Severianus Gabalensis: In theophaniam (6-10)

There is (lit. can be) a prophet, since the prophecy was corrupted from the unworthy, as it is written: a prophet will be put forward by God the Lord from among your brothers, like me. There is an apostle and bishop like it is said: Look at the apostle and bishop of your calling Jesus. There is also a priest, as the hymnographer says: You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. There is also a brother and servant, as the valiant Paul says:

that he might be firstborn among many brothers

for I say, he says, Christ to be servant through circumcision, so as to confirm the promises of the Fathers

Rabbi, You are the Son of God, You are the King of Israel

But maybe someone says from the present standing: for what is to me the people, if with prophecies and apostleship and priestership dressed? What is to me, part of the peoples’ rank? For even more for all men there was a man who loves men. If you want him also as part of the people to see for your sake, judge for yourself and see the wanting to speak. For is it not a matter of confession, the baptizing in the land of the priest, who baptizes in the rank of people? For look at John, who baptized in the rank of priest, and baptized Christ in the rank of people. For today, brothers, today, as we executing the handling (oikonomia) of the waters, we don’t make holy from the water, but give holiness to the waters. And John, executing the habit of the priest, begins, and the Redeemer of the universe being baptized in the water to John, of the baptized in Spirit, the King to the Forerunner, God to the prophet. He? did not understand the worthiness of the handling, the bodily habit didn’t confuse him, he wasn’t tempted by the invisible power of the visible form, which preaches to the ignorant. For he is a holy lamp, a divine lamp, about him it is [said]:

I prepared a lamp to My Christ

And see the divine, brothers. When [he] came to the bodily handling (oikonomia), for the despot has come to us, he was a man for the sake of love of men, and a strange miracle: God in the man, in the slave a despot, the creator with the creations, the sanctifier with the sanctified. Then John preached the worthiness and the terrifying and glorious miracle: lamp receiving the righteous sun. For the Lord who redeems everybody is baptised by a man who needs redemption, not with the daring of supremacy, but in serving the command. For it was then, that two prophetic voices came together: the voice crying in the wilderness, and the voice in the waters. A true preacher praises and the God of glory thunders. And there was the venerable Trinity, lightening its glory. The Father from high preaching the Son, the Son below executing the godly handling, the Spirit sealing the godly sacrament. And there was a voice then witnessing high to the Father of the Only Begotten, like the heavens opened: for Jesus went out of the water, the heavens opened: for [it was] not endured the voice of such witnessing, the terrifying godly handling.

But see the miraculous: this voice opened the heavens, but the heretics were not afraid.

This is my beloved Son, listen to Him

Listen to Him

blessed are the ones keeping the Law of the Lord, blessed in the field, blessed in the city, blessed in the battle

amen

amen

Words and so that no one thinks that the grace is forced, but moreover, witnessing from the very truth , hear the wise Paul, who says:

Our Lord Jesus Christ was not in him yes and now, but all in him was yes. For how many promises of God are in him, they are yes. And itself for amen to the glory of God

when dead in sins and with our uncircumcision in flesh, with Himself he made us alive. He forgave us all sins, cancelled the handwriting.