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Though Although there is are no direct examples of infants being baptized in the Bible, there are numerous indirect references.
==Emergency Baptisms==
==Ethical Implications of Credobaptism==
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The validity of the '''baptism of infants''' is often doubted by many protestants. This is largely derived from the theology of the Anabaptists, a group that rose out of the [[w:Radical Reformation|Radical Reformation]]. The [[w:Schleitheim Confession|Schleitheim Confession]], an early Swiss Anabaptist creed that was written in 1527, is quoted as saying:
"Baptism shall be given to all those who have learned repentance and amendment of life, and who believe truly that their sins are taken away by Christ, and to all those who walk in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and wish to be buried with Him in death, so that they may be resurrected with Him and to all those who with this significance request it (baptism) of us and demand it for themselves. This excludes all infant baptism, the highest and chief abomination of the Pope."
==Infant Baptism as the New Circumcision==
the early church often contrasted the rite of baptism to that of circumcision. In the same way the rite of Circumcision initiated one into the nation of Israel and the Jewish people, the rite of [[Baptism ]] brings one into the life of the Church.
"In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead." Colossians 2:11-12
==Salvific Power of Baptism==
The view that baptism is one rational and personal affirmation of faith is called [[Credobaptism]] and is shared by most Baptists and most and Evangelicals today. One can rightfully claim that the postion known as Credobaptism is a "recent" invention, rather than the position of the 1st century Church. Furthermore, this position is not shared by the Orthodox Church since the the New Testement in several areas specifically teaches that baptism is a rebirth, a nessity for salvation, and has the ability to wash away sins. For example:
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark 16:16
"Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.'How can someone be born when they are old?' Nicodemus asked. 'Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!' Jesus answered, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit'." John 3:3-5
"And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins,calling on his name." Acts 22:16
"And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:11
===Personal Death Within Christ===
The Church has always taught that the means of baptism's power to give rebirth is that of a personal death in Christ. By taking part in the rite of baptism, one is actually mystically dying within Christ and is then being resurrected with him. Support of this, the New Testement proclaims:
"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." Romans 6:4
"for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." Gal. 3:27
"And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death." Colossians 2:12
===The Family As One Flesh===
The need for infant baptism can also be deduced from Trinitarian theology and the Church's teachings in regard to the family. In accordance to Genesis 2:24, a man and a women make up one flesh. This is because the family unit is an icon of the Trinity, reflecting the image of God. John 10:30 correctly points out that the Father and Son are one. Thus, since the family is an icon of the Trinity, the children of a family are considered to be of one flesh with their parents. Because of this, it becomes a preference not to receive person individually but communally into the Church via baptism. This of course would require children and infants to be present.
==Possible Biblical References==
"At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized." Acts 16:33
Origen, Homily on Romans, V:9 (A.D. 244).
[[Category:Sacraments]]
