17. Cf. Mt 3.14 and Tracto/f' 4.14. 18. Ibid.
TRACTATE 5 115 ister, that man who was being baptized would know that he was baptized only by him who kept for himself the power of baptizing.
(2) And may you understand, brothers, that John did not know this in him and learned this through the dove. For he knew the Lord, but did not yet know that he would retain for himself the power of baptizing and would give it to no servant; accordingly, he said then, "I knew him not." And that you may know that he learned this there, pay attention to what follows: "But he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He upon whom you will see the Spirit descending, as a dove, and remaining upon him, he it is.'" What is he? The Lord. But he already knew the Lord. Suppose, then, that John had said only this much, 'T knew him not. But he who sent me to baptize with water said to me." Do we ask what he said? He continues, '"He upon whom you will see the Spirit descending as a dove, and remaining upon him.'" I do not say what follows. Meanwhile, pay attention. "He upon whom you will see the Spirit descending as a dove, and remaining upon him, he it is." But what is he? What did he who sent me intend to teach me through the dove? That he was the Lord? I already knew by whom I had been sent; I already knew him to whom I said, "Do you come to me to be baptized? 1 ought to be baptized by you."'^ To this extent I knew the Lord, that I wanted to be baptized by him, not that he should be baptized by me.
(3) And then he said to me, "Let it be so now. Let all justice be fulfilled."'^ I have come to suffer; do I not come to be baptized? "Let all justice be fulfilled," my God says to me. "Let all justice be fulfilled"; let me teach complete humility. I know there will be proud men among my future people; I know there will be some men in a more excellent state of grace, so that when they see ordinary persons being baptized, these persons, because they seem to themselves better either because of their continence, or almsgiving, or learning, these persons, perhaps, disdain to receive what those inferior men have received. There is need for me to heal them, that they
17. Cf. Mt 3.14 and Tracto/f' 4.14. 18. Ibid.