The place of children in the church is something of an enigma among Christians. Should the children of believers be regarded as part of the covenant community, with the privileges and responsibilities that accompany that status? Or are they simply unbelievers, like children in the non-Christian world? What promise does God give believing parents and their children? What was the place of children in the Old Testament, and how does that compare with their position in the New? These are some of the issues surrounding the question of whether to baptize infant children of believers. The sixteen contributors to this volume make a thorough biblical and theological case for covenant infant baptism. Contributors include: Gregg Strawbridge, Mark E. Ross, Cornelis P. Venema, Bryan Chapell, Joseph Pipa, Lyle D. Bierma, Dan Doriani, Jeffrey D. Niell, Peter J. Leithart, Joel R. Beeke, Richard L. Pratt, Douglas Wilson, Ray B. Lanning, Randy Booth, R. C. Sproul Jr., and Jonathan M (more…)

In arguing for biblical infant baptism, it is not sufficient for us to say that infant baptism is merely consistent with the Scriptures, or that a biblical case can be made for it. In order for us to be satisfied that we are being biblical Christians, we must be content with nothing less than a clear biblical case requiring infant baptism. In a doctrinal matter of this importance, the standards of evidence are high.

About the Author

Douglas Wilson is pastor of Christ Church, Moscow, Idaho, and editor of Credenda/Agenda magazine. He is the author of Standing on the Promises, Future Men, and the co-author of Angels in the Architecture: A Protestant Vision for Middle Earth.

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Review

“In the years since the publication of the Faith and Order document Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, ecumenical discussions have come to include significant attention to the actual liturgical practice of baptism and the actual significance of that practice for the lives of Christian believers and for the unity of the church. Time and again, at the heart of such discussion has been the gracious and insightful leadership of Thomas F. Best. Now those discussions and that leadership come together in this excellent collection of liturgies, commentaries, survey articles, ecumenical agreements, and careful articulations of the many remaining challenges. The result is a book that cannot be ignored by anyone interested in thinking about Christian baptism in the present time.” — Gordon W. Lathrop, Charles A. Schieren Professor of Liturgy Emeritus, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia”This is a wonderful book for any person interested in understanding where the C (more…)

I know not whether any further point is mooted to bring baptism into controversy. Permit me to call to mind what I have omitted above, lest I seem to break off the train of impending thoughts in the middle. There is to us one, and but one, baptism; as well according to the Lord’s gospel[11] as according to the apostle’s letters,[12] inasmuch as he says, “One God, and one baptism, and one church in the heavens.”

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