Ambrose (~397) – Baptism is by Immersion

Baptism is a likeness of death when you go down into the water, and when you rise again it becomes a likeness of resurrection. Thus, according to the interpretation of the apostle, just as Christ’s resurrection was a regeneration, so the resurrection from the font is also a regeneration.Ambrose, The Sacraments 2.7.20

The Epistle of Barnabas (~130): Baptism Is By Immersion

In one of the earliest known writings, we see yet more evidence that the practice of baptism was always by immersion as the normative practice of the Church. I always find it humorous (and by humorous, I mean ludicrous) when Presbyterians attempt to eisegete the Scripture by saying that when Jesus was said to have …

Would Your Church Admit Augustine to The Table? Some Reformed Churches Would Not.

This may seem like a strange topic; I admit that it is one that we don't normally discuss. But I would like to know if your church would not allow Augustine to partake of the Lord's Supper if he were to pop out of history and show up at your Church's door on a Sunday …

A Wrinkle in the Practice of Reformed Infant Baptism

Briefly today, I would like to respond to the statements in a paragraph in Dr. Clark's latest blog post. After posing a question that he received from someone, Dr. Clark gives us an introductory paragraph in which he is laying out the early evidence that infant baptism was an established practice received from the Apostles …

The Belgic Confession, Like Westminster, Says Too Much Regarding Infant Baptism

Introduction In the latest episode of The New Geneva Podcast, the discussion of Baptist and Presbyterian Covenant Theology was continued as it relates to Baptism. We got to witness another good discussion between Pastors Michael G. Brown and Samuel Renihan. Go check out both parts of this podcast! See also my follow-up posts: Getting Back …

1 Corinthians 7 and Household Covenant Inclusion

​​While I understand the desire to be Biblical in the belief that there is maintained by God the Old Covenant principle of the inclusion, by default, of all members of a household into the New Covenant, I am firmly convinced that this is not the case. There is an abundance of proof in God's revelation …

Origen (~248) – It’s superfluous to baptize infants if it’s not to remit their sins.

If there were nothing in infants which required the remission of sins and nothing in them pertinent to forgiveness, the grace of baptism would seem superfluous. ~Origen

Was Calvin’s Doctrine of Baptism In Line With The Early Church Fathers? A Response to The New Geneva Podcast

Yesterday on The New Geneva podcast, Angela and Tony had Dr. David Hall on the show to discuss various topics from John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion". The section which I would like to discuss begins around 27:10 into the show. I will quote a couple of statements in my response and the full …

Remember Your Baptism!

This Easter, I want you to remember your baptism! One of the things that Martin Luther would do is repeat to himself in times of trouble or doubt or the dark nights of the soul was "I am baptized!" And it is said that he even had some type of plaque on his wall which …

Tertullian on Traditions Which Are Not In Scripture

In this post, I want to demonstrate how Tertullian (who was writing in the books cited here around the years 200-201) viewed how practices in the earlier church led to traditions and subsequently to customs which would continue. These practices may or may not have been prescribed for us directly in Scripture but as he …