The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Security, infant salvation, and universalism

Stucco,

Concerning the (presumed parents) being "true believers":

I stand corrected for having used the phrase [color:blue]"obviously coming in faith". That was presumptuously strong. It would be more appropriate, I feel, to say that the people bringing the children were "more likely to have been coming in faith than for other reasons." That's what I should have said in the earlier post.

That emendation, however, does not change my major point, and your interpretation does not seem at all likely to me. Although you correctly point out the wide variety of motive in the multitudes, I feel faith is the most probable motive for the bringers of these children. Is it really likely that a Pharisee, wanting to entrap and kill Jesus, would nevertheless bring his child to be blessed? Would the miracle-mongers be content, after enduring the disciples' rebuke, with a mere blessing instead? I think not. Coupled with this, the pattern is so similar to what we see through the Gospels, where one brings another to the Lord (either physically or by proxy) and the "bringer" is commended for his faith, that I have to conclude that true faith was a dominant element.