Ascetical Works

Concerning Baptism

CONCERNING BAPTISM BOO K I Chapter 1 That we should become disciples of the Lord before we are accounted worthy of holy Baptism ~ FTER HIS RESURRECTION from the dead, our Lord ~ Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of the living God, received the fulfillment of the promise made to Him by God, His Father, who said by David the Prophet: 'Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me and I will give thee the Gentiles for thine inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.'l And when He took unto Himself the disciples, He revealed to them first this power given to Him by the Father, saying: 'All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.'2 Then he sent them forth with the words: 'Going therefore, teach ye all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded yoU.'3 The Lord, in giving His command, however, said first: 'teach ye all nations,' and then added: 'baptizing them,' and so on. But you ask me for a discourse on the second part of the injunction and you say nothing regarding the first part. Now if I, in turn, did not give you a prompt answer, I would consider that I had violated 1 Ps. 2.7,8. 2 Matt. 28.18. 3 Matt. 28.19,20. 339 340 SAINT BASIL the precept of the Apostle, who had bidden us: 'Be ye ready to satisfy everyone that asketh you a reason.'4 Consequently, I am going to impart to you the doctrine concerning Baptism according to the Lord's Gospel, which has an authority superior to the baptism of the blessed John. The passages which I shall cite, however, are only a few of the many references to this subject in the Holy Scriptures. But, in any event, I considered it necessary to have recourse to the order of things established by our Lord, so that you, also, first by understanding the force of the precept 'teach ye' and then by hearing in due course an exposition of the doctrine concerning this most glorious Baptism, might happily arrive at perfection, being instructed in the observance of all the precepts which the Lord gave to His own disciples, as it is written. In the passage just quoted, we heard Him say 'teach ye,' but now we must also mention what He says elsewhere regarding the same command. In this way, we first of all adopt a point of view that is pleasing to God; secondly, we observe a sequence that is both logical and fitting; thus avoiding, pursuant of our goal of God's good pleasure, a departure from the right interpretation [of His precept]. It is customary for the Lord to elucidate what is definitely laid down in one place by His utterances elsewhere. For instance: 'Lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven.'5 Here is given the simple command. The manner of following it He reveals in another place: 'Sell what you possess and give alms. Make to yourselves bags which grow not old, a treasure in heaven which faileth not';6 and there are many other instances of the same kind. Now, a disciple, as we learn from the Lord Himself, is one who comes to the Lord for the purpose of following Him, that 4 1 Pet. 3.15. 5 Matt. 6.20. 6 Luke 12.33. CONCERNING BAPTISM 341 is, to hear His words, to believe in Him and obey Him as Master, King, Physician, and Teacher of truth, in the hope of gaining eternal life. Further, he must persevere in these dispositions, as it it written: 'then he said to those Jews who believed in him: If you continue in my word, you shall be my disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'7 That is to say, we shall receive freedom of spirit from the cruel tyranny of the Devil by being delivered from the dominion of sin; for He says: 'whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.'8 We shall also escape the sentence of death, as the Apostle Paul has told us: 'Him who knew no sin, he hath made sin for us, that we might be made the justice of...