What Does the Bible Say About Godparents?
Short answer
No Bible passage describes the office of godparent, and the Catechism cites no verse for it (CCC 1255 refers to canons 872 to 874). In the Catholic Church, a godparent assists the parents in presenting an infant for baptism and helps the baptized person live a faithful Christian life.
At Find A Prayer, we wrote the prayer below for a godchild. Scripture directs parents to instruct their household in God's commands, while the formal role of a baptismal sponsor is defined in church law. In Catholic tradition, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Code of Canon Law define the role and responsibilities of sponsors. The Catechism explains in paragraph 1255 that godparents perform an ecclesial task alongside parents.
Canon law establishes specific qualifications for those who take on this ecclesial function. Examining Scripture and church law clarifies the distinction between divine scriptural commands for parents and ecclesiastical rules for baptismal sponsors. While Scripture outlines the duty of spiritual instruction, the specific role of a godparent comes from church canon law.
What the Bible Says and What It Does Not
No Bible passage describes the office of godparent, and the Catechism cites no verse for it (CCC 1255 refers to canons 872 to 874). Instead, the Catechism footnote for paragraph 1255 points directly to canons 872 to 874 of the Code of Canon Law. Scripture places the duty of spiritual instruction squarely on the parents. In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, God commands fathers and mothers to keep his words in their hearts and teach them diligently to their children.
The passage describes speaking of God's commands at home, along the way, when lying down, and when rising up. Proverbs 22:6 repeats this parental calling by instructing families to train up a child in the way he should go. These Old Testament passages show that personal instruction in the faith begins within the household.
What a Godparent Does
A godparent serves as a spiritual helper who supports the parents and assists the baptized person on the path of Christian life. Paragraph 1255 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that for the grace of baptism to unfold, the help of parents is important. The paragraph adds that the role of the godfather and godmother is likewise important, requiring them to be firm believers who are able and ready to assist the newly baptized child or adult.
The Catechism notes that the godparent's task is a truly ecclesial function. During the celebration of the sacrament, as described in paragraph 1253 of the Catechism, the minister asks the catechumen or the godparent what they ask of God's church, and the required response is faith. Canon 872 of the Code of Canon Law explains the sponsor's role in legal and pastoral terms.
The canon states that, insofar as possible, a person to be baptized must receive a sponsor. This sponsor assists an adult throughout Christian initiation or presents an infant for baptism together with the parents. Beyond the rite itself, the sponsor helps the baptized believer lead a Christian life in keeping with baptism and faithfully fulfill its inherent obligations.
Who Can Be a Godparent
Catholic church law establishes strict rules regarding who can take on the role of a sponsor. Canon 873 states that there is to be only one male sponsor, only one female sponsor, or one of each. Parents cannot choose two godfathers or two godmothers under the universal law of the Latin Church.
Canon 874 section 1 outlines the primary requirements for Catholic sponsors. The prospective sponsor must be designated by the person to be baptized, by the parents, by the person taking their place, or in their absence by the pastor. The candidate must possess both the personal aptitude and the explicit intention of fulfilling this spiritual function.
The candidate must have completed sixteen years of age, unless the diocesan bishop establishes another age or the parish pastor grants an exception for a just cause. The sponsor must be a Catholic who has received Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist, and who leads a life of faith fitting the function. The person cannot be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared, and the candidate cannot be the father or the mother of the child.
Non-Catholic Christians and the Baptism Rite
A baptized member of a non-Catholic ecclesial community may take part only as a witness, together with a Catholic sponsor (canon 874 section 2). Other churches have their own rules. Ask your pastor.
Choosing One and Praying for a Godchild
Parents choosing a sponsor should look for a confirmed Catholic who meets every requirement of canon 874 and genuinely practices the faith. A sponsor helps the baptized person lead a Christian life. Lord God, watch over this child who was washed in the waters of baptism.
Grant them wisdom to understand your holy commandments and strength to walk faithfully in the light of Christ. Help me to guide them by good example and sound counsel. Protect their heart from temptation and lead them safely into eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sponsors can also incorporate scripture to pray over your children and explore a prayer for guidance for my children to sustain their intercession. Parents welcoming a new infant into the home can turn to a prayer for a newborn baby as they prepare for the sacrament of baptism.
Who This Page Is For
This guidance applies to parents, sponsors, and families preparing for baptism within the Latin Church of the Roman Catholic tradition. Individual dioceses and local parishes may establish specific local policies, such as setting a different minimum age for sponsors.
Readers in other churches have their own rules and should ask their pastor. If you are preparing for an upcoming baptism, consult your parish priest to ensure your chosen candidates meet the canon law standards for godparents.
Key Bible verses
- And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. — Deuteronomy 6:6-7
- Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. — Proverbs 22:6
Frequently asked questions
Are godparents biblical?
No Bible passage describes the office of godparent, and the Catechism cites no verse for it (CCC 1255 refers to canons 872 to 874). The Catechism and Canon Law describe the role without citing a verse for it, while Scripture assigns the responsibility of teaching children to parents.
Does the bible talk about godparents?
No Bible passage describes the office of godparent, and the Catechism cites no verse for it (CCC 1255 refers to canons 872 to 874). Passages such as Deuteronomy 6:6-7 and Proverbs 22:6 speak directly to parents about training and instructing children in God's ways. The formal role and qualifications of a baptismal sponsor are established by the Code of Canon Law.
Why are godparents important?
Godparents are important because they fulfill an ecclesial function by assisting parents in presenting a child for baptism and helping the baptized person live a faithful Christian life. As explained in Catechism paragraph 1255, godparents must be firm believers ready to assist the newly baptized along the road of Christian life.
What are the Catholic godparent requirements?
The Catholic godparent requirements are outlined in canon 874 of the Code of Canon Law. A sponsor must be designated by the parents or pastor, be at least sixteen years old unless an exception is granted, be a confirmed Catholic who has received the Eucharist and lives a life of faith, be free of canonical penalties, and not be the father or mother of the child.
Can parents be godparents to their own child?
Parents cannot serve as godparents to their own child under Catholic canon law. Canon 874 section 1 explicitly states that a sponsor must not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.
Can a non-Catholic be a godparent?
A baptized member of a non-Catholic ecclesial community may take part only as a witness, together with a Catholic sponsor (canon 874 section 2). Other churches have their own rules. Ask your pastor. The sponsor must be a Catholic who meets the requirements of canon 874.