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Stump, Joseph

"An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism"

28:20] and be brought up in the nurture and admonition
of the Lord, [Eph. 6:4] so that they may always remain faithful and
obedient children of God.
SPONSORS answer the questions for the child at its baptism, and promise
to see to it that the child is properly instructed and trained in the
Christian religion. Sponsors must themselves be members in good standing
in the Church.
WHY CHILDREN SHOULD BE BAPTIZED.[12] As children were received into the
Old Testament covenant by the rite of circumcision, which was a type of
baptism, so God desires that they shall be received into the New
Testament covenant by baptism. Some of the reasons for infant baptism
are the following:--
[Footnote 12: Baptists sometimes argue against infant baptism on the
basis of the Scripture passage: "Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing
them," etc., claiming that Christ says first teach and then baptize.
But, as a matter of fact, Christ mentions baptizing before teaching in
this passage. For in its correct translation, as given in the Revised
Version of the English Bible, it reads, "Go ye therefore, and _make
disciples_ of all the nations, _baptizing_ them into the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; _teaching_ them to observe
all things whatsoever I commanded you.


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