John the Baptist and Christian Baptism

Acts 13:24 Direct teaching

Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book I Direct teaching

And the baptism of John was proclaimed with a view to repentance, but the redemption by Jesus was brought in for the sake of perfection.

Tertullian, On Baptism Direct teaching

...ecessarily be of the same nature. Otherwise, if it had been celestial, it would have given both the Holy Spirit and remission of sins. But no one either pardons sins or freely grants the Spirit except God only. Even the Lord Himself said that the Spirit would not descend on any other condition, except that He should first ascend to the Father, John 16:6-7. What the Lord was not yet conferring, of course the servant could not furnish. Accordingly, in the Acts of the Apostles, we find that men who had John's baptism had not received the Holy Spirit, whom they had not even known by hearing. That, then, was no celestial thing which furnished no celestial endowments. On the other hand, the very thing in John which was celestial, the Spirit of prophecy, so completely failed, after the transfer of the whole Spirit to the Lord, that he soon sent to ask whether He whom he himself had preached, whom he had pointed out when coming to him, were HE. And so the baptism of repentance, Acts 19:4, was treated as if it were a candidate for the remission and sanctification soon about to follow in Christ. For when John used to preach baptism for the remission of sins, Mark 1:4, the declaration was

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Direct teaching

2. Therefore, for those who begin a discussion of saving and new baptism, that is, spiritual and evangelical baptism, the first thing that comes before them is the announcement that is known everywhere, made and begun by John the Baptist. He departed somewhat from the law, that is, from the most ancient baptism of Moses, and prepared the way for the new and true grace. By the baptism of water and of repentance, which he practiced for a time, he gradually prepared the Jews to listen. He also laid hold of them by announcing a spiritual baptism that was to come, urging them and saying, "He that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire," Matthew 3:11. For this reason, we also ought to begin this discussion from this point. For in the Acts of the Apostles, after His resurrection, the Lord confirmed this same word of John and commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for that promise of the Father, "which," He says, "you have heard from me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days from now," Acts 1:4-5. Peter also repeate

Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness

2 [Arabic, p. 54] Luke 7:29 And all the people which heard, and the publicans, justified God, for 3 they had been baptized with the baptism of John.

Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness

Luke 3:3 And he came into all the region which is about Jordan, proclaiming the 40 baptism of repentance unto the forgiveness of sins.

Acts 19:4 Direct teaching

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

Tertullian, On Baptism Direct teaching

...m able, I will answer those who claim that the apostles were not baptized. For if they had received John's human baptism, and were desiring the Lord's baptism, then the Lord Himself had declared that baptism is one. He said to Peter, who wanted to be completely washed, "He who has once bathed has no need to wash a second time" in John 13:9-10. Of course, He would not have said this at all to someone who had not been baptized. So even here we have clear proof against those who, in order to destroy the sacrament of water, deny to the apostles even John's baptism. Can it seem believable that the way of the Lord, that is, John's baptism, had not yet been prepared in those persons who were appointed to open the way of the Lord throughout the whole world? The Lord Himself was baptized, even though He had no repentance due from Him. So was baptism not necessary for sinners? As for the fact that others were not baptized, those people were not companions of Christ, but enemies of the faith, teachers of the law, and Pharisees. From this fact another point may be drawn: since those who opposed the Lord refused to be baptized, those who followed the Lord were baptized, and were not of the s

Tertullian, On Baptism Direct teaching

...ed 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.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

Likewise, be satisfied with one baptism only, the one into the death of the Lord; not the one given by wicked heretics, but the one given by blameless priests, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19. Do not accept what comes from the ungodly, and do not let what is done by the godly be canceled by a second baptism. For as there is one God, one Christ, one Comforter, and one death of the Lord in the body, so let the baptism into Him also be one. But those who receive polluted baptism from the ungodly will become partners in their opinions. For they are not priests. For God says to them, "Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from serving as priest to me." Nor are those baptized by them truly initiated; rather, they are polluted, receiving not the remission of sins, but the bond of impiety. Besides this, those who try to baptize people who have already been initiated crucify the Lord again, kill Him a second time, mock divine things and ridicule holy things, insult the Spirit, dishonor the sacred blood of Christ as though it were common blood, and act impiously toward Him who sent, Him who suffered, and Him who bore witn

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

50. If any bishop or presbyter does not perform the three immersions of the one admission, but only one immersion, which is given into the death of Christ, let him be removed from office. For the Lord did not say, “Baptize into my death,” but, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Therefore, O bishops, baptize three times into one Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost, according to the will of Christ and our constitution by the Spirit.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Now concerning baptism, O bishop or presbyter, we have already given instruction, and now we say this: you shall baptize as the Lord commanded us, saying, “Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you,” Matthew 28:19. Baptize in the name of the Father who sent, of Christ who came, and of the Comforter who testified. But first you shall anoint the person with the holy oil, and afterward baptize him with water, and at the end you shall seal him with the ointment. In this way, the anointing with oil may be the participation of the Holy Spirit, the water the symbol of the death of Christ, and the ointment the seal of the covenants. But if there is neither oil nor ointment, water is enough for the anointing, for the seal, and for the confession of Him who is dead, or rather of the one dying together with Christ. But before baptism, let him who is to be baptized fast. For even the Lord, when He was first baptized by John and remained in the wilderness, afterward fasted forty days and forty nights. But He was baptized and then fasted, because He Himself had no nee

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

11. Since in baptism each person has his own sins forgiven, the Lord proves and declares in His Gospel that sins can be taken away only by those who have the Holy Spirit. For after His resurrection, when He sent out His disciples, He spoke to them and said, "As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, they will be forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they will be retained." John 20:21-23 In this place He shows that only the one who has the Holy Spirit can baptize and give forgiveness of sins. Moreover, John, who was to baptize Christ our Lord Himself, received the Holy Spirit beforehand while he was still in his mother's womb, so that it might be certain and clear that no one can baptize except those who have the Holy Spirit. Therefore those who support heretics or schismatics must answer us whether they have the Holy Spirit or not. If they have Him, why are hands laid on those who were baptized among them when they come to us, so that they may receive the Holy Spirit, since He must surely have been received there, where, if He was there, He could also be g

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...those who agree with him argue that the putting away of sins and the second birth can come from the baptism of heretics, among whom, as they themselves admit, the Holy Spirit is not. Let them consider and understand that spiritual birth cannot exist without the Spirit. In agreement with this, the blessed Apostle Paul also baptized again with a spiritual baptism those who had already been baptized by John before the Holy Spirit had been sent by the Lord, and then laid hands on them so that they might receive the Holy Spirit. But what are we to make of this: we see that Paul, after John's baptism, baptized his disciples again, yet we hesitate to baptize those who come to the Church from heresy after their unholy and profane dipping. Unless, perhaps, Paul was inferior to the bishops of these times, so that these bishops can indeed give the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands alone to those heretics who come to the Church, while Paul was not able to give the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands to those who had been baptized by John unless he had first also baptized them with the baptism of the Church.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

5. Or if they say that the power of baptism comes from the greatness of the name, so that those who are baptized anywhere and in any way, in the name of Jesus Christ, are considered renewed and sanctified, then why are the baptized among them not also given the laying on of hands, in the name of that same Christ, to receive the Holy Spirit? Why does the same greatness of the same name not have power in the laying on of hands, if, as they claim, it had power in the sanctifying of baptism? For if someone born outside the Church can become God's temple, why can the Holy Spirit not also be poured out on that temple? For the one who has been sanctified, with his sins taken away in baptism, and has been spiritually remade into a new man, has become fit to receive the Holy Spirit, since the apostle says, "As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Galatians 3:27. He who, after being baptized among the heretics, is able to put on Christ, can much more receive the Holy Spirit whom Christ sent. Otherwise, the One who is sent would be greater than the One who sends, so that a person baptized outside may indeed begin to put on Christ, but not be able to receive the H

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

Moreover, John, who was to baptize Christ our Lord Himself, previously received the Holy Ghost while he was yet in his mother's womb, that it might be certain and manifest that none can baptize save those who have the Holy Spirit.

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Direct teaching

.... Further, as you are not ignorant, the Holy Spirit is found to have been given by the Lord without baptism of water to men who believe, as it is written in Acts of the Apostles in this way: “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been poured out on the Gentiles. For they heard them speak in tongues, and they magnified God. Then Peter answered, ‘Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?’ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” Acts 10:44-48 Peter also later taught us very fully about these same Gentiles, saying: “And He made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” Acts 15:9 And so there will be no doubt that men may be baptized with the Holy Spirit without water, since you see that these were baptized before they were baptized with water. In this way, the declarations of both John and of our Lord Himself were fulfilled, since they received the grace of the promise both witho

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness

...at reason cut off from salvation. Rather, whenever they came to a right mind, they obtained through repentance a sound hope of salvation, especially when they received the Holy Spirit, by whom every man ought to be baptized. This is the kind of point they would have meant. Likewise, we do not think that Peter alone underwent this in the Gospel, but all the disciples did. For although they had already been baptized, the Lord afterward says to them, "All of you will be offended because of Me," Mark 14:27. And, as we see, after they corrected their faith, they were baptized with the Holy Spirit after the Lord's resurrection. So, not without reason, we also at the present day may believe that men who have been corrected from their former error may be baptized in the Holy Spirit, even though they had already been baptized with water in the name of the Lord and may have had a somewhat imperfect faith. For it makes a great difference whether a man has not been baptized at all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, or whether he is lacking in some respect when he is baptized with the baptism of water. That is of less account, provided that afterward a sincere faith in the truth is eviden

Matthew 21:25 Direct teaching

The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

Luke 20:4 Supporting witness

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

Mark 11:30 Supporting witness

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.

Origen, Commentary on John Direct teaching

And those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said to him, John 1:24-25, "Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" Those who sent the priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask John these questions, after learning who John was not and who he was, keep a proper silence. It is as if they quietly agreed and showed that they accepted what was said, and saw that baptism suited a voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord. But the Pharisees, as their name suggests, were a divided and rebellious group of people. They show that they do not agree with the Jews of the chief city, nor with the ministers of God's service, the priests and Levites. They send messengers who speak with rebuke, and as far as they can, they try to stop John from baptizing. Their messengers ask, "Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" And if we were to join into one statement what is written in the different Gospels, we would say that at this time they spoke as it is reported here. But at a later time, when they wanted to receive baptism, they heard John's words: Matthew 3:7-8, "Brood of vi

Tertullian, On Baptism Supporting witness

The baptism announced by John formed the subject, even at that time, of a question, proposed by the Lord Himself indeed to the Pharisees, whether that baptism were heavenly, or truly earthly: about which they were unable to give a consistent answer, inasmuch as they understood not, because they believed not.

Hippolytus, Discourse on the Holy Theophany Supporting witness

...ow this mystery, when he learned that He is truly Lord, cried out and spoke to those who came to be baptized by him: "O generation of vipers, why do you look so earnestly at me? I am not the Christ. I am the servant, and not the lord. I am the subject, and not the king. I am the sheep, and not the shepherd. I am a man, and not God. By my birth I loosed my mother's barrenness. I did not make virginity barren. I was brought up from beneath. I did not come down from above. I bound my father's tongue. I did not unfold divine grace. I was known by my mother, and I was not announced by a star. I am worthless, and the least. But after me there comes One who is before me—after me, indeed, in time, but before me because of the inaccessible and unutterable light of divinity. There comes One mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. I am subject to authority, but He has authority in Himself. I am bound by sins, but He is the Remover of sins. I apply the law, but He brings grace to light. I teach as a slave, but He judges as the Master. I have the earth as my couch, but He possesses heaven. I baptize with the baptism of re

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness

and in the following terms: ‘The law and the prophets were until John the Baptist;

Matthew 3:13 Direct teaching

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.

Mark 1:9 Direct teaching

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching

Matthew 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him. Luke 3:23a And Jesus was about thirty years old, and it was supposed that he was the son of Joseph. John 1:29 And John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "This is the Lamb of God, that takes on itself the burden of the sins of the world!" John 1:30 "This is he concerning whom I said, 'There comes after me a man who was before me, because he was before me.'" John 1:31 "And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, for this cause I came to baptize with water." Matthew 3:14 And John was hindering him and saying, "I have need of being baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Matthew 3:15 Jesus answered him and said, "Allow this now. Thus it is our duty to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him. Luke 3:21b And when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. Matthew 3:16b And immediately he went up out of the water, and heaven opened to him. Luke 3:22a And the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the likeness of the body of a dove. Matthew 3:17 And look, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." John 1:32 And John bore witnes

Hippolytus, Discourse on the Holy Theophany Supporting witness

As John says these things to the multitude, and as the people watch in eager expectation of seeing some strange spectacle with their bodily eyes, and the devil is struck with amazement at such a testimony from John, look, the Lord appears, plain, solitary, uncovered, without escort. He has on Him the body of man like a garment, and hides the dignity of the Divinity, so that He may elude the snares of the dragon. And not only did He approach John as Lord without royal retinue, but even like a mere man, and one involved in sin, He bent His head to be baptized by John. Therefore John, when he saw so great a humbling of Himself, was struck with astonishment at the matter, and began to prevent Him, saying, as you have just heard, "I have need to be baptized by You, and You come to me?" "What are You doing, O Lord? You teach things not according to rule. I have preached one thing regarding You, and You perform another. The devil has heard one thing, and perceives another. Baptize me with the fire of Divinity. Why do You wait for water? Enlighten me with the Spirit. Why do You attend upon a creature? Baptize me, the Baptist, that Your pre-eminence may be known. I, O Lord, baptize with the

Hippolytus, Connection to Matthew 3:14 Supporting witness

Wherefore John, on seeing so great a humbling of Himself, was struck with astonishment at the affair, and began to prevent Him, saying, as ye have just heard, "I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me? "

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

When He first began to reach maturity He was baptized by the prophet John in the river Jordan, that He might wash away in the spiritual laver not His own sins, for it is evident that He had none, but those of the flesh, which He bare;

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Long Version) Supporting witness

was baptized by John, that all righteousness might be fulfilled by Him;

Hippolytus, Discourse on the Holy Theophany Supporting witness

Baptize me, John, in order that no one may despise baptism.

Hippolytus, Discourse on the Holy Theophany Supporting witness

Baptize me, the Baptist, that Your pre-eminence may be known.

Luke 3:16 Direct teaching

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Acts 1:5 Direct teaching

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Mark 1:8 Supporting witness

I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Irenaeus, Connection to Matthew 3:11 Supporting witness

John the Baptist points out, when he says of Christ, "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire, having His fan in His hand to cleanse His floor; and He will gather His fruit into the garner, but the chaff He will burn up with unquenchable fire."

Justin Martyr, Connection to Matthew 3:11 Supporting witness

`I baptize you with water to repentance; but He that is stronger than I shall come, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and will gather the wheat into the barn; but the chaff He will burn up with unquenchable fire.'

Hippolytus, Discourse on the Holy Theophany Supporting witness

I baptize with the baptism of repentance, but He confers the gift of adoption: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.

Tertullian, On Baptism Supporting witness

and again, by saying that he baptized in repentance only, but that One would shortly come who would baptize in the Spirit and fire;

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

...this last baptism, as some hold, that He speaks in the words of Luke 12:50, “I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am distressed until it is accomplished!” And this agrees with what the disciple John says in his Epistle, in 1 John 5:8, about the Spirit and the water and the blood being one. Again, He declares Himself to be the way and the door. But clearly, He is not the door to those to whom He is the way, and He is no longer the way to those to whom He is the door. Therefore, let all who are being instructed in the first lessons of the oracles of God, and who come to the voice of him who cries in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord,” the voice that sounds beyond the Jordan at the house of preparation, prepare themselves so that they may be ready to receive the spiritual word, brought home to them by the enlightening work of the Spirit. Since our subject requires us to gather together everything that relates to the Jordan, let us now look at the river. By Moses, God brought the people through the Red Sea, making the water a wall for them on the right hand and on the left. And by Joshua He brought them through the Jordan. Now Paul deals with this Scriptu

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Direct teaching

For John distinguished, and said that he indeed baptized in water, but that one should come who would baptize in the Holy Ghost, by the grace and power of God;

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness

for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness

and I remembered the word of the Lord, how that He said, John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.