Catholic Believer Baptism

A good question to ask is whether the Catholic (universal) church taught believer's baptism or infant baptism.

Originally the term catholic was an adjective and not a name.

The first record of the term catholic is from Ignatius.

If we can determine if Ignatius taught believers baptism or infant baptism we could determine if those calling themselves catholic originally taught believer's baptism.

Ignatius - Epistle to the Trallians, about 105 A.D. said

Wherefore also, ye appear to me to live not after the manner of men, but according to Jesus Christ, who died for us, in order that, by believing in His death, ye may by baptism be made partakers of His resurrection.

Notice the first to use the word catholic believed in believers baptism.

There is a long line of those in the church who believed in believer's baptism.

The current catholic church is a departure from the original faith practiced by the original catholic body.

Catholics can respond this is from the long version of Ignatius' letters, the short version does not have the sentence; but there are other places in his letters showing belief in believers baptism, that are in the short version. It is possible the long version is interpolated to explain what Ignatius meant, especially since the same wording is used in his Phillipean letter concerning baptism.

 and also one baptism, which is administered that we should have fellowship with the death of the Lord;3

Even if the long version is an interpolation it matches his thoughts in other letters.Also the short versions contain other indications he practiced believers baptism.

Ignatius Spurrious Epistles Ch 2

He sent forth the apostles to make disciples of all nations, commanded them to “baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” (Mat_28:19) not unto one [person] having three names, nor into three [persons] who became incarnate, but into three possessed of equal honour.

It seems clear Ignatius correlated baptism with discipleship and the disciple honoring the three persons in giving honor..