Christian FoundationDisputed among the faithful · The Church
Who should be baptized — and when?
Faithful Christians have disagreed for centuries about whether baptism belongs to believers upon profession of faith or also to the children of believers. What is at stake is the meaning of the sign — not the gospel itself. No one is saved or lost over this question.
Where Scripture takes this up
- 1 Corinthians 1:14-16
14I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that I do not remember if I baptized anyone else.
- 1 Corinthians 7:14
14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
- 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
1I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 16:15-16
15You know that Stephanas and his household were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. Now I urge you, brothers, 16to submit to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.
Believer's baptism
Baptism follows personal profession of faith; the sign belongs to disciples.
Infant baptism
The children of believers receive the covenant sign, as circumcision was given to Israel's children.