Foreword
The doctrine of Christian baptism has been a subject of dispute for many centuries. This question divides Christianity into two large sections: the churches which practice infant baptism and the churches which reject it and follow the principle that baptism is to be administered to those, and to those only, who have experienced and professed saving faith in Christ at an age of discretion. Although much literature has been published on both sides, there still are numerous people who desire more light on this problem.
The writer of this book believes that God's word in the Holy Scriptures is the supreme and only norm and rule of doctrine, life and practice in the Christian Church. The Church has no right to modify or dispense with the teachings of the Bible, particularly of the New Testament. At this point both pedobaptists (those who practice infant baptism) and antipedobaptists (those who oppose infant baptism) are on common ground.
The literary form of discussion, or dialogue, has been used many times in dealing with the doctrine of baptism. Sometimes books of this type have been criticized on the grounds that the same person is speaking all the time, giving both the arguments and counterarguments. In order to avoid such criticism -- which is largely justified -- all the main arguments against infant baptism and for the baptistic doctrine of baptism in this book are taken from Baptist literature, particularly from books that Bible-believing Baptists recommend as fairly representative of their position.
The Baptist view of baptism is held by many other groups or denominations, the Pentecostals, Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. The term baptistic, with a small initial, is used in this book to describe the view common to these various groups, but the term Baptist is used when the Baptist denomination is meant.
The writer hopes and prays that the discussions in this book will lead some Christians to a better understanding of the Biblical doctrine of baptism, and to obedience of the faith once delivered unto the saints.
Uuras Saarnivaara
Hancock, Michigan, February, 1953
[Read more selections from "Scriptural Baptism" by Uuras Saarnivaara]