Early Views of the Sacraments of Baptism (5): Early Views of the Sacrament of Baptism; The Question of Infant Baptism

In our previous article we were discussing the grounds which Tertullian advanced in support of his opposition to the baptism of infants. And we concluded the article by calling attention to the second ground for his rejection of this practice, namely that an innocent child needed no cleansing from sin. A third ground advanced by Tertullian concerns the consequent responsibility to the sponsors. "For," we hear him say, "why is it necessary -- if (baptism itself) is not so necessary -- that the...