singing the first stanza of The Holy City.

If your church board wishes to preview one of our seminars, we will gladly mail you free of charge the DVD album with our SABBATH SEMINARS with Words and Songs, that was recorded in Loma Linda. The album contains 3 DVDs with 6 hours of live recording of my lectures and Cristina’s singing.

Feel free to contact us by email <sbacchiocchi@biblicalperspectives.com> or by phone (269) 471-2915. We will gladly supply you with any additional information and reserve a weekend for your church.

“A BRIEF HISTORY OF INFANT BAPTISM”

Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D.,

Retired Professor of Theology and Church History,

Andrews University

Editorial Introduction

This newsletter is excerpted from the last part of chapter 10 of Popular Beliefs: Are They Biblical? For the sake of brevity, I left out some significant studies and sections.

Even if you are not a lover of history, you should find this brief sketch of the history of infant baptism very enjoyable and instructive. You will learn how the gradual abandonment of a clear biblical teaching has had both religious and political consequences. It eventually changed radically the nature of the church from a community of faith, independent of secular society, into a religio-political organization coexistent with society. This led to the formation of a Christian empire and Christian nations. Christianity became a matter of heredity, not decision.

You will see that infant baptism has done untold harm to the Christian faith. It has ritualized religion, secularized the church, obscured the New Testament’s view of baptism, and it has created a false sense of security in the “magic” power of a few drops of waters sprinkled on the head of an infant.

It is my pleasure to share with you this brief historical essay. May it offer you an enjoyable and valuable learning experience.

The history of baptism remains a hotly debated issue among scholars eager to prove that their denominational practice is supported by the witness of early Christian documents. A major reason for the confusion is that the history of baptism in the early church has been obscured by the apologetic writings of both Catholic and Protestant authors against the sixteenth-century Anabaptists who rejected infant baptism, practicing instead believer’s baptism.

In recent scholarship infant baptism has been losing ground and the believer’s baptism is increasingly accepted as the normative practice of the first two centuries. What has contributed to this development has been primarily the effort of paedobaptist scholars to re-examine the subject dispassionately through a careful treatment of the primary sources. Their conclusions discredit the claim of their churches regarding the widespread practice of infant baptism in the early church. For the sake of brevity, I will cite only one scholalry study. Several other studies are mentioned in the book Popular Beliefs: Are They Biblical?

David Wright, What Has Infant Baptism Done to Baptism?

In 2005 patristic scholar David Wright wrote a book titled What Has Infant Baptism Done to Baptism? published by Paternoster Press, England. Though Wright belongs to a church that baptizes infants, his book is critical of the claim that infant baptism prevailed in the first two centuries. He shows that infant baptism was a post-apostolic development, not the dominant practice of the apostolic church.

Wright concurs with other scholars in placing the dominant period of infant baptism during the Middle Ages. He writes: “The timescale of infant baptism’s long reign extends from the early medieval period, from about the sixth century, that is to say, after Augustine of Hippo, who died in 430. It was he who provided the theology that led to infant baptism becoming the general practice for the first time in the history of the church, perhaps in the later fifth century, more likely in the 500s or even later.”

Wright shows that the introduction of infant baptism brought about “a truly massive change in the history of Christ’s church. From being a company recruited by intentional response to the gospel imperative to discipleship and baptism, it became a body enrolled from birth. It was arguably one of the greatest sea changes in the story of Christianity. It led, as we have seen, to the formation of Christendom, comprising a Christian empire made up of Christian nations or peoples. Christianity became a matter of heredity, not decision. The famous and telling words of Tertullian, fiunt, non nascuntur, Christiani, ‘people are made, not born, Christians’, were turned upside down.”

Early Christian Writers of the First Two Centuries

The limited scope of this chapter allows us to briefly mention only four Christian writers of the first two centuries who make statements about baptism. Their testimonies are significant because they show that adult baptism was the common practice of their days.

The Didache (or The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles). The date of this document is uncertain. Scholars date it between A. D. 60 and 110. It is generally regarded as the earliest church manual, though of dubious origin. The passage relevant to our study reads as follows: “And concerning baptism, baptize thus: Having first rehearsed all these things, baptize in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in running water. But if you do not have running water, baptize into other water; if you cannot in cold, then in warm. But if you have neither, pour water three times on the head in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and any other who are able; but you must order the baptized to fast one or two days before.”

The words, “Having first rehearsed all these things,” most likely refers to the common practice for baptismal candidates to make public statements of their beliefs. It is also evident from this passage that fasting was part of the pre-baptismal preparation. Fasting was more than abstinence from food; it also included a period of prayer and spiritual introspection. This aspect of pre-baptismal preparation automatically excludes infants.

The Didache not only gives instructions on the practice of baptism, but also shows that baptism was a prerequisite for full church membership which entitled the believer to participate in the Lord’s Supper. “But let no one eat or drink of your Eucharist, except those who have been baptized in the name of the Lord; for concerning this also the Lord has said, Give not that which is holy to the dogs.” These instructions clearly exclude the baptism of children.

The Epistle of Barnabas (130 - 138). This book, dated by the majority of scholars between A. D. 130 and 138, was written by a pseudonymous Barnabas probably at Alexandria. The main objective of the work is to show that the Jews misunderstood the Scriptures because they interpreted the Mosaic laws literally. Barnabas proposes an allegorical interpretation of the Mosaic laws to prove that they pointed to the Christian dispensation.

In discussing baptism, he offers some information on its practice at his time. He writes: “Let us further inquire whether the Lord took any care to foreshadow the water of baptism and the cross. Concerning the water, indeed it is written in reference to the Israelites, that they should not receive that baptism which leads to the remission of sins . . . Further, what says He? ‘And there was a river flowing on the right, and from it arose beautiful trees; and whosoever shall eat of them shall live for ever.’ This means that we go down into the water full of sin and foulness, and we come up, bearing the fruit of fear in our hearts and having hope on Jesus in the Spirit.”

In this passage Barnabas says that the Jews do not have the baptism that brings remission of sin. Only the Christians have this baptism. It is significant that baptism is linked to the remission of sin, and not to the covenant or circumcision. The notion of the remission of sins is later expanded by Augustine to include the removal from the soul of the stain of the original sin.

The phrases “going down into the water” and “coming up,” were used as technical terms for immersion. This description of baptism by immersion obviously excludes infants. This is further corroborated by the fact that the candidate is foul when he enters the water and has “the fruit of fear in his heart” when he comes out of the water. This is again a description of the cleansing character of baptism as a symbol of remission of sins. This experience can hardly be attributed to innocent infants.

Justin Martyr (100 - 165). The next significant testimony regarding adult baptism comes to us from Justin Martyr. He was born of pagan parents about A. D. 100 in Flavia Neapolis (formerly Shechem in Palestine). He came to Christianity after searching in vain for truth in the pagan philosophies of his time. The most notable Greek apologist of the second century, he wrote two apologies between 148 and 161 to defend the Christian faith. He addressed them to Emperor Antoninus Pius. Sadly, his efforts were of little avail, for, as his name implies, he died as a martyr in Rome about 163 during the reign of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

In his First Apology, Justin explains that baptism is the means whereby men and women dedicate themselves to God and are made new through Jesus Christ. “As many as are persuaded and believe that what we teach and say is true, and undertake to be able to live accordingly, are instructed to pray and to entreat God with fasting, for the remission of sins that are past, we praying and fasting with them. Then they are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father and our Lord of the universe, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they receive the washing of water.”

In this passage Justin clearly spells out the requirements for baptism in his time. First, the candidate had to believe in the truth of the Christian teachings. Second, he must live in accordance to such teachings. Third, the baptismal candidates had to spend some time in devotion and fasting to ask God to forgive all their past sins. Note the sequential order: An acceptance of Bible truths which is followed by a commitment to live accordingly. This is followed by a period of devotion that culminates in baptism. Obviously these conditions exclude the baptism of infants.

This is confirmed by a later statement that baptismal candidates were then allowed to participate in the Lord’s Supper. “No one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with washing [baptized] that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined.”

The process of preparing candidates for baptism was long and laborious. It usually lasted about three years. Baptismal schools, known as Catechetical schools, were established where church leaders instructed baptismal candidates by lecturing to them in a classroom setting. Baptism was usually conducted once a year at Easter time.

Stander and Louw rightly point out that “In the light of Justin’s detailed discussion on baptism in the second century, it is surprising that modern scholars still endeavor to quote him as ‘proof’ for the practice of infant baptism. They ignore the above explicit accounts but prefer to resort to vague statements which can be interpreted either way.”

Tertullian (c. 160 - c. 225). Toward the end of the second century a brilliant lawyer was converted to Christ in the bustling city of Carthage in North Africa. The circumstances of his conversion are uncertain, but we know that he became one of the most influential church leaders of his day, writing numerous treatises that have influenced the church ever since. He is known as the “Father of Latin Christianity.”

Tertullian addressed the needs of the church by writing numerous theological, ethical, and disciplinary treatises. He was the first Church Father to write (about 200 A. D.) a full treatise on baptism – De Baptismo – On Baptism, in addition to commenting upon the subject in several other works. His comments about infant baptism reveal that the practice was being introduced at that time – a practice of which he strongly disapproved.

De Baptismo is supremely important for the study of the subject because it contains the first explicit reference to infant baptism in all Christian writings, Scriptures included. He disapproves of the practice for reasons mentioned shortly. Due to the limitations of this chapter we will quote only a couple of excerpts.

The most quoted statement runs as follows: “And so, according to the circumstances and disposition, and even age, of each individual, the delay of baptism is preferable; principally, however, in the case of little children. For why is it necessary – if (baptism itself) is not so necessary – that the sponsors likewise should be thrust into danger? Who both themselves, by reason of mortality, may fail to fulfill their promises, and may be disappointed by the development of an evil disposition, in those for whom they stood? The Lord does indeed say, ‘Forbid them not to come unto me.’ Let them come, then while they are growing up; let them come while they are learning, while they are learning whither to come; let them become Christian when they have become able to know Christ. Why does the innocent period of life hasten to the remission of sins?”

The two theological convictions, that infants are innocent and that baptism “washes away sin,” lead Tertullian to question the wisdom of baptizing infants. Being innocent, infants do not need the washing away of their sins by baptism. He advises also the unmarried, the virgins and the widows to postpone their baptism until they “are firmly established in continence.”

Tertullian does not speak of infant baptism as it is understood today within the theological framework of the covenant and circumcision. He merely disapproves the practice which was being adopted by some Christians to baptize children at a very early age. It is remarkable that Tertullian refers to sponsors who as a safeguard went through the ceremony on behalf of the infants, in case the little ones died before they could partake of the rituals themselves. Tertullian disapproves of such baptisms which he felt should be postponed until the recipient could make a personal decision.

Tertullian, like other church leaders, believed that baptism “washes away sins.” He wrote: “Happy is the sacrament of water, in that, by washing away the sins of our early blindness, we are set free and admitted to eternal life.” The belief that baptism washes away all sins, gave rise to the practice of delaying baptism, due to the assumption that post-baptismal sins were more difficult to forgive than pre-baptismal sins. The Emperor Constantine, for example, was baptized on his death-bed.