Purposes of paedobaptism:
- As a parallel with circumcision in the Old Testament, Luke 2:21.
- Initiate the baby into the Christian community because his parent is a Christian, Acts 16:33, 1 Corinthians 7:14.
I baptized all my 5 kids by near submersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit when they were 8 days old. I understand that the evidence for infant baptism in the Bible is not explicit and is debatable. So, when my kids were teenagers, I told them that if they believed that was sufficient, there would be no need to be baptized again; but if not, feel free to have an official adult believer's baptism from a reputable local church.
Origen & Cyprian On Baptism
Origen (c. 185-c. 254)
In the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit was given by the imposition of the apostles’ hands in baptism. From all which we learn that the person of the Holy Spirit was of such authority and dignity, that saving baptism was not complete except by the authority of the most excellent Trinity of them all, i.e., by the naming of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and by joining to the unbegotten God the Father, and to His only-begotten Son, the name also of the Holy Spirit.
(Origen,
De Principiis, Book I, ch. 3, 2)
Anglican patristics scholar J. N. D. Kelly summarizes Origen’s view of baptism:
It is the unique means of obtaining remission of sins [Exhort. ad mart. 30], it frees us from the power of the Devil and makes us members of the Church as Christ’s body [Hom. in Exod. 5, 5; in Rom. 8, 5]. Even little children, he assumes [In Rom. 5, 9; hom. in Luc. 14 ], being defiled with sin, must be baptized. His normal teaching [De princ. 2, 10, 7; hom. in Exod. 5, 5] is that the Spirit is received in baptism . . . The Spirit descends upon the Christian at his baptism . .
[Hom. in Luc 22; 27] (Early Christian Doctrines, HarperSanFrancisco, revised edition, 1978, 208)
Cyprian (210-258)
I used to regard it as a difficult matter, and especially as difficult in respect of my character at that time, that a man should be capable of being born again — a truth which the divine mercy had announced for my salvation — and that a man quickened to a new life in the layer of saving water should be able to put off what he had previously been; and, although retaining all his bodily structure, should be himself changed in heart and soul. (
Epistle 1: To Donatus, 3)
By the help of the water of new birth, the stain of former years had been washed away, and a light from above, serene and pure, had been infused into my reconciled heart — after that, by the agency of the Spirit breathed from heaven, a second birth had restored me to a new man — then, in a wondrous manner, doubtful things at once began to assure themselves to me, hidden things to be revealed, dark things to be enlightened, what before had seemed difficult began to suggest a means of accomplishment, what had been thought impossible, to be capable of being achieved; so that I was enabled to acknowledge that what previously, being born of the flesh, had been living in the practice of sins, was of the earth earthly, but had now begun to be of God, and was animated by the Spirit of holiness. (
Epistle 1: To Donatus, 4)
. . . their past sins are to be done away in baptism . . . (
Epistle 22: To the Clergy Abiding at Rome, 3)
. . . the saving grace of baptism
. . . (
Epistle 51: To Antonianus About Cornelius and Novatian, 22)
. . . the sanctification of baptism . . . (Epistle 54:
To Cornelius, Concerning Fortunatus and Felicissimus, or Against the Heretics, 13)
But in respect of the case of the infants, which you say ought not to be baptized within the second or third day after their birth, and that the law of ancient circumcision should be regarded, so that you think 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 in this course which you thought was to be taken, no one agreed; but we all rather judge that the mercy and grace of God is not to be refused to any one born of man. . . .
Moreover, belief in divine Scripture declares to us, that among all, whether infants or those who are older, there is the same equality of the divine gift. . . . But in that is expressed the divine and spiritual equality, that all men are like and equal, since they have once been made by God; and our age may have a difference in the increase of our bodies, according to the world, but not according to God; unless that very grace also which is given to the baptized is given either less or more, according to the age of the receivers, whereas the Holy Spirit is not given with measure, but by the love and mercy of the Father alike to all. For God, as He does not accept the person, so does not accept the age; since He shows Himself Father to all with well-weighed equality for the attainment of heavenly grace. (
Epistle 58: To Fidus, on the Baptism of Infants, 2-3)
But again, if 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 rather ought we to shrink from hindering an infant, who, being lately born, has not sinned, except in that, being born after the flesh according to Adam, he has contracted the contagion of the ancient death at its earliest birth, who approaches the more easily on this very account to the reception of the forgiveness of sins— that to him are remitted, not his own sins, but the sins of another. (
Epistle 58: To Fidus, on the Baptism of Infants, 5)
This was our opinion in council, that by us no one ought to be hindered from baptism and from the grace of God, who is merciful and kind and loving to all. Which, since it is to be observed and maintained in respect of all, we think is to be even more observed in respect of infants and newly-born persons, who on this very account deserve more from our help and from the divine mercy, that immediately, on the very beginning of their birth, . . . (
Epistle 58: To Fidus, on the Baptism of Infants, 6)
. . . those who were made sons of God by the generation of baptism. . . . by baptism the Holy Spirit is received . . . the Lord speaks to the Samaritan woman, saying, Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him, shall not thirst forever. [John 4:13-14] By which is also signified the very baptism of saving water, which indeed is once received, and is not again repeated. (
Epistle 62: To Caecilius, 8)
. . . the water of life eternal, should be given to believers in baptism, . . . (
Epistle 62: To Caecilius, 9)
It is required, then, that the water should first be cleansed and sanctified by the priest, that it may wash away by its baptism the sins of the man who is baptized; because the Lord says by Ezekiel the prophet: Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be cleansed from all your filthiness; and from all your idols will I cleanse you: a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you. [Ezekiel 36:25-26] (
Epistle 69: To Januarius and Other Numidian Bishops, on Baptizing Heretics, 1)
. . . he must be baptized, that he may become a sheep, because in the holy Church is the one water which makes sheep. (
Epistle 70: To Quintus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics, 2)
And now also, when we had met together, bishops as well of the province of Africa as of Numidia, to the number of seventy-one, we established this same matter once more by our judgment, deciding that there is one baptism which is appointed in the Catholic Church; and that by this those are not re-baptized, but baptized by us, who at any time come from the adulterous and unhallowed water to be washed and sanctified by the truth of the saving water. (
Epistle 72: To Jubaianus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics, 1)
. . . the opportunity to attain the grace of the life-giving layer and of saving baptism. (
Epistle 72: To Jubaianus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics, 3)
But it is manifest where and by whom remission of sins can be given; to wit, that which is given in baptism. (
Epistle 72: To Jubaianus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics, 7)
I document the views of Origen (c. 185-c. 254) & Cyprian (210-258) on baptism: particularly baptismal regeneration: all of them consistent with Catholic teaching.
www.patheos.com