ACC ~ John 1 v28

THE OUTSPOKENNESS OF JOHN

CHRYSOSTOM: John, who had no concern for the crowd’s opinion or anyone else’s opinion, which he would rather trample underfoot, proclaimed to all with an attractive kind of freedom the things about Christ. And therefore the Evangelist marks the very place, to show the boldness of the outspoken herald. For it was not in a house, not in a corner, not in the wilderness, but in the middle of the multitude. This was after he had made his presence known at the Jordan when all that were baptized by him were present (for the Jews came upon him as he was baptizing). It was here that he proclaimed aloud that wonderful confession concerning Christ, full of those sublime and great and mysterious doctrines. It was here that he said he was not worthy to unloose the latchet of his shoe. This is why the Evangelist reports that “these things were done in Bethany,” or, as all the more correct copies have it, “in Bethabara.” For Bethany was not “beyond Jordan” or bordering on the wilderness, but somewhere near Jerusalem.

He marks the places also for another reason. Since he was not about to relate matters that were out of date, but rather those that had happened just a little before, he makes those who were present and had seen everything witnesses of his words and supplies proof from the places themselves. Confident that nothing was added by himself to what was said, but that he simply and with truth described things as they were, he draws a testimony from the places which, as I said, would be no common demonstration of his veracity. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 17.1. [1]

“BETHABARA” FOR “BETHANY” INDICATES A BAPTISM OF PREPARATION

ORIGEN: We are not unaware that “Bethany” occurs in nearly all the manuscripts…. But since we have been in these places, so far as historical account is concerned, of the footprints of Jesus and his disciples and the prophets, we have been convinced that we ought not to read “Bethany” but “Bethabara.”…

Bethabara means house of preparation, which agrees with the baptism of him who was making ready a people prepared for the Lord…. Jordan, again, means, “their descent.”… Now what is this river but our Savior, through whom coming into this earth all must be cleansed, in that he came down not for his own sake but for theirs? … This is the river that separates the lots given by Moses from those given by Jesus. “The streams” of this “river” that has descended “make glad the city of God.” [2] …

As the dragon [3] is in the Egyptian river, so God is in the river that makes glad the city of God, for the Father is in the Son. For this reason those who come to wash themselves in him put away the reproach of Egypt [4] and become more worthy to be taken up. They are cleansed from the most abominable leprosy [5] and receive a double portion of gifts and are prepared to receive the Holy Spirit since the dove of the Spirit has not flown to another river. [6] Since, therefore, we have considered the Jordan in a manner more worthy of God, and the baptism in it, and Jesus who was baptized in it,… let us draw from the river as much of this help as we need. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 6.204, 206, 217-19, 249-51. [7]

[1] NPNF 1 14:58**.

[2] Ps 46:4 (45:5 LXX).

[3] The crocodile, but, symbolically, the devil.

[4] See Josh 5:9.

[5] See the account about Naaman in 2 Kings 5:9-14.

[6] See Mk 1:10. In this section Origen is alluding to various conclusions he has drawn previously in his discussion of the Jordan regarding Elijah, Naaman, Elisha and Jesus.

[7] FC 80:224-25, 227-28, 235-36**; SC 157:284-86, 294-96, 318.