“Justin Martyr on Baptism in the Early Church. Original Greek Language Text with English translation”
from Apology 1: 61
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I will also relate the manner in which we dedicated
ourselves to God when we had been made new through Christ; lest, if we omit
this, we seem to be unfair in the explanation we are making. As many as are
persuaded and believe that what we teach and say is true, and undertake to be
able to live accordingly, are instructed to pray and to entreat God with
fasting, for the remission of their sins that are past, we praying and fasting
with them. Then they are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated
in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of
God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and
of the Holy Spirit, they then receive the washing with water. For Christ also
said, “Except ye be born again, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Now, that it is impossible for those who have once been born to enter into their
mothers’ wombs, is manifest to all. And how those who have sinned and repent
shall escape their sins, is declared by Esaias the prophet, as I wrote above; he
thus speaks: “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from
your souls; learn to do well; judge the fatherless, and plead for the widow: and
come and let us reason together, saith the Lord. And though your sins be as
scarlet, I will make them white like wool; and though they be as crimson, I will
make them white as snow. But if ye refuse and rebel, the sword shall devour you:
for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” And for this [rite] we have learned
from the apostles this reason. Since at our birth we were born without our own
knowledge or choice, by our parents coming together, and were brought up in bad
habits and wicked training; in order that we may not remain the children of
necessity and of ignorance, but may become the children of choice and knowledge,
and may obtain in the water the remission of sins formerly committed, there is
pronounced over him who chooses to be born again, and has repented of his sins,
the name of God the Father and Lord of the universe; he who leads to the laver
the person that is to be washed calling him by this name alone. For no one can
utter the name of the ineffable God; and if any one dare to say that there is a
name, he raves with a hopeless madness. And this washing is called illumination,
because they who learn these things are illuminated in their understandings. And
in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and in the
name of the Holy Ghost, who through the prophets foretold all things about
Jesus, he who is illuminated is washed. |
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From Apology 1,61
Baptism in the Early Church
Early baptismal practice
Migne Greek Text
Patrologiae Graecae Cursus Completus
Patrologia Graeca