The Presbyters Project

Letter 93

47. [...] Si autem hoc dementissimum est uel sentire uel dicere, iam tuae prudentiae est considerare, quare post Iohannem Paulus apostolus baptizauerit. Si enim post aequalem, omnes post uos baptizare debetis; si post maiorem, debes et tu post Rogatum; si post minorem, debuit post te Rogatus, cum presbyter baptizasses. Si autem baptismus, qui nunc datur, ideo pariter ualet in eis, quibus datur, quamuis sint inparis meriti, per quos datur, quia Christi est, non eorum, a quibus ministratur, puto [...].

(ed. Goldbacher 1898: 489)

Letter 93

47. [...] But if it is absolutely insane either to think or to say this, Your Wisdom must consider why the apostle Paul baptized after John. For, if he baptized after an equal, you ought all to baptize after one another. If he baptized after someone greater, you also ought to baptize after Rogatus. If he baptized after someone less great, Rogatus ought to have baptized after you since you baptized as a presbyter. But if, though those by whom it is conferred are unequal in merit, the baptism that is now conferred has equal validity in those upon whom it is conferred, because it is the baptism of Christ, not of those who are its ministers [...].

(trans. R. Teske, slightly modified)

Discussion:

Rogatus was the head of the break-away Donatist group. He was succeeded by Vincentius.

Place of event:

Region

Latin North Africa

City

Cartenna

About the source:

Author: Augustine of Hippo
Title: Letters, Epistulae
Origin: Hippo Regius (Latin North Africa)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The letters of Augustine of Hippo cover a wide range of topics: Holy Scripture, dogma and liturgy, philosophy, religious practice and everyday life. They range from full-scale theological treatises to small notes asking someone for a favour. The preserved corpus includes 308 letters, 252 written by Augustine, 49 that others sent to him and seven exchanged between third parties. 29 letters have been discovered only in the 20th century and edited in 1981 by Johannes Divjak; they are distinguished by the asterisk (*) after their number.

The preserved letters of Augustine extend over the period from his stay at Cassiciacum in 386 to his death in Hippo in 430.

Edition:

Edition:

A. Goldbacher ed., S. Augustini Hipponiensis Episcopi Epistulae, Pars 2, Ep. 31-123, Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum 34/2, Prague-Vienna-Leipzig 1898.

Translation:

Saint Augustine, Letters 1-99, trans. R. Teske, New York 2001.

Categories:

Religious grouping (other than Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian) - Donatist

PR464.

Further ecclesiastical career - Bishop

PR464.

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

PR464.

Ritual activity - Baptism and instructing catechumens

PR464.

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

PR464.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: S. Adamiak, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER717, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=717