Tuesday Scholarly Notes
11/5/24
Aland, Kurt. (1961). "Chapter Five: Indirect Testimonies to Infant Baptism in the Second Century?" In Did the Early Church Baptize Infants? (Translated by G. R. Beasley-Murray). (pages 70-74). Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock. (Personal Library)
Aland reiterates that conclusive evidence for infant baptism is not available prior to the third century (Aland 1961, p. 70). However, he concedes that we lack complete information about practices. It is likely that numerous practices existed without any specific record. Jeremias provides numerous indications which may suggest a practice of infant baptism. For instance, Polycarp and others testify to apparently having served Christ for their entire lives. Yet Aland observes that aged Christians in 1 Clement, written about 96 A.D., were in a place with a church founded between 40 and 50 A.D., therefore being Christians since a young age would probably not indicate infancy (Aland 1961, p. 71). Others, in the Acts of the Martyrs, testify to having been born into Christian families. However, this does not indicate that they were baptized as infants (Aland 1961, p. 72). At issue in Aland's analysis is the distinction between being raised as a Christian and being baptized specifically as an infant (Aland 1961, p. 73).
11/5/24
Aland, Kurt. (1961). "Chapter Five: Indirect Testimonies to Infant Baptism in the Second Century?" In Did the Early Church Baptize Infants? (Translated by G. R. Beasley-Murray). (pages 70-74). Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock. (Personal Library)
Aland reiterates that conclusive evidence for infant baptism is not available prior to the third century (Aland 1961, p. 70). However, he concedes that we lack complete information about practices. It is likely that numerous practices existed without any specific record. Jeremias provides numerous indications which may suggest a practice of infant baptism. For instance, Polycarp and others testify to apparently having served Christ for their entire lives. Yet Aland observes that aged Christians in 1 Clement, written about 96 A.D., were in a place with a church founded between 40 and 50 A.D., therefore being Christians since a young age would probably not indicate infancy (Aland 1961, p. 71). Others, in the Acts of the Martyrs, testify to having been born into Christian families. However, this does not indicate that they were baptized as infants (Aland 1961, p. 72). At issue in Aland's analysis is the distinction between being raised as a Christian and being baptized specifically as an infant (Aland 1961, p. 73).
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