Explore how early Christians anchored infant church membership in a long, shared tradition.
This book traces the idea from the Jewish church back to the beginnings of the Christian faith, showing how baptism came to stand beside circumcision as a sign of the covenant.
Delving into the continuity of the church, the volume surveys Old and New Testament foundations, the use of baptism as a seal of faith, and the role of church fathers in shaping practice. It examines how Gentiles and children were brought into the covenant, the rise of proselytism, and the shift from circumcision to baptism in a world-wide mission.
What you will experience
- An accessible history of infant membership and baptism across eras
- Comparisons between circumcision and baptism as covenant signs
- Accounts of early authorities and their views on infant baptism
- Key explanations of how Church continuity was understood by scholars
Ideal for readers of religious history and those curious about how early church practices evolved into modern baptismal rites.