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A Biblical Critique of Infant Baptism
From the Author:
“I tell people that my target audience in writing was the Matt Waymeyer of 13 years ago, back when I first started studying infant baptism. In other words, this is the book I wish I could have read at that time in my life.
Shortly after I was married thirteen years ago, I read my first article in defense of infant baptism. I had spent the previous year happily attending a Presbyterian church where I felt very much at home theologically, and where I had grown in my appreciation for reformed theologians and all things reformed. On top of that, I was taking a Greek class at Reformed Theological Seminary and trying to decide where to go to seminary full-time once my wife and I were married. It only seemed natural that the next step would be to embrace infant baptism, and now, with children hopefully on the way soon, the time to begin my study had arrived.
As I began to study, I was secretly hoping to be convinced. Some of my closest friends at the time had made the leap-or at least were in the process-and they seemed hopeful that I too would complete my own personal reformation. In addition, it seemed easier to categorize myself as a Presbyterian than as the theological hybrid I found myself becoming. And besides, how could the church have been wrong on this one for so long?
As I continued to read, however, I found myself less than convinced. I like to think of myself -as most believers do- as being committed to the Scriptures, and as I looked at the biblical arguments presented in the article, I just wasn’t seeing it. I went on to read everything I could get my hands on in favor of infant baptism. In fact, I read hundreds of pages in defense of paedobaptism before reading a single paragraph against it. I was trying to be open-minded, but as I said, I just wasn’t seeing it.
When I first started writing, my goal was to produce a short position paper of no more than eight pages. I had just come back from lunch with a close friend who was leaning toward infant baptism, and my thought was to tell him very simply in this paper why I rejected the view he was beginning to embrace. As a pastor, it is helpful to have these kinds of resources on hand, so I thought it might serve me for years to come. That afternoon I made a list of reasons why I personally came to reject paedobaptism, and eventually those six reasons became the six chapters of the book.
You might think of it as an opportunity to eavesdrop on my thoughts on the issue as I’ve wrestled with it over the past decade. My prayer is that this book will be received not as the latest round of artillery in a battle between enemies, but rather as an earnest attempt to strive toward like-mindedness among brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ. May the Lord bless each of us as we apply ourselves to the common goal of conforming our thoughts and lives to the truth of His Word.
On a more personal level, I would hope that Presbyterians would read this book as coming from the pen of a friend. As I mentioned in the introduction to the book, I consider my paedobaptist brethren to be precious comrades in the battle for truth in areas of theology more critical than this one. So rather than reading the book as an attack on them or their theology, I would hope they would read it as an invitation to look again at Scripture to see whether the things they have believed on this issue are truly so.
“I tell people that my target audience in writing was the Matt Waymeyer of 13 years ago, back when I first started studying infant baptism. In other words, this is the book I wish I could have read at that time in my life.
Shortly after I was married thirteen years ago, I read my first article in defense of infant baptism. I had spent the previous year happily attending a Presbyterian church where I felt very much at home theologically, and where I had grown in my appreciation for reformed theologians and all things reformed. On top of that, I was taking a Greek class at Reformed Theological Seminary and trying to decide where to go to seminary full-time once my wife and I were married. It only seemed natural that the next step would be to embrace infant baptism, and now, with children hopefully on the way soon, the time to begin my study had arrived.
As I began to study, I was secretly hoping to be convinced. Some of my closest friends at the time had made the leap-or at least were in the process-and they seemed hopeful that I too would complete my own personal reformation. In addition, it seemed easier to categorize myself as a Presbyterian than as the theological hybrid I found myself becoming. And besides, how could the church have been wrong on this one for so long?
As I continued to read, however, I found myself less than convinced. I like to think of myself -as most believers do- as being committed to the Scriptures, and as I looked at the biblical arguments presented in the article, I just wasn’t seeing it. I went on to read everything I could get my hands on in favor of infant baptism. In fact, I read hundreds of pages in defense of paedobaptism before reading a single paragraph against it. I was trying to be open-minded, but as I said, I just wasn’t seeing it.
When I first started writing, my goal was to produce a short position paper of no more than eight pages. I had just come back from lunch with a close friend who was leaning toward infant baptism, and my thought was to tell him very simply in this paper why I rejected the view he was beginning to embrace. As a pastor, it is helpful to have these kinds of resources on hand, so I thought it might serve me for years to come. That afternoon I made a list of reasons why I personally came to reject paedobaptism, and eventually those six reasons became the six chapters of the book.
You might think of it as an opportunity to eavesdrop on my thoughts on the issue as I’ve wrestled with it over the past decade. My prayer is that this book will be received not as the latest round of artillery in a battle between enemies, but rather as an earnest attempt to strive toward like-mindedness among brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ. May the Lord bless each of us as we apply ourselves to the common goal of conforming our thoughts and lives to the truth of His Word.
On a more personal level, I would hope that Presbyterians would read this book as coming from the pen of a friend. As I mentioned in the introduction to the book, I consider my paedobaptist brethren to be precious comrades in the battle for truth in areas of theology more critical than this one. So rather than reading the book as an attack on them or their theology, I would hope they would read it as an invitation to look again at Scripture to see whether the things they have believed on this issue are truly so.
- GenresTheology
148 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2008
5 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 27, 2024
This is a solid work in addressing the issue of baptism. Well researched and argued thoroughly, while not completely convincingly. He engages with many modern authors on infant baptism and makes a valiant effort to refute them.
I believe this book would be exactly in line with what my pastor believes (SBC). One of my major issues with baptistic approaches to the sacrament at this moment in time is the emphasis on "baptism as profession." He spends a whole chapter giving the "biblical significance of baptism" and argues that this is the major thrust of baptism, our public profession of Christ. I've seen this too often lead to doubt and confusion in the believer's life, constantly self examining if their profession was enough or sincere at the time of their baptism. We have re-baptized probably a third of those who have joined in membership over the past 5 years. Surely God did not give us this sacrament to confuse or cause doubts in our heart. That is one of the most convincing things listening to Paedobaptists talk, they start with what God is saying at baptism.
What the author does most effectively is knock down the majority of "proof texts" that Paedobaptists use. From Acts 2 to 1st Cor 7 and household baptisms to "Jesus and children" passages Waymeyer does a fine job handling the texts and poking holes in the opposition's assumptions. While reading this book I told my wife "it feels like the Baptist can read a single verse and have his eyes wide open while exegeting it. But the Paedobaptist squints a bit to see what they want there. But the Paedobaptist has his eyes wide open when looking at the whole story of the Bible and the Baptist kinda squints." The issue can never be one verse. It comes down to what presuppositions does the scripture give us when we come to a text.
His argument against apostasy passages was very weak. Essentially all the warnings are hypothetical and not actually something that'll ever happen.
What are we to do with God's many promises to generations and our children?
Not sure I agree with how he breaks down the Abrahamic covenant and makes it almost exclusively about ethnic Israel and Canaan.
On to the next Baptist work to try to have a better framework for the whole scripture.
I believe this book would be exactly in line with what my pastor believes (SBC). One of my major issues with baptistic approaches to the sacrament at this moment in time is the emphasis on "baptism as profession." He spends a whole chapter giving the "biblical significance of baptism" and argues that this is the major thrust of baptism, our public profession of Christ. I've seen this too often lead to doubt and confusion in the believer's life, constantly self examining if their profession was enough or sincere at the time of their baptism. We have re-baptized probably a third of those who have joined in membership over the past 5 years. Surely God did not give us this sacrament to confuse or cause doubts in our heart. That is one of the most convincing things listening to Paedobaptists talk, they start with what God is saying at baptism.
What the author does most effectively is knock down the majority of "proof texts" that Paedobaptists use. From Acts 2 to 1st Cor 7 and household baptisms to "Jesus and children" passages Waymeyer does a fine job handling the texts and poking holes in the opposition's assumptions. While reading this book I told my wife "it feels like the Baptist can read a single verse and have his eyes wide open while exegeting it. But the Paedobaptist squints a bit to see what they want there. But the Paedobaptist has his eyes wide open when looking at the whole story of the Bible and the Baptist kinda squints." The issue can never be one verse. It comes down to what presuppositions does the scripture give us when we come to a text.
His argument against apostasy passages was very weak. Essentially all the warnings are hypothetical and not actually something that'll ever happen.
What are we to do with God's many promises to generations and our children?
Not sure I agree with how he breaks down the Abrahamic covenant and makes it almost exclusively about ethnic Israel and Canaan.
On to the next Baptist work to try to have a better framework for the whole scripture.
August 13, 2019
Waymeyer has put together a tour de force in the debate between paedobaptists (those who hold to infant baptism) and credobaptists (those who hold to believer baptism). Careful argumentation, careful exegesis, and excellent documentation define his contribution to the debate. If it were possible to characterize the sum of his arguments in a single sentence, it might be this one, which appears in the book’s final paragraph: “In the end, it appears that the paedobaptist interpretation of these various passages assumes the view that it must first demonstrate.” [130-131]
Waymeyer is irenic in his polemic, which is refreshing. He considers his debate opponents to be valued members of God’s family and treats them that way. This is in sharp contrast to how some others have carried on the debate. I love Calvin’s Institutes, but Calvin’s treatment of this issue is far more heavily weighted with invective and insult than any genuine attempt at exegesis. Waymeyer does not fall into that trap.
The first chapter explores the absence in the New Testament of any command to baptize infants, a remarkable observation when you consider the importance paedobaptists attach to the rite. The second chapter details the fact that, contrary to claim, there simply is no clear example in the NT of infants being baptized.
Waymeyer marches through Acts 2:39, 1 Corinthians 7:14, Mark 10:13-16, and Ephesians 6:1 in chapter 3, demonstrating that these texts do not support the paedobaptist position. Heavily footnoted, the chapter interacts with the writings and interpretations of both sides.
Paedobaptists claim that baptism is the new circumcision and demonstrates the continuity between the old and new covenants. This replacement is the keystone of the paedobaptist argument. Waymeyer deals with this in chapter 4. His careful consideration of Genesis 17:10-14, Romans 4:11-12, Colossians 2:11-12, and Acts 15:1-29 yields solid exegetical reasons as to why the paedobaptist position is extremely unlikely if not impossible to maintain. He concludes, “Not only does no single passage of Scripture teach this kind of replacement, but an overall comparison of the two rites yields a degree of discontinuity that completely undermines the case for infant baptism.” [71-72]
Chapter 5 (“The Discontinuity of Redemptive History”) explores the divide between the two positions in theological terms, the paedobaptists seeing significant continuity and their opponents seeing a significant discontinuity between the New and Old Testaments. Waymeyer examines the newness of the New Covenant and the nature of the New Testament Church, as contrasted with OT Israel.
Finally, the author wraps up his argument by taking a close look at the rite of baptism itself. In particular, Waymeyer investigates Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:38, 1 Corinthians 1:13-15, and 1 Peter 3:21. He concludes, “The notions associated with the ordinance of baptism—such as repentance, faith, discipleship, and calling on the Lord for salvation—are of such a nature that they involve conscious intelligent understanding, and for this reason, infants should not be baptized.” [109]
Waymeyer offers an appendix (“The Newness of the New Covenant Revisited”) which deals with substantial points, such as the meaning of the “knowledge of God” in Jeremiah 31:34, “covenant breakers” in the church, Hebrews 10:26-31, etc. This appendix is, like the rest of the book, well worth the time.
A short read (131 pages), Biblical Critique nonetheless contains a comprehensive look at the debate between the two opposing sides. Waymeyer has compiled the best arguments of each respective position and dealt with them in an exegetically detailed and theologically responsible way. No matter which side of the debate the reader finds himself on, Biblical Critique is an important contribution to the ongoing discussion. Five stars, highly recommended.
Waymeyer is irenic in his polemic, which is refreshing. He considers his debate opponents to be valued members of God’s family and treats them that way. This is in sharp contrast to how some others have carried on the debate. I love Calvin’s Institutes, but Calvin’s treatment of this issue is far more heavily weighted with invective and insult than any genuine attempt at exegesis. Waymeyer does not fall into that trap.
The first chapter explores the absence in the New Testament of any command to baptize infants, a remarkable observation when you consider the importance paedobaptists attach to the rite. The second chapter details the fact that, contrary to claim, there simply is no clear example in the NT of infants being baptized.
Waymeyer marches through Acts 2:39, 1 Corinthians 7:14, Mark 10:13-16, and Ephesians 6:1 in chapter 3, demonstrating that these texts do not support the paedobaptist position. Heavily footnoted, the chapter interacts with the writings and interpretations of both sides.
Paedobaptists claim that baptism is the new circumcision and demonstrates the continuity between the old and new covenants. This replacement is the keystone of the paedobaptist argument. Waymeyer deals with this in chapter 4. His careful consideration of Genesis 17:10-14, Romans 4:11-12, Colossians 2:11-12, and Acts 15:1-29 yields solid exegetical reasons as to why the paedobaptist position is extremely unlikely if not impossible to maintain. He concludes, “Not only does no single passage of Scripture teach this kind of replacement, but an overall comparison of the two rites yields a degree of discontinuity that completely undermines the case for infant baptism.” [71-72]
Chapter 5 (“The Discontinuity of Redemptive History”) explores the divide between the two positions in theological terms, the paedobaptists seeing significant continuity and their opponents seeing a significant discontinuity between the New and Old Testaments. Waymeyer examines the newness of the New Covenant and the nature of the New Testament Church, as contrasted with OT Israel.
Finally, the author wraps up his argument by taking a close look at the rite of baptism itself. In particular, Waymeyer investigates Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:38, 1 Corinthians 1:13-15, and 1 Peter 3:21. He concludes, “The notions associated with the ordinance of baptism—such as repentance, faith, discipleship, and calling on the Lord for salvation—are of such a nature that they involve conscious intelligent understanding, and for this reason, infants should not be baptized.” [109]
Waymeyer offers an appendix (“The Newness of the New Covenant Revisited”) which deals with substantial points, such as the meaning of the “knowledge of God” in Jeremiah 31:34, “covenant breakers” in the church, Hebrews 10:26-31, etc. This appendix is, like the rest of the book, well worth the time.
A short read (131 pages), Biblical Critique nonetheless contains a comprehensive look at the debate between the two opposing sides. Waymeyer has compiled the best arguments of each respective position and dealt with them in an exegetically detailed and theologically responsible way. No matter which side of the debate the reader finds himself on, Biblical Critique is an important contribution to the ongoing discussion. Five stars, highly recommended.
January 15, 2013
It is simple and straightforward in it's presentation, but it is very comprehensive, addressing all kinds of argumetns used to say that infants should be baptized.
The doctrine of paedobaptism (infant baptism) is, according to its own adherents, not based much on any actual scripture passages on the topic; that said, the small handful of passages that are pointed to by paedobaptists (e.g. Colossians 2:12) are looked at in detail in this book, revealing why paedobaptists assume too much (and in some cases, why the passage actually goes against the paedobaptist view). The case is well-made that in the instances of "household" baptisms in the book of Acts, not only do none of the passages mention infants or small children, but even further, all but one explicitly or implicitly tell us that all those in the "household" who were baptized also came to faith.
It is also important for any book on this topic to address not only what the Bible specifically says, but also the abstract theological claims about covenants and election and so forth that most paedobaptists whom I have read or heard largely base the doctrine on. Is the common paedobaptist claim correct that covenants always included children, and that nothing is new in the New Covenant (so therefore kids should be included)? Is baptism the new circumcision? Although some credobaptists like myself might be like "who cares?", the goal of any decent persuasive work is not to convince those who already hold your view! Thus, one strength is that Waymeyer shows piece by piece why these abstract ideas cannot just be assumed, and why they are not accurate.
It is also charitable and attacks ideas, not people. It is a good example of a Christian writing that is thorough and compelling without turning into something useful to the enemy.
Because this book is so thorough, and because it is civil and kind to those who disagree, it is a great book to recommend to those who hold to infant baptism, a well as strengthening the arguments of those who hold to what I agree is the biblical view.
The doctrine of paedobaptism (infant baptism) is, according to its own adherents, not based much on any actual scripture passages on the topic; that said, the small handful of passages that are pointed to by paedobaptists (e.g. Colossians 2:12) are looked at in detail in this book, revealing why paedobaptists assume too much (and in some cases, why the passage actually goes against the paedobaptist view). The case is well-made that in the instances of "household" baptisms in the book of Acts, not only do none of the passages mention infants or small children, but even further, all but one explicitly or implicitly tell us that all those in the "household" who were baptized also came to faith.
It is also important for any book on this topic to address not only what the Bible specifically says, but also the abstract theological claims about covenants and election and so forth that most paedobaptists whom I have read or heard largely base the doctrine on. Is the common paedobaptist claim correct that covenants always included children, and that nothing is new in the New Covenant (so therefore kids should be included)? Is baptism the new circumcision? Although some credobaptists like myself might be like "who cares?", the goal of any decent persuasive work is not to convince those who already hold your view! Thus, one strength is that Waymeyer shows piece by piece why these abstract ideas cannot just be assumed, and why they are not accurate.
It is also charitable and attacks ideas, not people. It is a good example of a Christian writing that is thorough and compelling without turning into something useful to the enemy.
Because this book is so thorough, and because it is civil and kind to those who disagree, it is a great book to recommend to those who hold to infant baptism, a well as strengthening the arguments of those who hold to what I agree is the biblical view.
June 30, 2012
Short and to the point without being condescending or too polemical. This book is a thoughtful and loving critique of infant baptism that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to any paedobaptist.
December 12, 2017
An absolutely excellent treatment of a critical topic. This short book is one that I wish all of my Christian Reformed and Presbyterian friends would read through. It is my humble opinion that the author does a wonderful job of walking through the many arguments that are used to support infant baptism and then offers a clear, precise critique of each of those arguments showing specifically why infant baptism cannot be supported by an in-depth study of the Bible. Waymeyer, the author, notes at the beginning of the book that he was once attending a Presbyterian church and when he and his wife had a baby, he had to decide whether to take a leap into the realm of "infant baptism" or not and thus, he began a personal study on the issue. This book basically is the result of that study and it shows why Waymeyer left the belief of infant baptism in the rear-view mirror of his life. I think this book is a treasure that every believer who attends a church that practices infant baptism ought to take a few hours and read. It'll shake up your traditions but will show you the Biblical view of baptism.
September 25, 2025
I came in a little concerned that this would be overly harsh, but I found it to be rather fair, though pointed in its critique. It is only about 100 pages, so this would be a great book to give someone who is torn between credo and paedo practice, especially someone who knows Greek since he interacts with it a fair amount.
He didn’t interact with some of the big names of the Reformed tradition in covenant theology, but I can’t hold that against him too strongly since this is such a short work. He focuses more on recent expressions of paedobaptism.
He didn’t interact with some of the big names of the Reformed tradition in covenant theology, but I can’t hold that against him too strongly since this is such a short work. He focuses more on recent expressions of paedobaptism.
March 24, 2017
I can't recommend this book too highly. Waymeyer explains the relevant Bible texts on baptism, does it in as brief a way as is reasonable, and provides quotes from paedobaptists that demonstrate the assumptions and weakness of their interpretations. While it doesn't provide teaching on when the church should baptize believing kids, it is the book to show that the church should not baptize babies.
April 12, 2020
Waymeyer offers a good overview of the issues between credo and padeobaptists. As someone who is weighing both sides, I find some of his arguments for credo baptism to be compelling and others seem to be weak. His weaker arguments fail to represent the strongest padeobaptist points; therefore, he fails to interact with some of the other side’s best points.
April 29, 2019
Although the author provides a typical credobaptist summary of baptism arguments, there are several inconsistencies I noted in the book itself (on one page saying one thing, but 50 pages later saying another). It should be noted that I read this book whole transitioning to a pedobaptist conviction.
January 19, 2019
Very clear and easy to follow.
September 12, 2021
A really helpful in depth look at this issue from someone who has been on both sides of this. Addresses all the biblical arguments involved.
October 17, 2015
This book very thoroughly summarizes most of the arguments from recent books for and against the Reformed view of paedobaptism. One weakness is that the author tends to conflate differing views on paedobaptism into one view, and does the same with credobaptists (i.e. quoting a Restorationist like Jack Cottrell right alongside Southern Baptists).
February 22, 2009
Concise and clear. Charitable but firm. Exegetically strong. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews