Baptism timeline.

182

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”
1609

Englishman John Smyth re-baptizes 40 followers in Amsterdam, starting the Baptist movement
1644

Baptist congregations in London draw up First London Confession, with believer’s baptism by immersion as a central tenet
1649

Westminster Confession affirms infant baptism, but views that baptism is not necessary for salvation
1900

Birth of Pentecostalism, with its emphasis on “baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire”
1980

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

Irenaeus in “Against Heresies” may be the first to specifically mention infant baptism

Hippolytus in the “Apostolic Tradition” states “First Baptize the children”

Some Christians commit apostasy under the persecution of Decian

Novatian, a presbyter of Rome, breaks away from the Catholic Church after apostate priests are readmitted to the Church

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

Diocletian’s persecution

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

Conversion of Constantine to Christianity

Donatism condemned by the Council of Arles

Constantine is baptized shortly before his death

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)

St. Augustine baptized by St. Ambrose

Augustine begins his offensive against the Donatists

Arbitration in Carthage rules in favor of Augustine, and against the Donatists

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"

Council of Carthage condemns “whoever says that newborn infants should not be baptized”

Pelagius excommunicated by Pope Zosimus

Pelagian heresy condemned at the Council of Ephesus

Council of Florence states that infants should receive baptism “as soon as is convenient”

Several students of Ulrich Zwingli illegally rebaptize themselves in Zurich, starting the Anabaptist movement

Luther states in his Large Catechism “we must be baptized or we cannot be saved”

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