Is Infant Baptism Biblical? Here’s the Clear Answer

Yes, infant baptism is fully biblical. Before addressing objections, ask yourself this: Would God reject or punish a baby—or the parents—for baptizing the child in good faith? If your answer is no, then you have already removed the first major barrier. The problem is not with the Bible, but with how some interpret it. So let us clear up a few common misconceptions.

Let me be clear before we go any further: baptism is not a custom invented by your church or denomination—it is a sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ Himself (Matthew 28:19). It is a divine gift, not a human tradition. That gift was never limited to adults, nor does Scripture impose an age restriction. The idea that baptism must wait until a child reaches a so-called “age of understanding” is not biblical—it is denominational opinion, and a selective misreading of Scripture. The sacrament of baptism is for all, including infants and children. If your denomination teaches otherwise, then I invite you—humbly and urgently—to read the Bible with fresh eyes. If you want to know what Scripture actually says, keep reading. Let us begin.

First, the Bible does not specify any age requirement for baptism. Not one of the recorded baptisms in the New Testament mentions the exact age of the person—except that Jesus Himself was about thirty years old at the time (Luke 3:23). But Jesus’ baptism was not because He needed to repent or believe—He was sinless. He did it to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:15), giving us an example to follow.

Second, baptism is not primarily an act of personal declaration. That is a modern misunderstanding. Baptism is not about publicly accepting Jesus. Jesus did not make such a declaration at His own baptism, nor did those baptized by John the Baptist declare anything publicly. And remember, John’s baptism was not in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That formula came later, after Jesus commanded it in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). There, Jesus did not mention any age restriction—He said to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them.

Let me make this even clearer: the command to baptize was given to the apostles—not to individuals seeking baptism. In today’s terms, this responsibility belongs to priests, pastors, and other ordained ministers, depending on the denomination. Nowhere does Jesus say, “Only baptize those who request it,” or “Only adults who understand.” That idea is not in the command. The authority to baptize rests with those commissioned to carry out His mission. So before repeating what others have told you, take a moment to read the actual passage for yourself—carefully and honestly.

Third, many who oppose infant baptism argue from silence. They say children are not mentioned in the conversion accounts. But read carefully: when Scripture says an entire household was baptized (Acts 16:15, Acts 16:33, 1 Corinthians 1:16), would that not likely include children, even infants? In biblical times, family units were large and multi-generational. To assume every household lacked infants or children is wishful thinking.

More importantly, baptism is not something we earn by our understanding—it is a gift of grace. Children are part of God’s covenant family. If we believe in bringing children to doctors, teachers, and everything else that is good for them, why would we withhold the grace of baptism until they can ask for it?

So read your Bible, not just the parts someone else tells you to read. Look at what is actually written. You can reject infant baptism if you choose, but do not claim it is unbiblical—because it is not. The issue is not whether God accepts infants, but whether we think we know better than God.

This brings us to the next thorny issue: Should baptism be by immersion only? I will address that question in the next post.