Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Westminster Assembly

Question 95

To whom is Baptism to be administered?

Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him;a but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.b

To whom is Baptism to be administered?

Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him;a but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.b

  1. a. Acts 8:36–37; Acts 2:38

    Acts 8:36–37

    8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

    8:36 As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?"

    Acts 2:38

    2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

    2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  2. b. Acts 2:38–39; Genesis 17:10; Colossians 2:11–12; 1 Corinthians 7:14

    Acts 2:38–39

    2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

    2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 2:39 This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off-to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself."

    Genesis 17:10

    17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

    17:10 This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised.

    Colossians 2:11–12

    2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

    2:11 In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands. 2:12 And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.

    1 Corinthians 7:14

    7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

    7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

Diff style

Changes in The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 98

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 98

To whom is baptism to be administered?

Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they all those who actually profess their repentance towards God, faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but members of the visible church our Lord Jesus Christ, and to none other.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Question 95

To whom is Baptism to be administered?

Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 98

To whom is baptism to be administered?

Baptism is to be administered to all those who actually profess repentance towards God, faith in and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ, and to none other.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 98

To whom is baptism to be administered?

Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they all those who actually profess their repentance towards God, faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but members of the visible church our Lord Jesus Christ, and to none other.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (modernized) (1647), Question 95

To whom is Baptism to be administered?

Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 98

To whom is baptism to be administered?

Baptism is to be administered to all those who actually profess repentance towards God, faith in and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ, and to none other.

Related (2)

The Baptist Catechism (1695), which adapts this question

Question 99

Are the infants of such as are professing believers to be baptized?

The infants of such as are professing believers are not to be baptized, because there is neither command or example in the holy scriptures, or certain consequence from them to baptize such.

Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), parallel to this question

Question 166

Unto whom is Baptism to be administered?

Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, and so strangers from the covenant of promise, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him, but infants descending from parents, either both, or but one of them, professing faith in Christ, and obedience to him, are in that respect within the covenant, and to be baptized.*1

  1. *1 As a Baptist church, SVRBC rejects the practice of infant baptism.

Commentaries (10)

  • Joseph Alleine, 1672, A Most Familiar Explanation of the Assemblies Shorter Catechism

    To whom is Baptism to be administred? Baptism is not to be administred to any that are out of the visible Church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him,…

    Joseph Alleine’s text
  • Thomas Lye, 1672, The Assemblies Shorter Catechism Drawn out into Distinct Propositions

    To whom is Baptism to be administred? Baptism is not to be administred to any, that are out of the visible Church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him;…

    Thomas Lye’s text
  • Thomas Vincent, 1673, An Explicatory Catechism

    To whom is Baptism to be administred? Baptism is not to be administred unto any that are out of the visible Church, till they profess their Faith in Christ, and obedience to him;…

    Thomas Vincent’s text
  • 1675, An Explicatory Catechism

    To whom is Baptism is to be administred? Baptism is not to be administred unto any that are out of the visible Church till they profess their Faith in Christ, and obedience to…

    Its text
  • John Flavel, 1692, An Exposition of the Assembly’s Catechism

    To whom is Baptism to be administred? Baptism is not to be administred to any that are out of the visible Church, till they profess their Faith in Christ, and Obedience to him,…

    John Flavel’s text
  • Thomas Watson, 1692, A Body of Practical Divinity

    Matth. XXVIII.19. Go ye therefore and teach all Nations, Baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Teaching them—. We are still upon that…

    Thomas Watson’s text
  • Matthew Henry, 1703, A Scripture Catechism

    To whom is Baptism to be administred? Baptism is not to be administred to any that are out of the Visible Church till they profess their Faith in Christ, and Obedience to him; but…

    Matthew Henry’s text
  • Alexander Whyte, 1883, A Commentary on the Shorter Catechism

    Baptism is not to be administered—This Answer consists of two parts,—the first part takes up the case of adults, and the second touches on the case of infants. That the teaching…

    Alexander Whyte’s text
  • Benjamin Beddome, 1752, A Scriptural Exposition of the Baptist Catechism

    On The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 98, which adapts this question

    Is baptism to be administered to such who repent? Yes. It is the baptism of repentance, Should faith be before baptism? Yes. The Corinthians believed and were baptized, Must…

    Benjamin Beddome’s text
  • Benjamin Beddome, 1752, A Scriptural Exposition of the Baptist Catechism

    On The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 99, which adapts this question

    Are the subjects of baptism plainly set forth in the divine word? Yes. They were baptized both men and women, Had children a right to circumcision under the law? Yes. Every man…

    Benjamin Beddome’s text