Did John Calvin believe that the grandchildren of a believer are entitled to infant baptism?

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Accepted answer

John Knox, the leader of the Reformation in Scotland, wrote to Calvin in 1559, asking for his view on whether it be lawful to admit to the Sacrament of Baptism the children of idolators and excommunicated persons before their parents have testified their repentance.

In reply Calvin said he had consulted colleagues in Geneva and all were agreed.

God's promise comprehends not only the offspring of every believer in the first line of descent, but extends to thousands of generations.

This is a reference to the promise in the Second Commandment.

He went on:

To us then it is by no means doubtful that an offspring descended from holy and pious ancestors, belong to the body of the Church, though their fathers and grandfathers may have been apostates.

and

wherever the profession of Christianity has not been altogether interrupted or destroyed, children are defrauded of their privileges if they are excluded from the common symbol; because it is unjust, when God, 300 years ago or more, has thought them worthy of His adoption, that the subsequent impiety of some of their progenitors should interrupt the course of heavenly grace.

However he did insist suitable sponsors (godparents rather than guardians) were needed.

We confess it is indispensible for them to have sponsors.

Dr Jules Bonnet, in the nineteenth century published a collection of Calvin's letters translated. This letter is letter 549.

Letters of John Calvin

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