(NOTE: The electronic text obtained from The Electronic Bible Society was
not completely corrected. EWTN has corrected all discovered errors.)
THE SECOND EPISTLE OF CLEMENT(1)
[Reprinted from the translation given in the 1st vol. Of the Ante-Nicene
Fathers. Completed and revised from a manuscript discovered after the
publication of that volume by
Rev. John Keith, B.D.]
CHAP. I.--WE OUGHT TO THINK HIGHLY OF CHRIST.
BRETHREN, it is fitting that you should think of Jesus Christ as of
God,--as the Judge of the living and the dead. And it does not become us to
think lightly of our salvation; for if we think little of Him, we shall
also hope but to obtain little [from Him]. And those of us who hear
carelessly of these things, as if they were of small importance, commit
sin, not knowing whence we have been called, and by whom, and to what
place, and how much Jesus Christ submitted to suffer for our sakes. What
return, then, shall we make to Him, or what fruit that shall be worthy of
that which tie has given to us? For, indeed, how great are the benefits(2)
which we owe to Him! He has graciously given us light; as a Father, He has
called us sons; He has saved us when we were ready to perish. What praise,
then, shall we give to Him, or what return shall we make for the things
which we have received?(3) We were deficient(4) in understanding,
worshipping stones and wood, and gold, and silver, and brass, the works of
men's hands;(5) and our whole life was nothing else than death. Involved in
blindness, and with such darkness(6) before our eyes, we have received
sight, and through His will have laid aside that cloud by which we were
enveloped. For He had compassion on us, and mercifully saved us, observing
the many errors in which we were entangled, as well as the destruction to
which we were exposed,(7) and that we had no hope of salvation except it
came to us from Him. For He called us when we were not,(8) and willed that
out of nothing we should attain a real existence.(9)
CHAP. II.--THE CHURCH, FORMERLY BARREN, IS NOW FRUITFUL.
"Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that
travailest not; for she that is desolate hath many more children than she
that hath an husband."(10) In that He said, "Rejoice, thou barren that
bearest not," He referred to us, for our church was barren before that
children were given to her. But when He said, "Cry out, thou that
travailest not," He means this, that we should sincerely offer up our
prayers to God, and should not, like women m travail, show signs of
weakness.(11) And in that He said, "For she that is desolate hath many more
children than she that hath an husband," [He means] that our people seemed
to be outcast from God, but now, through believing, have become more
numerous than those who are reckoned to possess God.(12) And another
Scripture saith, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."(13) This
means that those who are perishing must be saved. For it is indeed a great
and admirable thing to establish not the things which are standing, but
those that are falling. Thus also did Christ(14) desire to save the things
which were perishing,(15) and has saved many by coming and calling us when
hastening to destruction.(16)
CHAP. III.--THE DUTY OF CONFESSING
CHRIST.
Since, then, He has displayed so great mercy towards us, and especially
in this respect, that we who are living should not offer sacrifices to gods
that are dead, or pay them worship,(17) but should attain through Him to
the knowledge of the true Father,(1) whereby shall we show that we do
indeed know Him,(2) but by not denying Him through whom this knowledge has
been attained? For He himself declares, "Whosoever shall confess me before
men, him will I confess before my Father."(3) This, then, is our reward if
we shall confess Him by whom we have been saved. But in what way shall we
confess Him? By doing what He says, and not transgressing His commandments,
and by honouring Him not with our lips only, but with all our heart and all
our mind.(4) For He says in Isaiah, "This people honoureth me with their
lips, but their heart is far from
me."(5)
CHAP. IV.--TRUE CONFESSION OF CHRIST.
Let us, then, not only call Him Lord, for that will not save us. For He
saith, "Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall be saved, but he
that worketh righteousness."(6) Wherefore, brethren, let us confess Him by
our works, by loving one another, by not committing adultery, or speaking
evil of one another, or cherishing envy; but by being continent,
compassionate, and good. We ought also to sympathize with one another, and
not be avaricious. By such works let us confess Him,(7) and not by those
that are of an opposite kind. And it is not fitting that we should fear
men, but rather God. For this reason, if we should do such [wicked] things,
the Lord hath said, "Even though ye were gathered together to(8) me in my
very bosom, yet if ye were not to keep my commandments, I would cast you
off, and say unto you, Depart from me; I know you not whence ye are, ye
workers of iniquity."(9)
CHAP. V.--THIS WORLD SHOULD BE DESPISED.
Wherefore, brethren, leaving [willingly] our sojourn in this present
world, let us do the will of Him that called us, and not fear to depart out
of this world. For the Lord saith, "Ye shall be as lambs in the midst of
''wolves."(10) And Peter answered and said unto Him,(11) "What, then, if
the wolves shall tear in pieces the lambs?" Jesus said unto Peter, "The
lambs have no cause after they are dead to fear(12) the wolves; and in like
manner, fear not ye them that kill you, and can do nothing more unto you;
but fear Him who, after you are dead, has power over both soul and body to
cast them into hell-fire."(13) And consider,(14) brethren, that the
sojourning in the flesh in this world is but brief and transient, but the
promise of Christ is great and wonderful, even the rest of the kingdom to
come, and of life everlasting.(15) By what course of conduct, then, shall
we attain these things, but by leading a holy and righteous life, and by
deeming these worldly things as not belonging to us, and not fixing our
desires upon them? For if we desire to possess them, we fall away from the
path of righteousness.
CHAP. VI.--THE PRESENT AND FUTURE WORLDS ARE ENEMIES TO EACH OTHER.
Now the Lord declares, "No servant can serve two masters."(16) If we
desire, then, to serve both God and mammon, it will be unprofitable for us.
"For what will it profit if a man gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul?"(17) This world and the next are two enemies. The one urges(18) to
adultery and corruption, avarice and deceit; the other bids farewell to
these things. We cannot, therefore, be the friends of both; and it behoves
us, by renouncing the one, to make sure(19) of the other. Let us reckon(20)
that it is better to hate the things present, since they are trifling, and
transient, and corruptible; and to love those [which are to come,] as being
good and incorruptible. For if we do the will of Christ, we shall find
rest; otherwise, nothing shall deliver us from eternal punishment, if we
disobey His commandments. For thus also saith the Scripture in Ezekiel, "If
Noah, Job, and Daniel should rise up, they should not deliver their
children in captivity."(21) Now, if men so eminently righteous are not able
by their righteousness to deliver their children, how(22) can we hope to
enter into the royal residence(23) of God unless we keep our baptism holy
and undefiled? Or who shall be our advocate, unless we be found possessed
of works of holiness and righteousness?
CHAP. VII.--WE MUST STRIVE IN ORDER TO BE CROWNED.
Wherefore, then, my brethren, let us struggle with all earnestness,
knowing that the contest is [in our case] close at hand, and that many
undertake long voyages to strive for a corruptible reward;(1) yet all are
not crowned, but those only that have laboured hard and striven gloriously.
Let us therefore so strive, that we may all be crowned. Let us run the
straight(2) course, even the race that is incorruptible; and let us m great
numbers set out(3) for it, and strive that we may be crowned. And should we
not all be able to obtain the crown, let us at least come near to it. We
must remember(4) that he who strives in the corruptible contest, if he be
found acting unfairly,(5) is taken away and scourged, and cast forth from
the lists. What then think ye? If one does anything unseemly in the
incorruptible contest, what shall he have to bear? For of those who do not
preserve the seal(6) [unbroken], [the Scripture] saith, "Their worm shall
not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be a
spectacle to all flesh."(7)
CHAP. VIII.--THE NECESSITY OF REPENTANCE WHILE WE ARE ON EARTH.
As long, therefore, as we are upon earth, let us practise repentance,
for we are as clay in the hand of the artificer. For as the potter, if he
make a vessel, and it be distorted or broken in his hands, fashions it over
again; but if he have before this cast it into the furnace of fire, can no
longer find any help for it: so let us also, while we are in this world,
repent with our whole heart of the evil deeds we have done in the flesh,
that we may be saved by the Lord, while we have yet an opportunity of
repentance. For after we have gone out of the world, no further power of
confessing or repenting will there belong to us. Wherefore, brethren, by
doing the will of the Father, and keeping the flesh holy, and observing the
commandments of the Lord, we shall obtain eternal life. For the Lord saith
in the Gospel, "If ye have not kept that which was small, who will commit
to you the great? For I say unto you, that he that is faithful in that
which is least, is faithful also in much."(8) This, then, is what He means:
"Keep the flesh holy and the seal undefiled, that(9) ye may receive eternal
life."(10)
CHAP. IX.--WE SHALL RE JUDGED IN THE FLESH.
And let no one of you say that this very flesh shall not be judged, nor
rise again. Consider ye in what [state] ye were saved, in what ye received
sight,(11) if not while ye were in this flesh. We must therefore preserve
the flesh as the temple of God. For as ye were called in the flesh, ye
shall also come [to be judged] in the flesh. As Christ(12) the Lord who
saved us, though He was first a Spirit(13) became flesh, and thus called
us, so shall we also receive the reward in this flesh. Let us therefore
love one another, that we may all attain to the kingdom of God. While we
have an opportunity of being healed, let us yield ourselves to God that
healeth us, and give to Him a recompense. Of what sort? Repentance out of a
sincere heart; for He knows all things beforehand, and is acquainted with
what is in our hearts. Let us therefore give Him praise, not with the mouth
only, but also with the heart, that tie may accept us as sons. For the Lord
has said, "Those are my brethren who do the will of my Father."(14)
CHAP. X.--VICE IS TO BE FORSAKEN, AND VIRTUE FOLLOWED.
Wherefore, my brethren, let us do the will of the Father who called us,
that we may live; and let us earnestly(15) follow after virtue, but forsake
every wicked tendency(16) which would lead us into transgression; and flee
from ungodliness, lest evils overtake us. For if we are diligent in doing
good, peace will follow us. On this account, such men cannot find it [i.e.
peace] as are(17) influenced by human terrors, and prefer rather present
enjoyment(1) to the promise which shall afterwards be fulfilled. For they
know not what torment present enjoyment recurs, or what felicity is
involved in the future promise. And if, indeed, they themselves only aid
such things, it would be [the more] tolerable; but now they persist in
imbuing innocent souls with their pernicious doctrines, not knowing that
they shall receive a double condemnation, both they and those that hear
them.
CHAP. XI.--WE OUGHT TO SERVE GOD, TRUSTING IN HIS PROMISES.
Let us therefore serve God with a pure heart, and we shall be
righteous; but if we do not serve Him, because we believe not the promise
of God, we shall be miserable. For the prophetic word also declares,
"Wretched are those of a double mind, and who doubt in their heart, who
say, All these things(2) have we heard even in the times of our fathers;
but though we have waited day by day, we have seen none of them
[accomplished]. Ye fools! compare yourselves to a tree; take, for instance,
the vine. First of all it sheds its leaves, then the bud appears; after
that the sour grape, and then the fully-ripened fruit. So, likewise, my
people have borne disturbances and afflictions, but afterwards shall they
receive their good things."(3) Wherefore, my brethren, let us not be of a
double mind, but let us hope and endure, that we also may obtain the
reward. For He is faithful who has promised that He will bestow on every
one a reward according to his works. If, therefore, we shall do
righteousness in the sight of God, we shall enter into His kingdom, and
shall receive the promises, which "ear hath not heard, nor eye seen,
neither have entered into the heart of man."(4)
CHAP. XII.--WE ARE CONSTANTLY TO LOOK FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Let us expect, therefore, hour by hour, the kingdom of God in love and
righteousness, since we know not the day of the appearing of God. For the
Lord Himself, being asked by one when His kingdom would come, replied,
"When two shall be one, that which is without as that which is within, and
the male with the female, neither male nor female."(5) Now, two are one
when we speak the truth one to another, and there is unfeignedly one soul
in two bodies. And "that which is without as" that which is within meaneth
this: He calls the soul "that which is within," and the body "that which is
without." As, then, thy body is visible to sight, so also let thy soul be
manifest by good works. And "the male, with the female, neither male nor
female, this(6) He saith, that brother seeing sister may have no thought
concerning her as female, and that she may have no thought concerning him
as male. "If ye do these things, saith He, "the kingdom of my Father shall
come."(7)
CHAP. XIII.--GOD'S NAME NOT TO BE BLASPHEMED.
Brethren, then, let us now at length repent, let us soberly turn to
that which is good; for we are full of abundant folly and wickedness. Let
us wipe out from us our former sins, and repenting from the heart be saved;
and let us not be men-pleasers, nor be willing to please one another only,
but also the men without, for righteousness sake, that the name may not be,
because of us, blasphemed. For the Lord saith, "Continually my name is
blasphemed among all nations," and "Wherefore my name is blasphemed;
blasphemed in what? In your not doing the things which I wish."(8) For the
nations, hearing from our mouth the oracles of God, marvel at their
excellence and worth; thereafter learning that our deeds are not worthy of
the words which we speak,--receiving this occasion they turn to blasphemy,
saying that they are a fable and a delusion. For, whenever they hear from
us that God saith, "No thank have ye, if ye love them which love you, but
ye have thank, if ye love your enemies and them which hate you "(9)--
whenever they hear these words, they marvel at the surpassing measure of
their goodness; but when they see, that not only do we not love those who
hate, but that we love not even those who love, they laugh us to scorn, and
the name is blasphemed.
CHAP. XIV.--THE CHURCH SPIRITUAL.
So, then, brethren, if we do the will of our Father God, we shall be
members of the first church, the spiritual,--that which was created before
sun and moon; but if we shall not do the will of the Lord, we shall come
under the Scripture which saith, "My house became a den of robbers."(10)
So, then, let us elect to belong to the church of life,(1) that we may be
saved. I think not that ye are ignorant that the living church is the body
of Christ(for the Scripture, saith, "God created man male and female;"(2)
the male is Christ, the female the church,) and that the Books(3) and the
Apostles teach that the church is not of the present, but from the
beginning. For it was spiritual, as was also our Jesus, and was made
manifest at the end of the days in order to save us.(4) The church being
spiritual, was made manifest in the flesh of Christ, signifying to us that
if any one of us shall preserve it in the flesh and corrupt it not, he
shall receive it in the Holy Spirit. For this flesh is the type of the
spirit; no one, therefore, having corrupted the type, will receive
afterwards the antitype. Therefore is it, then, that He saith, brethren,
"Preserve ye the flesh, that ye may become partakers of the spirit." If we
say that the flesh is the church and the spirit Christ, then it follows
that he who shall offer outrage to the flesh is guilty of outrage on the
church. Such an one, therefore, will not partake of the spirit, which is
Christ. Such is the life and immortality, which this flesh may afterwards
receive, the Holy Spirit cleaving to it; and no one can either express or
utter what things the Lord hath prepared for His elect.(5)
CHAP. XV.--HE WHO SAVES AND HE WHOIS SAVED.
I think not that I counted trivial counsel concerning continence;
following it, a man will not repent thereof, but will save both himself and
me who counselled.(6) For it is no small reward to turn back a wandering
and perishing soul for its salvation.(7) For this recompense we are able to
render to the God who created us, if he who speaks and hears best speak and
hear with faith and love. Let us, therefore, continue in that course in
which we, righteous and holy, believed, that with confidence we may ask God
who saith, "Whilst thou art still speaking, I will say, Here I am."(8) For
these words are a token of a great promise, for the Lord saith that He is
more ready to give than he who asks. So great, then, being the goodness of
which we are partakers, let us not grudge one another the attainment of so
great blessings. For in proportion to the pleasure with which these words
are fraught to those who shall follow them, in that proportion is the
condemnation with which they are fraught to those who shall refuse to hear.
CHAP. XVI--PREPARATION FOR THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.
So, then, brethren, having received no small occasion to repent, while
we have opportunity, let us turn to God who called us, while yet we have
One to receive us. For if we renounce these indulgences and conquer the
soul by not fulfilling its wicked desires, we shall be partakers of the
mercy of Jesus. Know ye that the day(9) of judgment draweth nigh like a
burning oven, and certain of the heavens and all the earth will melt, like
lead melting in fire; and then will appear the hidden and manifest deeds of
men. Good, then, is alms as repentance from sin; better is fasting than
prayer, and alms than both; "charity covereth a multitude of sins,"(10) and
prayer out of a good conscience delivereth from death. Blessed is every one
that shall be found complete in these; for alms lightens the burden of sin.
CHAP. XVII.--SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
Let us, then, repent with our whole heart, that no one of us may perish
amiss. For if we have commands and engage in withdrawing from idols and
instructing others, how much more ought a soul already knowing God not to
perish. Rendering, therefore, mutual help, let us raise the weak also in
that which is good, that all of us may be saved and convert one another and
admonish. And not only now let us seem to believe and give heed, when we
are admonished by the elders;(11) but also when we take our departure home,
let us remember the commandments of the Lord, and not be allured back by
worldly lusts, but let us often and often draw near and try to make
progress in the Lord's commands, that we all having the same mind may be
gathered together for life. For the Lord said, "I come to gather all
nations [kindreds] and tongues."(12) This means the day of His appearing,
when He will come and redeem us--each one according to his works. And the
unbelievers will see His glory and might, and, when they see the empire of
the world in Jesus, they will be surprise, saying, "Woe to us, because Thou
wast, and we knew not and believed not and obeyed not the elders(13) who
show us plainly of our salvation." And "their worm shall not die, neither
shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be a spectacle unto all
flesh."(1) It is of the great day of judgment He speaks, when they shall
see those among us who were guilty of ungodliness and erred in their
estimate of the commands of Jesus Christ. The righteous, having succeeded
both in enduring the trials and hating the indulgences of the soul,
whenever they witness how those who have swerved and denied Jesus by words
or deeds are punished with grievous torments in fire unquenchable, will
give glory to their God and say, "There will be hope for him who has served
God with his whole heart."
CHAP. XVIII.--THE AUTHOR SINFUL, YET PURSUING.
And let us, then, be of the number of those who give thanks, who have
served God, and not of the ungodly who are judged. For I myself, though a
sinner every whir and not yet fleeing temptation but continuing in the
midst of the tools of the devil, study to follow after righteousness, that
I may make, be it only some, approach to it, fearing the judgment to come.
CHAP. XIX.--REWARD OF THE RIGHTEOUS, ALTHOUGH THEY MAY SUFFER.
So then, brothers and sisters,(2) after the God of truth(3) I address
to you an appeal that ye may give heed to the words written,(4) that ye may
save both yourselves and him who reads an address in your midst. For as a
reward I ask of you repentance with the whole heart, while ye bestow upon
yourselves salvation and life. For by so doing we shall set a mark for all
the young who wish to be diligent in godliness and the goodness of God. And
let not us, in our folly, feel displeasure and indignation, whenever any
one admonishes us and turns us from unrighteousness to righteousness. For
there are some wicked deeds which we commit, and know it not, because of
the double-mindedness and unbelief present in our breasts, and our
understanding is darkened by vain desires. Let us, therefore, work
righteousness, that we may be saved to the end. Blessed are they who obey
these commandments, even if for a brief space they suffer in this world,
and they will gather the imperishable fruit of the resurrection. Let not
the godly man, therefore, grieve; if for the present he suffer affliction,
blessed is the time that awaits him there; rising up to life again with the
fathers he will rejoice for ever without a grief.
CHAP. XX.--GODLINESS, NOT GAIN, THE TRUE RICHES.
But let it not even trouble your mind, that we see the unrighteous
possessed of riches and the servants of God straitened. Let us, therefore,
brothers and sisters, believe; in a trial of the living God we strive and
are exercised in the present life, that we may obtain the crown in that
which is to come. No one of the righteous received fruit speedily, but
waiteth for it. For if God tendered the reward of the righteous in a trice,
straightway were it commerce that we practised, and not godliness. For it
were as if we were righteous by following after not godliness but gain; and
for this reason the divine judgment baffled(5) the spirit that is
unrighteous and heavily weighed the fetter.
To the only God, invisible, Father of truth, who sent forth to us the
Saviour and Author of immortality, through whom He also manifested to us
the truth and the heavenly life, to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Taken from "The Early Church Fathers and Other Works" originally published
by Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co. in English in Edinburgh, Scotland, beginning in
1867. (ANF 9, Menzies). The digital version is by The Electronic Bible
Society, P.O. Box 701356, Dallas, TX 75370, 214-407-WORD.
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