The question, “what is a Covenant child?” is typically a theological matter, debated heavily in certain circles and tied up with the theology of baptism.  But, although an overview of that debate is probably necessary for context, I want to take a step back from all of that and talk about the idea of covenant children in practical terms that should transcend the baptism debate.

What is a Covenant?

First of all, what is a covenant?  This, in itself, is a large theological topic filling entire books!  But for our purposes, we just need the basics.  A covenant is a solemn agreement.  In biblical terms — the Ancience Near Eastern type of covenant — this was beyond a mere contract.

A covenant typically had certain elements, including promised blessings for keeping it and sanctions for breaking it.  Often, it was made between a strong kingdom and a weaker kingdom, with the stronger king offering protection in exchange for fealty.

This context provides the backdrop for much of Scripture, because God repeatedly speaks of having made a covenant with His people.

“But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark…” (Gen. 6:18)

“On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram…” (Gen. 15:18)

“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant…” (Ex. 19:5)

“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” (Deut. 7:9)

“Should you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant…” (2 Chr. 13:5)

“And I will make an everlasting covenant with them…” (Jer. 32:40)

“Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood…'” (Lk. 22:20)

The covenant most of us are most familiar with in practice is marriage.  And, indeed, marriage is a useful way to think about covenant, in general — as a covenant generally represents a solemn joining of two people or entities.

What Does that Have to Do with Children?

When God made a covenant with His people, He made a covenant with the whole people.  He didn’t make a covenant with the Israelite adults and just leave the children to their own devices.

As long as we’re speaking in Old Testament terms, this is pretty universally accepted.  But disagreements over the nature of the “new covenant” Jeremiah describes in Jeremiah 31 create a divide in the Church.

Some believe children are still members of the covenant, just as they were in Moses’ day.  Best exemplified by the Presbyterian churches, most of these people also baptize infants/children, seeing that as the logical application of marking children who are in the covenant as part of the covenant.  In theological terms, we call them “paedobaptists” — “child baptizers.”

Others believe Jeremiah’s “new covenant” marks a fundamental shift, so that only those who truly believe and are regenerate are part of the covenant.  These Christians believe that, unlike in Moses’ day, there’s no longer a sense in which someone can be in the covenant only on the surface.  These folks, then, typically don’t baptize children, because they see this mark of covenant membership as an indication of personal belief.  Theologically, we call them “credobaptists” — “baptizers of those who state faith.”

What is a Covenant Child…Beyond the Debate?

I think we can step backward, though, and form a broader definition of a covenant child which both “camps” can agree with.  It may not encompass all that the paedobaptist believes is true of a covenant child, but the paedobaptist should accept it as true.  And most credobaptists should not take issue with it.  What is a covenant child?

A covenant child is the child of one with whom God has made covenant.

They’re set apart.  God refers to them as “holy” (1 Cor. 7:14) — not by virtue of anything they, themselves, have done, but simply by virtue of being the children of believers.

God has commanded certain things with regard to these children (whether you see that as being because they’re members of the covenant themselves, or for the purpose of causing them to become members of the covenant).

“For I have known him [Abraham], in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice…” (Gen. 18:19)

“Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, especially concerning the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, when the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’” (Deut. 4:9-10)

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. ‘And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.'” (Deut. 6:5-9)

“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:2)

Christian parents have an obligation to their covenant children as an extension of our obligation to God, to train them, diligently and intentionally, in God’s instruction.

That is, part of our own covenant responsibility is to conscientiously instruct the children He gives into our keeping to “keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice.”