43. Cf. Mt 3.16; Mk 1.10; Lk 3.21 — 22.
TRACTATE 4 107 to understand what is proper. In the meantime, consider it proper to put it ofl today. But I say this to you briefly until the solution is given: inquire peacefully, without strife, without contentiousness, without disputes, without hostilities. Both raise the question among yourselves, and inquire of others, and say, "Our bishop proposed this question to us today; one day, if the Lord grants it, he will resolve it."
(2) But whether it should be resolved or not resolved, consider that I have proposed a matter that bothers me; for I am bothered considerably. John says, "I ought to be baptized by you,"^'^ as if he recognized Christ, for if he did not recognize him by whom he wanted to be baptized, he said, "I ought to be baptized by you" rashly. Therefore he knew him. If he knew him, why then is it that he said, "I knew him not. But he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He upon whom you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining upon him as a dove, he it is who baptizes with the Holy Spirit'"?
(3) What are we to say? That we do not know when the dove came? That they may not perhaps hide in that, let the other evangelists be read who said it more plainly, and we find most clearly that the dove descended then when the Lord ascended from the water.^^ For upon him who had been baptized the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit descending. If he recognized him [only] when he was already baptized, how does he say to him when he is coming to baptism, "I ought to be baptized* by you"?
(4) In the meantime mull over it among yourselves; confer with each other about it; discuss it among yourselves. May the Lord, our God, grant that, before you hear it from me, he may reveal it to some one of you first. Nevertheless, brothers, you should know this, that through the solution of this question, the sect of Donatus, if they should have a sense of decency, will have nothing at all to say about the grace of baptism, wherein they befog the inexperienced and stretch nets for flying birds. Their mouths will be completely shut.
42. Ibid. 43. Cf. Mt 3.16; Mk 1.10; Lk 3.21 — 22.