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Summa Theologiae · III, q. 68

Question 68. Of Those Who Receive Baptism

Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Third Part. 12 articles.

Read in the reading room → This question at New Advent

Text: Summa Theologiae, Project Gutenberg #19950, Third Part (Tertia Pars), translated by the Fathers of the English Dominican Province. The Third Part of the Summa in the English Dominican translation (first printed 1911 to 1925; second and revised edition from 1920). A sample check on 2026-11-09 against pre-1931 printings at the Internet Archive (first printings of 1915 and 1916 and the second and revised edition of the 1920s) found that the article text matches, with no 1947 introduction, synopsis, or index. The phrase “From the Complete American Edition” in Gutenberg's catalog title is a provenance note only. Question and article numbers were added by the transcriber. The Gutenberg text ends at question 90 of the Third Part, where Aquinas stopped writing; the Supplement is a separate edition here, transcribed from 1917 to 1922 printings of the same translation. Rights: Public domain (US)

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We have now to consider those who receive Baptism; concerning which there are twelve points of inquiry:

(1) Whether all are bound to receive Baptism?

(2) Whether a man can be saved without Baptism?

(3) Whether Baptism should be deferred?

(4) Whether sinners should be baptized?

(5) Whether works of satisfaction should be enjoined on sinners that have been baptized?

(6) Whether Confession of sins is necessary?

(7) Whether an intention is required on the part of the one baptized?

(8) Whether faith is necessary?

(9) Whether infants should be baptized?

(10) Whether the children of Jews should be baptized against the will of their parents?

(11) Whether anyone should be baptized in the mother's womb?

(12) Whether madmen and imbeciles should be baptized?

Articles

  1. Whether All Are Bound to Receive Baptism?
  2. Whether a Man Can Be Saved Without Baptism?
  3. Whether Baptism Should Be Deferred?
  4. Whether Sinners Should Be Baptized?
  5. Whether Works of Satisfaction Should Be Enjoined on Sinners That Have Been Baptized?
  6. Whether Sinners Who Are Going to Be Baptized Are Bound to Confess Their Sins?
  7. Whether the Intention of Receiving the Sacrament of Baptism Is Required on the Part of the One Baptized?
  8. Whether Faith Is Required on the Part of the One Baptized?
  9. Whether Children Should Be Baptized?
  10. Whether Children of Jews or Other Unbelievers Should Be Baptized Against the Will of Their Parents?
  11. Whether a Child Can Be Baptized While Yet in Its Mother's Womb?
  12. Whether Madmen and Imbeciles Should Be Baptized?

Also online, linked only: the same translation at New Advent and the Latin text at Corpus Thomisticum. Neither is copied here.

Source: Thomas Aquinas. Summa Theologica, Third Part. Project Gutenberg #19950. Project Gutenberg record. Public domain in the USA. Outside the U.S., check local copyright rules. Project Gutenberg notices retained. The full Project Gutenberg license is kept in the hosted text.