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Feed My Lambs: Why the Lord's Table Should Be Restored to Covenant Children
For a thousand years, baptized children partook of the Eucharist before the practice fell off in the Western Church. Following the Reformation, Protestant churches have largely continued to bar children's participation until a confirmation or formalized profession when they are older.
In Feed My Lambs , Tim Gallant offers a comprehensive defense of the original practice, outlining the biblical roots of children's participation, as well as answering common objections, such as appeals to 1 Corinthians 11.
Building upon the "one bread, one body" theme of 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, Gallant shows that both Old Testament precedents and new covenant realities solidify the paedocommunion case. He also provides an overview of the early practice in church history, demonstrating that the communing of children is no novelty, but the ancient norm.
In Feed My Lambs , Tim Gallant offers a comprehensive defense of the original practice, outlining the biblical roots of children's participation, as well as answering common objections, such as appeals to 1 Corinthians 11.
Building upon the "one bread, one body" theme of 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, Gallant shows that both Old Testament precedents and new covenant realities solidify the paedocommunion case. He also provides an overview of the early practice in church history, demonstrating that the communing of children is no novelty, but the ancient norm.
220 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 5, 2010
The Case for small children partaking of Communion (PaedoCommunion) – 5/24/10
I just finished reading “Feed My Lambs” by Tim Gallant. This book is a well-reasoned case for restoring covenant children to the Lord’s Table. The following is a brief synopsis of the main argument.
Children are fully members of the covenant
The children of believers are included in the covenant promises God makes to their parents – Acts 2:39. They are reckoned as saints and kingdom heirs – 1 Cor 7:14; Matt 19:13-14. They are treated and addressed as God’s people in Scripture, with promises and warnings for Israel applied directly to them (Ephesians 6:1-3). This is why we baptize them, just as God called children of Old Testament believers to be circumcised – Genesis 17; Colossians 2:11-12.
Communion is a covenant privilege
Covenant members are unified, one with another in Christ, and that union is signified in part by baptism (1 Cor 12:13) and partaking of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 10:16-17). Excluding small children who can eat and drink acts out a theology that denies this – that says God does not include them until they meet a higher standard. We DO need to grow into maturity in Christ, but we should be fed at the Table as we grow.
PaedoCommunion was practiced in the Old Testament
Scripture does not have a category for baptized (or circumcised), but not yet partaking of Communion (or Old Testament feasts). Before Christ came, children partook of the sacrificial feasts (Exodus 12:4; Deuteronomy 16:11, 14). In the history of the Church since Christ has come, what little data there is indicates that children partook of the Supper until superstition about the nature of the Mass brought a stop to it around the twelfth century. The Reformation did not address the issue.
Self-examination was also required in the Old Testament
God called Old Testament worshippers to examine themselves so they did not profane His worship by partaking rebelliously (Isaiah 1:10-20). A similar call in 1 Corinthians 11:28-29 does not mean children may not partake, since they did partake before Christ. This means the self-examination requirement is applied according to age and ability. Small children, like the senile, should not be excluded because they do not meet a fixed mental standard. The call to self-examination applies to all, but not in the same way or with the same standard. Similarly, we do not apply 2 Thessalonians 3:10 in the same way to a 2 year old as we do a 32 year old (“If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”)
Bring your children to the Table of our Lord. When they sin as we all do, correct them so that they are restored to the joy of Christ. Part of that joy is communion at His Table. As they come with you, teach them simply: Jesus feeds us. Let Him feed you. You need Jesus like you need food. Do you trust Him? Are you hanging on to any sin right now? This isn’t a snack. This is what Jesus tells us to do, so we grow big and strong for Him.
I just finished reading “Feed My Lambs” by Tim Gallant. This book is a well-reasoned case for restoring covenant children to the Lord’s Table. The following is a brief synopsis of the main argument.
Children are fully members of the covenant
The children of believers are included in the covenant promises God makes to their parents – Acts 2:39. They are reckoned as saints and kingdom heirs – 1 Cor 7:14; Matt 19:13-14. They are treated and addressed as God’s people in Scripture, with promises and warnings for Israel applied directly to them (Ephesians 6:1-3). This is why we baptize them, just as God called children of Old Testament believers to be circumcised – Genesis 17; Colossians 2:11-12.
Communion is a covenant privilege
Covenant members are unified, one with another in Christ, and that union is signified in part by baptism (1 Cor 12:13) and partaking of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 10:16-17). Excluding small children who can eat and drink acts out a theology that denies this – that says God does not include them until they meet a higher standard. We DO need to grow into maturity in Christ, but we should be fed at the Table as we grow.
PaedoCommunion was practiced in the Old Testament
Scripture does not have a category for baptized (or circumcised), but not yet partaking of Communion (or Old Testament feasts). Before Christ came, children partook of the sacrificial feasts (Exodus 12:4; Deuteronomy 16:11, 14). In the history of the Church since Christ has come, what little data there is indicates that children partook of the Supper until superstition about the nature of the Mass brought a stop to it around the twelfth century. The Reformation did not address the issue.
Self-examination was also required in the Old Testament
God called Old Testament worshippers to examine themselves so they did not profane His worship by partaking rebelliously (Isaiah 1:10-20). A similar call in 1 Corinthians 11:28-29 does not mean children may not partake, since they did partake before Christ. This means the self-examination requirement is applied according to age and ability. Small children, like the senile, should not be excluded because they do not meet a fixed mental standard. The call to self-examination applies to all, but not in the same way or with the same standard. Similarly, we do not apply 2 Thessalonians 3:10 in the same way to a 2 year old as we do a 32 year old (“If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”)
Bring your children to the Table of our Lord. When they sin as we all do, correct them so that they are restored to the joy of Christ. Part of that joy is communion at His Table. As they come with you, teach them simply: Jesus feeds us. Let Him feed you. You need Jesus like you need food. Do you trust Him? Are you hanging on to any sin right now? This isn’t a snack. This is what Jesus tells us to do, so we grow big and strong for Him.
April 8, 2023
This book is the summary argument for paedocommunion (covenant communion).
Some key takeaways the author provides us in the back (Appendix 3), particularly as related to 1 Corinthians 11.
“7. The calling for remembrance and self-examination in 1 Corinthians 11 stands in the pattern of the character of the sacraments of the old covenant (Ex. 12:14, Isaiah 1:10-20)
8. These old covenant sacraments admitted children into participation (Ex. 12:14, Dt. 16:11, 14)
9. Therefore the requirements of 1 Corinthians 11 may not be employed to bar covenant children from the sacrament, since similar requirements in the old covenants did not bar them”
While these are more arguments against preventing children from partaking, I think these are the most important to tackle first if you’re interested in the subject. I found these answers compelling.
Positively, why should covenant children be allowed to partake? The author draws from several reasons, here are a few I find compelling:
1. Continuity between Passover and the Supper. The children partook in one, why should they be barred from the other? Quite frankly I was not aware it was a debated subject that the children partook in the Old Testament Passover feast until I read this book. It seems fairly clear, which, this book elucidates, particularly with the clause in the Law that says if the cooked Passover lamb is too large for one household, it may be shared with another household. Why would this be the case if it were just heads of households? They partook
2. History commends the practice. Augustine and Cyprian both assume the practice. They don’t argue for it, they assume it as a normal practice. The Hussites argue for it to the point of writing a song about it. Wolfgang Musculus, a second generation Reformer, makes a good argument for it as well. All of these resources are available online
3. The cessation of the practice coincided with a degradation of liturgy and theology, not a strengthening of it. The reason paedocommunion ceased in the western church was because the papists took the Supper from the laity. It never ceased in the eastern church and can still be observed today.
All in all, if you accept infant baptism, I think this book makes a good case as to why you should accept paedocommunion as well.
Some key takeaways the author provides us in the back (Appendix 3), particularly as related to 1 Corinthians 11.
“7. The calling for remembrance and self-examination in 1 Corinthians 11 stands in the pattern of the character of the sacraments of the old covenant (Ex. 12:14, Isaiah 1:10-20)
8. These old covenant sacraments admitted children into participation (Ex. 12:14, Dt. 16:11, 14)
9. Therefore the requirements of 1 Corinthians 11 may not be employed to bar covenant children from the sacrament, since similar requirements in the old covenants did not bar them”
While these are more arguments against preventing children from partaking, I think these are the most important to tackle first if you’re interested in the subject. I found these answers compelling.
Positively, why should covenant children be allowed to partake? The author draws from several reasons, here are a few I find compelling:
1. Continuity between Passover and the Supper. The children partook in one, why should they be barred from the other? Quite frankly I was not aware it was a debated subject that the children partook in the Old Testament Passover feast until I read this book. It seems fairly clear, which, this book elucidates, particularly with the clause in the Law that says if the cooked Passover lamb is too large for one household, it may be shared with another household. Why would this be the case if it were just heads of households? They partook
2. History commends the practice. Augustine and Cyprian both assume the practice. They don’t argue for it, they assume it as a normal practice. The Hussites argue for it to the point of writing a song about it. Wolfgang Musculus, a second generation Reformer, makes a good argument for it as well. All of these resources are available online
3. The cessation of the practice coincided with a degradation of liturgy and theology, not a strengthening of it. The reason paedocommunion ceased in the western church was because the papists took the Supper from the laity. It never ceased in the eastern church and can still be observed today.
All in all, if you accept infant baptism, I think this book makes a good case as to why you should accept paedocommunion as well.
January 29, 2009
Outstanding.
February 13, 2024
Good book, I already hold the position of Child Communion. I came mainly for the OT sacramentology. It didn't disappoint.
June 4, 2025
Very comprehensive book on paedocommunion addressing basically every objection I've ever heard. Convincing, clear arguments and thoroughly based on covenant theology.
Read after reading all C.P Venema's articles on paedocommunion which did not have clear, strong arguments at all. I don't think anyone should make a judgment on covenant communion (as I prefer to call it), until after reading this book.
Read after reading all C.P Venema's articles on paedocommunion which did not have clear, strong arguments at all. I don't think anyone should make a judgment on covenant communion (as I prefer to call it), until after reading this book.
January 23, 2018
Overall, he presents an excellent argument for the position. “Paedocommunion”, as he acknowledges himself, is a somewhat misleading term, as he is actually arguing for the participation of small children (starting around 2 years old). His argument is not just related to passover but to a natural law version of the argument for corporate representation, though he would probably not put it in those terms. Thankfully, he doesn’t rest a lot of weight on 1 Cor. 7, which I think is routinely misused in these sorts of situations. I also find his historical overview worthy of more examination, because I think it’s been pretty conclusively demonstrated that infant baptism was not the universal norm for the early church. Overall, however, an excellent place to start when examining the argument for this position.
January 21, 2009
Very good and helpful!
July 12, 2022
Gallant's exegesis of 1 Cor 11 ("but a man must examine himself"; "eats and drinks...in an unworthy manner will be guilty") was why I purchased this book: how can he get himself out of _that_ paper bag? Well, I wasn't disappointed. For a great introduction to this 'camp's' Sacrament-world, I'd recommend in this order:
(1) The Baptized Body - Leithart
(2) paedofaith - Lusk
(3) Feed My Lambs - Gallant
(1) The Baptized Body - Leithart
(2) paedofaith - Lusk
(3) Feed My Lambs - Gallant
August 9, 2019
Great resource.
April 12, 2020
While I disagree with Gallant’s conclusions (see my own book on young credocommunion), I respect his scholarship.
April 13, 2020
Absolutely fascinating. I'm not sure that I agree with this position -- having spent my life in churches that don't hold to it -- but it's certainly hard to disagree with Gallant's arguments.
July 8, 2023
Great argument in defense of paedocommunion. Well written and engaging cover to cover!
November 26, 2023
Helpful. Technical. Disorganized.
March 19, 2025
Very thorough. The author appeals to the biblical text, church history, and directly addresses a plethora of arguments from the other side. The book’s appendix comes with many wise practical tips.
December 26, 2025
Very thorough examination of paedocommunion. Certainly not a doctrine that’s been “invented” in modern times.
September 27, 2009
This book is apparently a bit hard to come by now, which is really too bad. Hopefully there will be a second printing soon as this is a very well written and cogent defense of the paedocommunion (the practice of allowing even very young baptized children to partake of communion without or before being subjected to some process of confirmation). As I was working through the issue of paedobaptism a few years prior to reading this book, one of the things that I felt strongly convicted about was that if paedobaptism were true then paedocommunion must be true as well, although this was the first work I read subsequently that established that link explicitly, and/or in lengthy detail.
February 17, 2015
I was hoping for a 3.5 star option but in the end it leans closer to 4 than 3. I have arrived at the same conclusions (well before covenant baptism) but with a slight difference in why. That said, Gallant lays out a solid Biblical case for covenant children participating in the Lord's Supper. This is a good book on the topic.
April 9, 2009
Very Good
December 18, 2009
Good defense of letting our covenant children partake of the Lord's Supper.
September 11, 2011
Pretty good book on paedocommunion, but honestly better books have come out since this one was published.
December 17, 2012
A must read for all
November 20, 2013
A really good overview of covenant communion!
April 30, 2014
Great book. The chapter on 1 Cor. 11 is so important.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews