Book of Questions of Mar Shem’on Kepha on the divine Mysteries[ syr. 11(1702), Borg. sir. 88, Mingana syr. 604 (1933)]Separate headings from the Book of Questions of Mar Shem’on Kepha on the divine Mysteries, that is, theconsecrated Leaven and holy Baptism.What is the origin of the baptism by which true Christians are baptised today, in accordance with what MarTheodorus, the interpreter of the holy Scriptures, wrote informing us on these matters in the book entitled “Ofthe Depths”, and Mar Ephrem testifies for us in the Book of the Cave of Treasures, and Mar John the golden-mouthed, who rendered ineffective all manner of blasphemies and divisions that the devil caused to spring upagainst the revered Economy of our Lord Jesus Christ; and he requested of our Lord, and He resurrected MartMaryam and the blessed John the Evangelist, (thus) confirming those whose hearts and minds were in doubt.And as the blessed John the Evangelist testifies to us in his Gospel, that he, John, was the foundation of thesedivine Mysteries, (namely) of the consecrated Leaven and of holy Baptism: these life-giving Mysteries of theBody and Blood of Christ, and of his living Baptism that brings forgiveness of sins.Because there was a great dispute among the brethren of the Church concerning these awesome Mysteries,since the symbol and type of Baptism had been depicted in the Old Testament in various manners, such as theFountain of Shiloah (Jn 9:7), as the Evangelist John said, where an angel from time to time used to descend tothe (baptismal) pool (Jn 5:4), and he confirmed what was written in the Gospel. Now it is know that everythingin the Old (Testament) found fulfilment in Christ, according to the testimony of the true prophets, but we, mylord, seek illumination on the question, seeing that some people from the members of the Church say thatbaptism comes from our Lord’s circumcision, and others, from the (burial) spices, and others again, from ourLord’s swaddling clothes. There are also tho...