The Spiritual Condition of Infants

by Adam Harwood, Paige Patterson (Foreword by)

Overview

What is the spiritual condition of infants? According to the Augustinian-Calvinist view, all people inherit from the first Adam both a sinful nature and his guilt. The result is that all infants are subject to the judgment of God against their nature before they knowingly commit any sinful actions. But is this the clear teaching of Scripture? In The Spiritual Condition of Infants, Adam Harwood examines ten relevant biblical texts and the writings of sixteen theologians in order to clarify the spiritual condition of infants. Although no passage explicitly states the spiritual condition of infants, each text makes contributions by addressing the doctrines of man, sin, the church, and salvation. If this biblical-historical analysis exposes the traditional Augustinian-Calvinist view to be inadequate, then is it possible to construct an alternate view of the spiritual condition of infants? Such a view should remain faithful to the biblical emphasis on humankind's connection to Adam and his sin but also recognize the guilt and condemnation of an individual only in the manner and time that God does in Scripture. That is the aim of this book. ""Through extensively examining relevant biblical and historical sources, two major questions with profound pastoral consequences are answered in this important book: Do infants inherit a sin nature from Adam? Although utilizing different models, most theologians agree that infants inherit a sin nature. However, are infants, therefore, guilty before God? In answering this second question, Adam Harwood challenges the dominant systematic discourse and properly reorients our understanding of infant salvation. Harwood's careful thesis will stand."" --Malcolm B. Yarnell III Associate Professor of Systematic Theology Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary ""This is a first-rate treatment of a knotty problem. Since the Scripture does not settle this issue, Harwood has mined the Church's best thinkers for their insights."" --Charles White Professor of Christian Thought and History Spring Arbor University ""Harwood addresses thoroughly a significant pastoral and family issue by examining the pertinent biblical texts and representative theologians. Although some readers will hold to alternative understandings of Augustine and Luther and may question why Arminian theologians are not examined, such factors do not diminish the tenability of Harwood's exegetically based argument or the great usefulness of the book, as it points, especially in its conclusion, to the companion issue, the salvation of infants. --James Leo Garrett Jr. Distinguished Professor of Theology, Emeritus Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary ""Dr. Harwood has written a wonderful book that will be of great benefit to the academic world as scholars struggle with the theoretical implications of the issue of infants and salvation, but more importantly, it will be of greater benefit to those who not only struggle with the theoretical issue, but are on the front lines ministering to grieving people who have lost beloved infants. This book lays out in a clear, intelligent, and accessible manner the issues surrounding the eternal destiny of those who die in infancy. Dr. Harwood is to be commended for his work."" --Rustin J. Umstattd Associate Academic Dean and Assistant Professor of Theology Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Adam Harwood is Assistant Professor of Christian Studies at Truett-McConnell College at Cleveland, Georgia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781608998449
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	03/15/2011
Pages:	196
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Adam Harwood is Assistant Professor of Christian Studies at Truett-McConnell College at Cleveland, Georgia.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Acknowledgements xi

Abbreviations xiii

Introductory Section

1 Does It Matter if Infants Are Guilty of Sin? 3

2 What Are the Boundaries? 7

3 Grudem's Tentative Solution 13

Biblical Section

4 What Do Infants Receive from Adam?: (Romans 5:12 to 21) 31

5 Does God Judge Our Sinful Nature of Our Sinful Actions? (Psalm 51:25 and Ephesians 2:3) 41

6 Are Infant Deaths Due to the Guilt of Other People? (Genesis 6:5-6 and 2 Samuel 12:23 50

7 What is the Knowledge of Good and Evil?: (Genesis 2-3 and Deuteronomy 1:39) 56

8 John the Baptist: Salvation or Anointing: Luck 1:5 65

9 The Children with Jesus: Baptism or Blessing?: (Mark 10:13-16) 69

10 Hold Children: Covenant or Blessing?: (1 Corinthians 7:14) 74

Historical Section

11 The Eastern Church Fathers: (Irenaeus, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa 83

12 The Western Church Fathers: (Tertullian and Cyprian) 96

13 Augustine 105

14 The Magisterial Reformers: (Luther, Zwingli, Calvin) 113

15 The Anabaptist Reformers: (Hubmaier and Marpeck) 126

16 Nineteenth-Century Baptists: (Boyce, Strong, and Mullins) 135

17 Twentieth-Century Baptists: (Hendricks and Erickson 145

Conclusion 153

Bibliography 165

Name and Subject Index 177

Scripture Indeex 180

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Through extensively examining relevant biblical and historical sources, two major questions with profound pastoral consequences are answered in this important book: Do infants inherit a sin nature from Adam? Although utilizing different models, most theologians agree that infants inherit a sin nature. However, are infants, therefore, guilty before God? In answering this second question, Adam Harwood challenges the dominant systematic discourse and properly reorients our understanding of infant salvation. Harwood's careful thesis will stand."
—Malcolm B. Yarnell III
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

"This is a first-rate treatment of a knotty problem. Since the Scripture does not settle this issue, Harwood has mined the Church's best thinkers for their insights."
—Charles White
Professor of Christian Thought and History
Spring Arbor University

"Harwood addresses thoroughly a significant pastoral and family issue by examining the pertinent biblical texts and representative theologians. Although some readers will hold to alternative understandings of Augustine and Luther and may question why Arminian theologians are not examined, such factors do not diminish the tenability of Harwood's exegetically based argument or the great usefulness of the book, as it points, especially in its conclusion, to the companion issue, the salvation of infants.
—James Leo Garrett Jr.
Distinguished Professor of Theology, Emeritus
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Dr. Harwood has written a wonderful book that will be of great benefit to the academic world as scholars struggle with the theoretical implications of the issue of infants and salvation, but more importantly, it will be of greater benefit to those who not only struggle with the theoretical issue, but are on the front lines ministering to grieving people who have lost beloved infants. This book lays out in a clear, intelligent, and accessible manner the issues surrounding the eternal destiny of those who die in infancy. Dr. Harwood is to be commended for his work."
—Rustin J. Umstattd
Associate Academic Dean and Assistant Professor of Theology
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Editorial Reviews

Through extensively examining relevant biblical and historical sources, two major questions with profound pastoral consequences are answered in this important book: Do infants inherit a sin nature from Adam? Although utilizing different models, most theologians agree that infants inherit a sin nature. However, are infants, therefore, guilty before God? In answering this second question, Adam Harwood challenges the dominant systematic discourse and properly reorients our understanding of infant salvation. Harwood's careful thesis will stand.
--Malcolm B. Yarnell III
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

This is a first-rate treatment of a knotty problem. Since the Scripture does not settle this issue, Harwood has mined the Church's best thinkers for their insights.
--Charles White
Professor of Christian Thought and History
Spring Arbor University

Harwood addresses thoroughly a significant pastoral and family issue by examining the pertinent biblical texts and representative theologians. Although some readers will hold to alternative understandings of Augustine and Luther and may question why Arminian theologians are not examined, such factors do not diminish the tenability of Harwood's exegetically based argument or the great usefulness of the book, as it points, especially in its conclusion, to the companion issue, the salvation of infants.
--James Leo Garrett Jr.
Distinguished Professor of Theology, Emeritus
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Dr. Harwood has written a wonderful book that will be of great benefit to the academic world as scholars struggle with the theoretical implications of the issue of infants and salvation, but more importantly, it will be of greater benefit to those who not only struggle with the theoretical issue, but are on the front lines ministering to grieving people who have lost beloved infants. This book lays out in a clear, intelligent, and accessible manner the issues surrounding the eternal destiny of those who die in infancy. Dr. Harwood is to be commended for his work.
--Rustin J. Umstattd
Associate Academic Dean and Assistant Professor of Theology
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

From the Publisher