PAEDOBAPTIST Meaning and
Definition
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Paedobaptist is a term used to describe a theological position within Christianity that advocates for the practice of infant baptism. The term is derived from the combination of two Greek words: "pais," meaning child, and "baptizo," meaning to baptize. Paedobaptists believe that the sacrament of baptism should be administered to infants and young children as a means of initiating them into the church community.
According to Paedobaptist theology, infant baptism is seen as a continuation of the Old Testament practice of circumcision, which was performed on male babies as a symbol of their participation in the covenant community of Israel. Paedobaptists argue that just as circumcision marked the entrance into the covenant community under the Old Covenant, baptism serves as the sign of initiation into the covenant community of the New Covenant.
Paedobaptists also emphasize that baptism is not solely a rite of personal faith but also a sign of God's grace and covenant faithfulness towards the child. While they acknowledge that personal faith will eventually become necessary, Paedobaptists believe that infant baptism aligns with the belief that God's grace precedes human response.
It is important to note that Paedobaptism is distinct from another theological position known as "credobaptism," which advocates for the practice of baptizing only individuals who have reached an age of understanding and have personally professed their faith.
Overall, the term Paedobaptist refers to those who adhere to the practice of baptizing infants as a sign of God's grace and their belonging to the covenant community of faith.
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Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for PAEDOBAPTIST
- pedobaptism
- padobaptism
- paedobaptsm
- -pedobaptist
- Padobaptist
- oaedobaptist
- laedobaptist
- -aedobaptist
- 0aedobaptist
- pzedobaptist
- pqedobaptist
- pawdobaptist
- pasdobaptist
- paddobaptist
- pardobaptist
- pa4dobaptist
- pa3dobaptist
- paesobaptist
- paexobaptist
- paecobaptist
Etymology of PAEDOBAPTIST
The term "paedobaptist" is derived from two separate components: "paedo-" and "baptist".
1. "Paedo-" comes from the Greek word "pais" (παῖς), meaning "child". In English, it is usually spelled as "pedo-" or "paedo-". It is often used as a prefix to indicate something related to or involving children.
2. "Baptist" is derived from the Greek word "baptizein" (βαπτίζειν), which means "to dip, to immerse". The term refers to a Christian denomination or belief system that advocates for baptism by immersion, primarily practiced on believers who are old enough to make a conscious decision to follow Jesus Christ.
When combined, "paedobaptist" refers to the practice or belief of baptizing infants or young children.
