ARK Religion Practice Test

Baptism in the early church was the rite that brought someone into the Christian community, typically after a period of instruction or a profession of faith. By the third century, baptizing infants had become common in many communities, as evidenced by references to household baptisms and the practice of including children in the rite. This is why the statement about infant baptism being normal in the third century is the best fit: it reflects how baptism expanded beyond one-off adult conversions to include infants within the faith community. The method of baptism wasn't limited to immersion; while immersion was common for many adult converts, pouring (affusion) and sprinkling were also practiced, especially for infants or those who couldn’t be immersed. Baptism was not reserved only for those who asked after instruction; rather, communities typically baptized after some catechetical preparation, though eager converts and households seeking entry were often baptized as well. And though Easter was a significant and traditional time for baptisms, the rite occurred at other times too, depending on local practice.