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It Takes a Church to Baptize Paperback – August 21, 2018

by Scot McKnight (Author), Gerald McDermott (Afterword), Todd D. Hunter (Foreword)
4.6 out of 5 stars 70 ratings
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The issue of baptism has troubled Protestants for centuries. Should infants be baptized before their faith is conscious, or does God command the baptism of babies whose parents have been baptized?

Popular New Testament scholar Scot McKnight makes a biblical case for infant baptism, exploring its history, meaning, and practice and showing that infant baptism is the most historic Christian way of forming children into the faith. He explains that the church's practice of infant baptism developed straight from the Bible and argues that it must begin with the family and then extend to the church. Baptism is not just an individual profession of faith: it takes a family and a church community to nurture a child into faith over time. McKnight explains infant baptism for readers coming from a tradition that baptizes adults only, and he counters criticisms that fail to consider the role of families in the formation of faith. The book includes a foreword by Todd Hunter and an afterword by Gerald McDermott.
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  1. Print length
    144 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Brazos Press
  4. Publication date
    August 21, 2018
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.36 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1587434164
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1587434167
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"McKnight has given the church an enduring gift"

"As someone who grew up Baptist and has wrestled deeply with questions about infant baptism, I wish I could have read this book years ago. McKnight has given the church an enduring gift--a book that is theologically rich, serious, and steeped in tradition yet accessible and readable. As a mother of young children and as a priest, I will put this book in the hands of many a friend and parishioner. If you are a parent deciding whether to baptize infant children, this book is essential reading."
--Tish Harrison Warren, priest in the ACNA, co-associate rector (Church of the Ascension Pittsburgh), and author of Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life

"A cogent apology for the sacrament of infant baptism. McKnight, a New Testament scholar, writes in a comfortable and non-academic style that his readers will surely appreciate."
--Kathryn Greene-McCreight, Episcopal priest and author of Darkness Is My Only Companion: A Christian Response to Mental Illness

"McKnight provides a controversial though ultimately compelling case for infant baptism. It is not just the who and how of baptism that he tackles; the genius of this book is that McKnight elegantly explains what baptism is even about, what it means, what it does for the recipient, and why it really does take a church to baptize a child. This book could change your whole view of conversion, faith, family, children's ministry, and the church!"
--Michael F. Bird, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia

"The most compelling case for infant baptism available today. Not content to sprinkle with prooftexts, McKnight immerses his reader in the biblical, historical, and sacramental theology of this ancient Christian practice, and seals it with a testimony of how his mind was changed."
--Joel Scandrett, Robert E. Webber Center, Trinity School for Ministry

About the Author

Scot McKnight (PhD, University of Nottingham), a world-renowned scholar, writer, and speaker, is a visiting professor at Houston Theological Seminary and Westminster Theological Centre, United Kingdom. He is the author, coauthor, or editor of more than ninety books, including It Takes a Church to Baptize, Adam and the Genome, Kingdom Conspiracy, The Jesus Creed, The King Jesus Gospel, and The Apostle Paul and the Christian Life. He is also a canon theologian for the Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Brazos Press (August 21, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1587434164
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1587434167
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.36 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 70 ratings

About the author

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Scot McKnight

Scot McKnight

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Born in Southern Illinois, came of age in Freeport, Illinois, attended college in Grand Rapids, MI, seminary at Trinity in Deerfield, IL. Did a PhD at the University of Nottingham in England.

Now a professor of more than four decades.

Scot is awaiting the publication of a book this fall called A Church called Tov (Tyndale).

Two children, two grandchildren.

Kris, my wife, is a psychologist and the greatest woman on earth.

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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Customers find the book provides a deep dive into the biblical basis for infant baptism, with one customer noting it's a must-read for Nazarene pastors. The book is clearly stated and easy to read.

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12 customers mention "Biblical basis"12 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's deep dive into the biblical basis for infant baptism, with one customer noting it is a must-read for Nazarene pastors.

"...If you’re researching this topic, this book is an excellent starting place." Read more

"...the creeds, they held the sacrament of Eucharist in the perfect balance theologically, they allow for both a catholic and evangelism outlook...." Read more

"...This is a book that non-specialists can read and appreciate while including enough scholarship to hold the attention of those with a more formal..." Read more

"A deep dive into the biblical basis for Infant baptism. A blessing for the church of God seeking to move away from the compromise of individualism..." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book clearly stated and easy to read, with one customer noting it handles the subject exhaustively.

"...I’m not sure if I’m convinced of his position, but he stated it extremely well...." Read more

"...It answers so many questions that many folks are asking. It is thorough, biblical, and nicely brief...." Read more

"...And that says it all! Clearly stated and referenced from scripture Well worth the read!" Read more

"Easy read but still a substantial read...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Brandon A. Cox
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Gracious and Thorough Treatment
    Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    McKnight, as usual, handles this subject exhaustively, and yet concisely. I’m not sure if I’m convinced of his position, but he stated it extremely well. If you’re researching this topic, this book is an excellent starting place.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Necessary Reading for a "rookie" Anglican
    Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    As someone who was exploring Anglicanism, I was all but sold on the denomination. They recite the creeds, they held the sacrament of Eucharist in the perfect balance theologically, they allow for both a catholic and evangelism outlook. However, paedobaptism was the only think stopping be from fully jumping in.
    Thanks to Twitter and the wonderful site Anglican Pastor I was discovered Scot's book. From the very beginning something that caught my attention was that Scot came from a very strong credobaptist position to the position he now take of paedobaptism not only being the tradition view, but also the biblical view. Scot even uses the liturgy for the baptism service to teach about the theology of the event, makes the statement Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi (the law of prayer is the law of believing) truly a motto.
    I felt Scot did a wonderful job answering the questions asked of those subscribing to infant baptism. Scot argues his case mainly by saying while paedobaptists do believe that something happens during infant baptism, the church and family of the child are meant to be drawn into raising this child with Christ. From this point, Scot points to covenant theology to explain infant baptism as biblical. He makes a great point that religion for most of human history has not been an individual mindset, but a family/nation mindset. While we believe that faith is personal, we are as Christians are also commanded to "train up a child in the way he should go" (Proverbs 22:6).
    Scot does a good job of explaining a sacrament as something that is material ("ordinary" is the word Scot uses) that God uses to show us and bestow his spiritual grace. If we view baptism not as something we do, but something God does it changes not only how we view infant baptism but also how we who have been baptized as Adults view our baptism.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Peter Frank
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cogent and Focused Explanation of Infant Baptism
    Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2024
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    Scot McKnight does a fine job laying out an apology for the baptism of infants that should be particularly helpful for converts from baptistic churches into the Anglican church. This is a book that non-specialists can read and appreciate while including enough scholarship to hold the attention of those with a more formal theological background.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Carl Jenkins
    4.0 out of 5 stars Almost Thou Persuadest Me, Scot...
    Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2018
    I grew up Methodist and was sprinkled as an infant. At the age of 17 I joined the Churches of Christ and was immersed in water as an act of believer's baptism. I also love Scot McKnight and his books and so this one quickly caught my interest.

    McKnight's approach to arguing in favor of infant baptism is unique for sure. As an Anglican he guides the reader through the Common Book of Prayer as if they were attending worship with him on a Sunday that a baptism was happening. The reader is able to take a deeper look into the liturgy and have a better understanding of why it is approached the way that it is.

    Near the end McKnight breaks from this in order to write about what the Bible teaches about baptism, and then to work to provide a scriptural case for infant baptism before returning to the liturgical baptism.

    Almost thou persuadest me, Scot. Almost. Scot focused primarily on covenants and the history of God bringing in not just one who receives the sign of the covenant (shown through circumcision) but how other males were also circumcised based on the faith of the patriarch whether slave or son, adult or infant. I think he makes a good point, and it's always bothered me how many Christians have raised their children as kids that have faith, participate in worship, confess, repent, and pray for forgiveness, and suddenly we tell them they need to get baptized and give their lives to Christ as if their lives so far have been a sham faith.

    Perhaps I'm just not "there" yet, but I wasn't convinced that baptism is equated with circumcision to the extent that it copies the act of bringing people into God's family based on the faith of a family leader. The argument that "households" would most likely have kids and so we should assume they infants were baptized is more of a leap for me than anything, and his use of 1 Corinthians 7:14 to argue infant baptism seems very out of context.

    That being said, I still highly recommend it. It prompted me to really consider what we do as a church that practices believers baptism to show that we care deeply about our children and helping them find their place within the family of God as early as possible.

    *I received a free copy from Netgalley for my honest review*
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Oluwafisayo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Regaining the original perspective of infant baptism
    Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A deep dive into the biblical basis for Infant baptism. A blessing for the church of God seeking to move away from the compromise of individualism to that of household focused faith.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Daniel Adkinson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2018
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    I serve as the priest at an Anglican Church Plant. This is a great resource for our context. It answers so many questions that many folks are asking. It is thorough, biblical, and nicely brief. I’m planning to do a Book Study of it for our church plant this Fall after reading through it. Grateful for resources like this that serve the Church!
    One person found this helpful
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  • EG Evans
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good treatment of the subject
    Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    McNight does a good job in stating the case for infant baptism according to Anglican theology. Evenhanded and fair. I recommend reading and contemplating this book by any who have an interest in the efficacy of baptism and its role in the salvation process.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Demelza
    5.0 out of 5 stars Easy read but still a substantial read.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great book for those who grew up in traditions where infant baptism is the norm and for those where it’s not. Short, sweet, and to the point McNight uses Scripture and the traditional idea of the Church as family to provide a provoking argument for infant baptism.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Noah
    2.0 out of 5 stars Terribly dissapointing!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I love most of Scot's work, but I am afraid that this volume reveals his feet of clay. It is well known that in recent years Scot has become an Anglican and of course he has had to face the traditional practice of infant baptism. This reads like the work of a man who is trying to justify what he sees rather than one who is trying to find the truth - this is out of character for the author.
    However, very near the beginning he quotes Bonhoeffer who really confirms the inadequacy of infant baptism because unless in the authors words the whole community of the church supports the child in their growing it has no value. For the vast majority of infant baptisms, where the family so not even bring the child to church at any other time, this by the author's own argument makes it ineffective.
    In a sense this will probably just confirm your existing view (whichever way you lean), but it may dissuade a few people who have been thinking about a more meaningful baptism of their own choice (as an increasing number of Anglicans seem to be doing) - in that sense it could be a very dangerous book. Sorry Scot - I can't recommend this one!
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