Children at the Lord’s Table? Assessing the Case for Paedocommunion (Cornelius P. Venema)

Children at the Lord’s Table

Assessing the Case for Paedocommunion

A growing trend among Reformed churches is the practice of admitting young children to the Lord’s Supper. In Children at the Lord’s Table?, Cornelis P. Venema provides an insightful analysis of the theoretical arguments used by advocates of this recent trend.

After clarifying terms and explaining arguments often made in favor of paedocommunion, he considers the history of the church’s confessions, teaching, and practice regarding the proper recipients of the Lord’s Supper. Presenting a historical, exegetical, and systematic treatment of the subject, Venema presents a clear and biblical case for our historical practices.

Table of Contents

1. Introducing the Question
2. Paedocommunion in Church History
3. Paedocommunion and the Reformed Confessions
4. The Old Testament Evidence Regarding the Participation of Children in Covenant Observances
5. The New Testament Evidence Regarding Paedocommunion
6. A Key Passage: 1 Corinthians 111:17-34
7. Concluding Observations and Evaluation
8. Appendix: Covenant Theology and Baptism

Endorsements

“Dr. Venema has done a great service for the Reformed churches in presenting a clear, compelling, biblical case for our historic practice regarding admission to the Lord’s Table. For about 35 years now, proponents of paedocommunion have been producing papers, articles, and monographs stating their historical and exegetical case(s) for paedocommunion. They have argued that to be consistent with our covenant theology we need to practice infant or young child communion. In this carefully and charitably articulated book, Venema shows why their arguments are not persuasive, and counters with historical, confessional, and exegetical support for what has been the official public theology and practice of the Protestant churches from their inception.”
— J. Ligon Duncan III, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian, Jackson, Mississippi

“Dr. Venema has written an important, useful, and timely book defending Reformed sacramental theology and practice against a novel and dangerous hyper-covenantal theology. Through a careful look at church history, the Reformed confessions, and the Bible, Dr. Venema presents and defends the historic Reformed teaching on who may come to the Lord’s Table in a way that is readable, thorough, helpful, and orthodox. I recommend it highly.” – W. Robert Godfrey, President and Professor of Church History, Westminster Seminary California