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Objection 1: It would seem that it was not fitting for Christ to be
baptized. For to be baptized is to be washed. But it was not fitting
for Christ to be washed, since there was no uncleanness in Him.
Therefore it seems unfitting for Christ to be baptized.
Objection 2: Further, Christ was circumcised in order to fulfil
the law. But baptism was not prescribed by the law. Therefore He
should not have been baptized.
Objection 3: Further, the first mover in every genus is unmoved in
regard to that movement; thus the heaven, which is the first cause of
alteration, is unalterable. But Christ is the first principle of
baptism, according to Jn. 1:33: "He upon whom thou shalt see
the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, He it is that
baptizeth." Therefore it was unfitting for Christ to be baptized.
On the contrary, It is written (Mt. 3:13) that "Jesus
cometh from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by
him."
I answer that, It was fitting for Christ to be baptized. First,
because, as Ambrose says on Lk. 3:21: "Our Lord was baptized
because He wished, not to be cleansed, but to cleanse the waters,
that, being purified by the flesh of Christ that knew no sin, they
might have the virtue of baptism"; and, as Chrysostom says (Hom.
iv in Matth.), "that He might bequeath the sanctified waters to
those who were to be baptized afterwards." Secondly, as Chrysostom
says (Hom. iv in Matth.), "although Christ was not a sinner,
yet did He take a sinful nature and 'the likeness of sinful flesh.'
Wherefore, though He needed not baptism for His own sake, yet
carnal nature in others had need thereof." And, as Gregory
Nazianzen says (Orat. xxxix) "Christ was baptized that He might
plunge the old Adam entirely in the water." Thirdly, He wished to
be baptized, as Augustine says in a sermon on the Epiphany
(cxxxvi), "because He wished to do what He had commanded all to
do." And this is what He means by saying: "So it becometh us to
fulfil all justice" (Mt. 3:15). For, as Ambrose says (on
Lk. 3:21), "this is justice, to do first thyself that which
thou wishest another to do, and so encourage others by thy example."
Reply to Objection 1: Christ was baptized, not that He might be
cleansed, but that He might cleanse, as stated above.
Reply to Objection 2: It was fitting that Christ should not only
fulfil what was prescribed by the Old Law, but also begin what
appertained to the New Law. Therefore He wished not only to be
circumcised, but also to be baptized.
Reply to Objection 3: Christ is the first principle of baptism's
spiritual effect. Unto this He was not baptized, but only in water.
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