Children of Promise: The Case for Baptizing Infants

by Geoffrey William Bromiley

Infant baptism is an issue that divides the largest Protestant denomination from its sister denominations; and it remains, in many churches, the subject of frequent and sometimes heated debate. This is particularly the case in Reformation churches where the influence of Baptist doctrine has caused members to question their practice of baptizing infants. / Children of Promise is Geoffrey Bromiley’s attempt to get at the biblical understanding that underlies the continuation of infant baptism in many of the evangelical churches. / In addition to examining the scriptural basis for baptizing infants, Bromiley also considers the meaning of baptism, the relation of baptism to the three persons of the Trinity, and the question of the salvation of infants. / A concluding chapter presents a list of guidelines for churches to follow as they examine the practice of baptizing infants.

Genres: Theology, Christianity

132 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Peter Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be the best introduction to infant baptism I have read. Simple and short, Bromiley guides a person through the theology of why we baptize infants. It is well organized. He also recognizes why Baptist see things the way they do. He shows how their concerns can be addressed without giving up paedo-baptism. A very, very good book.

[Zach Forehand]

Compelling

[Klara Olthoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book on infant baptism presented a gospel-centered argument that challenged the way I consider covenant theology, election, reconciliation, regeneration, and faith, all in regards to this sacrament. I have much to learn and to continue to ponder, but this was a helpful resource!

“baptism does not arise out of any work of ours. It is baptism into the work of God on our behalf.

“we find that even our own response is the work of God. In this area two points can easily be overlooked. The first is that regeneration is not a human possibility, and the second is that it does not stand alone but braces sanctification and glorification as well.”

[Matt Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and concise volume that I found helpful and clarifying. Ultimately, I think there are also sections here (if obviously not the whole) that credobaptists would agree with, and he does will not to treat the issue in a particularly dogmatic way.

[Joseph · Rating 1 out of 5]

I seldom will give, as a review of a book, simply the title of a book that refutes every point in the book I am relieving. In this case, however, the best critique I can give is just that you should read Matt Waymeyer's A Biblical Critique of Infant Baptism. It tackles more or less every attempt at a biblical point made in this book (examining in far greater detail the small handful of potentially relevant passages that Bromiley just glances and assumes prove his point). It also strongly argues against the theological assumptions about covenant and so forth that, to be frank, even Bromiley and most paedo-baptists admit are the basis of the doctrine they defend (as opposed to any substantive teaching in scripture).

I will say that the scriptureless arguments about how identifying baptism with faith and confession makes it too man-centered, as well as the occasional allusion to the anabaptist boogey-man, didn't help...

And as for the issue of infant salvation, one can certainly believe that God does save some or all infants without making the presumption that infants have a special kind of "faith" that doesn't require one to be capable of conscious thought. As Bromiley himself says, many elements of this question are mysterious; accepting that God can work out the ultimate salvation of a person who dies in infant as a divine mystery is no less absurd than changing the fundamental meaning of the word faith. There are conceivable ways that God could do it (such as something post-mortem)l we just don't know what they are because the Bible gives us little more than hints of infant salvation in the first place.

Overall, it didn't make a compelling case for infant baptism, at least not when one looks at it further.

[Donald Owens II · Rating 2 out of 5]

This little volume claims to be "The Case for Baptizing Infants." But rather than making a positive case, Bromiley tries to remove all Baptist objections, and imply that this is adequate proof. In the end, however, he wrecks his own case by admitting "This does not prove, of course, that infants have to be baptized. Parents are not disobeying any clearcut command if they withhold baptism from their children."

I happened to embrace the paedobaptist position while reading this book, but it was more in spite of, rather than because of it.

Best chapter: 3 "The Meaning of Baptism", which argues pretty well that "Baptism declares, signifies, and seals not what I do but what God has done, does, and will do."

Worst chapter: 8 "The Salvation of Infants", which essentially says that they might be saved, since we can't prove the contrary. His fuzzy use of terms like election also tend dangerously toward claiming baptismal regeneration and denying original sin.

[Mark Bennon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read and well written. He spends a chapter on children who died in the womb/infancy, which I really appreciated.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good.

[Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well-written book on the Biblical case for baptizing infants. Bromiley does not focus his time on church history, even though he briefly mentions historical records of first Century believers baptizing their children, as well as the records of infant baptism in the second, third, and fourth centuries of the church. He also does not spend a lot of time taking down one-at-a-time each and every counterargument. Instead, he looks at the Biblical meaning of baptism and walks through its implications with a specific focus on infant baptism. His tone is very generous; he is not angry or demeaning towards those who oppose infant baptism. Bromiley does a good job of, respectfully, showing the faults in dispensationalist teaching and the flaws in separating the Old Testament from the New Testament in a way that sets the old covenant aside, as opposed to seeing the new covenant as that which fulfills the old covenant. He points out that the old covenant is the covenant of promise and the new covenant is the covenant of fulfilled promise, but this covenant is one. Bromiley shows the clear connection of Passover to the Lord’s Supper and circumcision to baptism. There is nothing in the New Testament to explain why baptism should not be given to the infants of covenant members even though circumcision was given to the infants of covenant members. Baptism, like circumcision, is not primarily about what we do, or our confession of faith; it is about that which God has done, is doing, and will do for us. One of the most beautiful marks of this book is that it is wonderfully Trinitarian. The eternal election of the Father is the only hope for anyone who is dead in sin to be saved. Baptism bears witness to the work of Christ reconciling us to Himself; this should be seen in all baptisms (adult and infant), and it is especially clear in the baptism of a helpless infant. The Holy Spirit appropriates the work of Christ to believers and gives faith to believers. Baptism testifies to the will of the Father, the work of the Son, and the ministry of the Spirit. Baptism does not arise out of any work of our own; it is baptism into the work of God on our behalf. Once again, Bromiley’s purpose is not to simply proof-text about infant baptism, rather he walks through Scripture (and spends time focusing on each person of the Godhead) with a primary focus on baptism and a secondary focus on the implications that fall on infant baptism. This book is deeply Scriptural and very sound theologically. It is a great help not simply for better understanding the practice of infant baptism but for gaining a better understanding of the sacrament of baptism itself.

[Sean McGowan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. Did not answer all my questions, but good.