Calvin on Infant Baptism

It is significant how many non-conformists say that they are Calvanists.  Yet few realise that they reject what he taught about baptism.  John Calvin, the great reformed theologian. was strongly supportive of infant baptism. In his theological writings, especially in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, Calvin provided several arguments to defend the practice. He had no doubt that baptism saves no-one, people are only saved by faith and faith is not just an intellectual acceptance of Christian doctrine and ethics but is nothing less than a personal submission to the Lordship of Jesus. Here’s a concise summary of what he said about this in his ‘Institutes of the Christian Religion’. In Book 4, Chapter 16 he discusses infant baptism in great detail:  These extracts summarise his conclusions:

Covenant continuity

Calvin saw infant baptism as the New Testament counterpart to Old Testament circumcision. Just as circumcision was the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants, baptism is the sign of the covenant under Christ:

“The children of believers are to be baptised, because they are considered by God as part of his covenant family.”                                                      Institutes, 4.16.3

“The Lord did not confer circumcision upon Abraham as a private token, but as a proof of the covenant common to him and his descendants. Hence it follows, that those who are excluded from circumcision wrongfully are torn away from the covenant… Now since the Lord, immediately after making the covenant with Abraham, commanded it to be sealed in infants by an outward sacrament, what excuse can his posterity have for not admitting infants to baptism?”                                                        Institutes, 4.16.6

Inclusion in the church

Calvin argued that children of believers belong to the visible church and thus have a right to receive its sign:

“Children, no less than adults, are promised the grace of God; therefore, the sign of that promise belongs to them.”                                             Institutes, 4.16.6

“Children of believers are baptised because it were impious to exclude those from the sign who are participants in the thing signified.”                  Institutes, 4.16.24

God’s promise precedes faith

Calvin taught that baptism is primarily about God’s promise, not about the recipient’s understanding. Since faith often comes after baptism (even in adults baptized in infancy), this does not invalidate the sacrament:

“But they object that infants do not understand the mystery, the knowledge of which is requisite before they are admitted to baptism. I answer, that if they must needs be capable of understanding, the same thing will debar them from the kingdom of heaven, into which Christ says that they are freely admitted.”                   Institutes, 4.16.19

“Baptism is given at the command of God, as a seal of his promise. It is not invalid because the child cannot yet profess faith.”                               Institutes, 4.16.20

Warnings against superstition

Calvin warned against viewing baptism as magically saving the child. He stressed that baptism signifies grace, but salvation comes through faith, which may be realised later:

“It is not baptism, but Christ’s blood, which washes away sins.”

“We do not, however, by this means ascribe regeneration and faith to infants in the instant of baptism; we only say that the seed of both lies hidden in them by the secret working of the Spirit… which afterwards, at its own time, is revealed and produces its fruit.” Institutes, 4.16.20

Purpose of baptism

Baptism is a sign of initiation into God’s people on earth which must mature into a continued committed faith..  this is true both for infant baptism and adult baptism.  The significance of the rite of baptism can unfortunately be rejected by anyone who has been baptised, but at their peril.

“Baptism is the sign of initiation by which we are admitted into the fellowship of the Church, that being engrafted into Christ we may be reckoned among the children of God.” Institutes, 4.15.

The major Reformed confessions and catechisms view of Infant Baptism

Heidelberg Catechism (1563)

Q.  “Are infants also to be baptized?”

A.  Yes, because they, as well as adults, are included in the covenant and church of God; and since both redemption from sin and the Holy Spirit, who works faith, are promised to them no less than to adults, they must be baptized as a sign of the covenant, and be distinguished from the children of unbelievers.

Belgic Confession (1561)

Article 34 – Of Holy Baptism

We believe that our children ought to be baptised and sealed with the sign of the covenant… as in Israel children were circumcised upon the same promises made unto our children.

Westminster Confession of Faith (1647)

Chapter 28: Of Baptism

“Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, but also the infants of one or both believing parents are to be baptized.” WCF 28.4

What is important that those bringing themselves or their children for baptism understand that the vows they are making are very serious. They are the vows to God that affirm that they want to serve God as he wants for all their lives as taught by his prophets and apostles. God hates hypocrisy.