Teaching, Baptism And Good Works

Euntes ergo docete omnes gentes, baptizantes eos in nomine Patis, et Filii et Spiritus sancti, docentes eos servare omnia quaecunque mandavi vobis. Rectissimus autem ordo praedicandi, et modernis quoque praedicatoribus Ecclesiae diligentissime sectandus, ut primo quidem doceatur auditor, deinde fidei sacramentis imbuatur, deinde ad servanda Dei mandata ex tempore liberius instituatur. Quia non potest fieri ut corpus baptismi recipiat sacramentum, nisi ante anima fidei susceperit veritatem. Cum neque indoctus quisque et ignarus Christianae fidei potest ejusdem sacramentis ablui, neque lavacro baptismi a peccatis emundari sufficit, si non post baptisma studeant quisque bonis operibus insistere. Prius ergo docere gentes, id est, scientia veritatis instituere, ac sic baptizare praecipit. quia, et sine fide impossibile est placere Deo; et nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua et Spiritu sancto, non potest introire in regnum Dei. Ad extremum vero subjungit, Docentes eos servare omnia quaecunque mandavi vobis. Ac ne putemus levia esse quae jussa sunt, et pauca addidit: Omnia quaecunque mandavi vobis, ut quicunque crediderint, qui in Trinitate uerunt baptizati, omnia faciant quae praecepta sunt: quia sicut corpus sine spiritu mortuum est, ita et fides sine operibus mortua est. Quanta autem merces piae conversationis, quale pignuis futurae beatitudinis. Rabanus Maurus, Commentariorum In Matthaeum, Liber VII Source: Migne PL 107.1152d- 1153c

'Go, therefore, and teach all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to keep all that I have commanded you.' 1 Most correctly here is the order of preaching given, which today's preachers of the Church should also diligently follow, that first the hearer should be taught, and then let him be imbued with the sacrament, then from that time he will be better established for the keeping of the commandments of God. Because it is not possible that a body receive the sacrament of baptism unless first the soul has taken up the truth of the faith. When it is not possible that anyone uneducated and ignorant of the Christian faith can be cleansed with that sacrament, nor shall the washing of baptism suffice to cleanse from sin, so after such a baptism no one will not be eager to set about good works. First, then, He commands the teaching of people, that is the imbuing with the knowledge of truth, and then baptism, because 'without faith it is impossible to please God.' 2 and 'Unless someone is reborn in water and the Holy Spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God.' 3 Finally He adds: 'Teaching them to keep all that I have commanded you.' And lest we think these be light things which have been commanded, he adds the few words: 'All that I have commanded you' that whoever believes, who is baptised in the Trinity, should do all that is commanded, because as the body without the spirit is dead, so 'faith without works is dead.' 4 As much as is the wealth of pious living, so is the guarantee of future blessedness. 5 Rabanus Maurus, Commentary On The Gospel of Saint Matthew, Book 7 1 Mt 1.2 2 Heb 11.6 3 Jn 3.5 4 Jam 2.17 5 cf the whole to Bede Hom III In Feria Sexta Inter Octavam Paschae PL 94.146.b-c