Believer's Baptism and Infant Baptism: A Biblical and Historical Evaluation

This study examines the biblical and historical development of Christian baptism, with particular focus on the debate between believer’s baptism and infant baptism. Beginning with the New Testament understanding of baptism as full immersion associated with personal faith, the paper analyzes the linguistic, textual, and symbolic foundations of immersion. It then traces the historical shifts in baptismal practice from the early church through the patristic period, exploring how pastoral concerns, cultural contexts, theological developments, and social pressures contributed to the rise of infant baptism and alternative modes such as pouring and sprinkling. The work evaluates key theological arguments, including the relationship between circumcision and baptism, the influence of early church fathers, and the role of doctrines such as original sin. While acknowledging the historical legitimacy of diverse traditions, the study concludes that believer’s baptism by immersion has the strongest direct support from the New Testament, while the practice of infant baptism emerged primarily from later theological and pastoral developments.