Irenaeus in “Against Heresies” may be the first to specifically mention infant baptism
215
Hippolytus in the “Apostolic Tradition” states “First Baptize the children”
250
Some Christians commit apostasy under the persecution of Decian
251
Novatian, a presbyter of Rome, breaks away from the Catholic Church after apostate priests are readmitted to the Church
254
Cyprian of Carthage argues that baptisms given by schismatics are invalid; Bishop Stephen of Rome holds that the sacraments belong not to the minister but to Christ
303
Diocletian’s persecution
311
First Majorinus, and then Donatus set up as rival bishops of Carthage, after a bishop is ordained by a possible apostate. "Donatists" believed a) only Donatist baptisms are valid and b) baptisms performed by the unworthy are invalid
312
Conversion of Constantine to Christianity
314
Donatism condemned by the Council of Arles
337
Constantine is baptized shortly before his death
380
British monk Pelagius is shocked by lax morals among Christians in Rome - He eventually rejects the doctrines of Grace and Original Sin, but still believes that infants should be baptized (John 3:5)
387
St. Augustine baptized by St. Ambrose
393
Augustine begins his offensive against the Donatists
411
Arbitration in Carthage rules in favor of Augustine, and against the Donatists
412
Augustine writes thirteen works and letters denouncing the views of Pelagius – Augustine believes that we are all tainted by original sin; unbaptized children are condemned to "darkness"
418
Council of Carthage condemns “whoever says that newborn infants should not be baptized”
418
Pelagius excommunicated by Pope Zosimus
431
Pelagian heresy condemned at the Council of Ephesus
1412
Council of Florence states that infants should receive baptism “as soon as is convenient”
Jan 21, 1525
Several students of Ulrich Zwingli illegally rebaptize themselves in Zurich, starting the Anabaptist movement
1528
Luther states in his Large Catechism “we must be baptized or we cannot be saved”
1536
John Calvin publishes “Christian Institutes”
Englishman John Smyth re-baptizes 40 followers in Amsterdam, starting the Baptist movement
Baptist congregations in London draw up First London Confession, with believer’s baptism by immersion as a central tenet
Westminster Confession affirms infant baptism, but views that baptism is not necessary for salvation
Birth of Pentecostalism, with its emphasis on “baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire”
Pope John Paul II strongly reaffirms the necessity for infant baptism, in the “Instruction On Infant Baptism” by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
