Calvin's Institutes 4.15.17. to 4.15.21

INSTITUTES
OF
THE CHRISTIAN
RELIGION
By
John Calvin

BOOK FOURTH.
OF THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH

CHAPTER 15.
OF BAPTISM.

4.15.17.

Calvin now expresses the essence of infant baptism. When challenged by us immersionists as to what faith did the infant exercise, Calvin would respond thus: "We acknowledge, therefore, that at that time baptism profited us nothing, since in us the offered promise, without which baptism is nothing, lay neglected. Now, when by the grace of God we begin to repent, we accuse our blindness and hardness of heart in having been so long ungrateful for his great goodness. But we do not believe that the promise itself has vanished, we rather reflect thus: God in baptism promises the remission of sins, and will undoubtedly perform what he has promised to all believers. That promise was offered to us in baptism, let us therefore embrace it in faith. In regard to us, indeed, it was long buried on account of unbelief; now, therefore, let us with faith receive it." This Calvin asserts as he makes the connection with circumcision. Even after circumcision when the Jew is called to repent, the promise of pardon was given at circumcision but not effective until faith is exercised. We Baptists will struggle with this but it helps us understand the paedobaptist position.

4.15.18. - 4.15.21.

Somewhat confusing, Calvin now anticipates the question of the anabaptists ... the re-baptizers. If John's baptism was legitimate why did Paul re-baptize? " I grant that John's was a true baptism, and one and the same with the baptism of Christ. But I deny that they were rebaptised." Calvin would interpret the events as not being re-baptized in water, but being baptized in the Holy Spirit by the risen Christ. What of immersion? "Whether the person baptised is to be wholly immersed, and that whether once or thrice, or whether he is only to be sprinkled with water, is not of the least consequence: churches should be at liberty to adopt either, according to the diversity of climates, although it is evident that the term baptise means to immerse, and that this was the form used by the primitive Church." As to who will perform such baptisms, Calvin would retain the church clerics to perform this function, not the laity, nor women. "What the custom was before Augustine's day is gathered, first, from Tertullian, who says, that a woman is not permitted to speak in the Church, nor yet to teach, or baptise, or offer, that she may not claim to herself any office of the man, not to say of the priest (Tertull. Cont. Hæres. Lib. 1)."