cifiying the Son of God for themselves afresh" of a second Baptism, as the means of their restoration: it is impossible for them to renew themselves by repeating their Baptism, "since this would be crucifying for themselves the Son of God afresh[1]:" (and this corresponds better with the original than our present version, "seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh," inasmuch as the Apostle changes the tense, "it is impossible having fallen away (παραπεσόντας) to renew them again, crucifying (i.e. by crucifying ἀνασταυροῦντας)." "For," Chrysostom proceeds, "Baptism is the cross: for 'our old man was crucified with Him,' Rom. vi. 6., and again, 'we were conformed to the likeness of His death,' (v. 5.), and again, 'we have been buried with Him by Baptism into death' (v. 4.) As then Christ cannot be crucified again, (for this were to put Him to an open shame,) so cannot a person be baptized again. He then who baptizeth himself a second time, crucifies Him again—for as Christ died on the cross, so we in Baptism, not in the body, but to sin—by Baptism our old man was buried, and our new man arose, which was conformed to the likeness of His death. If then we must be baptized again. He must die again. For Baptism is nothing else than the destroying of that self that is buried, and raising that other. And he well says, 'crucifying again for themselves,' for he who does this, forgetful of the former benefit, and living carelessly, acts throughout as if there were another Baptism. And what means 'having tasted the heavenly gift'? it is the 'forgiveness of sins.' For this grace belongeth to God only to impart; and this grace is once only grace—he shews that here (in Baptism) there are many gifts: hear, that you may understand: God has vouchsafed to thee, he saith, so great a remission; to thee who sattest in darkness, an enemy, opposer, alienated, hater of God, lost—thou, being such an one, wert suddenly enlightened; the Spirit, the heavenly gift, adoption, the kingdom of Heaven, all other blessings, and mysteries unutterable, were vouchsafed to thee; and if, after this, thou art not the better—and
- ↑ Ambrose l.c. "In Baptism we crucify in us the Son of God."
