Topical Bible: Baptism: Administered to Households

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Baptism, a sacrament of initiation into the Christian faith, is a significant rite symbolizing purification and admission into the community of believers. The practice of administering baptism to entire households is a topic of interest within the New Testament narrative, reflecting the communal and covenantal aspects of early Christian life.

Biblical Instances

The New Testament provides several accounts where baptism is administered to entire households, suggesting a collective approach to faith and conversion. These instances are often cited to illustrate the inclusivity and communal nature of the early Church.

1. The Household of Cornelius: In Acts 10, Cornelius, a centurion, receives a vision prompting him to send for the Apostle Peter. Upon Peter's arrival, he preaches the Gospel to Cornelius and his household. The Holy Spirit descends upon all who hear the message, leading Peter to declare, "Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!" (Acts 10:47). Consequently, Cornelius and his entire household are baptized, marking a pivotal moment in the inclusion of Gentiles into the Christian faith.

2. The Household of Lydia: Acts 16 recounts the conversion of Lydia, a seller of purple goods in Philippi. After the Lord opens her heart to respond to Paul's message, she and her household are baptized. "When she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, 'If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.' And she persuaded us" (Acts 16:15). Lydia's baptism signifies the acceptance of the Gospel and the establishment of a Christian community in her home.

3. The Philippian Jailer: Later in Acts 16, Paul and Silas are imprisoned in Philippi. Following a miraculous earthquake, the jailer, fearing for his life, asks, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). Paul and Silas respond, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31). The jailer and his household are baptized immediately, demonstrating the transformative power of faith and the extension of salvation to his entire family.

4. The Household of Stephanas: In 1 Corinthians 1:16, Paul mentions baptizing the household of Stephanas, indicating that household baptisms were a recognized practice in the early Church. "Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not remember if I baptized anyone else" (1 Corinthians 1:16). This reference underscores the communal aspect of baptism and the role of households in the spread of the Gospel.

Theological Implications

The practice of household baptism reflects the covenantal theology present in both the Old and New Testaments. Just as the covenant with Abraham included his entire household (Genesis 17:12-13), the New Covenant in Christ extends to families, emphasizing the continuity of God's promises across generations. Household baptisms illustrate the belief that God's grace and salvation are available to all members of a family, regardless of age or status.

Furthermore, these accounts highlight the role of the head of the household in leading their family in faith. The decision of individuals like Cornelius, Lydia, and the Philippian jailer to embrace Christianity often resulted in the collective baptism of their households, signifying a communal commitment to the faith.

Conclusion

The administration of baptism to households in the New Testament underscores the communal and covenantal nature of the early Christian Church. These accounts serve as a testament to the inclusive reach of the Gospel and the transformative power of faith within families.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 16:15
And when she was baptized, and her household, she sought us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Corinthians 1:16
And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Baptism.
... the apostles of the baptism of whole households; and yet ... in maintaining that the
essence of baptism does not ... way in which the water is administered; but much ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter ii baptism.htm

The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ...
... but it has been much disputed whether it was also administered to the ... of its
administration, no less than five refer to the baptism of whole households. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the lords daythe.htm

The Cambridge Platform and the Half-Way Covenant
... as in England and Scotland, the privilege of baptism for their households and of ...
be left in your Churches, and from such Ordinances administered therein as ...
/.../chapter iv the cambridge platform.htm

The Gospel According to St. Luke
... He omits the rebuke administered to the disciples ... lack of watchfulness, Christ's
coming "baptism," signs of ... have been carried out by households, according to ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter v the gospel according.htm

Exposition of the Moral Law.
... he had committed (Isa.39:7); and the households of Pharaoh ... by the bread they eat,
by their baptism, or any ... oaths, such as those which are administered to us by ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 exposition of the.htm

Centenary Commemoration
... was also held the first ordination administered by a ... clergy in that day, to administer
baptism in private ... Very often whole households were baptized in this way ...
/.../centenary commemoration 2.htm

Seances Historiques De Geneve --The National Church.
... from the very first, its multitudinist tendencies; and before it could comprehend
countries or cities, embracing families and households, the several members ...
/.../seances historiques de genevethe national.htm