It isn't really the point whether there were children or how young. The point is that the Scripture just assumes when a head converts, his household converts with him. This is both an OT and NT principle (cf. [esv]Gen. 17:7[/esv] and [esv]Acts 2:39[/esv], which echo the same basic household language that is present throughout Scripture). There are other threads discussing this question where people who know the arguments better than I have addressed the issue. Perhaps some of the paedos who have been on here longer can point you to a helpful thread or so on the household baptisms.austinww:We paedos tend to emphasize external aspects somewhat more. God makes a covenant with professing believers and their households under their rule. Both adults and children in the covenant can apostatize, but the children, like their parents, are expected to keep the covenant they are raised in. Who is and is not truly regenerate is not something we can see (although there are fruits).
Can it be said that the major difference is hermeneutics: paedos tend to depend heavily on covenant theology; credos seek to follow the explicit statements in scripture, for which there is no explicit command to paedobaptize.
Of course, there's the oikos argument, but doesn't this fall short, given that besides being baptized, households also: 1) receive the Spirit (Acts 11:14-15) and 2) believe (16:34)? The argument that oikos necessarily includes children fails on this point, in my opinion.
As for covenant theology, I'm hesitant to say that is the main difference. I think there are some soteriological implications as well. The Scripture treats the children of believers as believers to be raised in the faith, unless they prove otherwise by falling away. The Baptist view must be read into the text using modern, individualistic assumptions. I think others can address this better than I can, though, to be honest. I recommend you ask some older, wiser credo and paedo members of this board.
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Can it be said that the major difference is hermeneutics: paedos tend to depend heavily on covenant theology; credos seek to follow the explicit statements in scripture, for which there is no explicit command to paedobaptize.
No more are there commands to give them coming-of-age baptisms at a later time.
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