Fragments on Luke · §2 · John of Damascus

The Spirit descends on the apostles; God is consuming fire

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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.

The Spirit also comes down upon the apostles. For the Spirit is God, and God is a consuming fire.

Greek

Τοῦ ∆αμασκηνοῦ.

‹95.233› Καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀποστόλους τὸ Πνεῦμα κάτεισι. Θεὸς γάρ ἐστιν· ὁ δὲ Θεὸς πῦρ

καταναλίσκον ἐστί.

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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