Chapter 39

1Anyone who desires to be baptized must be taught the word of instruction, brought to understand the knowledge of God the Father, and instructed concerning the incarnation of the only-begotten Son and the good pleasure of the Holy Spirit. They must also tell him that God created the world and humanity upon it; how God brought judgment upon the wicked through the waters of the flood and destroyed sinners with fire; and how he magnified the saints in every generation.

2These are Seth, Enosh, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, all those descended from them, Melchizedek, Job, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Phinehas the priest, and all the righteous according to their generations. He must also be taught how God pitied and chose humanity and did not reject them, but continually called them and turned them from error and vanity to true knowledge. He brought them out from the service of the adversary, made them an army to keep his commandments, saved them from deadly error, and led them to life.

3The one who desires to be baptized must understand all this, and then he may receive baptism. Let the one who lays hands upon him worship God the Father, the maker of all things, who sent us his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save humanity from the defilement of flesh and soul, to sanctify them according to the good pleasure of his goodness, to lead them in the way, and to enlighten the eyes of their hearts. Thus they may understand his wondrous works, learn his righteousness, keep far from wickedness, and walk in the way of uprightness, so that they may be worthy to be baptized as children of Christ, in a hope full of grace and truth.

4Let them gain understanding, wisdom, and knowledge, and receive the works of righteousness so that they may enter into life. After the thanksgiving, let them be taught about the incarnation of the Lord, his sufferings, his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension into heaven. Let the catechumen who desires to be baptized be taught to renounce Satan, believe in Christ, forsake his former habits, and purify his heart from every evil, revenge, impurity, and deceit. Then let them receive the holy mysteries.

5As a wise man clears his field of thorns and thistles and sows wheat in it, so you likewise must be separated from every impurity and must cleanse your hearts from evil, so that you may be worthy to receive holy baptism. For our Lord taught us in this way, saying, “Baptize all nations into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

6Again, let them command the one being baptized to say: “I renounce you, Satan, and all your works, all your evil, all your service, all your angels, all your arts, and all your might.”

7After the renunciation, you shall confess and say: “I believe in Christ. I believe in the one true and unbegotten God, the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Almighty and Creator of all things, by whom all things exist. I am baptized into his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who was begotten before the world existed by the will of the Father, and through whom all things were made, those in heaven and those on earth, both visible and invisible. In the latter days he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Virgin Mary, and was born in purity. He fulfilled the will of his Father, was crucified for us in the days of Pontius Pilate, died, remained in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven in glory, and sat at the right hand of the Father. He shall come again on the last day to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom shall have no end.

8“I am also baptized into the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father, was [strong] through the Son, and dwelt in the holy patriarchs. He was afterward sent upon the apostles from the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ; and after the apostles, he was sent and given to the faithful in Jesus Christ. I am baptized into the apostolic Church for the remission of sins, for the kingdom of heaven, and for the life to come forever.”

9After he has made this confession, let him draw near to be anointed with the holy oil that the priests have consecrated for the remission of sins. Let the priest pray and make supplication to God, saying: “May God the unbegotten Father, the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the King of kings, sanctify and purify this oil in the name of his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. May it be a spiritual grace and power for the remission of sins, and a [pledge] for this baptism through the anointing with this holy oil, so that the one who comes to it may be worthy to keep your commandments.”