Clayton KrabyOn this episode of the Reasonable Theology podcast we tackle an important question:
“Why do Presbyterians baptize infants (paedobaptism) while Baptists only baptize professing believers (credobaptism)?”
Rather than present the arguments that each side give for their position, I want to help you understand the reasons behind the two positions.
As we’ll see, baptism is not the central difference between Baptists and Presbyterians. Instead, the different conclusions reached on this issue are the result of different understandings of God’s covenants.
These denominations hold to their different views of baptism because they have come to different conclusions regarding the covenants of Scripture—specifically the Covenant of Grace and the New Covenant.
In this episode we’ll discuss:
- Why understanding the Covenant of Grace and the New Covenant is crucial for understanding the baptism debate
- How the Presbyterian view of these covenants lead to their views on baptizing believers and the infant children of believers
- How the Baptist view of these covenants lead them to baptize only professing believers
- Why comparing the Westminster Confession of Faith and the London Baptist Confession is useful in understanding the two positions
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Additional Resources
- The Westminster Confession of Faith
- The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith
- In support of the Presbyterian Position:
- The Case for Covenantal Infant Baptism by Greg Strawbridge
- Why Do We Baptize Infants by Bryan Chapell
- In support of the Baptist Position:
- A Critical Evaluation of Paedobaptism by Greg Welty
- The Distinctiveness of Baptist Covenent Theology by Pascal Denault
- The Fatal Flaw by Jeffrey Johnson
- Video: A Baptism Debate between James White vs Gregg Strawbridge
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2 comments
Great episode though l may need to listen to it more than once. In a similar vein, l am wonder whether you could address pedocommunion? May children of a believer partake of communion without a profession of faith? Is communion a continuation of the practice of passover and therefore for the whole family to participate in? Thanks.
Thanks for listening, Chris, and for submitting the additional question. Glad that this episode was helpful!