Expert: Sal - 3/7/2007

Question
Where in all the bible does it say that the Catholic church was born? Please, justify the answer with scriptures from within the bible. Also, what is your outlook on baptism? Why must a baby be baptized?

Answer
Dear Dav:

The birthday of the Catholic Church is recorded in Acts 2:1-4. The Catholic Church is the only Church founded by Christ. The Oxthodox church began in the 11th century and Protestant churches in the 16th century and later. The Catholic Church is the Church of the Bible.

Baptism is necessary for salvation (John 3:5; 1 Peter 3:21; Mark 16:16; Matthew 28:18-20).

While it is true that there is no explicit command to baptize infants, it is implied and makes good sense. We know that circumcision was the entrance sign into the Old Covenant. “I point out once more to all who receive circumcision that they are bound to keep the law in its entirety” (Galatians 5:3). This sign was replaced in the New Covenant by baptism. “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ. In baptism you were not only buried with him but also raised to life with him because you believed in the power of God who raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:11-12). In the Old Covenant the males had to be circumcised in order to be members of the family of God. “This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you that you must keep: every male among you shall be circumcised. Circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and that shall be the mark of the covenant between you and me” (Genesis 17:10-11). So important was this sign that many Jewish Christians demanded that Gentiles converts be circumcised. “Some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved’” (Acts 15:1). The Council of Jerusalem determined that gentiles did not have to undergo circumcision. “But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will” (Acts 15:11). This decision was a confirmation of what St. Peter had already done in accepting the first Gentiles into the Church. “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:48). Significantly, Peter did not command them to be circumcised. This is a very important fact that must not be overlooked.

So we have seen a number of parallels between each covenants entrance signs. Circumcision was replaced with baptism. Circumcision was necessary for salvation under the Old Covenant now it is baptism that is necessary. “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you…” (1 Peter 3:21; see also John 3:5 & Acts 2:38). There is one more parallel that we have not looked at yet. This parallel is extremely important for our study. When was circumcision ideally performed? “Throughout the ages, every male among you, when he is eight days old, shall be circumcised…” (Genesis 17:12). Circumcision could be performed on an adult convert, but it was ideally performed in infancy. I submit that it is the exact same way with baptism. It may be performed on adult converts, but it is ideally performed in infancy. Since babies were admitted into the family of God under the Old Covenant and the New Covenant is “a better covenant, founded on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6) shouldn’t babies be admitted into the family of God under the New Covenant? If Christian babies could not enter God’s family it would certainly not be a better covenant as far as the parents were concerned. This was the thinking of the early Church; therefore, babies have always been baptized into the Christian Church.

A couple of examples from the writings of the Church Fathers show this early and widespread practice. St. Irenaeus noted, “For He came to save all though means of Himself all, I say, who through Him are born again to God, infants, and children, and boys, and youth, and old men” (Against Heresies, A.D. 180). Origin wrote, “The Church has received from the Apostles the custom of administering baptism even to infants” (Commentary on Romans, A.D. 244).

While there are no explicit cases of infant baptisms we must note the explicit baptisms of entire families or households (Acts 16:15, 33; 1 Corinthians 1:16). These families would certainly be exception if they did not contain infants and children under the age of reason. No where do we read, “Whole families were baptized except for young children and babies.” The Church recognized that if God allowed babies into the Old Covenant, He could do no less in the New Covenant. Since baptism is the recognized means into the New Covenant infant baptism was the natural thing for the early Church to perform.

In Jesus’ blessing of the little children (Luke 18:15-17) we can see support for infant baptism. Our Lord says, “Let the little children come to me. Do not hinder them. The reign of God belongs to such as these” (v. 16). As we have seen coming to the Lord is accomplished through the entrance sign of baptism.  “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…” (1 Corinthians 12:13). St. Luke tells us explicitly that some of the little children that came to Jesus were babies (Luke 18:15).

Another passage that may lend support for infant baptism is St. Peter’s Pentecost sermon.  He informs the crowd that they must repent and be baptized in order to receive the Holy Spirit. He then states, “It was to you and your children that the promise was made…” (Acts 2:39). The promise of the reception of the Holy Spirit was made even to the children. The Holy Spirit is usually given by means of baptism. It is interesting that the Bible does not give any examples of older children being baptized.

Remember that the writers of the New Testament were concerned with adult coverts to Christianity. That is the way that the Church began to grow. That is why we read much about adult baptism. That is also the reason that baptism is often linked with believing. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). This is absolutely true of adult converts, but it in no way precludes the baptism of infants as we have seen. As the adult converts began to have babies the Church confronted the issue of infant baptism. The result being that infant baptism is well attested to in the extra-biblical writings of the early Church

God Bless You,
Sal