ACC ~ John 3 v25

WHY DID JOHN CONTINUE TO BAPTIZE?

CHRYSOSTOM: Why, when the disciples of Jesus were baptizing, didn’t John stop baptizing? Why did he continue even until he was led to prison?… He would have made the disciples of Jesus seem the more revered if he had stopped when they began…. But he did so because he did not want to excite his own disciples to an even stronger rivalry and contention than there already was between the two. For even if he had proclaimed Christ ten thousand times and given him the chief place, making himself much more the inferior, he still would not have been able to persuade his disciples to run to Christ. In fact, they would have most likely become more hostile. This is why Christ began to preach more constantly once John was removed. Indeed, the reason, I think, why John’s death was permitted and Christ was made the great preacher in his place was so that the people might transfer their affections entirely to Christ and no longer be divided between the two….

Instead, by continuing to preach, John received no glory for himself but sent hearers to Christ. And he was better able to do this service than Christ’s own disciples were. This is because his testimony was so free from suspicion and his reputation with the people so much higher than theirs….

But if anyone asks how the disciples’ baptism was better than John’s, we reply that it was not. Both alike were without the gift of the Spirit, both parties alike had one reason for baptizing, that is, to lead the baptized to Christ…. That the baptisms had no superiority over one another is shown by what follows [in the dispute]….

For the disciples of John did become so envious of Christ’s disciples, and even of Christ himself, that when they saw the latter baptizing, they threw contempt on their baptism as being inferior to that of John’s. And they tried to persuade one of those who were baptized of this but were not successful. That it was they who began the dispute, and not the Jews, the Evangelist implies by saying that “there arose a question from John’s disciples with a certain Jew,” instead of saying, “A certain Jew posed a question.” HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 29.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:100*.

JOHN’S DISCIPLES DEFEND JOHN’S BAPTISM

AUGUSTINE: John baptized, Christ baptized. John’s disciples were moved; there was a running after Christ, people were coming to John. Those who came to John, he sent to Jesus to be baptized. But those who were baptized by Christ were not sent to John. John’s disciples were alarmed and began to dispute with the Jews, as usually happens. The Jews then asserted Christ to be the greater person and his baptism necessary to be received. But John’s disciples did not yet understand as much and defended John’s baptism. At last they come to John to solve the question….

“And they came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, he that was with you beyond the Jordan, behold, the same baptizes.’”… In other words, “What do you say? Shouldn’t they be stopped so that the people come to you instead?” TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 13.8-9. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:89-90**.