To a Thousand Generations: Infant Baptism: Covenant Mercy for the People of God

by Douglas Wilson

Book Overview

The issue of baptism operates against the backdrop of the divine promises to Christian parents. Only after we understand parenthood can we properly turn to a discussion of baptism. This book aims to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1885767242
• ISBN13: 9781885767240
• Release Date: December 2000
• Publisher: Canon Press
• Length: 124 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

The High Probability Of Parenting Biblically

'When it comes to child-rearing, between the Old and New Testaments there is total and complete continuity on the subject of godly parenting. There is no discontinuity.' p 10 Douglas Wilson, pastor of Christ Church, Moscow, Idaho, states that the case for paedo-baptism is not only justified, but is required of believing parents. The substance of this doctrinal conviction is determined by the contingent factors surrounding infant baptism - none more crucial than parental obligation bound by promise toward God. Wilson contends that those in the baptistic tradition show little regard for this ordinance as being parent-related. Also, baptismal regeneration has been erroneously and unnecessarily connected to sincere believing parents who have complied with biblical injunctions to raise their children in the fear of the Lord. The rite, Wilson will argue, is justified by the indicative in the NT - if not the imperative. Wilson is charitable, yet insistent that the Bible calls for such specific means. He claims at the outset that his task is to establish 'indisputable premises' that warrant biblical paedo-baptism. This comes close to claiming an exhaustive presentation of the subject, and I for one, was eager to get on with it. But before my commencement, Wilson placed a well-placed warning sign in the road: 'But in the arguments that follow, there is no creeping sacerdotalism or advocacy of priestcraft of any kind.' Roman Catholicism denied entry. Wilson believes the 'forever' promises to be just that: forevermore - generations of children included. One particular portion of Scripture Wilson exegetes admirably which reminds of Moses informing the Israelite assembly before him of the same, is the covenantal Acts 2:39, 'For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.' Inductive study allows Wilson to anachronistically adduce that: 'Now the historical/grammatical approach to Scripture rightly requires us to seek to understand words as the first readers or listeners understood them. Unlike many modern believers, they knew their Old Testament. If anyone at that time had seriously maintained this meant the children of believers were now excluded unless they came into the covenant on their own as a separate individual, this would have been, in the 1st century, an incomprehensible doctrine.' p 15 Wilson rightly asks who in their right minds would opt for the new covenant over the old, knowing full well that it excluded their children? Peter had specifically stipulated no such exclusion! From this moment the tide turns considerably in favor of infant baptism, with no abrogation of infant inclusion. The NT biblical mode needs to now be discovered. Another exegetical point is amassed by Wilson when he points out that historically the well-chronicled debate shown throughout the NT was not whether or not gentile parents had to exclude their children in the new covenant, but whether they had

Baptists Beware

This book was one of two that finally convinced me that infant baptism is not only acceptable Biblically, but is, in fact, the proper approach.Wilson's writing style is easy to read. The book is short, but powerful. If you have been wrestling with this issue (as I had for several years), you owe it to yourself to read this book.

Much light, little heat, and a sprinkling of water...

The debate over infant baptism has raged across the centuries, often causing rifts and wounds that won't heal. The tragic thing about these debates is that they often rest on misinformation and confusion. How many advocates of infant baptism attempt to appeal to the phantom children of the Philippian jailer? How many opponents of infant baptism equate it with baptismal regeneration? In both cases, too many! Wilson, ever the careful exegete and consummate logician, presents a clear case for infant baptism by starting where any discussion on this subject should: in the OLD TESTAMENT! Very few if any proponents of believer's baptism begin their argument in the Old Testament (and if you start with the New, you will inevitably argue against infant baptism!) Wilson's discussion of God's covenants with His people is worth the price of the book, but it is only the appetizer. The main course is his studied presentation of the validity of infant baptism. Every objection raised by the adherents of believer's baptism is dealt with thoroughly and fairly. Even if you are dead set against the idea of infant baptism, you can learn much from this book that is beyond dispute: the nature of God's covenant relationship with all Christians. Every pastor and Bible teacher should have this volume in their library. Every Christian wanting to have a balanced view of baptism should as well.

A must read for all parents who love their children!

What a wonderful book on the subject of children of Christians! Are they members of the church, or are they "short heathen"? With no silly or superficial arguments (how can you immerse in the middle of the night?), D Wilson takes you slowly throught the covenant of God, to show that our children really do belong! Read with an open heart!