Illumination and Baptism in Early Christianity

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching

...ares to claim that there is a name, they are consumed by a hopeless madness. This washing is called illumination because those who learn these things are enlightened in their understanding. And in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and in the name of the Holy Ghost, who through the prophets foretold all things about Jesus, the one who is enlightened is washed.

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching

And this washing is called illumination, because they who learn these things are illuminated in their understandings.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

Being baptized, we are illuminated; illuminated, we become sons;

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

Amen. And he who is only regenerated — as the name necessarily indicates — and is enlightened, is delivered immediately from darkness, and on the instant receives the light.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

This work is variously called grace, and illumination, and perfection, and washing: washing, by which we cleanse away our sins;

Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Heathen Supporting witness

...ater; and you that have no money, come, buy and drink without money." Isaiah 55:1 He invites to the laver, to salvation, to illumination, almost crying out and saying, "The land I give you, and the sea, my child, and heaven too; and all the living creatures in them I freely bestow upon you. Only, child, thirst for your Father; God shall be revealed to you without price; the truth is not made merchandise of." He gives you all creatures that fly and swim, and those on the land. The Father has created these for your thankful enjoyment. What the bastard, who is a son of perdition, foredoomed to be the slave of mammon, has to buy with money, He assigns to you as your own, even to His own son who loves the Father; for whose sake He still works, and to whom alone He promises, saying, "The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for it is not destined to corruption. For the whole land is mine; and it is yours too, if you receive God." Therefore the Scripture, as was to be expected, proclaims good news to those who have believed: "The saints of the Lord shall inherit the glory of God and His power." What glory, tell me, O blessed One, which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it enter

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

Therefore, instruction that reveals hidden things is called illumination, because only the teacher uncovers the lid of the ark. This is the opposite of what the poets say: that Zeus closes up the jar of good things, but opens the jar of evil. For the apostle says, "I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ," Romans 15:29. He is referring to the spiritual gift and the gnostic communication. Since he has it, he wants to share it with them who are present, as the fullness of Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was sealed through the ages of eternity, but is now made known through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God, and made known to all the nations for the obedience of faith. That is, it is made known to those among the nations who believe that it is. But only to a few of them is it shown what the things are that are contained in the mystery.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching

... by human faith and divine grace, our transgressions being taken away by one Paeonian medicine, the baptism of the Word. We are washed from all our sins and are no longer entangled in evil. This is the one grace of illumination, that our characters are not the same as before our washing. And since knowledge rises up with illumination, shedding its beams around the mind, the moment we hear, we who were untaught become disciples. Does this, I ask, happen at the coming of this instruction? You cannot tell the time. For instruction leads to faith, and faith with baptism is trained by the Holy Spirit. That this faith is the one universal salvation of humanity, and that there is the same equality before the righteous and loving God, and the same fellowship between Him and all, the apostle showed most clearly when he spoke in this way: "Before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up to the faith which should afterwards be revealed, so that the law became our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith; but after that faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." Do you not hear that we are no longer under that law which came with fear, but

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching

...ity. Excellent. Well then, I say, does He become perfect at the same time as His baptism by John? Clearly. Then He did not learn anything more from him? Certainly not. But is He perfected by the washing of baptism alone, and sanctified by the descent of the Spirit? So it is. The same also takes place in our case, and Christ became our example. Being baptized, we are illuminated. Being illuminated, we become sons. Being made sons, we are made perfect. Being made perfect, we are made immortal. "I," He says, "have said that you are gods, and all sons of the Highest." This work is called by various names: grace, illumination, perfection, and washing. It is called washing, because by it we cleanse away our sins. It is called grace, because by it the penalties that come from transgressions are remitted. It is called illumination, because by it that holy light of salvation is seen, that is, by it we see God clearly. Now we call that perfect which lacks nothing. For what is still lacking to the one who knows God? For it would truly be monstrous if that which is not complete should be called a gift, or act, of God's grace. Since He is perfect, He therefore gives perfect gifts. As at His

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Direct teaching

Moreover, the things proceeding from the waters were blessed by God, that this also might be a sign of men's being destined to receive repentance and remission of sins, through the water and laver of regeneration — as many as come to the truth, and are born again, and receive blessing from God.

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Direct teaching

...man beings are meant to receive repentance and forgiveness of sins through the water and washing of regeneration—as many as come to the truth, are born again, and receive blessing from God. But the great sea creatures and the birds of prey are a likeness of greedy people and transgressors. For just as fish and birds are of one nature, some of them remain in their natural state and do no harm to those weaker than themselves, but keep the law of God and eat the seeds of the earth. Others, however, break the law of God, eat flesh, and injure those weaker than themselves. In the same way, the righteous, by keeping the law of God, bite and injure no one, but live in holiness and righteousness. But robbers, murderers, and godless people are like the great sea creatures, wild beasts, and birds of prey, because they, in effect, devour those weaker than themselves. Therefore, the race of fish and creeping things, though sharing in God's blessing, received no very special distinguishing property.

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

All indeed who attain to the divine gift and inheritance by the sanctification of baptism, therein put off the old man by the grace of the saving layer, and, renewed by the Holy Spirit from the filth of the old contagion, are purged by a second nativity.

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Direct teaching

He it is who effects with water the second birth as a certain seed of divine generation, and a consecration of a heavenly nativity, the pledge of a promised inheritance, and as it were a kind of handwriting of eternal salvation;

Tertullian, On Baptism Supporting witness

But it will suffice to have thus called at the outset those points in which withal is recognised that primary principle of baptism — which was even then fore-noted by the very attitude assumed for a type of baptism — that the Spirit of God, who hovered over (the waters) from the beginning, would continue to linger over the waters of the baptized.

Tertullian, On Baptism Supporting witness

Luke 1:76 Thus, too, does the angel, the witness of baptism, make the paths straight for the Holy Spirit, who is about to come upon us, by the washing away of sins, which faith, sealed in (the name of) the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, obtains.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Supporting witness

...er. And since man, regarding the formation after Adam, having fallen into transgression, needed the laver of regeneration, the Lord said to the man upon whom He had given sight, after smearing his eyes with clay, "Go to Siloam and wash;" thus restoring to him both his perfect confirmation and that regeneration which occurs through the laver. For this reason, when he was washed, he came back seeing, that he might both know Him who had fashioned him, and that people might learn to know Him who has given them life.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Supporting witness

And inasmuch as man, with respect to that formation which, was after Adam, having fallen into transgression, needed the laver of regeneration, [the Lord] said to him [upon whom He had conferred sight], after He had smeared his eyes with the clay, “Go to Siloam, and wash;” thus restoring to him both [his perfect] confirmation, and that regeneration which takes place by means of the laver.

Hippolytus, Discourse on the Holy Theophany Direct teaching

... will also be God. And if he is made God by water and the Holy Spirit after the regeneration of the laver, he is found to be also a joint heir with Christ after the resurrection from the dead. Therefore I preach this message: Come, all you families of the nations, to the immortality of baptism. I bring you good news of life, you who remain in the darkness of ignorance. Come into liberty from slavery, into a kingdom from tyranny, into incorruption from corruption. And someone says, "How shall we come? How?" By water and the Holy Spirit. This is the water joined with the Spirit, by which paradise is watered, by which the earth is enriched, by which plants grow, by which animals multiply, and, to say it all in one word, by which man is born again and clothed with life. In this water also Christ was baptized, and in it the Spirit descended in the form of a dove.

Hippolytus, Discourse on the Holy Theophany Supporting witness

By water and the Holy Ghost. This is the water in conjunction with the Spirit, by which paradise is watered, by which the earth is enriched, by which plants grow, by which animals multiply, and (to sum up the whole in a single word) by which man is begotten again and endued with life, in which also Christ was baptized, and in which the Spirit descended in the form of a dove.

Hippolytus, Discourse on the Holy Theophany Supporting witness

I baptize with the baptism of repentance, but He confers the gift of adoption: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

..., “I baptize with water, but He who comes after me is stronger than I. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” To this we reply that the Word of God, in His character as something to be drunk, is to one group of people water, and to another wine, which makes glad the heart of man, and to others blood, since it is said in John 6:53, “Unless you drink My blood, you have no life in you.” And in His character as food, He is understood in different ways as living bread or as flesh. So also He, the same person, is baptism of water, and baptism of the Holy Spirit and of fire, and for some, also, of blood. It is of this last baptism, as some hold, that He speaks in the words of Luke 12:50, “I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am distressed until it is accomplished!” And this agrees with what the disciple John says in his Epistle, in 1 John 5:8, about the Spirit and the water and the blood being one. Again, He declares Himself to be the way and the door. But clearly, He is not the door to those to whom He is the way, and He is no longer the way to those to whom He is the door. Therefore, let all who are being instructed in the first lessons of the oracles of God, and who c

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

...ll baptize? He did not baptize the logs on the altar in the days of Ahab, though they needed such a washing in order to be burned up when the Lord appeared in fire. No, he commanded the priests to do this for him, and not only once. For he says, "Do it a second time," and they did it a second time; and, "Do it a third time," and they did it a third time. If, then, he did not at that time baptize them himself but left the work to others, how was he to baptize at the time spoken of by Malachi? Christ, then, does not baptize with water, but His disciples do. He keeps for Himself the baptizing with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Now Heracleon takes the words of the Pharisees as clearly meaning that the office of baptizing belonged to the Christ and Elijah and to every prophet, for he uses these words: "Whose office alone it is to baptize." He is refuted by what we have just said, and especially by the fact that he takes the word "prophet" in a general sense, for he cannot show that any of the prophets baptized. He adds, correctly, that the Pharisees asked the question out of malice, and not from a desire to learn.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

..., the Lord proves and declares in His Gospel that sins can be taken away only by those who have the Holy Spirit. For after His resurrection, when He sent out His disciples, He spoke to them and said, "As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, they will be forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they will be retained." John 20:21-23 In this place He shows that only the one who has the Holy Spirit can baptize and give forgiveness of sins. Moreover, John, who was to baptize Christ our Lord Himself, received the Holy Spirit beforehand while he was still in his mother's womb, so that it might be certain and clear that no one can baptize except those who have the Holy Spirit. Therefore those who support heretics or schismatics must answer us whether they have the Holy Spirit or not. If they have Him, why are hands laid on those who were baptized among them when they come to us, so that they may receive the Holy Spirit, since He must surely have been received there, where, if He was there, He could also be given? But if heretics and schismatics who baptize outsi

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness

...e look at the opposite side of this discussion: those disciples of our Lord themselves received the Holy Spirit afterward. They had already been baptized. Then at last, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down on them from heaven by the will of God, not of His own accord, but poured out for this very office, and upon each one of them. Although they were already righteous and, as we have said, had been baptized with the Lord's baptism, just as the apostles themselves had been, yet on the night when He was arrested they are found to have all deserted Him. Even Peter himself, who had boasted that he would remain firm in his faith, and had most stubbornly resisted the prediction of the Lord Himself, still at last denied Him. This was so that it might be shown to us that whatever sins they had contracted in the meantime, and in whatever way, those same sins were without doubt put away by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, since afterward their faith was shown to be sincere. Nor, as I think, was it for any other reason that the apostles charged those whom they addressed in the Holy Spirit to be baptized in the name of Christ Jesus, except that the power of the name of Jesus, in

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness

...ishop in such a way as to receive the laying on of hands at once, and yet dies before receiving the Holy Spirit, would you judge that he has received salvation or not? For even the apostles themselves, and the disciples who also baptized others and had themselves been baptized by the Lord, did not receive the Holy Spirit at once. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified. And after His resurrection, a considerable time passed before that happened. In the same way, when the Samaritans were baptized by Philip, they did not receive the gift until the apostles, who were invited from Jerusalem to Samaria, came down to them, laid hands on them, and gave them the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands. During that interval, any one of them who had not received the Holy Spirit might have been cut off by death, and died deprived of the grace of the Holy Spirit. Nor can it be doubted that the same kind of thing is common in the present day and happens often: many people, after baptism, leave this life without the laying on of the bishop's hands, and yet are considered complete believers. Just so, the Ethiopian eunuch, when he was returning from Jerusal

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...y He strengthen them in piety, unite them to His holy flock and number them with it, grant them the laver of regeneration and the garment of incorruption, which is the true life, deliver them from all ungodliness, and give no place to the adversary against them. May He cleanse them from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, dwell in them, and walk in them, by His Christ. May He bless their going out and their coming in, and direct their affairs for their good. Let us still earnestly offer our prayers for them, that by their admission they may obtain the forgiveness of their transgressions, and so may be considered worthy of the holy mysteries and of constant communion with the saints. Rise up, you catechumens, ask for yourselves the peace of God through His Christ, a peaceful day and one free from sin, and the same for the whole time of your life, and your Christian end of it, a compassionate and merciful God, and the forgiveness of your transgressions. Dedicate yourselves to the only unbegotten God, through His Christ. Bow down your heads, and receive the blessing. But when each one is named by the deacon, as we said before, let the people say, Lord, have mercy on him; and let th

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching

in order that we may not remain the children of necessity and of ignorance, but may become the children of choice and knowledge, and may obtain in the water the remission of sins formerly committed, there is pronounced over him who chooses to be born again, and has repented of his sins, the name of God the Father and Lord of the universe;

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

...“to repentance,” teaching that the benefit of baptism is connected with the intention of the person baptized. To him who repents it is salutary, but to him who comes to it without repentance it will turn to greater condemnation. And here we must note that the wonderful works done by the Savior in the cures He performed, which are symbolic of those who at any time are set free by the word of God from any sickness or disease, though they were done to the body and brought bodily relief, yet also called those who were benefited by them to an exercise of faith. So also the washing with water, which is symbolic of the soul cleansing herself from every stain of wickedness, is no less in itself to him who yields himself to the divine power of the invocation of the Adorable Trinity, the beginning and source of divine gifts. For there are diversities of gifts. This view receives confirmation from the narrative recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, which shows the Spirit to have descended so plainly on those who receive baptism, after the water had prepared the way for Him in those who properly approached the rite. Simon Magus, astonished at what he saw, desired to receive this gift from P

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

...ospels. Matthew reports that when the Baptist saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, after the words of rebuke we have already studied, he went on to say, in Matthew 3:11, "I indeed baptize you with water to repentance; but He who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." This agrees with the words in John, where the Baptist declares to those sent by the Pharisees, concerning his baptizing with water. Mark, again, says in Mark 1:6-7, "John preached, saying, 'There comes after me One who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptized you with water, but He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'" And Luke says in Luke 3:16 that, as the people were waiting expectantly and all were reasoning in their hearts about John, whether perhaps he was the Christ, John answered them all, saying, "I indeed baptize you with water; but there comes One mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

Hippolytus, Discourse on the Holy Theophany Supporting witness

...creature? Baptize me, the Baptist, that Your pre-eminence may be known. I, O Lord, baptize with the baptism of repentance, and I cannot baptize those who come to me unless they first confess fully their sins. Be it so then that I baptize You. What have You to confess? You are the Remover of sins, and will You be baptized with the baptism of repentance? Though I should venture to baptize You, the Jordan dares not come near You. I have need to be baptized by You, and You come to me?"

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness

2. Therefore, for those who begin a discussion of saving and new baptism, that is, spiritual and evangelical baptism, the first thing that comes before them is the announcement that is known everywhere, made and begun by John the Baptist. He departed somewhat from the law, that is, from the most ancient baptism of Moses, and prepared the way for the new and true grace. By the baptism of water and of repentance, which he practiced for a time, he gradually prepared the Jews to listen. He also laid hold of them by announcing a spiritual baptism that was to come, urging them and saying, "He that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire," Matthew 3:11. For this reason, we also ought to begin this discussion from this point. For in the Acts of the Apostles, after His resurrection, the Lord confirmed this same word of John and commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for that promise of the Father, "which," He says, "you have heard from me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days from now," Acts 1:4-5. Peter also repeate

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness

but at any time that they had come to the right mind, obtained by repentance a sound hope of salvation, especially when they received the Holy Spirit, to be baptized by Whom is the duty of every man, they would have intended some such thing.

Mark 1:4 Background

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 3:6 Background

and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Acts 19:4 Background

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

Acts 19:3 Background

And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.”

Matthew 3:11 Background

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

And therefore, in order that, according to the divine arrangement and the evangelical truth, they may be able to obtain remission of sins, and to be sanctified, and to become temples of God, they must all absolutely be baptized with the baptism of the Church who come from adversaries and antichrists to the Church of Christ.

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

...een immersed by heretics should not be baptized when they come to us, because they say there is one baptism, which is one for this reason: the Church is one, and there cannot be any baptism outside the Church. For since there cannot be two baptisms, if heretics truly baptize, then they themselves have this baptism. And anyone who, by his own authority, grants this advantage to them gives in to them and agrees with them, so that the enemy and adversary of Christ seems to have the power to wash, purify, and sanctify a man. But we say that those who come from there are not re-baptized among us, but baptized. For in fact they receive nothing there, where there is nothing. But they come to us so that here they may receive where there are both grace and all truth, because grace and truth are one. But again, some of our colleagues would rather give honor to heretics than agree with us. And while by insisting on one baptism they are unwilling to baptize those who come, they thus either make two baptisms themselves by saying that there is a baptism among heretics; or else, which is even more serious, they try to set the filthy and profane washing of heretics before, and prefer it to, the

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

...who are not born in the Church can be sons of God! For the blessed apostle declares and proves that baptism is where the old man dies and the new man is born, saying, "He saved us by the washing of regeneration," Titus 3:5. But if regeneration is in the washing, that is, in baptism, how can heresy, which is not the spouse of Christ, give birth to sons for God through Christ? For it is the Church alone which, joined and united with Christ, spiritually bears sons, as the same apostle again says, "Christ loved the Church, and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify it, cleansing it with the washing of water," Ephesians 5:25-26. If, then, she is the beloved and spouse who alone is sanctified by Christ, and alone is cleansed by His washing, it is clear that heresy, which is not the spouse of Christ, and cannot be cleansed or sanctified by His washing, cannot bear sons to God.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...d among them not also given the laying on of hands, in the name of that same Christ, to receive the Holy Spirit? Why does the same greatness of the same name not have power in the laying on of hands, if, as they claim, it had power in the sanctifying of baptism? For if someone born outside the Church can become God's temple, why can the Holy Spirit not also be poured out on that temple? For the one who has been sanctified, with his sins taken away in baptism, and has been spiritually remade into a new man, has become fit to receive the Holy Spirit, since the apostle says, "As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Galatians 3:27. He who, after being baptized among the heretics, is able to put on Christ, can much more receive the Holy Spirit whom Christ sent. Otherwise, the One who is sent would be greater than the One who sends, so that a person baptized outside may indeed begin to put on Christ, but not be able to receive the Holy Spirit, as if Christ could be put on without the Spirit, or the Spirit could be separated from Christ. Moreover, it is foolish to say that although the second birth is spiritual, by which we are born in Christ through the w

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...d the second birth can come from the baptism of heretics, among whom, as they themselves admit, the Holy Spirit is not. Let them consider and understand that spiritual birth cannot exist without the Spirit. In agreement with this, the blessed Apostle Paul also baptized again with a spiritual baptism those who had already been baptized by John before the Holy Spirit had been sent by the Lord, and then laid hands on them so that they might receive the Holy Spirit. But what are we to make of this: we see that Paul, after John's baptism, baptized his disciples again, yet we hesitate to baptize those who come to the Church from heresy after their unholy and profane dipping. Unless, perhaps, Paul was inferior to the bishops of these times, so that these bishops can indeed give the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands alone to those heretics who come to the Church, while Paul was not able to give the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands to those who had been baptized by John unless he had first also baptized them with the baptism of the Church.

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness

...h, let this matter be amended as it can be and as it allows. Because outside the Church there is no Holy Spirit, and sound faith also cannot exist, not only among heretics, but even among those who are established in schism. And for that reason, those who repent and are amended by the teaching of the truth, and by their own faith, which afterward has been improved by the purification of their heart, ought to be aided only by spiritual baptism, that is, by the laying on of the bishop's hands, and by the working of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, the perfect seal of faith has rightly been accustomed to be given in this way and on this principle in the Church. So that the invocation of the name of Jesus, which cannot be done away with, may not seem to be held in disrespect by us, which certainly is not fitting. Although such an invocation, if none of those things of which we have spoken should follow it, may fail and be deprived of the effect of salvation. For when the apostle said that there was one baptism, Ephesians 4:5, it must necessarily have been because of the continuing effect of the invocation of the name of Jesus. Because once invoked, it cannot be taken away by any man, even

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness

And for that reason, they who repent and are amended by the doctrine of the truth, and by their own faith, which subsequently has been improved by the purification of their heart, ought to be aided only by spiritual baptism, that is, by the imposition of the bishop's hands, and by the ministration of the Holy Spirit.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...ts to those being initiated, “Wash and become clean,” Isaiah 1:16, and who have appointed spiritual regeneration through Christ, now also look down on those who are baptized, and bless them, and sanctify them, and prepare them so that they may become worthy of Your spiritual gift, and of the true adoption of Your spiritual mysteries, of being gathered together with those who are saved through Christ our Savior. Through Him, glory, honor, and worship be to You in the Holy Spirit forever. Amen. And let the deacon say: “Go out, you who are preparing for illumination.” And after that let him proclaim: “You penitents, pray. Let us all earnestly pray for our brothers in the state of penitence, that God, the lover of compassion, will show them the way of repentance, and accept their return and their confession, and bruise Satan under their feet suddenly, Romans 16:20, and redeem them from the snare of the devil and the mistreatment of the demons, and free them from every unlawful word, and every absurd practice and wicked thought. Forgive them all their offenses, both voluntary and involuntary, and blot out that handwriting which is against them, Colossians 2:13-14, and write them in t

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...tics, but the one given by blameless priests, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19. Do not accept what comes from the ungodly, and do not let what is done by the godly be canceled by a second baptism. For as there is one God, one Christ, one Comforter, and one death of the Lord in the body, so let the baptism into Him also be one. But those who receive polluted baptism from the ungodly will become partners in their opinions. For they are not priests. For God says to them, "Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from serving as priest to me." Nor are those baptized by them truly initiated; rather, they are polluted, receiving not the remission of sins, but the bond of impiety. Besides this, those who try to baptize people who have already been initiated crucify the Lord again, kill Him a second time, mock divine things and ridicule holy things, insult the Spirit, dishonor the sacred blood of Christ as though it were common blood, and act impiously toward Him who sent, Him who suffered, and Him who bore witness. No, the one who, out of contempt, refuses to be baptized will be condemned as an unbeliever and rebuked as

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...ht hate every way of iniquity, and walk in the way of truth, that he might be thought worthy of the laver of regeneration, to the adoption of sons, which is in Christ, that, being planted together in the likeness of the death of Christ, Romans 6:5, in hope of a glorious sharing, he may be put to death to sin, and may live to God in mind, and word, and deed, and may be numbered together in the book of the living. And after this thanksgiving, let him instruct him in the doctrines concerning our Lord's incarnation, and in those concerning His passion, and resurrection from the dead, and assumption.

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

urging and teaching that this is a baptism greater in grace, more lofty in power, more precious in honour— a baptism wherein angels baptize— a baptism in which God and His Christ exult — a baptism after which no one sins any more — a baptism which completes the increase of our faith— a baptism which, as we withdraw from the world, immediately associates us with God.

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness

...ng well baptized in this baptism only, they might attain the sound faith and the simple love of the laver. And, baptized in both ways, they might likewise, to the same extent, attain the baptism of salvation and glory. For what was said by the Lord, "I have another baptism to be baptized with," does not mean in this place a second baptism, as if there were two baptisms. Rather, it shows that there is also a baptism of another kind given to us, concurring to the same salvation. And it was fitting that both these kinds should first of all be initiated and sanctified by our Lord Himself, so that either one of the two kinds, or both kinds, might afford to us this one twofold baptism of salvation and glory. Thus certain ways of the one baptism were opened to us, so that at times one of them might be lacking without harm. This is as in the case of martyrs who hear the word: the baptism of water is lacking without evil. And yet we are certain that these, if they had any opportunity, would also have been baptized with water. And also for those who are made lawful believers, the baptism of their own blood is lacking without harm, because, being baptized in the name of Christ, they have b