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Hilary of Poitiers & Ephraim On Baptism

Hilary of Poitiers & Ephraim On Baptism

Last updated on: July 30, 2024 at 6:14 pm by Dave Armstrong

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Hilary of Poitiers & Ephraim On Baptism 2024-07-30T18:14:35-04:00 Dave Armstrong

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Newly excavated Church of Saint Jacob of Nisibis (Syria) [`Idto d-Mor Y`aqub] where St. Ephraim taught and ministered. Photograph by Gareth Hughes (12 April 1999) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license]

St. Hilary of Poitiers (c. 315 to 368)

. . . we being buried with His Death in Baptism may return to the life of eternity (since regeneration to life is death to the former life), and dying to our sins be born again to immortality, . . . (On the Trinity, Bk. I, 13)

There is one Lord and one baptism of regeneration . . . they have put on one Christ through the nature of one baptism . . . born again in one baptism . . . one regenerating baptism . . .(On the Trinity, Bk. VIII, 7-9)

In whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the stripping off of the body of the flesh, but with the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, wherein you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. [Colossians 2:11-12] We are circumcised not with a fleshly circumcision but with the circumcision of Christ, that is, we are born again into a new man; for, being buried with Him in His baptism, we must die to the old man, because the regeneration of baptism has the force of resurrection. (On the Trinity, Bk. IX, 9)

. . . regenerate by baptism . . . (On the Councils, 78; cf. 91: “regenerate in baptism”)

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Ephraim (c. 306-373)

. . . the baptism wherein you were washed. . . . the Gentiles were baptized in this and believed and received the Holy Ghost. (Hymn 1 for Epiphany, 6)

In baptism you are perfected, . . . (Hymn 3 for Epiphany, 17)

Put on from the waters of baptism the Holy Spirit . . . (Hymn 5 for Epiphany, 1)

In Baptism are cleansed the secret misdeeds in the soul. (Hymn 5 for Epiphany, 6)

It is the water of baptism — that alone is able to atone. (Hymn 6 for Epiphany, 3)

Baptism is bringing forth — the heavenly from the earthly! (Hymn 6 for Epiphany, 8)

The baptized when they come up are sanctified;— the sealed when they go down are pardoned.— They who come up have put on glory — they who go down have cast off sin.— Adam put off his glory in a moment — you have been clothed with glory in a moment. (Hymn 6 for Epiphany, 9)

The leprosy was done away in the water, as transgressions in Baptism. Today, lo! Your offenses are blotted out — and your names are written down.— The priest blots out in the water — and Christ writes down in Heaven.— By the blotting out and the writing down — lo! Doubled is your rejoicing. (Hymn 6 for Epiphany, 12-13)

The fountain of Baptism — is set to protect against the Flame. — This is the water that avails — for the quenching of Gehenna. (Hymn 7 for Epiphany, 16)

Baptism though it be high — in its mercy has stooped down with us:— for the atonement is from above — that has come down unto sinners. (Hymn 7 for Epiphany, 20)

Jeremiah in the womb He sanctified and taught. . . . how much more shall Baptism sanctify — its conception and its bringing forth — of them that are pure and spiritual! — For there, within the womb — is the conception of all men — but here, out of the water — is the birth whereof the spiritual are worthy. (Hymn 8 for Epiphany, 9)

There are waters whereby — there is reconciliation made with Heaven. (Hymn 8 for Epiphany, 14)

Of contrary effect are the waters in Baptism. — In them, lo! The people have life . . . (Hymn 8 for Epiphany, 20)

Grace has come to baptism— to wash away the foulness of our wound. (Hymn 10 for Epiphany, 12)

Baptism is the well-spring of life — which the Son of God opened by His Life . . . (Hymn 12 for Epiphany, 5)

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Photo credit: Newly excavated Church of Saint Jacob of Nisibis (Syria) [`Idto d-Mor Y`aqub] where St. Ephraim taught and ministered. Photograph by Gareth Hughes (12 April 1999) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license]

Summary: I document the views of Hilary of Poitiers (c. 315-368) & Ephraim (c. 306-373) on baptism: particularly baptismal regeneration: all of them consistent with Catholic teaching.

Fathers of the Church

baptismal regeneration

church fathers & baptism

Hilary of Poitiers & Ephraem on baptism

infant baptism

patristic sacramentology

sacraments

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