Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: kosta50
there are early 2nd century Roman infant grave stones which show inscription “Servant of the Lord [and the name of the infant who died]” indicating that they were baptized.

I did not know this ,thanks.

Where do you find this information and are there pictures of the inscriptions anywhere?

2,355 posted on 07/01/2010 4:40:33 PM PDT by stfassisi ((The greatest gift God gives us is that of overcoming self"-St Francis Assisi)))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2348 | View Replies ]


To: stfassisi
I believe it was in the book The Mass of the early Christians by Mike Aquilina, but I would have to look it up. Another one is this document http://www.redeemerfw.org/resources/infantbapt.doc, which logically argues that, since Christianity evolved from Judaism and since the early Church looked at baptism as a new circumcision, early Christians baptized their infants the way Jews circumcise them on the 7th day.

There is also this testament to ancient Christian infant baptism

A very compelling case can be made by the fact that even heretical Christians did not object to infant baptism and this was apparently the Christian practice no matter which Chrisotlogical or Triniatrian twist a particular Church took.

Thus, it can safely be concluded that infant baptism was and is part of the early Church and that there was no outwardly opposition to it by anyone except one recorded instance by Tertullian (160 - 215) because he believed that one is better off being baptized later on in life when they could avoid sinning (emphasis added):

Apparently, either apostles themselves approved of the practice or did not censure their (apostolic) successors for doing it. There is simply no record, no indication that any of the Apostles or Apostolic or Church Father or any Christian apologetic criticized infant baptism as contrary to what the Church believed everywhere and always.

2,360 posted on 07/01/2010 7:05:55 PM PDT by kosta50 (The world is the way it is even if YOU don't understand it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2355 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson