Age of the Infant in Heaven According to Scripture
Scripture does not explicitly state the age of infants in heaven, nor does it provide a detailed description of the state of infants who die. However, biblical texts and theological traditions offer various perspectives on the concept of "infant" and the afterlife.
The term "child" or "infant" in Scripture can have a broad meaning, sometimes referring to individuals who are not necessarily very young in modern terms. For instance, Joseph is called a child at approximately sixteen years old, and Benjamin is referred to as such when over thirty [2]. Solomon also described himself as a "little child" when he began his reign [2]. Josephus, a first-century historian, refers to Ishmael as a "young child or infant" when he was about thirteen years old, and a twelve-year-old damsel is called a "little child" in Mark 5:39-42 [1]. This suggests that the biblical understanding of "infant" or "child" is not always limited to early childhood.
Some interpretations of prophetic texts, such as Isaiah 65:20, touch upon the lifespan of individuals in a renewed creation. This verse states, "There shall be no more there an infant of days, nor an old man who has not filled his days; for the child shall die one hundred years old, and the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed" [3]. Commentators like John Gill interpret this to mean that in the latter days, instances of infants dying after only a few days will be rare or nonexistent, and every child born will live to adulthood [9]. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown suggest that this passage implies a return to the longevity seen in the early ages of the world, where no one will die without reaching a full old age [5]. They interpret "the child shall die one hundred years old" to mean that someone dying at one hundred years would still be considered a mere child [5].
Early Christian writers also considered the fate of infants. Hippolytus, in a letter to Fidus concerning the baptism of infants, emphasized that "whatever things are made by God, are completed by the majesty and work of God their Maker" [4]. This suggests a belief in God's complete work in creation, regardless of the perceived age or development of an individual. The Apocalypse of Peter, as cited by Clement of Alexandria, suggests that children "born out of due time" (perhaps referring to those who die prematurely) "shall be of the better part" and receive care from an angel to attain knowledge and a better abode [10]. This implies a state of continued development or grace for infants in the afterlife.
Jewish tradition, as seen in the Babylonian Talmud, discusses the burial practices for infants, noting that a twelve-month-old infant is taken out for burial on a bier like an adult [6, 7, 8]. Rabbi Akiva clarifies this applies if the infant's physical development makes them appear older or younger than their chronological age [6, 7, 8]. This highlights a recognition of infants as distinct individuals within the community, even in death.
Sources
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 22, section 7: other expression of Divine Angel, used presently, and before, also of any other signification.] 26 (return) [ Josephus here calls Ismael a young child or infant, though he was about 13 years of age; as Judas calls himself and his brethren young men, when he was 47, and had two children, Antiq. B. II. ch. 6. sect. 8, and they were of much the same age; as is a damsel of 12 years old called a little child, Mark 5:39-42, five several times. Herod is also said by Josephus to be a very young man at 25. See the note on Antiq. B. XIV. ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Child — This word has considerable latitude of meaning in Scripture. Thus Joseph is called a child at the time when he was probably about sixteen years of age (Gen. 37:3); and Benjamin is so called when he was above thirty years (44:20). Solomon called himself a little child when he came to the kingdom (1 Kings 3:7). The descendants of a man, however remote, are called his children; as, "the children of Edom," "the children of Moab," "the children of Israel." In the earliest times mothers did not wean their children till they were from thirty months to three years ol”
- Isaiah ““There shall be no more there an infant of days, nor an old man who has not filled his days; for the child shall die one hundred years old, and the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. -- Isaiah 65:20”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — TO FIDUS, ON THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS. (part 2): as the Lord says in His Gospel, "The Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them,"[1] as far as we Can, We must strive that, if possible, no soul be lost. For what is wanting to him who has once been formed in the womb by the hand of God? To us, indeed, and to our eyes, according to the worldly course of days, they who are born appear to receive an increase. But whatever things are made by God, are completed by the majesty and work of God their Maker. 3. Moreover, belief in divi”
- Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 65:20: The longevity of men in the first age of the world shall be enjoyed again. thence--from that time forward. infant of days--that is, an infant who shall only complete a few days; short-lived. filled . . . days--None shall die without attaining a full old age. child . . . die . . . hundred years--that is "he that dieth an hundred years old shall die a mere child" [LOWTH]. sinner . . . hundred . . . be accursed--"The sinner that dieth at an hundred years shall be deemed accursed," that is, his death at so early an age, which in those days the h”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Moed Katan 58a.48:3: A twelve-month-old infant is taken out for burial on a bier, just as an adult is. Rabbi Akiva says: This halakha applies if the infant that dies is one year old and his limbs are like those of a two year old, so that he looks older, or if he is two years old and his limbs are like those of a one-year-old. Only then he is taken out on a bier.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Moed Katan 58b.48:3: A twelve-month-old infant is taken out for burial on a bier, just as an adult is. Rabbi Akiva says: This halakha applies if the infant that dies is one year old and his limbs are like those of a two year old, so that he looks older, or if he is two years old and his limbs are like those of a one-year-old. Only then he is taken out on a bier.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Moed Katan 24b.3: A twelve-month-old infant is taken out for burial on a bier, just as an adult is. Rabbi Akiva says: This halakha applies if the infant that dies is one year old and his limbs are like those of a two year old, so that he looks older, or if he is two years old and his limbs are like those of a one-year-old. Only then he is taken out on a bier.”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 65:20: There shall be no more thence an infant of days,.... That is, there shall no more be carried out from thence, from Jerusalem, or any other place where the church of God is, to the grave, in order to be interred, an infant that has lived but a few days, a very common thing now; but, in the latter day, such instances will be rare, or rather there will be none at all; every child born will live to the age of man, and not be cut off by any premature death, either by any natural disease, or by famine, or sword, or any other calamity, which will now have no place: nor an”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — FRAGMENTS OF THE APOCALYPSE OF PETER.: 1. CLEMENS ALEXANDRINUS, Eclog. 48. For instance, Peter in the Apocalypse says that the children who are born out of due time shall be of the better part: and that these are delivered over to a care-taking angel that they may attain a share of knowledge and gain the better abode [after suffering what they would have suffered if they had been in the body: but the others shall merely obtain salvation as injured beings to whom mercy is shown, and remain without punishment, receiving this as a r”