ACC ~ Matthew 3 v13

WHILE JOHN WAS STILL TEACHING

ANONYMOUS: And then Christ came, so that also this witness revealed his truth. In his baptism the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended, the Father spoke from heaven, and through this it was made manifest that he who was baptized by John was truly more worthy than John. In the same way Lucifer came forth, but the light did not wait for the fall of Lucifer before it emerged. Even as he came forth it emerged and with its light obscured his brightness. So too in this way John’s preaching came before Christ. Christ did not wait for John to complete his career before he arrived on the scene, but, while John was still teaching, he appeared. Thus in comparing the teaching and work of Jesus and John, John’s work and role is constantly diminishing. Hence, after Jesus began preaching to all those who were flocking to him, John’s teaching was overshadowed. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 4. [1]

[1] PG 56:657.

WHY THE SINLESS CHRIST WAS BAPTIZED

ANONYMOUS: John went about preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” [1] Jesus came that he might receive John’s witness and confirm his preaching: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” [2] Thus, when some saw the sinless Christ baptized as if he were a sinner, they said to one another: “If he whose innocence the Baptist gave witness thought it necessary to have himself baptized, how can we who are covered with sins scorn repentance?” Here we must recall that John himself testified that “I baptize you with water for 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 with fire.” INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 4. [3]

[1] Mt 3:2.

[2] Jn 1:29.

[3] PG 56:657.

THE WATERS OF BAPTISM SANCTIFIED

HILARY: In Jesus Christ we behold a complete man. Thus in obedience to the Holy Spirit the body he assumed fulfilled in him every sacrament of our salvation. He came therefore to John, [1] born of a woman, [2] bound to the law and made flesh through the Word. [3] Therefore there was no need for him to be baptized, because it was said of him: “He committed no sin.” [4] And where there is no sin, the remission of it is superfluous. It was not because Christ had a need that he took a body and a name from our creation. He had no need for baptism. Rather, through him the cleansing act was sanctified to become the waters of our immersion. ON MATTHEW 2.5. [5]

[1] The baptism of Jesus by John provided difficulties for ancient exegetes: why would Jesus, immune from sin and far superior to John, subject himself to this penitential practice? In this passage from Hilary and in those that follow lies a series of interpretations that variously attempt to resolve this difficulty.

[2] Cf. Gal 4:4.

[3] Cf. Jn 1:14.

[4] 1 Pet 2:22.

[5] SC 254:108.

WHETHER THE BAPTIZER IS GREATER THAN THE BAPTIZED

ORIGEN: By this act Jesus showed himself to be “meek and lowly in heart,” [1] coming to those inferior to him, doing all that followed in order to humble himself and become obedient “unto death.” [2] It is not always the case that the one who baptizes is greater than the one who is baptized. Ananias was not greater than Paul. [3] And while Philip baptized, [4] Peter gave the Spirit through the laying on of hands. [5] FRAGMENT 52. [6]

[1] Mt 11:29.

[2] Phil 2:8.

[3] Acts 9:10-18.

[4] Acts 8:13, 38.

[5] Acts 8:17.

[6] GCS 41.1:36.

WHY JESUS ACCEPTED JOHN’S BAPTISM

JEROME: For three reasons the Savior accepted baptism from John. First, because he was born a man, that he might fulfill all justice and humility of the law. Second, that by his baptism he might confirm John’s baptism. And third, that by sanctifying the waters of the Jordan through the descent of the dove, he might show the Holy Spirit’s advent in the baptism of believers. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 1.3.13. [1]

[1] CCL 77:18-19.

WHY HE WAS BAPTIZED

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: Many raise the question, What in fact was the nature of this baptism with which the Lord was baptized? What did it amount to, the baptism of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who, for the sake of the salvation of all, became human? As such he was to show himself to be the beginning of a certain paradoxical life on account of which he is called Adam, since for Adam’s sake and for the rest of those who have arisen from Adam he becomes the beginning of everlasting life, in the same way that Adam was the original of this temporary and mortal life. This Jesus, I say, recapitulated in himself everything that pertains to our salvation. For just as he both died and rose again, we also shall do so, in the same way. Since necessarily we were to be symbolically transferred from this present life by baptism and settled in that life which is to come, he saw to it that this baptism should be fulfilled first of all in himself. In his providential dispensation of things, he had received, before all others, this baptism of adoption which is by water and the Spirit. He thereby showed this baptism to be great and honorable, in that he himself, first of all, truly accepted it. Moreover, he himself identified himself with that part of society outside the law of grace, in which we also take part. For it was fitting that the Lord, in humility of spirit, should become subject both to the prophet and Baptist, like a common person from among the people. He was baptized that he might hallow the waters and bestow upon us, through the basin, regeneration and adoption and remission of sins and all the other blessings that came to us through baptism, prefiguring them in himself. As God, however, he is the One “who takes away the sin of the world,” [1] and as such he has no need of baptism. FRAGMENT 14. [2]

[1] Jn 1:29.

[2] MKGK 101.

Mt