The Spiritual Condition of Infants: A Biblical-Historical Survey and Systematic Proposal

Overall this was a good book. The author argues that infants are born with a sinful nature (i.e. a propensity and inevitability to sin), but do not inherit the guilt of Adam’s sin and do not become guilty of sin until they actually commit sin. The author’s overview of the original sin debate and his interaction with Grudem were especially good. The historical section was also well done, and I particularly enjoyed the section on the Anabaptist representatives.This was almost a four-star book, but I have two major complaints that show up throughout the book. First, it confuses me when the author says that infants are born with sin, but not guilt. You can have a sinful nature and not have guilt, but to me, to have sin is necessarily to be guilty. Admittedly the author does clarify at times that he is referring to sinful nature, but the term “sin”, at least to me, implies guilt and so his mixing of the terms confuses the argument.The second complaint is that the author wants to have his theological cake and to eat it too. He affirms that infants are not born guilty of sin and are not under God’s condemnation, but he cannot bring himself to say that infants are innocent or sinless. He says that infants are not guilty, but are also not innocent. I’m sorry, but that makes no sense. Follow the argument to the logical conclusion and simply affirm that infants are sinless and innocent.Despite these complaints, the book was still a good read. The author lays his argument out well enough that I would recommend this book to someone studying the topic of original sin.

The author did a good job covering this subject in great detail and was very helpful and convincing. Books like this is are needed to turn the tide of this subject.

Dr. Hardwood makes a well-documented argument about the eternal state of infants who die. It's very clarifying. A great read.

Dr. Harwood did a great job of articulating the biblical position of infants inheriting a sinful nature, but are not guilty before God because of their nature until they willfully choose to sin in thought, word, or action.This was not a topic I had given much thought before reading the book, but now I feel quite strongly in the thesis of this book - guilt before God comes as a result of willful sin, not just being born a descendant of Adam

Here is a scriptural, scholarly schematic for approaching and appreciating one of the most debated and difficult questions of Biblical theology. Written with an academic hand, but with a pastor's heart, the author has offered a near encyclopedic survey of scripture texts and theological traditions on the matter. This is a worthy volume and demands a hearing by all who want to grasp the complexities of the spiritual condition of those who die in infancy. No study of this issue would be complete without attention to this author's thesis. I recommend this book.

I really enjoyed the extensive research that went in to this work. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for clarity, or any pastor that wishes to confidently counsel grieving parents.

I had never considered this topic but I see the need. It is helpful to have this information in order to share with people that need hope when losing an infant.

This book provides thorough research into Scripture and history regarding the spiritual condition of infants. It will be a great asset for anyone seeking to understand or minister to those who have lost an infant child in death.