Dimensions of Baptism Biblical and Theological Studies

234 Dimensions of Baptism

of the Pauline theme of baptism as a death and resurrection (Rom. 6.1-11)

with the Johannine theme of new birth (Jn 3.3-7).^55 The language of wash-

ing is also associated with purification or cleansing in four contexts.^56

The language of rebirth, connected with the incarnation, and of clean-

sing, associated with death, and their eschatological fulfillment in the

resurrection to life and purity are the principal theological themes related

to baptism in Gregory's Catechetical Oration. They correspond to the

principal effects and benefits of baptism^57 that he discuses: rebirth brings

life (£COTI),^58 and washing produces purification.^59 These gifts that result

from invoking the divine power are received in the water, but not from the

water, for they are connected with the divine activity and the faith^60 and

repentance^61 of the recipient.

55. This is done more explicitly in Contra Eunomium 3.2.45-54 (GNO 2.67.64-
    70.18 [PG, xlv, cols. 633B-637B]) and Refutatio Confessionis Eunomii 79-81 {GNO
    2.344.20-346.5 [PG, xlv, cols. 501B-504A]), which relate the ideas of physical birth
    and of resurrection with the new birth of baptism by speaking of the three births of
    Christians—in the body, in regeneration, and in the resurrection of the dead—as corre-
    sponding to three births of Christ, suggested by the biblical descriptions of Christ as
    'firstborn of creation' (Col. 1.15), 'firstborn among many brethren' (Rom. 8.29), and
    'firstborn from the dead' (Col. 1.18).


56. GNO 88.23-89.14 (esp. line 7) (PG, xlv, cols. 89A-B); 91.14-18 (PG, xlv, col.
    92B); 92.6-10, 18-19 (PG, xlv, cols. 92C-D).


57. Cf. the double statement of each of these benefits of baptism in In diem
    luminum, 'Baptism is cleansing of sins, forgiveness of trespasses, the cause of renewal
    and rebirth' (GNO 9.224.4-5 [PG, xlvi, col. 580D]).


58. GNOS2.6, 10 ('bornto eternal life'), and21 (PG, xlv, cols. 84A-B);cf. 83.21
    (PG, xlv, col. 84D); 88.3 (PG, xlv, col. 88C); 93.5-6 (PG, xlv, col. 93A); 100.9and 19
    (PG, xlv, col. 100C); 102.9 (PG, xlv, col. 101B).


59. See references in n. 56.


60. GNO 82.16 (PG, xlv, col. 84B); 84.18 (PG, xlv, col. 85A); 85.13-86.3 (PG,
    xlv, cols. 85C-D); 93.4 (PG, xlv, col. 93A); 99.14 (PG, xlv, col. 100A); 100.17-22,
    and 101.4 (PG, xlv, cols. 100C-D).


61. GNO 89.10-12 (PG, xlv, col. 89B).