Fragments on Luke
Fragmenta in Lucam
This brief exegetical note is attributed to John of Damascus.
The Spirit's descent and the two fires of Christ's baptism§1
John of Damascus opens his fragments on Luke with a brief note explaining why Christ is said to baptize with fire, first through the Spirit's descent at Pentecost and then through the final punishing fire.
1The Spirit also comes down upon the apostles. For the Spirit is God, and God is a consuming fire. This is why Christ is said to baptize with fire: because he poured out the grace of Christ upon his holy disciples in the form of fiery tongues, or because of the punishing nature of the fire to come. That final baptism is not saving, but destructive of evil—for no longer will evil and sin hold sway—yet it punishes endlessly.
Greek · §1
The Greek is on each section page: §1
The Spirit descends on the apostles; God is consuming fire§2
John of Damascus opens a brief exegetical note by stating that the Spirit descends upon the apostles and identifying the Spirit as God, who is a consuming fire.
2The Spirit also comes down upon the apostles. For the Spirit is God, and God is a consuming fire.
Greek · §2
The Greek is on each section page: §2
Why Christ is said to baptize with fire§3
John of Damascus is explaining why Scripture says Christ baptizes with fire, after having just said the Spirit is God and God is a consuming fire.
3This is why Christ is said to baptize with fire: because he poured out the grace of Christ on his holy disciples in the form of fiery tongues, or because of the punishing character of the fire to come.
Greek · §3
The Greek is on each section page: §3
The final baptism destroys evil but punishes endlessly§4
John of Damascus is explaining why Christ's baptism with fire can refer to the final punishing fire, and here he describes what that last baptism does.
4That final baptism is not saving but destructive of evil, for evil and sin no longer hold sway—yet it punishes endlessly.
Greek · §4
The Greek is on each section page: §4