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Q95. To whom is Baptism to be administered?

Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.

Proof texts

• Acts 8:36-37 — [36] And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
• Acts 2:38-39 — [38] And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
• Gen. 17:10 — [10] This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
• Col. 2:11-12 — [11] In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, [12] having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
• 1 Cor. 7:14 — [14] For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Acts 8:36-37 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 5 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WLC Q149 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WLC Q166 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WLC Q149 · WLC Q166 · WCF 27.1 · HC Q65 · BC 8.1 · BC 8.2 · BC 8.3 · 1689 28.1