Fulgentius of Ruspe on Baptism

St. Fulgentius of Ruspe had so completely assimilated the teachings of St. Augustine that he was known to the Middle Ages as Augustinus breviatus. He was referred to by Bossuet in his Défense de la Tradition et des saints Pères as un grand docteur and dubbed le plus grand théologien et le plus saint évêque de son temps. This judgment has been accepted by modern authors also. But in spite of this recognition, studies upon the doctrinal content of his work are disappointingly few. Indeed, Fulbert Cayré felt compelled to complain against the frequently repeated view that the center of Fulgentius' theology was concerned with grace and predestination. As a matter of fact, the central point of Fulgentius' system revolved rather about the problems of the Holy Trinity and of Christology, whereas the subjects of grace and predestination were for him merely the consequence and the application of those primary points. Be that as it may, the sacramental system of Fulgentius has been greatly neglected. The present study aims to make a slight contribution concerning his doctrine on Baptism.