50. Cf. Phil 1.15-18. 51. Cf. 1 Jn 3.15.
TRACTATE 5 127 servant is preferred to him, but the baptism of the Lord, even when given through an evil servant, is preferred to the baptism even of a servant who was a friend. Hear what sort of men the Apostle Paul tells us [are] false brothers preaching the word of God in envy. And what does he say about them?
"In this I rejoice, yes, and I shall rejoice.'"*" For they were proclaiming Christ, out of envy, it is true, but still Christ. Look not at why, but at whom [they proclaim].
(2) Is Christ preached to you out of envy? Look at Christ; shun the envy. Do not imitate the wicked preacher, but imitate the good one who is preached to you. Christ, as 1 was saying, was being preached by some out of envy. And what is it, to envy? A terrible evil. By this same evil the devil was cast down; that very malignant pestilence cast him down. And certain preachers of Christ had it; and yet the Apostle allows them to preach. Why? Because they were preaching Christ.
(3) But he who envies hates; and he who hates, what is said of him? Hear the Apostle John: "He who hates his brother is a murderer."^' Look, baptism was administered after John; after a murderer baptism was not administered. For John gave his own baptism; the murderer gave Christ's baptism. And this sacrament is so holy that it cannot even be polluted when a murderer administers it.
20. 1 do not reject John, but rather I believe John. Why do I believe John? Because he learned through the dove. What did he learn through the dove? "He it is who baptizes with the Holy Spirit." Now therefore, brothers, hold fast to this, fix it in your hearts. For if I wanted to tell you today more fully why through the dove, there is not enough time. For I explained to you, my holy people — at least so I think — that a matter which he had to learn was imparted to John by the dove, [a matter] concerning Christ which John did not know even though he already knew Christ.
(2) But why this matter needed to be shown through a dove, I should say if I could say it more briefly. But because that discussion needs much time and I do not wish to burden you.
50. Cf. Phil 1.15-18. 51. Cf. 1 Jn 3.15.
128 ST. AUGUSTINE since I have been helped by your prayers to fulfill that which I promised, if once again I have the aid of your devout attention and good prayers, that, too, will be clear to you why John should not have learned except through the dove what he learned concerning the Lord, namely that "He it is who baptizes in the Holy Spirit," and that he bequeathed the power of baptizing to no one of his servants.