The following articles are related to the topic of INFANT BAPTISM

A Response to: “Yes, We Baptize Babies”

The Christian News is a weekly journal published by some nice (though misguided) folks associated with the Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod). A couple of years back (June 30, 1997, p. 22) the paper published the reproduction of an article by Lutheran clergyman Stephen C. F. Kurtzhan, titled: "Yes, we baptize our babies in the name of the Father, Son, Holy ... read more »

What Is the History of Infant Sprinkling?

"Could you tell me when infant baptism first began and why it was started?" In the first place, there is rarely any such practice as infant "baptism."The Greek verb baptizo means to immerse.Babies, whenever they are administered what is commonly called "infant baptism," are almost never immersed.Whatever else one may wish to call the practice, it is not infant "baptism." ... read more »

Three Quick Points from 1 Timothy 2:4

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul urges that prayer be made on behalf of all men -particularly rulers -to the end that we may have a peaceful existence conducive to the Christian life. The apostle contends that this is acceptable in God's sight, "who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth" ... read more »

Translating “Bapto”

The Greek word baptizo means to "dip, immerse." It is so defined by virtually every New Testament language authority. The verbal form occurs some eighty times in the New Testament. In most modern versions the verb is not translated at all; rather, it is anglicized, i.e., it is brought from the Greek language into English, almost letter-for-letter. Why do you ... read more »

The Rite of Circumcision

On his second missionary journey, when Paul came to Lystra, he incorporated a disciple named Timothy into his evangelistic team (cf. Acts 16:1-3).Since Timothy's father had been a Greek, the apostle had the young man circumcised as a matter of expediency (cf. 1 Cor. 9:20), to prevent offense while working among the Jews. Since critics of the Bible characterize circumcision ... read more »

A History of the Baptism Apostasy

The theme of baptism is one of the simplest and easiest to understand of most any theological subject in the New Testament. How tragic it is, therefore, that there should be so much confusion-indeed such uncommon error-in the community of "Christendom" regarding this important New Testament doctrine. According to The Exhaustive Concordance to the Greek New Testament (Kohlenberger et al. ... read more »

The Church Fathers: Benefits and Abuses

The term "church fathers" is a descriptive of some elasticity, depending upon who is using the expression. Generically, it refers to a number of men in those centuries following the apostolic age (A.D. 30-100), who energetically promoted and defended Christianity as they understood it. Protestants usually define the duration of these scholars to about the 6th century, while Roman Catholics ... read more »

Baby Dedication Ceremonies: Expediency or Innovation?

The "infant dedication" service is a new practice that has evolved within some churches of Christ in recent years. Apparently it is becoming increasingly popular, as a search-engine check of "Baby Dedication-Church of Christ" on the world wide web will reveal. Is this practice merely an innocent expediency? Many respectable brethren believe that this exercise reflects a very unhealthy trend ... read more »

The Bible Doesn’t Say, “Don’t Do It,” Does It?

Solomon once wrote that "there is no new thing under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Certainly that saying is true with reference to the arguments that a swelling "progressive" element within the church is employing in defense of the idea that the use of musical instruments is permissible in Christian worship. Or at the very least, they allege, the issue is ... read more »

The Folly of Extrapolating Analogy

An "analogy" is a form of thought by which things are compared.Analogical thought involves a broad "comparison" spectrum that is manifested in several varieties.The simile, the metaphor, metonymy, the parable, and the similitude are all forms of analogical expression. Scripture speaks of the person who meditates day and night upon the word of God, and suggests that such a one ... read more »