Justin and Tertullian

Two teachers that did not teach infant baptism were Justin Martyr and Tertullian. What most don't realize is that both required their converts to have the cognitive ability to be disciples and follow through with God's commands. They were to be disciples. Tertullian believed children did not have the capacity to live the life Christ taught.

Tertullian

Our Lord says, indeed, ‘Do not forbid them to come to me.’ Therefore, let them come when they are grown up; let them come when they understand, when they are instructed whither it is that they come; let them be made Christians when they can know Christ…They that understand the weight of baptism will rather dread the receiving of it, than the delaying of it.

Tertullian viewed let them come based upon their will.

Justin agreed by saying,

I will also relate the manner in which we dedicated ourselves to God when we had been made new through Christ; lest, if we omit this, we seem to be unfair in the explanation we are making. As many as are persuaded and believe that what we teach and say is true, and undertake to be able to live accordingly, are instructed to pray and to entreat God with fasting, for the remission of their sins that are past, we praying and fasting with them. Then they are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they then receive the washing with water. (First Apology, LXI)

To Justin they had to be mature enough to make a commitment of living the life Christ instructed.

The word infant in scripture has been misunderstood, it did not mean a baby in all cases, but implied a suckling. In bible times children breast fed to as old as 8 years. This is older than Catholics allow confirmation. They allow confirmation at age 7. They see the child at that age to have the cognitive ability to understand and follow through with their faith.

Were there sucklings baptized, probably those who were still feeding from their mothers at age 5-8, probably.

Jesus knew sucklings were old enough to speak and even sing songs of praise.

Mat 21:16 AndG2532 saidG2036 unto him,G846 HearestG191 thou whatG5101 theseG3778 say?G3004 AndG2532 JesusG2424 saithG3004 unto them,G846 Yea;G3483 have ye neverG3763 read,G314 Out ofG1537 the mouthG4750 of babesG3516 andG2532 sucklingsG2337 thou hast perfectedG2675 praise?G136

Irenaeus' comments about infants/sucklings being born again is likely a reference to those children. The word infant as used by Christ and Paul implied the ability to believe and even read. Christ even used the idea of offending them. They were old enough to be led by a bad example.

Catholics use Irenaeus as an example of babes being born again, but the word allows for those who are old enough to understand the example of Christ's life.

Mat 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

The word infant and suckling are interchangeable. Little ones were able to believe on Christ.

1Sa_15:3 NowH6258 goH1980 and smiteH5221 (H853) Amalek,H6002 and utterly destroyH2763 (H853) allH3605 thatH834 they have, and spareH2550 H5921 them not;H3808 but slayH4191 both manH4480 H376 andH5704 woman,H802 infant(H4480) H5768 and suckling,H3243 ox(H4480) H7794 and sheep,H7716 camel(H4480) H1581 and ass.H2543

H5768

עֹלָל עוֹלֵל

‛ôlêl ‛ôlâl

o-lale', o-lawl'

From H5763; a suckling: - babe, (young) child, infant, little one.

Total KJV occurrences: 21