Changes

==Earliest historical mention of infant baptism: A.D. 185==

==Earliest historical mention of infant baptism: A.D. 185==

The earliest explicit mention of infant baptism is found A.D. 185 in [[Irenaeus]], ''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>

The earliest explicit mention of infant baptism is found A.D. 185 in [[Irenaeus]], ''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''.<br>The next earliest mention of infant baptism is A.D. 220 [[Tertullian]], ''On Baptism''. See the article [http://shamelesspopery.com/does-tertullian-reject-infant-baptism/ Does Tertullian Reject Infant Baptism? Joe Heschmeyer - Shameless Popery (shamelesspopery.com)] —''a critical clarification of context.''</ref>

:"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." (<small>''boldface emphasis added''</small>)

:"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." (<small>''boldface emphasis added''</small>)

This is 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]]}}

This is 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]]}}