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On Baptism

Tertullian

Chapter 9

About this work

An early Latin treatise defending Christian baptism, interpreting its biblical patterns, discussing preparation and administration, and warning against a teacher who rejected water baptism in the church.

Author: Tertullian
Date: c. AD 198–203
Origin: Carthage, North Africa
Genre: Theological Treatise

Chapter IX.—Types of the Red Sea, and the Water from the Rock.

How many, therefore, are the pleas of nature,

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how

many

the

privileges

of

grace

,

how

many

the

solemnities

of

discipline

,

the

figures

,

the

preparations

,

the

prayers

,

which

have

ordained

the

sanctity

of

water

?

First

,

indeed

,

when

the

people

,

set

unconditionally

free

,

escaped

the

violence

of

the

Egyptian

king

by

crossing

over

through

water

,

it

was

water

that

extinguished

the

king

himself

,

with

his

entire

forces

.

What

figure

more

manifestly

fulfilled

in

the

sacrament

of

baptism

?

The

nations

are

set

free

from

the

world

by

means

of

water

,

to

wit

:

and

the

devil

,

their

old

tyrant

,

they

leave

quite

behind

,

overwhelmed

in

the

water

.

Again

,

water

is

restored

from

its

defect

of

“

bitterness

”

to

its

native

grace

of

“

sweetness

”

by

the

tree

of

Moses

.

That

tree

was

Christ

,

restoring

,

to

wit

,

of

Himself

,

the

veins

of

sometime

envenomed

and

bitter

nature

into

the

all

-

salutary

waters

of

baptism

.

This

is

the

water

which

flowed

continuously

down

for

the

people

from

the

“

accompanying

rock

;

”

for

if

Christ

is

“

the

Rock

,

”

without

doubt

we

see

baptism

blest

by

the

water

in

Christ

.

How

mighty

is

the

grace

of

water

,

in

the

sight

of

God

and

His

Christ

,

for

the

confirmation

of

baptism

!

Never

is

Christ

without

water

:

if

,

that

is

,

He

is

Himself

baptized

in

water

;

inaugurates

in

water

the

first

rudimentary

displays

of

His

power

,

when

invited

to

the

nuptials

;

invites

the

thirsty

,

when

He

makes

a

discourse

,

to

His

own

sempiternal

water

;

approves

,

when

teaching

concerning

love

,

among

works

of

charity

,

the

cup

of

water

offered

to

a

poor

(

child

)

;

recruits

His

strength

at

a

well

;

walks

over

the

water

;

willingly

crosses

the

sea

;

ministers

water

to

His

disciples

.

Onward

even

to

the

passion

does

the

witness

of

baptism

last

:

while

He

is

being

surrendered

to

the

cross

,

water

intervenes

;

witness

Pilate’s

hands

:

when

He

is

wounded

,

forth

from

His

side

bursts

water

;

witness

the

soldier’s

lance

!

Notes

1
Patrocinia—“pleas in defence.”
2
“Libere expeditus,” set free, and that without any conditions, such as Pharaoh had from time to time tried to impose. See Ex. viii. 25, 28; x. 10, 11, 24.
3
“Extinxit,” as it does fire.
4
Ex. xiv. 27–30.
5
Sæculo.
6
See Ex. xv. 24, 25.
7
“The Tree of Life,” “the True Vine,” etc.
8
Matt. iii. 13–17.
9
John ii. 1–11.
10
John vii. 37, 38.
11
Agape. See de Orat. c. 28, ad fin.
12
Dilectionis. See de Patien. c. xii.
13
Matt. x. 42.
14
John iv. 6.
15
Matt. xiv. 25.
16
Mark iv. 36.
17
John xiii. 1–12.
18
Matt. xxvii. 24. Comp. de Orat. c. xiii.
19
John xix. 34. See c. xviii. sub fin.