On Baptism

But look, some say, the Lord came and did not baptize. For we read, "And yet He used not to baptize, but His disciples," in John 4:2. As if John had really preached that He would baptize with His own hands. Of course, his words are not to be understood that way, but simply as spoken in an ordinary manner. Just as, for example, we say, "The emperor set forth an edict," or, "The prefect cudgelled him." Does the emperor in person set it forth, or the prefect in person cudgel? One whose ministers do a thing is always said to do it. So, "He will baptize you," must be understood as meaning, "Through Him," or, "Into Him, you will be baptized." But let not the fact that He Himself did not baptize trouble anyone. For into whom should He baptize? Into repentance? Then what use do you make of His forerunner? Into remission of sins, which He used to give by a word? Into Himself, whom by humility He was concealing? Into the Holy Spirit, who had not yet descended from the Father? Into the Church, which His apostles had not yet founded? And so, with that same baptism of John, His disciples used to baptize as ministers, with which John had baptized before as forerunner. Let no one think it was with some other baptism, because no other exists, except that of Christ afterward. Which, at that time, of course, could not be given by His disciples, since the glory of the Lord had not yet been fully attained, nor the efficacy of the font established through the passion and the resurrection. Because neither can our death see dissolution except by the Lord's passion, nor can our life be restored without His resurrection.