Very clearly, all this presupposes "piety" and "righteousness" and "virtue" in candidates before their "Baptism." The "washing" was "not in order to the putting away of some sins." For John the Baptizer supposed "that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand" — and, indeed, purified by "righteousness" (whether imputed or inherent). Thus Josephus. A stronger discounting of any theory of baptismal regenerationism, is scarcely imaginable.
2. Early-patristic literature denies baptismal regenerationism
