Fragments on Luke · §1 · John of Damascus

The Spirit's descent and the two fires of Christ's baptism

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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.

The 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

Τοῦ ∆αμασκηνοῦ. ‹95.233› Καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀποστόλους τὸ Πνεῦμα κάτεισι. Θεὸς γάρ ἐστιν· ὁ δὲ Θεὸς πῦρ καταναλίσκον ἐστί. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο πυρὶ λέγεται βαπτίζειν ὁ Χριστὸς, ἐπειδὴ ἐν εἴδει πυρίνων γλωττῶν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἁγίους αὐτοῦ μαθητὰς τὴν τοῦ Χριστοῦ χάριν ἐξέχεεν, ἢ διὰ τὸ τοῦ μέλλοντος πυρὸς κολαστικόν. Βάπτισμα γὰρ κἀκεῖνο τελευταῖον, οὐ σωτήριον, ἀλλὰ τῆς μὲν κακίας ἀναιρετικόν· οὐκέτι γὰρ κακία καὶ ἁμαρτία πολιτεύεται· κολάζον δὲ ἀτελεύτητα.

About this text

A brief note by John of Damascus on why Christ is said to baptize with fire: the tongues of fire on the apostles, or the punishing fire to come.

This brief exegetical note is attributed to John of Damascus.

The note argues that the Spirit descends upon the apostles, that the Spirit is God, and that God is a consuming fire. Christ is said to baptize with fire because he poured out the grace of Christ on the holy disciples in the form of fiery tongues, or because of the punishing fire to come.

The final baptism is not saving but destructive of evil, and it punishes endlessly.

Printed text used

Translated from PG 94-96; Fragmenta in Lucam (Greek)

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