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The earliest explicit mention of infant baptism according to those who firmly hold to and maintain the paedobaptist doctrine of "infant baptism" is found A.D. 185 in [[Irenaeus of Lyons]], ''Against Heresies'', Book II, Chapter 22:4.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103222.htm Against Heresies (Book II, Chapter 22) - Catholic Encyclopedia (newadvent.org)] ''scroll down to paragraph 4''.</ref>, and in a fragment of his lost writings dated to A.D. 190.

The earliest explicit mention of infant baptism according to those who firmly hold to and maintain the paedobaptist doctrine of "infant baptism" is found A.D. 185 in [[Irenaeus of Lyons]], ''Against Heresies'', Book II, Chapter 22:4.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103222.htm Against Heresies (Book II, Chapter 22) - Catholic Encyclopedia (newadvent.org)] ''scroll down to paragraph 4''.</ref>, and in a fragment of his lost writings dated to A.D. 190.

{{cquote|For He came to save all through means of Himself — all, I say, who through Him are '''born again''' to God — '''infants''', and children, and boys, and youths, and old men. He therefore passed through every age, becoming an infant for infants, thus sanctifying infants; a child for children, thus sanctifying those who are of this age, being at the same time made to them an example of piety, righteousness, and submission; a youth for youths, becoming an example to youths, and thus sanctifying them for the Lord. (<small>''boldface emphasis added''</small>)}}{{cquote|“‘And [Naaman] dipped himself . . . seven times in the Jordan’ [2 Kgs. 5:14]. It was not for nothing that Naaman of old, when suffering from leprosy, was purified upon his being baptized, but [this served] as an indication to us. For as we are lepers in sin, we are made clean, by means of the sacred water and the invocation of the Lord, from our old transgressions, being spiritually regenerated as newborn babes, even as the Lord has declared: ‘Except a man be born again through water and the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven’ [John 3:5]” (''Fragment'' 34 [A.D. 190] <ref>[http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/irenaeus-fragments.html Early Christian Writings - Irenaeus of Lyons: Roberts-Donaldson English Translation: Fragments from Lost Writings (earlychristianwritings.com)]</ref>).}}This '''born again to God''' and '''regenerated as newborn babes''' with textual citation of John 3:5 is interpreted by ''paedobaptists'' (infant baptisers) as a direct reference to John 3:3-5:{{cquote|³ Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.<br>⁴ Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?<br>⁵ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and ''of'' the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. <br>—[[King James Bible]] (KJV)}}

{{cquote|For He came to save all through means of Himself — all, I say, who through Him are '''born again''' to God — '''infants''', and children, and boys, and youths, and old men. He therefore passed through every age, becoming an infant for infants, thus sanctifying infants; a child for children, thus sanctifying those who are of this age, being at the same time made to them an example of piety, righteousness, and submission; a youth for youths, becoming an example to youths, and thus sanctifying them for the Lord. (<small>''boldface emphasis added''</small>)}}{{cquote|“‘And [Naaman] dipped himself . . . seven times in the Jordan’ [2 Kgs. 5:14]. It was not for nothing that Naaman of old, when suffering from leprosy, was purified upon his being baptized, but [this served] as an indication to us. For as we are lepers in sin, we are made clean, by means of the sacred water and the invocation of the Lord, from our old transgressions, being spiritually regenerated as '''newborn babes''', even as the Lord has declared: ‘Except a man be born again through water and the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven’ [John 3:5]” (''Fragment'' 34 [A.D. 190] <ref>[http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/irenaeus-fragments.html Early Christian Writings - Irenaeus of Lyons: Roberts-Donaldson English Translation: Fragments from Lost Writings (earlychristianwritings.com)]</ref>).}}This '''born again to God''' and '''regenerated as newborn babes''' with textual citation of John 3:5 is interpreted by ''paedobaptists'' (infant baptisers) as a direct reference to John 3:3-5:{{cquote|³ Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.<br>⁴ Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?<br>⁵ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and ''of'' the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. <br>—[[King James Bible]] (KJV)}}

The Greek New Testament word for "man" here in John is '''τις''' ''tis'' "anyone".<ref>See [http://biblehub.com/greek/5100.htm Strong's number ''5100''. '''τις''' ''tis'' "''some'' or ''any'' person or object:— any ''one''.]</ref>  

The Greek New Testament word for "man" here in John is '''τις''' ''tis'' "anyone".<ref>See [http://biblehub.com/greek/5100.htm Strong's number ''5100''. '''τις''' ''tis'' "''some'' or ''any'' person or object:— any ''one''.]</ref>