The history of the interpretation of Colossians 2:11 and 12 up to the council of Chalcedon, with particular reference to the use of these verses as an argument for infant baptism.

Abstract

After a consideration of those passages within the New Testament, either by St. Paul himself or other authors, which were written after Colossians, and which reflect the thought or language of Colossians 2:11 and 12 and which may thus be regarded as a commentary upon these verses, the main part of the thesis consists of a study of the way in which these verses were interpreted by Patristic writers. Colossians 2:11 and 12 have played an important part historically in the rationale for infant baptism. Some paedobaptists, especially those within the Reformed tradition, assume that infants were baptized from Apostolic times on the basis of a covenantal analogy between circumcision and baptism. This study seeks to ascertain when this analogy in general, and Colossians 2:11 and 12 in particular, first occur as an argument for infant baptism. Along side the study of the way in which Colossians 2:11 and 12 were interpreted reference is made to early explicit testimony for the practice of infant baptism, and an attempt is made to ascertain what arguments were advanced for infant baptism at any given time. An attempt is also made to ascertain at what stage in the development of the analogy between circumcision and baptism its use is consistent as an argument for infant baptism. Special attention is paid to any factors not specifically arising from the exegesis of Colossians 2:11 and 12 which may have contributed to the view that in these verses Paul is directly comparing the two rites of circumcision and baptism.