Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series I/Volume IV/Donatist Controversy/On Baptism/Book VI/Chapter 13

by Philip Schaff et al.

Chapter 13.—20.  Januarius of Lambæse^[1] said:  "Following the authority of the holy Scriptures, I pronounce that all heretics should be baptized, and so admitted into the holy Church."^[2]

21.  To him we answer, that, following the authority of the holy Scriptures, a universal Council of the whole world decreed that the baptism of Christ was not to be disavowed even when found among heretics.  But if he had brought forward any proof from the Scriptures, we should have shown either that they were not against us, or even that they were for us, as we proceed to do with him who follows.

Footnotes

1. Lambæse (Lambese) was one of the chief cities in southern Numidia.  This Januarius is not unlikely identical with the first of that name in Cypr. Ep. lxvii., and with the one of Epp. lxii. and lxx.  For an opponent of Cyprian in Lambese, see Cypr. Epp. xxxvi. and lix.
2. Conc. Carth. sec. 6.