The Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13–17)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 12 (on Matthew 3:13–17) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110.iii.XII.html

On the Lord's word to the Baptist, "thus it becometh," rather than "thus it is just":

And mark how He urges him on that very ground which chiefly caused him to look doubtfully on what was taking place; in that He did not say, "thus it is just," but "thus it becometh."

On why the heavens were opened at the baptism:

Wherefore were the heavens opened? To inform thee that at thy baptism also this is done, God calling thee to thy country on high, and persuading thee to have nothing to do with earth.

On why the Spirit appeared in the fashion of a dove:

But why in the fashion of a dove? Gentle is that creature, and pure. Forasmuch then as the Spirit too is "a Spirit of meekness," He therefore appears in this sort. And besides, He is reminding us of an ancient history.

On the dove of Noah, now the herald of a greater deliverance:

Therefore the dove also appears, not bearing an olive branch, but pointing out to us our Deliverer from all evils, and suggesting the gracious hopes.

St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, Sermon 11 (on Luke 3:21–22) Source: trans. R. Payne Smith, Library of Fathers, 1859. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_luke_01_sermons_01_11.htm

On the sinless One numbered among sinners, fulfilling all righteousness for our sake:

Behold Him, therefore, as a man, enduring with us the things that belong to man's estate, and fulfilling all righteousness, for the plan of salvation's sake.

On Christ beginning the work Himself, and praying after His baptism:

In order therefore that we may learn both the power itself of holy baptism, and how much we gain by approaching so great a grace, He commences the work Himself; and, having been baptized, prays that you, my beloved, may learn that never-ceasing prayer is a thing most fitting for those who have once been counted worthy of holy baptism.

On the Spirit descending upon Christ first, as at a second beginning of our race:

And the Spirit also again came down as at a second commencement of our race: and upon Christ first, Who received it not so much for His own sake as for ours: for by Him and in Him are we enriched with all things.

St. Gregory Nazianzen (c. 329–390)

Oration 39, On the Holy Lights (on Matthew 3:16–17) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 7. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf207.iii.xxii.html

On Jesus going up from the water and opening the heaven that Adam had shut:

But further—Jesus goeth up out of the water ... for with Himself He carries up the world ... and sees the heaven opened which Adam had shut against himself and all his posterity, as the gates of Paradise by the flaming sword.

On the Spirit bearing witness to His Godhead, and the dove that of old proclaimed the end of the flood:

And the Spirit bears witness to His Godhead, for he descends upon One that is like Him, as does the Voice from Heaven (for He to Whom the witness is borne came from thence), and like a Dove, for He honours the Body (for this also was God, through its union with God) by being seen in a bodily form; and moreover, the Dove has from distant ages been wont to proclaim the end of the Deluge.

Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

Tractates on the Gospel of John and On the Trinity (on Matthew 3:13–17) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.iii.html

On the Lord baptized by His servant (Tractate 5 on John):

He deigned to be baptized of John that the servants might see with what readiness they ought to run to the baptism of the Lord, when He did not refuse to be baptized of His servant.

On the dove, a visible appearance created for the moment (On the Trinity, Book II):

It is easy to understand how the Holy Ghost should be said to be sent, when as it were a dove in visible shape descended on the Lord; that is, there was created a certain appearance for the time in which the Holy Spirit might be visibly shewn.

On the Father's voice, "in whom I am well pleased" (Tractate 14 on John):

The Father loves the Son, but as a father should, not as a master may love a servant; and that as an own Son, not an adopted; therefore He adds, "in whom I am well-pleased."

St. Jerome (c. 347–420)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 3:13–17) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.iii.html

On the word "now," and the baptism John must yet receive from Christ:

Beautifully said is that "now," to shew that as Christ was baptized with water by John, so John must be baptized by Christ with the Spirit.

On the mystery of the Trinity shown in the Jordan:

The mystery of the Trinity is shewn in this baptism. the Lord is baptized; the Spirit descends in the shape of a dove; the voice of the Father is heard giving testimony to the Son.

On the dove resting upon the head of Jesus:

It sat on the head of Jesus, that none might suppose the voice of the Father spoken to John, and not to the Lord.

St. Hilary of Poitiers (c. 310–367)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 3:13–17) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.iii.html

On John forbidding Him as God, and being taught to baptize Him as man:

John reject Him from baptism as God; He teaches him, that it ought to be performed on Him as man.

On the water, the Spirit, and the Father's voice given also to us:

Or, that from these things thus fulfilled upon Christ, we might learn that after the washing of water the Holy Spirit also descends on us from the heavenly gates, on us also is shed an unction of heavenly glory, and an adoption to be the sons of God, pronounced by the Father's voice.