Infant Baptism Appears (c. AD 200–253)

Infant Baptism Appears

The New Testament baptizes those who believe. The first clear evidence of baptizing young children appears around 200, when Tertullian argued against hurrying them to baptism. By about 253 a North African council under Cyprian approved baptizing newborns, as baptism came to be seen as washing away sin.

The New Testament pattern

Believers, Then Baptism

Every baptism described in the New Testament follows faith. Those who gladly received the word were baptized (Acts 2:41); men and women were baptized when they believed (Acts 8:12); the eunuch was baptized after confessing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:36–38).

“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”ACTS 8:12 · KJV

Related individuals

TertullianTheologian of Carthage · c. 155–c. 220 Augustine of HippoBishop of Hippo; theologian of the catholic church · 354–430