Chapter 44.—From the Epistles to the Corinthians.

Likewise to the Corinthians he says: “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.”149    1 Cor. xv. 3. Again, in his Second Epistle to these Corinthians: “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if One died for all, then all died: and for all did Christ die, that they which live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore, henceforth know we no man after the flesh; yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet from henceforth know we Him so no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given unto us the ministry of reconciliation. To what effect? That God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and putting on us the ministry of reconciliation. Now then are we ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, to be reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.150    2 Cor. v. 14–21. We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For He saith, I have heard thee in an acceptable time, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”151    2 Cor. vi. 1, 2. Now, if infants are not embraced within this reconciliation and salvation, who wants them for the baptism of Christ? But if they are embraced, then are they reckoned as among the dead for whom He died; nor can they be possibly reconciled and saved by Him, unless He remit and impute not unto them their sins.

44. Item ad Corinthios: Tradidi enim vobis in primis, inquit, quod et accepi, quia Christus mortuus est pro peccatis nostris secundum Scripturas (I Cor. XV, 3). Item ad eosdem Corinthios in secunda: Charitas enim Christi compellit nos; judicantes hoc, quoniam si unus pro omnibus mortuus est, ergo omnes mortui sunt. Et pro omnibus mortuus est Christus, ut qui vivunt, jam non sibi vivant, sed ei qui pro ipsis mortuus est et resurrexit. Itaque nos amodo neminem novimus secundum carnem: et si noveramus secundum carnem Christum, sed nunc jam non novimus. Si qua igitur in Christo nova creatura, vetera transierunt, ecce facta sunt omnia nova. Omnia autem ex Deo, qui reconciliavit nos sibi per Christum, et dedit nobis ministerium reconciliationis. Quemadmodum? Quia Deus 0135 erat in Christo mundum reconcilians sibi, non reputans illis delicta eorum, et ponens in nobis verbum reconciliationis. Pro Christo ergo legatione fungimur, tanquam Deo exhortante per nos: obsecramus pro Christo reconciliari Deo. Eum qui non noverat peccatum, pro nobis peccatum fecit, ut nos simus justitia Dei in ipso. Cooperantes autem et rogamus, ne in vacuum gratiam Dei suscipiatis. Dicit enim: Tempore acceptabili exaudivi te, et in die salutis adjuvi te. Ecce nunc tempus acceptabile, ecce nunc dies salutis (II Cor. V, 14-VI, 2). Ad hanc reconciliationem et salutem si non pertinent parvuli, quis eos quaerit ad Baptismum Christi? Si autem pertinent, inter homines mortuos sunt , pro quibus ille mortuus est; nec ab eo reconciliari et salvari possunt, nisi dimissa non reputet delicta eorum.