Writings in Connection with the Donatist Controversy. Bishop of Hippo Saint Augustine

need to be baptized of Thee." He therefore already knew Him. What does he therefore mean by the words, "I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost," since this took place after He was baptized, unless it were that he knew Him in respect of certain attributes, and in respect of others knew Him not? He knew Him, indeed, as the Son of God, the Bridegroom, of whose fulness all should receive; but whereas of His fulness he himself had so received the power of baptizing that it should be called the baptism of John, he did not know whether He would so give it to others also, or whether He would have His own baptism in such wise, that at whose soever hands it was given, whether by a man that brought forth fruit a hundred-fold, or sixty-fold, or thirty-fold, whether by the wheat or by the chaff, it should be known to be of Him alone; and this he learned through the Spirit descending like a dove, and abiding on Him.

      1

      Aug. De Hœr. c. 69; Enarr. in Ps. 132, secs. 3, 6; C. Cresc. iii. 46, 47; C. Gaudentium i. 32.

      2

      Epist. xlix. li.

      3

      Vol. ix p. 34, etc.

      4

      The other works bearing on this controversy are mentioned in the exhaustive volume of Ferd. Ribbeck, Donatus und Augustinus (Elberfeld, 1858). – Ed.

      5

      This treatise was written about 400 A.D.

      6

      Contra Epist. Parmen.

1

Aug. De Hœr. c. 69; Enarr. in Ps. 132, secs. 3, 6; C. Cresc. iii. 46, 47; C. Gaudentium i. 32.

2

Epist. xlix. li.

3

Vol. ix p. 34, etc.

4

The other works bearing on this controversy are mentioned in the exhaustive volume of Ferd. Ribbeck, Donatus und Augustinus (Elberfeld, 1858). – Ed.

5

This treatise was written about 400 A.D.

6

Contra Epist. Parmen. ii. 14.

7

Comp. v. 23, and iii. 16, note.

8

Ps. lxi. 2, 3. Augustine translates from the Septuagint. The English version is: "From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy."

9

Eph. ii. 6.

10

Matt. vii. 15.

11

Matt. xxiv. 23.

12

Matt. xi. 24.

13

The Council of Donatist bishops, held at Bagai in Numidia, A.D. 394. Cp. Contr. Crescon. iii. 52, 53.

14

Quodam modo cardinales Donatistas.

15

See below, on ii. 9.

16

Matt. xii. 30.

17

Mark ix. 38, 39; Luke ix. 50.

18

Acts x.

19

Ex. xxxii.

20

Num. xvi.

21

1 Cor. xiii. 2.

22

1 Cor. xiii. 1, 2.

23

John xi. 51.

24

1 Sam. xviii. 10.

25

Acts viii. 13.

26

Mark i. 24.

27

Eph. iv. 2, 3.

28

Acts viii. 13, 21.

29

1 Cor. iii. 1-4.

30

1 Cor. i. 10-13.

31

1 Cor. x. 11. In figura; :τυπιχως; A. V., "for ensamples."

32

Gen. xxi. 10.

33

Gen. xxx. 3.

34

Mal. i. 2, 3; Gen. xxv. 24.

35

Matt. xxviii. 19.

36

John xx. 23.

37

Song of Sol. vi. 9.

38

1 John ii. 11.

39

Gal. iii. 27.

40

Wisd. i. 5.

41

Debebat. It is necessary to depart from the A. V., "owed," as Augustine founds an argument on the use of the imperfect tense. Gr. ωφειλεν.

42

Matt. xviii. 23-35.

43

1 Cor. xv. 46.

44

1 Cor. ii. 14.

45

Gal. iv.

46

Ps. cxxxix. 16.

47

So Augustine from the Septuagint: επι βιβλιο σου παντις γραφησονται. A.V., "In Thy book were all my members written."

48

Non caste; ουχ αγνως. Phil. i. 16.

49

In the Retractations, ii. 18, Augustine notes on this passage, that wherever he uses this quotation from the Epistle to the Ephesians, he means it to be understood of the progress of the Church towards this condition, and not of her success in its attainment; for at present the infirmities and ignorance of her members give ground enough for the whole Church joining daily in the petition, "Forgive us our debts."

50

Gen. xv. 10.

51

1 Pet. iv. 8.

52

See below, ii. 9.

53

Eph. iv. 2, 3.

54

Ps. lxxiii. 18.

55

1 Cor. xii. 31, xiii. 1.

56

John