Tractates on the Gospel of John
126 ST. AUGUSTINE istered after John for this reason, because he did not give
Christ's baptism, but his own; for he had received it in such a way that it was his. Therefore you are not better than John, but the baptism which is given through you is better than John's; for it is Christ's, but the other was John's. And what was given by Paul, and what was given by Peter, is Christ's; and if it was given by Judas, it was Christ's. Judas gave it, and baptism was not administered after Judas. John gave it, and baptism was administered after John. For, if baptism was given by Judas, it was Christ's; but that which was given by John was John's. (3) We do not prefer Judas to John; but we do rightly prefer
Christ's baptism, even when given through Judas' hands, to John's baptism, even when given through John's hands. And indeed, it was said about the Lord before he suffered, that he baptized more persons than John; and then it was added, "Though he himself did not baptize, but his disciples."^'^ He himself, and yet not himself; he himself by power, they by their ministry. They performed a service in baptizing; the power of baptizing remained in Christ. Therefore his disciples were baptizing, and Judas was still there among his disciples. Thus those whom Judas baptized were not baptized again; and those whom John baptized, were they baptized again? Again, certainly, but not by repeating [that] baptism. For those whom John baptized, John baptized; but those whom Judas baptized, Christ baptized.
(4) Likewise, therefore, those whom the drunkard baptized, those whom a murderer baptized, those whom an adulterer baptized, if it was the baptism of Christ, Christ baptized. I fear not the adulterer nor the drunkard nor the murderer, because I give heed to the dove through whom it was said to me, "He it is who baptizes."
19. But it is madness, my brothers, to say that, I do not say only Judas, but any man at all was of superior merit than he of whom it was said, "Among those born of women there has not arisen a greater than John the Baptist."^^ Therefore no
48. Cf. Jn 4. 1 -2. 49. Cf. Mt 11.11.