Infant Baptism vs Believer’s Baptism: What Does the Bible Actually Say?

• What does it say about Union with Jesus? in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3–4; Colossians 2:12).
• What does it say about Cleansing / appeal to God from a clean conscience? (Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21).
• What does it say about Public identification with Jesus and His people? (Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 2:41–42).

• Acts 2:37–41 (they received the word, then were baptized)
• Acts 8:12 (they believed Philip’s message, then were baptized)
• Acts 18:8 (many Corinthians hearing, believing, and being baptized)

Is it true that Acts places these ideas close together?: hearing the message → repenting → believing → being baptized.

This pattern is the foundation for "believer’s baptism". Infant baptism arguments usually say: “Yes, that pattern is normal for first-generation converts, but second generation covenant families are handled differently.”

• Matthew 28:19–20 — make disciples… baptizing them… teaching them to obey.
• Mark 16:16 (note: text-critical questions exist, but it reflects the same Acts pattern) — belief connected with baptism.
• Acts 2:38–41 — repent… those who received the word were baptized.

Believer’s baptism advocates argue: baptism is the “front-door” sign of becoming a disciple, so it belongs to people who can personally respond.

Examples:

• Acts 8:12 — “when they believed… they were baptized, both men and women.”
• Acts 8:36–38 — the Ethiopian asks to be baptized after hearing and responding.
• Acts 10:44–48 — Cornelius’ group receives the Spirit and is baptized.
• Acts 16:30–34 — the jailer hears the word, rejoices that he believed, and is baptized (with his household).

• Romans 6:3–4 — baptism as burial/raising with Christ (connected to “walking in newness of life”).
• Colossians 2:12 — “having been buried with him in baptism… through faith.”
• 1 Peter 3:21 — baptism connected to an “appeal to God for a good conscience.”

Believer’s baptism advocates argue: an infant cannot yet repent, believe, or make an appeal of conscience, so baptism should wait.

Several passages say “household” was baptized (Acts 16:15; Acts 16:33; 1 Corinthians 1:16). Believer’s baptism advocates say: the word “household” does not automatically mean “babies,” and some contexts suggest the household heard the word and believed (Acts 16:32–34).

Infant baptism advocates often argue from the Bible’s covenant storyline: in the Old Testament, God marked covenant membership including children (Genesis 17:7–14). They then ask whether the New Covenant narrows the sign to adults only, or expands grace while still including children.

• Genesis 17:7–14 — covenant sign given to male infants in Abraham’s household.
• Acts 2:39 — “the promise is for you and for your children…” (then to all whom the Lord calls).

The argument is not “babies are saved because they are baptized,” but “children of believers belong to the covenant community and should receive the covenant sign.”   What does these verses (in context) Say and What should you Obey? Scripture should be used to interpret Scripture. 

Infant baptism advocates point out that Scripture repeatedly thinks in “households” (family units). When Acts says “she and her household were baptized” (Acts 16:15) or “he was baptized at once, he and all his family” (Acts 16:33), they argue that children are ordinarily part of a household unless the text says otherwise.

• Acts 16:15 — Lydia “and her household were baptized.”
• Acts 16:33 — the jailer “and all his family” baptized.
• 1 Corinthians 1:16 — the household of Stephanas baptized.

Believer’s baptism advocates reply: some of those texts also mention “speaking the word to all in his house” and rejoicing that they believed (Acts 16:32–34), suggesting capable responders. The disagreement is about what is most natural to infer.

A common infant baptism argument links Colossians 2:11–12: “circumcision of Christ” language sits next to burial with Christ in baptism. They argue: as circumcision marked covenant membership including infants, baptism is the New Covenant sign and can also be given to believers’ children.

• Colossians 2:11–12

Believer’s baptism advocates reply: the passage also connects baptism “through faith,” and the “circumcision” described is inward (heart), not merely outward.

Infant baptism advocates sometimes add: Jesus openly receives children and declares the kingdom belongs to such as these. They see this as consistent with including children as members of the visible community.

• Mark 10:13–16 (also Matthew 19:13–15; Luke 18:15–17)

Believer’s baptism advocates respond: this is about blessing and welcome, not specifically baptism.

Some point to 1 Corinthians 7:14, where children in a household with a believing parent are described as “holy.” They argue this supports the idea that children of believers have a distinct covenant status in the visible people of God.

• 1 Corinthians 7:14

Many churches that baptize infants also teach that salvation is by God’s grace through faith, and that baptized children must still personally repent and believe as they grow (Ephesians 2:8–9). The debate is mainly about who should receive the sign and how to read households/covenant continuity.

Does the New Testament consistently presents the New Covenant as something new, not merely an extension or continuation of the Old?

• Jeremiah 31:31–34 — God promises a new covenant, explicitly stating it will be not like the covenant made with Israel at Sinai.
• Hebrews 8:6–13 — The writer explains that the New Covenant makes the first covenant obsolete.
• Hebrews 10:9–10 — “He sets aside the first to establish the second.”
• Galatians 3:23–25 — The Law is described as a guardian until Christ came; now that faith has come, believers are no longer under that guardian.
• Colossians 2:11–12 — Circumcision is redefined, not as a physical sign applied at birth, but as a spiritual reality connected with faith and union with Christ.
• John 3:3–7 — How is the New Covenant entered into?

Read: John 3:3–7

• If the Old Covenant was entered by physical birth into Israel, the New Covenant is entered by spiritual rebirth. How do you do that?
• If Old Covenant signs were applied automatically to infant males on their 8th day, what consistent responses/actions or timing do you read in the New Covenant? Do they precede or follow baptism?
• Where does the New Testament transfer Old Covenant signs directly onto New Covenant practices?
• Does Scripture expand circumcision to include baptism, or does Scripture reframe belonging to God around faith in Christ? What is your required response to Scripture?
• Do the clearest New Testament baptism accounts follow belief, or precede it? If they follow belief, what should you do before you get baptized?

This invites an honest question:

• Am I allowing New Testament teaching to define New Testament practice?
• Or am I importing assumptions from the Old Covenant that the apostles themselves may never have applied?
• If the New Covenant is entered through personal faith, should its public sign reflect that same personal response?
• Does Scripture consistently present baptism as a response of faith — a willing identification with Christ — not a ritual performed in anticipation of future belief?
• If the Old Covenant is continued, what else carries forward?
• If the New Testament cancels the old one, what else is cancelled?

• Has this affirmed your belief or changed your stand on the topic of whether or not the New Testament cancels the old one?
• Who do you know that is confused by this subject?
• Who do you know that has the opposite view to that of what you currently have now?
• Share with them this exercise of SOS and see what they get out of it.

Read: Acts 2:37–41; Acts 8:12; Acts 18:8

• S — What actions happen before baptism in these passages?
• O — What do you observe about who is being baptized (age/response/wording)?, What step of obedience is God calling you to take?
• S — Who can you discuss this with?

Read: Acts 16:14–15; Acts 16:30–34; 1 Corinthians 1:16

• S — What does the text explicitly say? What does it not say?
• O — Do you see clues that “all” heard the word / believed? Or is it unstated? How careful do you want to be about building a practice on inference?
• S — Who can you discuss this with?

Read: Romans 6:3–4; Colossians 2:11–12; 1 Peter 3:21

• S — What does baptism picture in these verses?
• O — Which parts of this picture seem to require personal faith and conscience?
• S — Who can you discuss this with?

Read: Genesis 17:7–14; Acts 2:39; 1 Corinthians 7:14

• S — What does God say about believers and their children?
• O — Does the New Covenant keep the “family pattern,” change it, or deepen it? What would a cautious, Bible-shaped conclusion look like for your family and church?
• S — Who can you discuss this with?