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Did the Early Church Baptize Infants?

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In "Infant Baptism in the First Four Centuries" Joachim Jeremias erected a formidable historical defense of the practice of infant baptism. He asserted that the practice began in Apostolic times and could be documented as far back as the beginning of the second century, and these sources also lead us to believe infants were baptized earlier. Along with a brief theological explanation and defense of the practice I was uncertain how anyone could dispute his claims.

Enter Kurt Aland. In "Did the Early Church Baptize Infants?" Aland follows Jeremias' defense step by step dismantling it along the way. Each assertion is shown to be, if not false, at least uncertain where Jeremias contends it was certain from the sources. Aland examined the same sources and others to show that infant baptism could not be firmly documented until the third century at the earliest. According to Aland, Jeremias' assertions that it could be documented earlier were speculative at best.

This book is an excellent tool to help flesh out the different perspectives on infant baptism. It was charitably written, but did not hold back in thoroughly examining the evidence for this controversial issue. The biggest problem with this book is all the Greek that is not transliterated so that laymen can read it. This is especially problematic at one or two crucial points in his arguement. For the most part, though, the book was written in a way that a non-expert can read and understand; which is amazing for a translated book on theology.

To learn more about the issues involved in the controversy over infant baptism read: "Christian Baptism" by John Murray (for infant baptism), "Baptism: What Saith the Scripture?" by Ironside (against infant baptism), and "Baptism in the First Four Centuries" by Jeremias (for...). I am eager to read Jeremias' rebuttal in "The Origins of Infant Baptism: A Further Study in Reply to Kurt Aland." I love debates!