. He argues that infants should not be forced into an act that can be perceived as an agreement to behave in a manner that is more Christ-like. And it is used that way in the RCC. Last but not least, Tertullian is the first church father to say that women had no authority to baptize. Tertullian is the earliest to reference to the practice of infant baptism. Tertullian's point is clear. It is heretical when used that way. Tertullian's Homily on Baptism Tertullian's objection to infant baptism, outlined in chapter 18 of his Homily on Baptism (c. 200) is well known.6 It is, however, instructive to consider what we may learn from this concerning the arguments advanced in favour of infant baptism in North Africa at that time. The earliest explicit mention of infant "baptism" in the history of the church is from the African church father, Tertullian, who lived from about A.D. 160 to about 220. Tertullian makes the next reference to the practice sometime between 200-206AD and while he's against infant baptism (it's not for the reason that you might think): "According to everyone's condition and disposition, and also his age, the delaying of baptism is more profitable, especially in the case of little children." Jeremias does not discuss the concept of 'baptismal regeneration' and how this fits into the theology of (infant) baptism. Tertullian spoke against infant baptism for this reason. Tertullian is the only one in the first three centuries of the church who expressed any problems with infant baptism (though only in certain cases). Happy is our sacrament of water, in that, by washing away the sins of our early blindness, we are set free and admitted into eternal life! Answers the question whether Tertullian (and the church in North Africa) rejected Infant Baptism (Paedobaptism). Miller says--"Tertullian, about two hundred years after the birth of Christ, is the first man of whom we read in ecclesiastical history, as speaking a word against infant baptism." Well, uncandid as this is, we must request our readers to remember that Dr. Miller says Tertullian spoke against it. In regards to Tertullian's opposition to infant baptism, it came in an early writing of his, 197 AD On Baptism (his attitude on infant baptism would change later on in life). The first clear reference to infant baptism appears in Tertullian's On Baptism 18 (ca. When Tertullian argues against infant baptism however, he does not cite these things (as many baptist historians . This chapter examines the traducianism of Tertullian and his role as a "precursor" of the notion of original sin. St. Paul uses the example of circumcision to explain the significance of Baptism and thus implies that Baptism like circumcision could be administered to infants (1 Cor 7.14). Origen, who is roughly contemporary with Tertullian, says that infant baptism was passed down by the apostles. Tertullian of North Africa. The wording, however, should be noted. For why is it necessary … that the sponsors should be thrust into danger? His belief in baptismal regeneration, and the fear of gravely sinning later in life . BAPTISM OF INFANTS The Baptism of Infants is a long-standing practice in the Church. Two teachers that did not teach infant baptism were Justin Martyr and Tertullian. Tertullian mentions the practice in conjunction with sponsors who would aid in the child's spiritual training. The first implication of infant baptism was during the life of Irenaeus, who was born about 130 A.D. 5. Tertullian:(On Baptism-III:678) "Unless a man be reborn of water and spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven" has tied to faith the necessity of baptism. Thelwall.] He paralleled infant baptism with circumcision and the practice of infant baptism has . Q&A 1087 - Patristic Support for Infant Baptism? A treatise on this matter will not be superfluous; instructing not only such as are just becoming formed (in the faith), but them who, content with having simply believed, without full examination of the . It's hard to know for certain, but I suspect we will not be far off if we suggest that it began in the late 2nd century, gaining widespread acceptance by the mid 3rd century. Cyprian taught it c. 250 AD so it was well established before the 4th century. St. Paul uses the example of circumcision to explain the significance of Baptism and thus implies that Baptism like circumcision could be administered to infants (1 Cor 7.14). 3 Leithart, Peter J. Just as God does nothing unwillingly, nor does He really baptize unrepentant sinners. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.217. 200) and there Tertullian rejects the practice on the grounds that very young children are not yet "competent to know Christ" and are innocent of culpable sin. Origen mentions it in the early 3rd century. None of the pre-Tertullian sources mention infant baptism. Answer (1 of 21): Against infant baptism: 1. Thereby, we speed back to the eternal light as children of the Father. 3. In the same paragraphs he advocates delaying baptism for virgins and for unmarried widows. In his work "De Baptismo", Tertullian (around 200 A.D.) looked askance at infant baptism. It suggests that infant baptism is common and that Tertullian is concerned because he holds baptism in such high esteem. It is difficult to see how he might favor infant baptism if the church he oversaw was planted by Polycarp, the disciple of John, unless infant baptism is apostolic. Although Tertullian opposed infant baptism, he did "fertilize the soil" for its ready acceptance by others. Origin of the Treatise. Concerning Baptism. 15Tertullian, On Baptism, 4.1. The aim of this article is to present Tertullian's views on baptism in a tidy and detailed manner. In De Baptismo he lists the requirements for baptism: fasting, renouncing the devil, even not bathing for a a specified time. 18 (ANF 3:677-78). On Baptism. Tertullian believed children did not have the capacity to live the life Christ taught. [Tertullian "De Resurrectione Carnis" c 200 AD] Although some early writes, notably Tertullian (who later fell into heresy), were opposed to infant baptism, it must be acknowledged that the practice rapidly became the norm once the bulk of people were Christians. They were to be disciples. That is the failure to advance what would have been, in his day, the most compelling point of all against the practice: that it was novel and/or unfamiliar to Christians in other parts of the . I was reading some of the early Christian writings recently and was surprised to come across references to infant baptism in the Church from such patristic heavyweights as Iraneus (130-202), Origen (185-254), Tertullian (155-230) and Hippolytus (d. 235). Next we look at the witness of Origen, the Church's first (and controversial) systematic theologian, who flourished in Alexandria and Palestine and who died in 254. Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Origen all mention infants being baptized in the second century. Cyprian, in the 3rd century, reasoned: The article is important in terms of providing a perspective on the concept of baptism practiced in the early period of Christianity, especially on infant/child baptism. Tertullian discussed it c. 206. The passage in question from Tertullian is cited by Sean below: Tertullian, treatise on BAPTISM 18,4 (c. AD 200-206) "According to circumstance and disposition and even age of the individual person, it may be better to delay Baptism . Tertullian, given time to elbaorate upon his own thought, plainly agrees with what he wrote in On Repentance. Expanding on these observations Hugh Thompson Kerr notes that "Tertullian argued against baptism not only of infants but of children, which is evidence that such baptism was the accepted practice of his day. But if repentance is a thing human, its baptism must necessarily be of the same nature: else, if it had been celestial, it would have given both the Holy Spirit and remission of sins. The Origins of Infant Baptism: A Further Study in Reply to Kurt Aland (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2004), 9. Thereby, we speed back to the eternal light as children of the Father. information of infant baptisms, nor do they deny their practice. It argues that despite his acceptance of the traducianist explanation of the origin of the soul, Tertullian cannot be legitimately numbered among those Fathers who prepared the way for Augustine and his elaboration of the doctrine of original sin. . But none of them advocate infant baptism, and what they do say about baptism often excludes infants. The best (and essentially only) argument that some in the Early Church were not pro infant baptism. Whatever the (de)merits of Tertullian's theology of baptism, one thing is particularly noteworthy regarding his argument against infant baptism. The closest the Baptists can get is Tertullian, and any reading of Tertullian show that he did not reject infant baptism but believed it should be delayed, because he believed baptism would provide forgiveness of sins that otherwise could not be forgiven. argument for infant baptism. He believes that baptism at any age is accepted. iniquities, and are purified by baptism. The best (and essentially only) argument that some in the Early Church were not pro infant baptism. AD 354), there seemed to be a movement against infant baptism at least in North Africa which may have started as early as from the period of Tertullian (Carthage, d. AD 220). Theology of Baptism in the North African Early Church. He argues that infants should not be forced into an act that can be perceived as an agreement to behave in a manner that is more Christ-like. What about Tertullian? Yet, the first explicit reference to the concept of infant baptism is found in Tertullian, who is writing against it. They themselves, by reason of . Any reference to infants being baptized is conspicuously missing. Let them come while they are maturing, while they are learning, while they are being taught what it is . [1] Tertullian was the first to mention infant baptism around AD 200 (see below). 2. Baptism cannot save; is not necessary for salvation; takes away from the sufficiency of the blood of Christ if made necessary for salvation. Some researchers have claimed that infant baptism was a common practice before Tertullian.112 Schaff, one of these researchers, claims that the infant baptism is based upon Christ's call as in the following words: "Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven".113 Again, the fact that . Very soon it had to give place to baptizare, and it is comparatively little found in later authors. Although infant baptism was practiced in the early church prior to Augustine (b. He was born in Carthage, studied in Rome for a legal career, and was converted to Christianity in about 195. no doubt, as is known, being railed . Tertullian, in On Baptism (early 3rd century), argues against infant baptism: "[T]he delay of baptism is preferable; principally, however, in the case of little children." 1 He gives several reasons. The North African Christians allowed the baptism of infants, and Tertullian argued that they should not. They're discussed often in the gospels, Acts, the writings of Paul, The Didache, Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, etc. . "Tertullian's opposition," the learned Baron Bunsen remarks, "is to the baptism of young, growing children; he does not say a word about new-born infants." 4. 290-292). Origen states that the custom had come down from apostolic times. What we see in the 4th century is a consolidation, not a revolution, of the earlier . Moving forward in history to Tertullian, a theologian in the late 100's and early 200's, we have the first known dispute against infant baptism. But he is also cautious that baptism can be practiced in all the time. Cyprian and the Council of Carthage in 253 A.D. took infant baptism for granted. "Infant Baptism in History: An Unfinished Tragicomedy" in, The Case for Covenantal Infant Baptism. Keywords: History of Religion, Tertullian, Baptism, Quintilla, Infant Baptism. A.P. Richard wrote: "Unproven statement. how mean and weak the other! He's also a crystal clear proponent of "believer's baptism" (as opposed to infant baptism) as seen in §18. Tertullian is the first church father to say that the Pentecost and Easter period are particularly suitable for baptism. 16Ibid., 4.2. . Even Tertullian doesn't say it's invalid, inefficacious, or a novel idea proposed by heretics. "Why is the age of innocence in such a hurry for the forgiveness of sins?" The only early Christian writer I know of who wrote against infant Baptism was the Second Century lawyer and apologist, Tertullian, in his work entitled "On Baptism".However, he is the only discordant note on this issue in the Christian symphony of the early centuries..
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