Hi Will, No Scripture? I cited Mark 16:15-16 didn't I? You don't seem to be very relaxed in this discussion so maybe I should just leave.There isn't any point in stirring up contention and you seem to have no interest in openly exploring issues.
I could rehearse the "standard baptist arguments" and some of my own if you want but you would say "I don't believe that". I had hoped to get beyond that as to "why" we think as we do. One of us is wrong on an important issue.
A test for your spirit in this discussion would be to ask you what you think the [weak points of your own position are. That would both indicate whether your interest is "exploratory" or just "defensive"; and allow contributions to progress discussion.
Perhaps I should discuss this with someone else if you'd rather.
Re the Oikos point -taking your definitions of the word as a word, we still have only 5 scriptural cases of household baptism. Two of these cite belief prior to baptism (although you gainsay that belief means saving faith in Christ). Of those remaining we have the Phillipian Jailor -who conventionally would be a retired legionnaire in his fifties, making grown children at least as likely as infants; and Lydia -a professional businesswoman probably without children or widow with older children. That leaves a fifth chance for you to squeeze an infant into the mix. Not solid ground, even if you do want to argue from silence. You didn't address my other points.
One suggestion: I would rather that for clarity we use the term infant throughout when we mean infant. It prevents the confusion caused when I say we should baptise children when they credibly profess saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
