John xix. 34. Cf. Cat. iii. 10. Origen
(In Lib. Judic. Hom. vii. § 2): “It is the
Baptism of blood alone that can render us purer than the Baptism of
water has done.” Cf. Origen (in Ev. Matt. Tom.
xvi. 6): “If Baptism promises remission of sins, as we have
received concerning Baptism in water and the Spirit, and if one who has
endured the Baptism of Martyrdom receives remission of sins, then with
good reason martyrdom may be called a Baptism.” For a
summary of the “Patristic Interpretation” of the passage,
see Bp. Westcott, Speaker’s Commentary.)