If any one be baptized when he is ill, forasmuch as his [profession of] faith was not voluntary, but of necessity [i.e. fear of death] he cannot be promoted to the presbyterate, unless on account of his subsequent [display of] zeal and faith, and because of a lack of men.
The person was sick so that death was feared, spurring the baptism. Lest this be equated to a last rite, remember that catechumens sometimes waited three years to be baptized in order to make their faith plain to all. Once baptized, they were considered true believers with all the rights, responsibilities, and repercussions. This outward act was and is a demarcating line of faith properly understood and practiced. Upon recovery that man was considered unfit to be an elder by virtue of his prior immaturity. His baptism would not have suddenly made him able to rightly divide the word of God. If however his ensuing life demonstrated the character and growth needed, he might be considered as an elder if there was a lack of suitable men. This concession stemmed from an acknowledgment that what training in sound doctrine he had would likely be put to proper use.
The person was sick so that death was feared, spurring the baptism. Lest this be equated to a last rite, remember that catechumens sometimes waited three years to be baptized in order to make their faith plain to all. Once baptized, they were considered true believers with all the rights, responsibilities, and repercussions. This outward act was and is a demarcating line of faith properly understood and practiced. Upon recovery that man was considered unfit to be an elder by virtue of his prior immaturity. His baptism would not have suddenly made him able to rightly divide the word of God. If however his ensuing life demonstrated the character and growth needed, he might be considered as an elder if there was a lack of suitable men. This concession stemmed from an acknowledgment that what training in sound doctrine he had would likely be put to proper use.
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