Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Read Chapter 6
Cyprian of Carthage
AD 258
Nor will heretics refuse to be baptized among us with the lawful and true baptism of the Church, when they shall have learnt from us that they also were baptized by Paul, who already had been baptized with the baptism of John.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and indignation, and clamour, and blasphemy, be taken away from you."
It is then a fitting time for us also to say now to you, Wherefore leaving the beginning of the doctrine of Christ, let us go unto perfection.
What is the beginning of the doctrine? He goes on to state it himself, saying, not laying again (these are his words) the foundation of repentance from dead works, and faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands, of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
But if this be the Beginning, what else is our doctrine save to repent from dead works, and through the Spirit to receive the faith, in the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment? But what is the Beginning? The Beginning, he says, is nothing else than this, when there is not a strict life. For as it is necessary to instruct one who is entering on the study of grammar, in the Elements first, so also must the Christian know these things accurately, and have no doubt concerning them. And should he again have need of teaching, he has not yet ...
