Do Anabaptists still object to infant baptism?

Christian ethics and theology with an Anabaptist perspective

What do you believe about infant baptism?

Infant baptism is preferable to waiting to be an adult, and so is infant communion.
2
10%
Infant baptism is preferable but communion should be delayed until someone is of age.
0
No votes
Baptism of someone of age is preferable but infant baptism is acceptable.
0
No votes
Infant baptism is to be avoided but there is no need to be rebaptized as an adult.
2
10%
Infant baptism is invalid but not a big deal. Rebaptism as an adult is a good idea. I will commune with infant baptizers.
6
30%
Infant baptism is unacceptable and I won’t commune with infant baptizers but it’s not an “abomination”.
4
20%
Infant baptism is an abomination, like the Schleitheim confession says.
6
30%
I think adult baptism needs to be age 18+ and anything below that is unacceptable.
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 20

Ernie
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Affiliation: Anabaptist Umbrella

Re: Do Anabaptists still object to infant baptism?

Post by Ernie »

JohnH wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 12:04 pm
Ernie wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 12:02 pm
JohnH wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 11:00 am - We should baptise in the name of Jesus. (This can be said as "the name of the Son", or also said as "in the name of Jesus". It is Christian tradition to also say "the name of the Father" and "the name of the Holy Ghost".)
It is way more than Christian tradition.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Yes. However Paul also said to baptize in Jesus’ name . So either is acceptable.
That is not how I interpret scripture. If there are two commands, you follow both. Not choose between the two.
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JohnH
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Re: Do Anabaptists still object to infant baptism?

Post by JohnH »

Ernie wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 6:04 pm
JohnH wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 12:04 pm
Ernie wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 12:02 pm It is way more than Christian tradition.

Yes. However Paul also said to baptize in Jesus’ name . So either is acceptable.
That is not how I interpret scripture. If there are two commands, you follow both. Not choose between the two.
I would personally choose this. However, most Christians want to baptize and say "in the name of the father, the son, and the Holy Ghost". Some want to say "in the name of Jesus". I would prefer that both commands were followed, but most people only do the former, and I don't want to condemn them too harshly for that.
0 x
ohio jones
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Re: Do Anabaptists still object to infant baptism?

Post by ohio jones »

How is baptizing in the name of the Son not baptizing in the name of Jesus?
1 x
JohnH
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Re: Do Anabaptists still object to infant baptism?

Post by JohnH »

ohio jones wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:14 pm How is baptizing in the name of the Son not baptizing in the name of Jesus?
Well, Ernie was saying we have to follow both commands.
0 x
Ernie
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Affiliation: Anabaptist Umbrella

Re: Do Anabaptists still object to infant baptism?

Post by Ernie »

JohnH wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:16 pm
ohio jones wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:14 pm How is baptizing in the name of the Son not baptizing in the name of Jesus?
Well, Ernie was saying we have to follow both commands.
I go by what I understand is the intention of the text, not the letter.

When I baptize, I say, "In the name of God the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, and of The Holy Spirit." or something along that line.
1 x
A wee little man can’t say, I’m sorry. A big man owns his mistakes and apologizes.
A wee little man trusts himself and his own discernment. A big man is humble enough to know that he needs the counsel and input of others.
ohio jones
Posts: 2349
Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2024 6:03 pm
Affiliation: Rosedale Network

Re: Do Anabaptists still object to infant baptism?

Post by ohio jones »

JohnH wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:16 pm
ohio jones wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:14 pm How is baptizing in the name of the Son not baptizing in the name of Jesus?
Well, Ernie was saying we have to follow both commands.
Using the words "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" is following both commands.
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JohnH
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Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2024 5:00 pm
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Re: Do Anabaptists still object to infant baptism?

Post by JohnH »

ohio jones wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:34 pm
JohnH wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:16 pm
ohio jones wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:14 pm How is baptizing in the name of the Son not baptizing in the name of Jesus?
Well, Ernie was saying we have to follow both commands.
Using the words "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" is following both commands.
People who focus on Acts 2:38 will say that when it says to “baptise in the name of the son”, it is telling you to “baptise in Jesus’ name”.
0 x
barnhart
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Location: Brooklyn
Affiliation: Mennonite

Re: Do Anabaptists still object to infant baptism?

Post by barnhart »

Praxis+Theodicy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 8:28 am
barnhart wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 6:58 amThis is interesting. I would like to know more. Can you direct me to where I can find this in its context?
I find this a fair minded presentation but it seems to be saying something similar to what I said earlier, you can find quotes here and there to support what you want to find. What I didn't hear was a quote from Origen that claimed the apostles taught infant baptism.
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Valerie
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Re: Do Anabaptists still object to infant baptism?

Post by Valerie »

barnhart wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 10:47 pm
Praxis+Theodicy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 8:28 am
barnhart wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 6:58 amThis is interesting. I would like to know more. Can you direct me to where I can find this in its context?
I find this a fair minded presentation but it seems to be saying something similar to what I said earlier, you can find quotes here and there to support what you want to find. What I didn't hear was a quote from Origen that claimed the apostles taught infant baptism.
I will find it, I cannot remember now but I’ve seen it more than once. Maybe read all Origens writings. He is questioned on some of his theology, but his statement that the Apistles taught to baptize your infants wasn’t his “theology”, it was a statement that obvious was handed down to him as he wasn’t born yet at time the Apostles started Churches.
I completely understand why Anabaptists would want to reject this with all their hearts, there are however former Anabaptists who do believe the historical understanding.
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ohio jones
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Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2024 6:03 pm
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Re: Do Anabaptists still object to infant baptism?

Post by ohio jones »

JohnH wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 12:04 pm
Ernie wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 12:02 pm
JohnH wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 11:00 am - We should baptise in the name of Jesus. (This can be said as "the name of the Son", or also said as "in the name of Jesus". It is Christian tradition to also say "the name of the Father" and "the name of the Holy Ghost".)
It is way more than Christian tradition.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Yes. However Paul also said to baptize in Jesus’ name . So either is acceptable.
Where does Paul say this?
JohnH wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 10:16 pm People who focus on Acts 2:38 will say that when it says to “baptise in the name of the son”, it is telling you to “baptise in Jesus’ name”.
They may be trying to make a distinction between those statements, but there is none.
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