Is Infant Baptism Biblical? Re: George Janko and Cliffe Knechtle @georgejanko @askcliffe

Is Infant Baptism Biblical? Re: George Janko and Cliffe Knechtle @georgejanko @askcliffe

Scripture or Church? Which one comes first? Infant Baptism is both biblical and historically practiced...

[mwhabs]

The explanation of the church as the pillar of truth is wonderful. Thank you Abouna and COA! 🙏✝️

[curiousing]

This is an excellent video. I'd always wondered what the Orthodox answer to this is, as I've never heard the Scripture passages about baptizing the whole household used in the context of this explanation. Nor had I considered the point that the Bible nowhere says NOT to baptize infants—which is just as strong an argument as the argument that it doesn't explicitly mention any infant baptisms, and much stronger than that argument when paired with reference to the household baptisms.

Fr. Gabriel, I pray that our churches will be reunited in our lifetime so that we Eastern Orthodox may tell others about your channel and have the pride of saying, "He's one of our own!" 🙂 But in the meantime, I refer many of my EO friends to your videos, and they love them!

[misganabere]

Great explanation God bless you Fr .Gabriel wisa

[copticconcept]

Thank you for this Abouna, this is the content the youth need. Many in our church may sometimes be led astray by Protestant ideology in the diaspora. God bless you always for protecting our faith!

[mussietesfamikael]

God bless you Father. Very explanatory ❤

[mwhabs]

Also really appreciated the parallel you reminded us of between the Old Testament circumcision and the baptism in the New Testament. God bless! 🔥

[kikikaakau-delizo]

I love this exegesis, Fr. Gabriel! ❤❤ Thank you!

[thealpha]

I really love this style of answering questions, especially to really trending and commonly asked questions. Thank you so much Fr. Gabriel Wisa

[anomalyweddings]

Absolutely love this video; I knew there would be an answer, Orthodoxy always has the answer and I love it! I shall be sharing this next time this comes up for sure.

There are always exceptions to the rule though - Literally today's (11th May 24) synaxarian is about St Sarah & her two sons. Plus we look at the thief on the right hand cross - but these are exceptions for sure.

Cliff is a great apologist and I've enjoyed many hours hearing him preach at college campuses.

[rossanderson]

In Bible class today, there was a part on that we need to protect our church. You do a great job in doing so Abouna. God bless you.

[TheotokosMinistries]

I'm a Roman Catholic and I really enjoy this channel. I think he did an excellent job at explaining the Apostolic understanding of Infant baptism. Much appreciated 🙏

[bestyoutubeuser]

Such an incredible video, Abouna! Thank you so much for sharing this wisdom and insight! God bless you ❤

[jineshfrancis]

Infant Baptism

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Allow *little children* to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Luke 18 : 16

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be *baptized every one of you* in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For the promise is unto you, and to *your children*, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Acts 2 : 38-39

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and *your house* . Act's 16 : 31

And I *baptized also the household* of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
1 Corinthians 1 : 16



ST. IRENAEUS OF LYONS
For he came to save all through himself—all, I say, who through him are born again to God—infants, and children, and boys, and youths, and old men [Against Heresies 2:22:4 (c. A.D. 189)].

And [Naaman] dipped himself . . . seven times in the Jordan [2 Kgs 5:14]. It was not for nothing that Naaman, when suffering from leprosy, was purified upon being baptized, but as an indication to us. For as we are lepers in sin, we are made clean of our old transgressions by means of the sacred water and the invocation of the Lord; we are spiritually regenerated as newborn babes, even as the Lord has declared: “Except a man be born again through water and the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” [Jn 3:5] [Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenaeus 34 (c. A.D. 190)].

ST. HIPPOLYTUS OF ROME
The children shall be baptized first. All the children who can answer for themselves, let them answer. If there are any children who cannot answer for themselves, let their parents answer for them, or someone else from their family [Apostolic Tradition 21 (c. A.D. 215)].

ORIGEN OF ALEXANDRIA
Every soul that is born into flesh is soiled by the filth of wickedness and sin. . . . In the Church, baptism is given for the remission of sins, and, according to the usage of the Church, baptism is given even to infants. If there was nothing in infants that required the remission of sins and nothing in them pertinent to forgiveness, the grace of baptism would seem superfluous [Homilies on Leviticus 8:3 (c. A.D. 249)].

EARLY CHRISTIAN INSCRIPTION
Sweet Tyche lived one year, ten months, and twenty-five days. Received [the grace of baptism] on the eighth day before the Kalends [the first day of the month]. Gave up her soul on the same day [Christian Inscriptions, no. 27 (c. A.D. 250)].


Florentius erected this monument to his well-deserving son Appronianus, who lived one year, nine months, and five days. Since he was dearly loved by his grandmother, and she saw that he was going to die, she asked of the Church that he should depart from the world a believer [Christian Inscriptions, no. 40 (c. A.D. 250)].

ST. CYPRIAN OF CARTHAGE
But in respect of the case of the infants, which you [Fidus] say ought not to be baptized within the second or third day after their birth, and that the law of ancient circumcision should be followed, so that one who is just born should not be baptized and sanctified within the eighth day, we all thought very differently in our council. For no one agreed with the course you thought should be taken; rather we all judge that the mercy and grace of God is not to be refused to anyone born of man [Letters 58:2 ].

But when even to the greatest sinners, and to those who had sinned much against God, when they subsequently believed, remission of sins is granted—and nobody is hindered from baptism and from grace—how much ought we to shrink from hindering an infant, who, being newly born, has not sinned, except that being born after the flesh according to Adam, he has contracted the contagion of the ancient death at its earliest birth, he approaches more easily on this account the reception of the forgiveness of sins—that to him are remitted not his own sins, but the sins of another [Letters, 58:5 ( A.D. 253)].

[andrewboctor]

Thank you Abouna! This is very helpful to us Copts when explaining our faith to others

[Troy-Moses]

Adults are first catechised then are baptised, while children are first baptised then are catechised; but the road to salvation still includes both.

[JoelMorgan-Bullock]

You make an excellent point about infant baptism, I don't think its wrong to be baptised as a child but I personally preferred making the choice to be baptised when I was 14. I don't have children yet but when I do I will return to this issue and make a decision with my wife whether to baptise them as infants or wait until they can make the informed choice themselves.

[atgred]

Ill century Origen of Alexandria in his commentary
In Rom. R, 501.
"THE CHURCH HAS RECEIVED FROM THE APOSTLES the custom of administering baptism EVEN TO CHILDREN. For those to whom the divine mysteries were entrusted knew very well that they all carry the stain of original sin, which must be washed away by water and the spirit "

[rickylopez]

Do those scripture say how old the family members were?

[JPHolling]

amazing answers. Im a protestant... and disagree with almost all protestants on this topic

[exiledknight]

2 Thessalonians 2 15 disproves all denominations that disregard church tradition