Why do some churches baptize infants?

Paedobaptist traditions appeal to the inclusion of children in the covenant, the analogy with circumcision, the practice of household baptisms in the New Testament, and the priority of God's grace over human response.

Is a person rebaptized when changing denominations?

Most churches recognize a trinitarian baptism with water as valid regardless of where it was performed, so a person is generally not rebaptized; traditions that practice believer's baptism may differ where the original baptism was of an infant.

Theology of Baptism

The theology of baptism concerns the meaning and effect of the sacrament of initiation, by which a person is incorporated into Christ and the church.

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Definition

The doctrine of the meaning and efficacy of Christian baptism as the sacrament of initiation.

Scope

This topic examines baptism as the rite of Christian initiation: its biblical institution and imagery (union with Christ's death and resurrection, washing, new birth), its relation to faith and to regeneration, the long-standing debate between infant (paedobaptism) and believer's baptism, the question of baptismal regeneration, and ecumenical agreements on the mutual recognition of baptism. The presentation is descriptive, comparing the positions of different traditions.

Core questions

What does baptism signify and effect?
Should infants be baptized, or only those who profess faith?
Is baptism regenerative, or a sign of grace already received?
Can baptisms across traditions be mutually recognized?

Key theories

Baptismal regeneration: The Catholic, Orthodox, and much Lutheran and Anglican view that baptism is the instrument through which God effects the new birth, cleansing from sin and incorporating the recipient into Christ.
Baptism as sign of faith and covenant: The Reformed and Baptist emphasis (with internal differences) that baptism signifies and seals union with Christ; Reformed paedobaptists ground infant baptism in covenant continuity, while Baptists restrict it to professing believers.

History

Baptism was practiced from the apostolic era; infant baptism became common by the third to fifth centuries, defended by Augustine in connection with original sin. The Anabaptists of the Reformation rejected infant baptism in favor of believer's baptism, a position continued by Baptists. Modern theology, including Barth's critique of infant baptism, and ecumenical work such as the WCC's Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, have revisited the questions.

Debates

Infant versus believer's baptism: Whether baptism rightly extends to infants of believers (on grounds of covenant, original sin, or prevenient grace) or is reserved for those who can personally profess faith.
Baptismal regeneration: Whether baptism itself conveys regenerating grace or is a sign and seal of a grace received by faith, a difference dividing sacramental from more symbolic traditions.

Key figures

Tertullian
Augustine of Hippo
Huldrych Zwingli
Karl Barth

Seminal works

wcc1982bem
barth1948baptism
mcgrath2016

Frequently asked questions

Why do some churches baptize infants?: Paedobaptist traditions appeal to the inclusion of children in the covenant, the analogy with circumcision, the practice of household baptisms in the New Testament, and the priority of God's grace over human response.
Is a person rebaptized when changing denominations?: Most churches recognize a trinitarian baptism with water as valid regardless of where it was performed, so a person is generally not rebaptized; traditions that practice believer's baptism may differ where the original baptism was of an infant.