Fragments on the First and Second Epistles to the Corinthians · §2 · Gennadius of Constantinople

The sea crossing as a type of baptism's defense

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Gennadius is explaining how the ancient Israelites' passage through the sea prefigured what baptism does for Christians.

Their passage through the sea resembles our own situation in this respect: what the crossing through the sea provided for them—freeing them completely from their enemies and granting them secure freedom for the future—baptism has become for us against our enemies.

Greek

τὸ δὲ διὰ τῆς θαλάσσης αὐτοὺς

διελθεῖν ἔοικε κατὰ τοῦτο τοῖς ἡμετέροις, ὅτι ὅπερ ἐκείνοις ἡ διὰ τῆς θαλάσσης

παρέσχε διάβασις, τῶν μὲν πολεμίων αὐτοὺς παντελῶς ἀπαλλάξασα, βεβαίαν δὲ

αὐτοὺς τοῦ λοιποῦ τὴν ἐλευθερίαν δωρησαμένη, τοῦτο ἡμῖν πρὸς τοὺς ἡμετέρους

ἐχθροὺς τὸ βάπτισμα γέγονεν.

About this text

A few notes on Corinthians: Israel's cloud and sea crossing as types of baptism, faith as a spiritual gift, and one line on 2 Corinthians 10:7.

Gennadius of Constantinople (d. 471) was patriarch from 458. This file holds his fragments on the First and Second Epistles to the Corinthians, not a full commentary.

Paul sets the cloud and the sea beside the Corinthians as warnings. The cloud is a sign of the Spirit's grace. The crossing of the sea is what baptism has become: a defense against enemies. In baptism believers receive the Spirit of adoption and promise to live by Christ's commands.

The faith Paul names among the gifts is not the faith common to every believer. The Lord speaks of faith like a grain of mustard seed. On the second letter, Gennadius says the verse rebukes those who judge by what appears, not by works.

Printed text used

Translated from PG 85 (Greek)

This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.