Faith & the Word

Bellarmine · De Controversiis · On the Church That Is in Purgatory · Book I: On Purgatory

Chapter 6: Purgatory is proved from the New Testament: 1 Corinthians 15, baptized for the dead

Our translation, from the Latin of the Opera Omnia (Paris: Vivès, 1870–74), vol. II, De Ecclesia quae est in Purgatorio, Book I, the third general controversy. The Latin source text is public domain; this English rendering is released with the site. Scripture quotations follow Bellarmine's Vulgate citations, rendered in Douay-Rheims wording where he quotes exactly. Click “Show the Latin” for the original (raw OCR of the scan; scanning errors remain — the scan itself is the authority).

The third place is 1 Corinthians 15: “Otherwise what shall they do that are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not again at all? why are they then baptized for them?” This place plainly proves what we wish, if it is well understood; therefore we shall briefly weigh it. I find six expositions of this place.

The first is that the Apostle proves the resurrection to come from the error of certain persons who received baptism in the name of some friend of theirs who had died without baptism; for they thought that as the prayers and fasts of the living profit the dead, so baptism also would profit them. So expound Tertullian, book 5 against Marcion and the book on the resurrection, Ambrose, Anselm and Haymo; according to which exposition prayer for the dead is gathered from this place, because these Fathers teach that the Apostle, although he does not approve the error of these people, yet approves the intention they had of helping the dead, and argues from it; if, then, the Apostle approves the intention of helping the dead, surely it cannot and ought not to be disapproved by any Christian. Yet I do not think this exposition true. First, because the Apostle ought at least to have hinted that this was an error, so as not to give occasion for erring. Second, because the Apostle would not be arguing solidly; for it could be answered that the resurrection is not well proved from the fact that certain people in error so believe. For as they err in baptizing one for another, so they can err in believing the resurrection to come. Third, because none of the ancient historians reports that this error existed in the time of the apostles; for Philaster attributes this error to the Montanists, who arose a hundred years after the death of Saint Paul; Chrysostom and Theophylact, in the places above, attribute the same to the Marcionites, who also began eighty years after the death of Paul; finally Epiphanius, heresy 28, attributes it to the Cerinthians, whose sect arose twenty years after the death of Paul. Add that Chrysostom and Epiphanius attribute this error not to Marcion and Cerinthus themselves, but to their posterity, and rightly. For otherwise how would Irenaeus and Tertullian not have refuted this error, who most diligently refuted all the errors of Cerinthus and Marcion? Tertullian does indeed say that this error was of the time of the apostles, but he has this from nowhere but this place, and so ought to be counted with Epiphanius and Theophylact, who interpret it as they think best.

The second exposition is that the Apostle understands sins by the name of the dead, when he says, who are baptized for the dead, as if he said: what shall they do who are baptized for the dead, that is, for sins to be washed away? So Sedulius and blessed Thomas on this place, the second time. But on the contrary: first, because the Apostle adds, if the dead rise not again at all, why are they then baptized for them? namely for dead men, who do not rise; and so he clearly teaches that he is treating not of sins but of men. For he does not wish to prove that sins rise, but that men rise. Second, because the whole force of the argument perishes if it is said, what shall they do who are baptized for sins to be washed away, if the dead do not rise? For it could be answered that it profits much to wash away sins even if the dead do not rise, because it is good in this life to enjoy the testimony of a good conscience. Third, because sins are not called dead except when they have been blotted out and extinguished; therefore Paul does not understand by the name of the dead sins which are still to be blotted out.

The third exposition is that to be baptized for the dead is to be baptized simply with the baptism of Christ, but that those who receive baptism are said to be baptized for the dead because before they are baptized they recite the Creed, in which is that one article, the resurrection of the flesh; so that, for the dead, signifies for the hope of the resurrection, or for dead bodies, that is, to this end, that our bodies which are to die may one day rise immortal. So Chrysostom, Oecumenius and Theophylact; but it is certainly a hard and forced exposition. First, because the Apostle would not say, what shall they do who are baptized for the dead, but, what shall we do who are baptized for the dead? For not some, but all are so baptized. But the Apostle speaks of some only, as is plain both from the form of the words and from what follows, why also are we in danger every hour? Second, because it is unheard of that by the name of the dead should be understood the hope of resurrection, or dead bodies, since in Greek it is nekroi, in the masculine gender, and bodies are of the neuter gender, somata. Third, because if we were said to be baptized for the dead because we recite the article on the resurrection of the dead, we could also be said to be baptized for God the Father, and for Christ, and for the Holy Spirit, and for the Church, because we recite all these in the Creed. Fourth, because the Apostle seems altogether to understand by the name of the dead dead men, and nothing else; for when he says, if the dead rise not again, why are they then baptized for them? what can we understand by the word, them, except those dead who do not rise?

The fourth exposition is that to be baptized for the dead is to be baptized with the baptism of Christ; but that baptism is said to be for the dead because while we are baptized we act and represent the person of one dead, while we are plunged in the water, and of one rising, while we rise from the waters; and so we profess the resurrection, and from this profession the Apostle proves the resurrection to come. So expound Theodoret and Cajetan. But on the contrary: first, because neither in Hebrew, nor in Greek, nor in Latin does to act for someone signify to represent him, but to act in his place, or for his benefit. Who ever said of an actor in the theatre playing the part of Davus or Pamphilus, he acted for Davus, or for Pamphilus? Second, because those who are baptized represent the death of Christ and at the same time their own death, as is plain from the Apostle, Romans 6: All we who are baptized in Christ Jesus are baptized in his death; for we are buried together with him by baptism, and so on. And so to be baptized for the dead would be to be baptized for oneself and for Christ, which is most absurd. Nor is it ever found in the Scriptures, to be baptized for Christ, but only to be baptized in Christ, or in his name, as is plain in Romans 6, Galatians 3, Acts 10 and 19. Third, because the Apostle's argument would be nothing; for from the fact that he who is baptized acts the person of one dead it does not follow that he professes the resurrection. The Apostle ought then to have said: what shall they do who are baptized for the raised, or for the dead and raised? But even if he had said this, his argument would still be light, because it could be answered that in baptism is represented a resurrection not of the flesh from death, but of the soul from sin. For that is what the Apostle signifies in Romans 6: that we may walk in newness of life; and Colossians 3: If you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above.

The fifth exposition is that of Epiphanius, heresy 28, which Peter Martyr brings forward, that Paul speaks of the baptism of those who were baptized in bed when they were at the point of death, who were formerly called clinics, and whom Cyprian wittily sets against the peripatetics, book 4, epistle 7, to Magnus, since the clinics, namely, do not walk about, but stick fastened to the bed; for kline signifies a bed. Some, then, wish this to be the Apostle's sense: what shall they do who are baptized for the dead, that is, who are baptized when they are held rather for dead than for living, and when it is certain that they are not baptized for any advantage of this life, since they are held for dead. This exposition is refuted, first, from those words, why are they then baptized for them? for he ought to have said, why are they baptized for themselves, not, for them. Second, because that phrase, for one dead, cannot be said except in those actions which are done about the dead. For example, we rightly say, he fell from a high place and was taken up for dead, or was washed and buried for dead, even if he was alive. But it is not rightly said, he walked, or ate, or spoke, for dead. But to be baptized belongs to the living, not to the dead; therefore it is not rightly said that someone is baptized for dead, even if he is at the point of death, but rather it ought to be said that he is baptized for living, even if he is almost dead.

The sixth exposition, then, is the true and genuine one, that the Apostle speaks of the baptism of tears and penance, which is received by praying, fasting, giving alms, and so on; and the sense is: what shall they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise; that is, what shall they do who pray, fast, groan, afflict themselves for the dead, if the dead do not rise? So expound Ephrem in his testament, Peter of Cluny in the book against the Petrobrusians, Denis, Hugh, Gagnaeus and others on this place. This exposition is most true. First, because to be baptized is everywhere in Scripture and the Fathers taken for to be afflicted, as Mark 10: Can you drink of the chalice that I drink of: or be baptized with the baptism wherewith I am baptized? Luke 12: I have a baptism wherewith I am to be baptized. The Fathers everywhere call the affliction of penance a laborious baptism and a second plank. Cyprian in the sermon on the Lord's supper: “He baptizes himself,” he says, “with tears.” And in the preface of the book on the exhortation to martyrdom he frequently calls dying for Christ a baptism; and Gregory Nazianzen in the oration on the Epiphany: “I know,” he says, “a fourth baptism, which is by martyrdom and blood; I know also a fifth, of tears and penance.” Second, because the very punishment of purgatory is called by Scripture and the Fathers a baptism; for what we read in Matthew 3, He shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire, blessed Jerome expounds, in the Holy Ghost, in this life, but in fire, in the next; as before him blessed Basil had expounded in the book on the Holy Spirit, chapter 15, and after them Bede on chapter 3 of Luke. Likewise Gregory Nazianzen at the end of the oration on the Epiphany calls the fire of purgatory in the other life the last baptism. And so the Apostle most elegantly said that those are baptized for the dead who, afflicting themselves with prayer and fasting, take upon themselves a part of that fiery baptism with which souls are baptized in purgatory. Third, because this exposition squares best with what follows: Why also are we in danger every hour? as if he said: why do some afflict themselves praying for the dead, and I afflict myself preaching the gospel, if there is no resurrection of the dead? Fourth, because this sentence is the same as that of 2 Maccabees 12: if the dead do not rise, it is superfluous and vain to pray for the dead.

But against this exposition two arguments are objected. The first is that the Apostle ought not to have said, what shall they do who are baptized for the dead, but, what shall we do who are baptized for the dead; for all Christians pray for the dead. I answer that the Apostle wished to argue not from the custom of Christians, which as new could have been rejected by unbelievers, but from the custom of the Jews, who by ancient practice, and according to the examples of the Scriptures, prayed and fasted for the dead; as if he said: what shall they do who, imitating the ancient Fathers, fast and pray and afflict themselves for the dead, if the dead do not rise? The second argument is that the resurrection of the dead does not seem to be well proved from the fact that prayer is made for the dead, because prayer is made not that they may rise, but that they may be freed from those punishments and pass to rest. I answer that the question of the resurrection and of the immortality of souls were so joined in the time of the apostles that they were held as one, as we showed above when we expounded the testimony from the books of Maccabees. Whether, then, we follow this exposition, which seems to us most true, or the first, which is better than the other three, prayer for the dead is plainly gathered.

Show the Latin (Vives edition, OCR)
CAPIIT  VI. 
Tcrtius  ioeiis  csl ,  1.  C.or.  1").  Quid  facionl  qni 
haplizantiir  pro  niortiiis  ,  si  inorlui  non  rcsur- 
yunl?  ui  (luid  biiplizonhir  pro  iUis:^  llic  locus  a- 
porlo  convineil ,  (luoii  vohiiuus  ,  si  beno  iiileilij;!»- 
lur .  idco  bn^vilor  ciiiu  cxpeiuliiiuus.  Scx  iiiveiiio 
liujus  loci  CNposilioucs. 
i'rima  csl,(pii)ii  aposlolus  probct  futnrnin  rcsur- 
rcclioiicm,  c\  crrorc  (pioruiuliim  ,  qui  biiplismuni 
suscipicbanl  nomiiic  iiliiMijns  amici  sui  (icruncli 
sino  baplismo:  cxislimabiint  ciiiiu,  (piod  sicul  orii- 
tioncs  cl  jcjuuia  vivoruin  prosunl  dcrunctis.  ila  cl 
baptismns  prodcssol.lla  cxpoiuinl  Tcrlulliiuiiis  lib. 
5.  in  Marcioucu),et  libro  dc  rcsurrcctione,.\mbro- 
sius,  Anseliuns  et  Haymo;  secundum  quaru  expo- 
silioncmcoUijjilur  oralio  pro  dcfunclis  cx  lioc  loco, 
quia  doccnl  isli  Palrcs  ,  (piod  iipo.slolus,  iiccl  non 
probel  errorcm  islorum.lamcn  probat  inlenlionem, 
quam  babcbanl  juvandi  defnnclos  ,  el  cx  ea  argu- 
mcnlalur :  si  igitur  aposlolus  probat  inlenlionera 
juvaiuii  morluos  .  ccrlc  rcprobari  non  potcst.  nec 
dcbel  ab  ullo  Olirisliauo  :  laiiieu  non  puto  veram 
haiic  cxposilionem. 
Priino.quia  aposlolus  debuissel  sallem  iusinua- 
re  bunc  esse  errorcm,  ne  darel  occasionem  erran- 
di.  Seciindo,  quia  non  solide  argumenlarelur  apo- 
slolus;  posset  enira  responderi,  non  bcne  probaii 
resurrectionein  cx  eo.quod  ila  credanl  quidam  er- 
rantes.  Sieul  enira  errant  in  eo,  quod  baplizanl  u- 
num  pro  alio.  sic  possunl  errare  in  eo  ,  quod  cre- 
dunl  luluraiu  resurreclionem.  Terlio  ,  quia  nulius 
veteruin  bistoricorum  tradil  hunc  errorein  tempo- 
re  aposlolorura  fuisse;lribuit  enim  Pbylasler  hunc 
errorein  Monlanislis  qni  100.  annis  post  obilura  s. 
Pauli  exorli  sunl ,  eandem  tribuunl  Chrysoslomus 
el  Theophylactus.ubi  supra,Marcionistis,qui  eliam 
posl  obilum  Pauh  80.  annis  inceperunl ;  denique 
Epiphanius  haeresi  28.  boc  tribuil  Cherinlbianis, 
quorum  sexta  20.annis  post  obilura  Pauli  orla  est. 
Adde  quod  Clirysoslomns  el  Epiphanius,  non  ipsi 
Marcioni  et  Clicrinlbo,  sed  postcrilali  corum  hunc 
errorera  Iribuunl  el  merilo.  Alioqui  enim  quomo- 
do  Irenueus  et  Tcrlullianus  hunc  errorcm  non  re- 
fulassenl,  qui  diligenlissime  refularunl  omnes  er- 
BtLi.Auni.M.  Voi.  11. 
rorcs  Cjicriiitiii  iM  .M.irciunis.  Dicit  ((uidrm  Tcrlul 
li.imiH.iiiiiic  rrrorcm  ruiiH»  (oinpnrii  nposlcdoruin, 
.scd  luui  liiibct  nisi  liiiic  Ii.upic  liii^rilo  (!l>  '  >■ 
IIIIIS    ll    Kpl|l||.||lll|H     l'l     1  llC   Ipllvl.K  lllS    .    Il  I  ,     I 
Hilioiit  III  iit  rihiiiii  ri'jii:iuol. 
.MttM.i  cNpiisilUi  rst  ,  (piod  iipicittdili  iKillliIin 
iiiiirliioiiiiii  inlclli^.il  pcrc;ilii.  riiiii  ilicil,  ipii  b.ipli- 
-/.iinliir  pKi  inortiiii,  (pt.isl  dical:  (jiiid  fji  ii!i|(  .  ipii 
bii|ili/..iiitiir  pro  iiii)rtuis,idcsl,  pro  piMTiiiJH  diiiicn- 
dis?  ila  S.'diiliii ;  ,  c(  b.  ilioiiiaH  iii  iiiiiic  iociim  ii 
postoii. 
A(  coiilni;  Priino.ipiia  nposlolus  subdil:  Sl  mor 
liii  uon  rcHiiriiunt:  iit  iinid  haptizanlur  pro  dli»? 
iiiiniruin  luiiniiiilius  iiioiluis,  ipii  iioii  rcsiir(;iiiil  ;\ 
iiiupic  cl.irn  ilocel,  sc  non  (i(;  pecciiiis,  .scd  dc  lio- 
miiiibiis  ii;;(M'c.  Ntin  (Miiiii  vuK  probarc.  (piod  pi.T- 
Ciitii  riisiir^jiint.  simI  (piod  hoiiiiiics  rcsiirKant.  Se- 
ciiiido.  ipiia  to(a  vis  ar^iimitnti  [uMit ,  si  dicalur  . 
(piid  fiici(M>l  qiii  iiapti-^iintiir  pro  peccati.sdiliurndiii 
si  morlui  nou  rcsur^Minl?  Possct  ciiiiii  rcspondcri, 
ninllnm  |)roilcssc,  iIiIu(M'c  ptMM-aia  ,  (;(iiiiiisi  mordii 
nou  i'esurgau(.quia  lioiium  ost  iiiiiac  vilafrui  tcsd- 
luonio  boiiiu^  coiiscieiitiiic.Teriio.ipiia  fu*ccata  non 
dicuntur  mortiia,  uisi  (piaiidosniit  dtdct.i  ot  cxtiii- 
cla,  iion  crno  P.iiilus  noinine  morliioruiii  inlelligit 
pcccala,  (piii,^  adliuc  dtdenda  snnt. 
Tcrtia  cxpositio  csl,  biipti/.ari  [irn  mortnis,  csse, 
ba|)li/,ari  sinqiiicitcr  iiaplisino  Cbrisli  ,  sed  ideo 
dici  ba|)li/.ari  |)ro  moriuis  ,  qui  ba[)tismum  susci- 
[)iunt,  (iiiia  iiutci|Uiiin  i);i|)ti7.cnlur ,  rcciliinl  sym- 
boliim,  iii  (juo  esl  uiuis  iirticuliis,  Carnis  rcsurrc- 
ctioneni,  ila  illud,  pro  morluis,  signilicet  pro  spe 
resurrcclionis,  vcl  [^ro  corporibus  mortuis  ,  idnst, 
in  eum  Iiiumii,  ul  c()r|)ora  noslrn  (|uac  mnrilura 
sunl,  aliquiindo  immorlidia  rcsur^'anl.  Ita  Cliryso- 
slomiis,  Occumcnius  et  Thcopbylactus  ,  sed  certc 
dura  ct  violcnla  exposilio  e.sl. 
Primo:  Ouia  non  dicerct  nposlolus:  Quid  facient 
quihaplizanturpro  morluis,  sed  quid  faciraos 
qui  bapllzamur  [iro  mortuis?  Xon  enim  quidam  , 
sed  omncs  sicbiipli7.iinlur..\poslolus  autcm  de  qui- 
busdnm  tanlum  io(iuitur,  ul  pnlel  tum  ex  forma 
verborum,  lum  ex  eo  quod  sequitur.ut  quid  ct  nos 
periclilanuir  tota  dio?  Secundo  :  Quia  inaudilum 
est,  nl  nomine  morluorum  inlelligatur  spes  resur- 
recliouis  ,  vel  corpora  mortua,  cum  in  gracco  sil 
vsxpol.  in  gonore  masculino,  el  corpora  sintgenc- 
ris  neulri  oiopLata.  Tertio:  Quia  si  ideo  diceremur 
baplizari  pro  morluis.  quia  recitamus  articulum  de 
inortuorum  resnrreclione  ,  eliam  possemus  dici 
bnplizari  pro  Dco  Pnlre,  et  pro  Chrislo,  et  pro  Spi- 
rilu  sancto,  et  pro  Ecclesia.  quia  haec  omnia  reci- 
tamus  in  symbolo.  Quarlo:  Quia  aposlolus  videtur 
omnino  nomine  mortuorum,  homines  morluos  in- 
telligere,  el  nihil  aliud,  cura  enim  ait  :  Si  mortui 
non  resurfiunt,  ut  quid  haptizantur  pro  illis  ? 
quid  possumus  inlelligere  per  vocem  ,  illis  ,  nisi 
illis  morluis,  qui  non  resurgunt? 
Quarln  exposilio  est,  baptizari  pro  mortuis  esse 
baplizari  bnplismo  Chrisli;  dici  aulem  baptismnm 
pro  morluis.  quin  dum  baplizamur,  agiraus  e(  re- 
praesenlamus  personam  morlui,  dum  mergimur  in 
aquam;  et  resurgenlis,  dum  surgimus  ab  aquis,  et 
sic  proruemur  resurreclionem,  el  ex  hac  profes- 
:m 
DE  PIIRGVTORIO      - 
sione  •aposfolus  probal  fuUiram  resurrectionem.Ila 
exponunl  Theodorelus  el  Oajetanus. 
Al  contra:  Primo:  Quia  neque  liebrnice  ,  noquc 
graece,  neque  latine,  agere  pro  aliquo,  significal 
eura  repraesenlare.  sed  agere  ioco  ejus,  vel  in  e- 
jus  utilitalem.  Quis  unquam  dixil  de  agenle  in 
Iheatro  personam  Davi,  aul  Pampiiili,  ilie  egil  pro 
Davo,  aut  pro  Pamphilo  ? 
Secundo:  Quia  qui  baplizanlur ,  repraesentant 
morlem  Christi,  el  simul  morteui  suam,ut  palet  e.\ 
apostolo,  Uom.  6.  Qaotquot  haplizali  su7nus  iti 
Christo  Jesu.  in  morte  ipsius  baptizati  swnus  , 
consepulti  cnim  sumus  cum  illo  per  baptismum 
etc.  Ilaque  baptizari  pro  mortuis,  erit  bapiizari  pro 
se  et  pro  Christo  ,  quod  absurdissimum  est.  Nec 
in  Scripturis  unquam  reperilur  baplizari  pro  Cliri- 
sto,  sed  sohim  baplizari  in  Christo  ,  vel  in  eius 
nomine  ,  utpalet  Roman.  6.  Gal.  3.  Acl.  10.  et  19, 
Terlio:Quia  argumentum  apostoli  nullum  esset; 
nam  ex  eo  quod  qui  baplizatur  ,  agit  personam 
mortui,  non  sequitur  quod  profilealur  resurrectio- 
nem.  Debuissel  ergo  a[)ostolus  dicere:Quid  facienl 
qui  baplizanlur  pro  suscitalis,  vel  pro  mortuis  et 
suscitatis?  sed  etiamsi  boc  dixisset ,  adhuc  leve 
esset  argumentum  ejus.  quia  posset  responderi , 
in  bapli.smo  repraesenlari  resurrectionem  .  non 
carnis  a  morte  ,  sed  animae  a  peccalo.  Id  enim 
apostolus  significat  Rom.  G.  Vtin  novitate  ritae 
ambulemus.  El  Coloss.  3.  Si  consurrexistis  cum 
Chrislo,  quae  sursum  sunt  quaerite. 
Quinla  expositio  esl  Epiphanii,haeresi  28.quam 
adlerl  Pelrus  Marlyr,  quod  Paulus  loquatur  de  ba- 
plismo  eorum,  qui  baplizabanlur  in  lecto,  cum  es- 
sent  in  exlremis,  qui  olim  dicebantur  clinici,  et 
quos  Cyprianus  festive  opponit  peripateticis  lib.4. 
epist.  7.  ad  Jlagnum,  quod  nimirum  clinici  non 
ambulent,  sed  haereant  leclo  afllxi;  xXivyj  enim  le- 
clum  significal.  Volunt  ergo  quidam  hunc  esse  a- 
posloli  sensum:  Quid  facient  qui  baplizantur  pro 
mortuis.  idest,  qui  baptizantur  quando  habenlur 
magis  pro  mortuis,  quam  viveniibus,  el  quando 
certum  est  eos  non  baplizari  pro  ullo  commodo 
hujus  vilae,  cum  pro  morluis  habeantur. 
Haec  expositio  refelhtur.  Primo,  ex  illis  vcrbis, 
ut  quid  baptizanlur  pro  illis?  nara  dicere  debuis- 
sel,  ut  quid  baptizantur  pro  se,  non  pro  illis;  Se- 
cundo,  quia  illud.  pro  morluo  ,  non  potest  dici, 
nisi  in  iis  actionibus  quae  fiunt  circa  morluos.Ver- 
bi  gratia,  recte  dicimus,  ille  cecidit  ex  loco  edito; 
et  pro  mortuo  sublalus  fuit,  vcl  pro  mortuo  lolus 
sepuliusque  fuit,  eliamsi  viverel.  At  non  recle  di- 
citur,  ille  ambulabat  ,  vol  comedebat,  vel  loque- 
balur  pro  mortuo.  Atbaptizari  est  vivorum  non 
mortuorum;  non  ergo  recle  dicilur  baplizari  ali- 
quem  pro  morluo.  eliamsi  agal  in  extremis  ,  sed 
potius  debereldici  baptizari  pro  vivo,  ctiamsi  fere 
sil  morluus. 
Est  igilur  sexta  oxpositio  vera  et  germana.quod 
apostolus  loquaiur  de  baplismo  lachrymarum  et 
pocnilentiae  ,  qui  suscipilur  orando  ,  jejunando  , 
eleemosynas  faciendo  etc.  El  sensus  sit:  Quid  fa- 
cient  qni  baptizantur  pro  moriuis.si  mortui  non 
resurgent,  idest,  quid  facient  qui  orant ,  jcjunant, 
gemunt ,  alTligunl  se  pro  mortuis ,  si  mortui  non 
resurgunl?  ita  cxponunt  Ephrem  in  suo  le.stamen- 
to,  Petrus  Cluniacensis  in  hb.  contra  Pelrobrusia- 
nos  ,  Dionysius  ,  Hugo  ,  Gagnejus  ,  el  alii  in  hunc 
locum, 
Haec  expositio  verissima  est.  Primo,quia  bapti- 
zari  passim  in  Scriplura  et  Patribus  accipitur  pro 
affligi.  ut  Marc.  10.  Poteslis  hibere  calicem  quem 
pgo  hihilurus  sum,,  et  baptismo  quo  ego  baptizor 
baptizari  ?Luc.  12.  Baptismo  habeo  haptizari. 
Patrcs  passira  vocanl  poenitentiae  afilictionem  ba- 
plismum  laboriosum  ,  el  secundam  labulam.  Cy- 
prianus  in  sermone  de  coena  Domini:iacft,ri/rms, 
inquit,  se  baptizal.  Et  in  prooemio  lib.  de  exhor- 
talione  martyrii ,  mori  pro  Chrislo  ,  frequenler  vo- 
cal  baptisma;et  Gregorms  nazianzenus  oralione  de 
Fpiphania:  Scio,  inquit,  quartum  baptisma,quod 
per  martyrium  et  sanguinem  fit ,  scio  et  quin- 
tum,  lachrymarum  etpoenitentiae. 
Secundo:  Quia  ipsa  poena  purgatorii  a  Scriptu- 
ra  cl  Patribus  vocatur  baptisma.nam  quod  legimus 
Matlh.  3.  Ipse  vos  baptizabit  in  Spiritu  sancto  et 
igni.  B.  Hieronymus  exponil  in  Spiritu  sancto  ,  in 
hac  vitn,  igne  vero,  in  fulura  ;  sicut  ante  eum  ex- 
posuerat  b.  Basihus  lib.  de  Spirilu  sanclo,  cap.15. 
et  post  eos  Beda  in  cap.  3.  Lucae.  Item  Gregorius 
nazianzenus  in  fine  orationis  de  Epiphania  .  vocat 
ignem  purgatorii  in  alia  vita,ullimumbaptisma,  I- 
taque  elegantissime  aposlolus  dixit,  eos  baptizari 
pro  morluis,  qui  allligentes  se  oratione  et  jejunio, 
sumunt  in  sc  partem  illius  baplismi  ignei  ,  quo  a- 
nimae  baptizantur  in  purgatorio. 
Tertio:Quia  haec  exposilio  maximequadrat  cum 
sequentibus:  Vt  quid  et  nos  pericUtamur  tota  die? 
quasi  dicat;  Cur  quidam  se  affligunl  orando  pro 
mortuis,el  ego  affligo  me  praedicando  evangeliura 
si  mortuorum  resurrectio  non  esl? 
Quarto:  Quia  ista  senlenlia  eadem  est  cum  illa  ; 
2.  Machab.  12. si  mortui  non  resurgunt,superfluum 
cst  et  vanum  orare  pro  morluis. 
At  conlra  hancexposilionem  duoargumenta  ob- 
jiciuniur.  Primum  est,  quia  non  debuisset  apo- 
stolus  dicere.quid  facientqui  baptizanturpro  mor- 
luis,  sed  quid  faciemus  qui  baplizaraur  pro  mor- 
tuis:  nam  omnes  Chrisliani  oranl  pro  morluis.  Re- 
spondeo:  Apostolus  argumcntari  voluil  non  a  con- 
suetudine  Christianorum,quae  lamquam  nova  reji- 
ci  poluisset  ab  incredulis,  sed  a  consuetudine  Ju- 
daeorum,  qui  more  veleri ,  et  secundum  Scriplu- 
rarum  exempla  orabant  et  jejunabanl  pro  morluis, 
quasi  dicat:Quid  facienl  illi  qui  irnilantesantiquos 
Palres  jejunant  el  orant.  ac  se  affligunt  pro  mor- 
luis,  si  mortui  non  resurgunt? 
Secundum  argumentum  est  :  Quia  non  videtur 
bene  probari  mortuorum  resurrectio,  ex  eo,  quod 
oratur  pro  mortuis,  quia  oratur  non  utresurgant  , 
sed  ut  a  poenis  illis  liberenlur  ,  atquc  ad  requiem 
transeant.  Rcspondeo:  Quaeslioncm  de  resurre- 
clione  elde  iminorlalilate  animorum  ita  fiiisse  con- 
junctas  tempore  aposlolorum,  ut  pro  una  haberen- 
tur,  ut  supra  ostendimus,  cum  teslimonium  ex  li- 
bris  Machabaeorum  exponeremus.Sive  igilur  hane 
expositionem  sequamur,  quae  nobis  verissima  vi- 
delur,  sive  primam,  quae  melior  esl  caeteris  Iri- 
bus,  aperle  colligitur  oralio  pro  defunclis. 
.tUl.h  fMiMI  S 
W 
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