Biblical Basis for Paedocommunion Practice

The question of whether infants should partake of the Lord’s Supper requires a careful examination of New Testament commands, which consistently distinguish between those who are baptized and those who are admitted to the table. In 1 Corinthians 11:28, Paul instructs, "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup." This imperative to self-examination presupposes a capacity for self-reflection and discernment that infants, by nature, do not possess. While the Old Testament Passover required the whole household to partake, including children (Exodus 12:26-27), the New Covenant sacrament is explicitly tied to the conscious profession of faith and the ability to "discern the body" of Christ.

Reformed theology, as articulated by John Calvin, affirms the practice of infant baptism based on the covenantal continuity between the Old and New Testaments. Calvin argued that circumcision in the Old Testament was a sign of the covenant that pointed to a future reality, and baptism serves the same function in the New Covenant (see the provided source regarding Calvin’s view on the "future" reference of circumcision for infants). However, Calvin and the Westminster Confession of Faith (Chapter 29) maintain that while baptism is a sign of initiation into the covenant, the Lord’s Supper is a means of grace for nourishing those who have already professed faith. The Confession states that the Lord’s Supper is to be administered to those who are "able to examine themselves," thereby excluding infants from the table, even as they are welcomed into the covenant community through baptism.

The theological significance of this distinction lies in the different functions of the two sacraments. Baptism is a one-time sign of regeneration and inclusion in the visible church, whereas the Lord’s Supper is a repeated act of communion that requires active participation and faith. To administer communion to infants would conflate the sign of entry with the means of sustenance, potentially obscuring the necessity of personal faith for the reception of grace. This does not diminish the grace shown to infants in baptism, which is a profound testament to God’s sovereign election and the sufficiency of Christ’s work. Pastors and congregations are called to uphold the integrity of the ordinances by adhering to the biblical mandate for self-examination, ensuring that the Supper remains a powerful proclamation of Christ’s sacrifice for those who believe. This approach honors the sovereignty of God in the administration of grace while respecting the clear instructions of Scripture regarding the proper use of the sacraments.