Eternal goings-forth; baptize in Spirit; leper; demons; harvest Lord

How, then, is the one born in Bethlehem of Judea said to have goings forth from the beginning of the age — that is, the beginning of existence — though he was born in the last times of the age? So Christ is God, and what is most ancient of the Word of God would befit him. For he was God, and for our sake endured a fleshly birth from a woman.

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who comes after me is stronger than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor.” We deny that baptizing in the Holy Spirit is a work of mere humanity; nor do we say the intelligible threshing floor — that is, those on the earth — belongs to a mere human. All things are God’s, and to him alone it befits to be able to baptize believers in the Holy Spirit. Yet Christ, who comes after John according to the flesh, has done this; and he also clears his own floor. So he is true God.

“And behold, a leper came and worshiped him, saying: Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. And stretching out his hand he touched him, saying: I will; be clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” To be able to work in a way proper to God is not a human property; it would follow rather the nature beyond all things alone. Working thus, Christ is not a bare human as we are, but rather God in human form. So also understand the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, and when he is seen rebuking winds and sea.

“And the demons begged him, saying: If you cast us out, send us into the herd of pigs. And he said to them: Go.” Whose work is it to provide for all things and save them, if not the one who is God by nature alone? See what providence over beings Christ exercised: unclean demons were not even allowed authority over a herd of pigs.

“Then he says to his disciples: The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. And calling his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits.”