Irenaeus of Lyons on Baptism
C.130 – C.202 · GREEK FATHER
STANDARD SCHOLARLY ACCOUNTLEANS TOWARD°
Infants included, and effective for regeneration
THE POSITION
Baptism as regeneration; infant baptism attested in his period.
SCRIPTURE
JOHN 3:5 · BSB
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
8 OTHERS HOLD THIS
Believers only, on profession of faithVODDIE BAUCHAM · THE CHURCH OF ELEVEN22 STATEMENT OF FAITH · JOSH HOWERTON · SECOND LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION · JOHN MACARTHUR · GAVIN ORTLUND · JUSTIN PETERS · JOHN PIPER · CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON
Infants included, as a covenant signJACOBUS ARMINIUS · CALVIN · JONATHAN EDWARDS · TIM KELLER · JOHN OWEN · R.C. SPROUL · WESTMINSTER CONFESSION · ZWINGLI
See all 29 figures on baptism →ABOUT THIS FIGURE
Bishop of Lyons, author of Against Heresies. Argued against Gnosticism from the apostolic rule of faith, and framed salvation as Christ recapitulating human life.
8 OF 9 POSITIONS QUOTED
Everything Irenaeus holds →Cite this page
"Irenaeus of Lyons on Baptism", Examined Doctrine, July 2026 edition, https://examineddoctrine.com/position/irenaeus/baptism (archived at https://examineddoctrine.com/editions/2026-07/position/irenaeus/baptism).