Baptism is for penitent believers. See Mark 16:15 & 16 and Acts 2:38. How can an infant believe? Rom.14:12 says that “each one of us must give an account of himself to God”. We must each be responsible for our own response to the gospel, not our parents. That is Biblical and therefore historic Christianity.
Let me ask you: How can an adult form Christ in himself?
"19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you..." (apostle Paul, Gal. 4:19)
Adults can't do Biblical requisites for salvation, either!
You see, what WE can't do...God does...thru us:
28 Then they asked him, “What must WE do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work OF GOD is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (Jesus, John 6; see also Phil. 2:12-13)
We can't historically participate with Christ's death either...that, too, is by mere nature beyond all adults...we can't be buried with Christ, either; also, beyond us if we rule out SUPERnature and only look at "nature"...yet, thru baptism, Paul says that's precisely what occurs! (See Romans 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27; col. 2:11-12)
Infants can't believe (but ya know, I've seen a LOT of infants relationally TRUST their mommy's milk supply...and last I knew jesus said eternal life was relational...knowing...trusting...John 17:3)
Also, I'm not sure we should always be discussing baptizing of infants academically...especially given that the Bible that I know talks of at least six people who lived with God from infancy:
* David: "On you I have leaned from birth" (Ps. 71:6); "From my mother's womb you have been my God" (Ps. 22:10)
* Timothy (2 Tim. 3:14-15; 1:5)
* John the Baptist...
* Samuel
* Joseph
* Isaac
Finally all those people -- like Daniel1212 on this thread -- who said no scriptures are found that specifically say to baptize infants...ignore several Biblical & historical realities:
1. Every supposed NON "infant baptist" verse of children in the bible also by extension applies to no verses in the Bible that says any aged child -- even teens -- to be baptized! (Yet suddenly people do about turn on this subject matter if they are talking about teens being baptized, or the unbiblical Mormon-like "age of accountability" -- also conspicuously absent from the Scriptures)
So I guess since the baptism reductionists (those who reduce supernaturally being baptized to the mere man-made natural) claim nobody can presume anything about households, that all those household references to baptism must have been either completely childless...or at least presume that since no primary aged kids, no infants, no toddlers, no pre-teens, or not teens are SPECIFICALLY mentioned (see 1 Cor. 1:16; Acts 11:14: 16:15, 33; 18:8)
2. With the exception of Tertullian, early church fathers (pre-the 'Rome' of roman catholicism) didn't write against the practice of infant baptism. The ONLY argument re: baptism then was whether itshould be done in the early days (first week post-birth), or a little later...see Council of Carthage, 253 or 254 AD -- just 133 years after John's death. (Council of Carthage: "We ought not hinder any person from Baptism and the grace of god, especially infants...those newly born) -- 66 bishops said ... just single-digit generations after Jesus' ascension...DON'T HINDER children from "coming unto" HIM (exactly as Jesus said...don't be an ostacle...a blockade...to little children coming to Him)
Origen (185-254), WHOSE FATHER, GRANDFATHER & GREAT-GRANDFATHER were all Christians & who traveled widely & visited many of the churches founded by the apostles...referenced it as "apostolic tradition"...
Cyprian (215-258) wrote about baptism being days after birth. hippolytus, Tertullian, Justin martyr, and Irenaus all wrote about infant baptism. 'Twas practiced everywhere in the early church with the possible exception of Eastern Syria. Hippolytus' order of service for baptism had wide circulation, was translated into various languages...
Polycarp (69-155), a disciple alongside John, said at his martyrdom at age 86: "86 years have I searved him."
Irenaus said that Jesus came to save all through him are bborn again to God...infants, children, boys, ouths, and old men...all stages covered.
How does anyone believe. Belief come from God not the intellectual capacity of the believer.
Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.