“Or were ye baptized into the name of Paul?” Again, he saith not, “did Paul baptize
you?” For he did baptize many: but this was not the question, by whom they had been bap-
tized, but, into whose name they had been baptized! For since this also was a cause of
schisms, their being called after the name of those who baptized them, he corrects this error
likewise saying, “Were ye baptized into the name of Paul?” “Tell me not,” saith he, “who
baptized, but into whose name. For not he that baptizeth, but he who is invoked in the
Baptism, is the subject of enquiry. For this is He who forgives our sins18.”
And at this point he stays the discourse, and does not pursue the subject any further.
For he saith not, “Did Paul declare to you the good things to come? Did Paul promise you
the kingdom of heaven?” Why, then, I ask, doth he not add these questions also? Because
it is not all as one, to promise a kingdom and to be crucified. For the former neither had
danger nor brought shame; but the latter, all these. Moreover, he proves the former from
the latter: for having said, (Rom. viii. 32.) “He that spared not His own Son,” he adds, “How
shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” And again, (Rom. v. 10.) “For if when
we were enemies we were reconciled unto God by the death of His Son, much more bring
reconciled, we shall be saved.” This was one reason for his not adding what I just mentioned:
and also because the one they had not as yet, but of the other they had already made trial.
The one were in promise; the other had already come to pass.
[6.] Ver. 14. “I thank God that I baptized none of you but Crispus and Gaius.” “Why
are you elate at having baptized, when I for my part even give thanks that I have not done
so!” Thus saying, by a kind of divine art (οἰκονομικῶς) he does away with their swelling
pride upon this point; not with the efficacy of the baptism, (God forbid,) but with the folly
of those who were puffed up at having been baptizers: first, by showing that the Gift is not
theirs; and, secondly, by thanking God therefore. For Baptism truly is a great thing: but its
greatness is not the work of the person baptizing, but of Him who is invoked in the Baptism:
since to baptize is nothing as regards man’s labor, but is much less than preaching the
Gospel. Yea, again I say, great indeed is Baptism, and without baptism it is impossible to
obtain the kingdom. Still a man of no singular excellence is able to baptize, but to preach
the Gospel there is need of great labor.
Ver. 15. He states also the reason, why he giveth thanks that he had baptized no one.
What then is this reason? “Lest anyone should say that ye were baptized into my own name.”
Why, did he mean that they said this in those other cases? Not at all; but, “I fear,” saith he,
“lest the disease should proceed even to that. For if, when insignificant persons and of little
worth baptize, a heresy ariseth, had I, the first announcer of Baptism, baptized many, it was
18 This seems to allude to the words of the ancient Oriental Creed, as preserved by S. Cyril of Jerusalem, “I
believe in one Baptism of Repentance, for the Remission of Sins;” (see Bp. Bull, Jud. Eccl. Cath. c. vi. §. 4. &c.)
into which Creed, in all probability, the people of Antioch had been baptized.
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Homily III