Baptism
What position should the children of believers have in the church today? And how should this affect the ways in which we nurture them? The authors of this volume share the conviction that children of believers belong to God, and thus ought to be baptized and treated as members of the church, wherein they are called to faith and obedience along with the adults. The contributions in this volume substantiate this foundational conviction through investigations in Scripture and history, and make it clear that the matter of children in the church remains a pressing concern, worthy of our continued attention and energy.
June 2, 2020
The New Testament recounts several occasions on which whole households were baptized (Acts 16:15, 30–34; 1 Cor. 1:16). Were children, and particularly infants, among those who received the sign and seal of the covenant? I plan to address this question from two angles. First of all (and briefly), I will demonstrate that the narratives themselves do not rule out the possibility. Secondly, I will present historical evidence for households in the Graeco-Roman world that suggests that the first readers of these narratives would have assumed the inclusion of children in these household baptisms. Consequently, I will argue that—if infant baptism were contrary to God’s design and desire—their exclusion would have needed to be explicitly marked. In this case, the silence speaks louder than words.
February 22, 2019
In this talk, we will look at three early church fathers (Tertullian, Augustine, and Gregory of Nazianzus) when it comes to their views on infant baptism. Although they agreed that baptism is a precious gift, nevertheless, they disagreed about who should receive it. As we unpack the theological rationale of their respective views, we will also point out the weaknesses of those same views and consider some challenges they present for the Church today.
February 22, 2019
Credobaptists often argue that the Reformers uncritically took over infant baptism from the medieval church. The truth is actually that they continued it only on the basis of a fresh examination of Scripture. This examination led them to emphasize a newly-discovered biblical theme: God’s covenant of grace with believers and their children. I will explain how Bullinger, Brès, and other reformers urged the churches to believe God when he said that the children belonged to him and that those who belong to him have the Holy Spirit.
February 22, 2019
Should children be baptized and so receive the sign of God’s covenant? The Reformed say “yes”; Baptists say “no.” How can these two groups, who both love the Bible, come to such different conclusions? Much depends on answering two questions correctly. First, to what exactly is the sign pointing? Second, what is the character of the promise-conveying language that is sealed in the sacraments, including baptism? Giving due attention to the OT and NT, this speech will seek to provide relevant answers to these critical questions.
February 22, 2019
With this collection, some of the most important studies of Dr. N.H. Gootjes are made available to a wider readership. The topics covered remain as relevant as ever: creation and general revelation, the birth and work of Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, the Reformed Confessions, sacraments, and preaching.
Author: N.H. Gootjes. Publisher: Premier Publishing, 2010. ISBN 9780887560989
May 13, 2015
Is infant baptism a non-essential doctrine that is open to various interpretations? This article counters that notion.
April 6, 2015
