GlobalChristians

1 Clement

 Translated by J.B. Lightfoot. Adapt. and mod. (c) 1990. ATHENA DATA PRODUCTS

  1Clem 
prologue:1

The Church of God which sojourneth in Rome to the Church of God which

sojourneth in Corinth, to them which are called and sanctified by the

will of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace

from Almighty God through Jesus Christ be multiplied.



1Clem 1:1

   By reason of the sudden and repeated calamities and reverses which

are befalling us, brethren, we consider that we have been somewhat

tardy in giving heed to the matters of dispute that have arisen among

you, dearly beloved, and to the detestable and unholy sedition, so

alien and strange to the elect of God, which a few headstrong and

self-willed persons have kindled to such a pitch of madness that your

name, once revered and renowned and lovely in the sight of all men,

hath been greatly reviled.



1Clem 1:2

For who that had sojourned among you did not approve your most

virtuous and steadfast faith? Who did not admire your sober and

forbearing piety in Christ? Who did not publish abroad your

magnificent disposition of hospitality? Who did not congratulate you

on your perfect and sound knowledge?



1Clem 1:3

For ye did all things without respect of persons, and ye walked after

the ordinances of God, submitting yourselves to your rulers and

rendering to the older men among you the honor which is their due.

On the young too ye enjoined modest and seemly thoughts: and the

women ye charged to perform all their duties in a blameless and

seemly and pure conscience, cherishing their own husbands, as is

meet; and ye taught them to keep in the rule of obedience, and to

manage the affairs of their household in seemliness, with all

discretion.



1Clem 2:1

   And ye were all lowly in mind and free from arrogance, yielding

rather than claiming submission, more glad to give than to

receive, and content with the provisions which God supplieth. And

giving heed unto His words, ye laid them up diligently in your

hearts, and His sufferings were before your eyes.



1Clem 2:2

Thus a profound and rich peace was given to all, and an insatiable

desire of doing good. An abundant outpouring also of the Holy Spirit

fell upon all;



1Clem 2:3

and, being full of holy counsel, in excellent zeal and with a pious

confidence ye stretched out your hands to Almighty God, supplicating

Him to be propitious, if unwillingly ye had committed any sin.



1Clem 2:4

Ye had conflict day and night for all the brotherhood, that the

number of His elect might be saved with fearfulness and intentness of

mind.



1Clem 2:5

Ye were sincere and simple and free from malice one towards another.



1Clem 2:6

Every sedition and every schism was abominable to you. Ye mourned

over the transgressions of your neighbors: ye judged their

shortcomings to be your own.



1Clem 2:7

Ye repented not of any well-doing, but were ready unto every good

work. 1Clem 2:8

Being adorned with a most virtuous and honorable life, ye performed

all your duties in the fear of Him. The commandments and the

ordinances of the Lord were written on the tablets of your hearts.



1Clem 3:1

   All glory and enlargement was given unto you, and that was fulfilled

which is written My beloved ate and drank and was enlarged and

waxed fat and kicked. 1Clem 3:2

Hence come jealousy and envy, strife and sedition, persecution and

tumult, war and captivity.



1Clem 3:3

So men were stirred up, the mean against the honorable, the ill

reputed against the highly reputed, the foolish against the wise, the 

young against the elder.



1Clem 3:4

For this cause righteousness and peace stand aloof, while each

man hath forsaken the fear of the Lord and become purblind in the

faith of Him, neither walketh in the ordinances of His commandments

nor liveth according to that which becometh Christ, but each goeth

after the lusts of his evil heart, seeing that they have conceived an

unrighteous and ungodly jealousy, through which also death entered

into the world. 1Clem 4:1

   For so it is written, And it came to pass after certain days that

Cain brought of the fruits of the earth a sacrifice unto God, and

Abel he also brought of the firstlings of the sheep and of their fatness.



1Clem 4:2 And God looked upon Abel and upon his gifts, but unto Cain and unto

his sacrifices He gave no heed. 

1Clem 4:3 And Cain sorrowed exceedingly, and his countenance fell. 

1Clem 4:4 And God said unto Cain, Wherefore art thou very sorrowful and

wherefore did thy countenance fall? If thou hast offered aright and

hast not divided aright, didst thou not sin? Hold thy peace. 

1Clem 4:5 Unto thee shall he turn, and thou shalt rule over him. {This last

phrase has also been translated: Be at peace: thine offering

returns to thyself, and thou shalt again possess it.}



1Clem 4:6 And Cain said unto Abel his brother, Let us go over unto the plain.

And it came to pass, while they Were in the plain, that Cain rose up

against Abel his brother and slew him. 1Clem 4:7

Ye see, brethren, jealousy and envy wrought a brother's murder.



1Clem 4:8

By reason of jealousy our father Jacob ran away from the face of Esau

his brother.



1Clem 4:9

Jealousy caused Joseph to be persecuted even unto death, and to come

even unto bondage.



1Clem 4:10

Jealousy compelled Moses to flee from the face of Pharaoh king of

Egypt while it was said to him by his own countryman, Who made thee

a judge or a decider over us, Wouldest thou slay me, even as

yesterday thou slewest the Egyptian? 1Clem 4:11

By reason of jealousy Aaron and Miriam were lodged outside the camp.



1Clem 4:12

Jealousy brought Dathan and Abiram down alive to hades, because they

made sedition against Moses the servant of God.



1Clem 4:13

By reason of jealousy David was envied not only by the Philistines,

but was persecuted also by Saul [king of Israel].



1Clem 5:1

   But, to pass from the examples of ancient days, let us come to those

champions who lived nearest to our time. Let us set before us the

noble examples which belong to our generation.



1Clem 5:2

By reason of jealousy and envy the greatest and most righteous

pillars of the Church were persecuted, and contended even unto death.



1Clem 5:3

Let us set before our eyes the good Apostles.



1Clem 5:4

There was Peter who by reason of unrighteous jealousy endured not one

not one but many labors, and thus having borne his testimony went to

his appointed place of glory.



1Clem 5:5

By reason of jealousy and strife Paul by his example pointed out the

prize of patient endurance. After that he had been seven times in

bonds, had been driven into exile, had been stoned, had preached in

the East and in the West, he won the noble renown which was the

reward of his faith,



1Clem 5:6

having taught righteousness unto the whole world and having reached

the farthest bounds of the West; and when he had borne his testimony

before the rulers, so he departed from the world and went unto the

holy place, having been found a notable pattern of patient endurance.



1Clem 6:1

   Unto these men of holy lives was gathered a vast multitude of the

elect, who through many indignities and tortures, being the victims

of jealousy, set a brave example among ourselves.



1Clem 6:2

By reason of jealousy women being persecuted, after that they had

suffered cruel and unholy insults as Danaids and Dircae, safely

reached the goal in the race of faith, and received a noble reward,

feeble though they were in body.



1Clem 6:3

Jealousy hath estranged wives from their husbands and changed the

saying of our father Adam, This now is bone of my bones and flesh

of my flesh. 1Clem 6:4

Jealousy and strife have overthrown great cities and uprooted great

nations.



1Clem 7:1

   These things, dearly beloved, we write, not only as admonishing you,

but also as putting ourselves in remembrance. For we are in the same

lists, and the same contest awaiteth us.



1Clem 7:2

Wherefore let us forsake idle and vain thoughts; and let us conform

to the glorious and venerable rule which hath been handed down to us;



1Clem 7:3

and let us see what is good and what is pleasant and what is

acceptable in the sight of Him that made us.



1Clem 7:4

Let us fix our eyes on the blood of Christ and understand how

precious it is unto His Father, because being shed for our salvation

it won for the whole world the grace of repentance.



1Clem 7:5

Let us review all the generations in turn, and learn how from

generation to generation the Master hath given a place for repentance

unto them that desire to turn to Him.



1Clem 7:6

Noah preached repentance, and they that obeyed were saved.



1Clem 7:7

Jonah preached destruction unto the men of Nineveh; but they,

repenting of their sins, obtained pardon of God by their

supplications and received salvation, albeit they were aliens from

God.



1Clem 8:1

   The ministers of the grace of God through the Holy Spirit spake

concerning repentance.



1Clem 8:2

Yea and the Master of the universe Himself spake concerning

repentance with an oath:



1Clem 8:3 for, as I live saith the Lord, I desire not the death of the

sinner, so much as his repentance, 



1Clem 8:4

and He added also a merciful judgment: Repent ye, O house of

Israel, of your iniquity; say unto the sons of My people, Though

your sins reach from the earth even unto the heaven, and though

they be redder than scarlet and blacker than sackcloth, and ye turn

unto Me with your whole heart and say Father, I will give ear unto

you as unto a holy people. 



1Clem 8:5

And in another place He saith on this wise, Wash, be ye clean. Put

away your iniquities from your souls out of My sight. Cease from

your iniquities; learn to do good; seek out judgment; defend him

that is wronged: give judgment for the orphan, and execute

righteousness for the widow; and come and let us reason together,

saith He; and though your sins be as crimson, I will make them

white as snow; and though they be as scarlet, I will make them

white as wool. And if ye be willing and will hearken unto Me, ye

shall eat the good things of the earth; but if ye be not willing,

neither hearken unto Me, a sword shall devour you; for the mouth of

the Lord hath spoken these things.



1Clem 8:6

Seeing then that He desireth all His beloved to be partakers of

repentance, He confirmed it by an act of His almighty will.



1Clem 9:1

   Wherefore let us be obedient unto His excellent and glorious will;

and presenting ourselves as suppliants of His mercy and goodness, let

us fall down before Him and betake ourselves unto His compassions,

forsaking the vain toil and the strife and the jealousy which leadeth

unto death.



1Clem 9:2

Let us fix our eyes on them that ministered perfectly unto His

excellent glory.



1Clem 9:3

Let us set before us Enoch, who being found righteous in obedience

was translated, and his death was not found.



1Clem 9:4

Noah, being found faithful, by his ministration preached regeneration

unto the world, and through him the Master saved the living creatures

that entered into the ark in concord.



1Clem 10:1

   Abraham, who was called the 'friend,' was found faithful in that he

rendered obedience unto the words of God.



1Clem 10:2

He through obedience went forth from his land and from his kindred

and from his father's house, that leaving a scanty land and a feeble

kindred and a mean house he might inherit the promises of God.



1Clem 10:3

For He saith unto him Go forth from thy land and from thy kindred

and from thy father's house unto the land which I shall show thee,

and I will make thee into a great nation, and I will bless thee and

will magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed. And I will bless

them that bless thee, and I will curse them that curse thee; and in

thee shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed. 1Clem 10:4

And again, when he was parted from Lot, God said unto him Look up

with thine eyes, and behold from the place where thou now art, unto

the north and the south and the sunrise and the sea; for all the

land which thou seest, I will give it unto thee and to thy seed for

ever; 1Clem 10:5 and I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth. If any man can

count the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be counted. 



1Clem 10:6

And again He saith; God led Abraham forth and said unto him, Look

up unto the heaven and count the stars, and see whether thou canst

number them. So shall thy seed be. And Abraham believed God, and it

was reckoned unto him for righteousness. 1Clem 10:7

For his faith and hospitality a son was given unto him in old age,

and by obedience he offered him a sacrifice unto God on one of the

mountains which He showed him.



1Clem 11:1

   For his hospitality and godliness Lot was saved from Sodom, when all

the country round about was judged by fire and brimstone; the Master

having thus fore shown that He forsaketh not them which set their

hope on Him, but appointeth unto punishment and torment them which

swerve aside.



1Clem 11:2

For when his wife had gone forth with him, being otherwise minded and

not in accord, she was appointed for a sign hereunto, so that she

became a pillar of salt unto this day, that it might be known unto

all men that they which are double-minded and they which doubt

concerning the power of God are set for a judgment and for a token

unto all the generations.



1Clem 12:1

   For her faith and hospitality Rahab the harlot was saved.



1Clem 12:2

For when the spies were sent forth unto Jericho by Joshua the son of

Nun, the king of the land perceived that they were come to spy out

his country, and sent forth men to seize them, that being seized they

might be put to death.



1Clem 12:3

So the hospitable Rahab received them and hid them in the upper

chamber under the flax stalks.



1Clem 12:4

And when the messengers of the king came near and said, The spies

of our land entered in unto thee: bring them forth, for the king so

ordereth: then she answered, The men truly, whom ye seek,

entered in unto me, but they departed forthwith and are sojourning

on the way; and she pointed out to them the opposite road.



1Clem 12:5

And she said unto the men, Of a surety I perceive that the Lord

your God delivereth this city unto you; for the fear and the dread

of you is fallen upon the inhabitants thereof. When therefore it

shall come to pass that ye take it, save me and the house of my

father. 1Clem 12:6

And they said unto her, It shall be even so as thou hast spoken

unto us. Whensoever therefore thou perceivest that we are coming,

thou shalt gather all thy folk beneath thy roof and they shall be

saved; for as many as shall be found without the house shall

perish.



1Clem 12:7

And moreover they gave her a sign, that she should hang out from her

house a scarlet thread, thereby showing beforehand that through the

blood of the Lord there shall be redemption unto all them that

believe and hope on God.



1Clem 12:8

Ye see, dearly beloved, not only faith, but prophecy, is found in the

woman.



1Clem 13:1

   Let us therefore be lowly minded, brethren, laying aside all

arrogance and conceit and folly and anger, and let us do that which

is written. For the Holy Ghost saith, Let not the wise man boast in

his wisdom, nor the strong in his strength, neither the rich in his

riches; but he that boasteth let him boast in the Lord, that he may

seek Him out, and do judgment and righteousness most of all

remembering the words of the Lord Jesus which He spake, teaching

forbearance and long-suffering:



1Clem 13:2

for thus He spake Have mercy, that ye may receive mercy: forgive,

that it may be forgiven to you. As ye do, so shall it be done to

you. As ye give, so shall it be given unto you. As ye judge, so

shall ye be judged. As ye show kindness, so shall kindness be

showed unto you. With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured

withal to you. 1Clem 13:3

With this commandment and these precepts let us confirm ourselves,

that we may walk in obedience to His hallowed words, with lowliness

of mind.



1Clem 13:4

For the holy word saith, Upon whom shall I look, save upon him that

is gentle and quiet and feareth Mine oracles? 1Clem 14:1

   Therefore it is right and proper, brethren, that we should be

obedient unto God, rather than follow those who in arrogance and

unruliness have set themselves up as leaders in abominable jealousy.



1Clem 14:2

For we shall bring upon us no common harm, but rather great peril, if

we surrender ourselves recklessly to the purposes of men who launch

out into strife and seditions, so as to estrange us from that which

is right.



1Clem 14:3

Let us be good one towards another according to the compassion and

sweetness of Him that made us. For it is written:



1Clem 14:4 The good shall be dwellers in the land, and the innocent shall be

left on it but they that transgress shall be destroyed utterly from

it. 



1Clem 14:5

And again He saith I saw the ungodly lifted up on high and exalted

as the cedars of Lebanon. And I passed by, and behold he was not;

and sought out his place, and I found it not. Keep innocence and

behold uprightness; for there is a remnant for the peaceful man. 



1Clem 15:1

   Therefore let us cleave unto them that practice peace with

godliness, and not unto them that desire peace with dissimulation.



1Clem 15:2

For He saith in a certain place This people honoreth Me with their

lips, but their heart is far from Me, 



1Clem 15:3

and again, they blessed with their mouth, but they cursed with

their heart. 



1Clem 15:4

And again He saith, They loved Him with their mouth, and with their

tongue they lied unto Him; and their heart was not upright with

Him, neither were they steadfast in His covenant.



1Clem 15:5 For this cause let the deceitful lips be made dumb which speak

iniquity against the righteous. And again May the Lord utterly

destroy all the deceitful lips, the tongue that speaketh proud

things, even them that say, Let us magnify our tongue; our lips are

our own; who is lord over us? 



1Clem 15:6 For the misery of the needy and for the groaning of the poor I will

now arise, saith the Lord. I will set him in safety; I will deal

boldly by him. 



1Clem 16:1

   For Christ is with them that are lowly of mind, not with them that

exalt themselves over the flock.



1Clem 16:2

The scepter of the majesty of God, even our Lord Jesus Christ, came

not in the pomp of arrogance or of pride, though He might have done

so, but in lowliness of mind, according as the Holy Spirit spake

concerning Him.



1Clem 16:3

For He saith Lord, who believed our report? and to whom was the arm

of the Lord revealed? We announced Him in His presence. As a child

was He, as a root in a thirsty ground. There is no form in Him,

neither glory. And we beheld Him, and He had no form nor

comeliness, but His form was mean, lacking more than the form of

men. He was a man of stripes and of toil, and knowing how to bear

infirmity: for His face is turned away. He was dishonored and held

of no account. 1Clem 16:4 He beareth our sins and suffereth pain for our sakes: and we

accounted Him to be in toil and in stripes and in affliction. 



1Clem 16:5 And He was wounded for our sins and hath been afflicted for our

iniquities. The chastisement of our peace is upon Him. With His

bruises we were healed. 



1Clem 16:6 We all went astray like sheep, each man went astray in his own

path: 



1Clem 16:7 and the Lord delivered Him over for our sins. And He openeth not

His mouth, because He is afflicted. As a sheep He was led to

slaughter; and as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, so openeth He

not His mouth. In His humiliation His judgment was taken away. 



1Clem 16:8 His generation who shall declare? For His life is taken away from

the earth. 



1Clem 16:9 For the iniquities of my people He is come to death. 



1Clem 16:10 And I will give the wicked for His burial, and the rich for His

death; for He wrought no iniquity, neither was guile found in His

mouth. And the Lord desireth to cleanse Him from His stripes. 



1Clem 16:11 If ye offer for sin, your soul shall see along lived seed. 



1Clem 16:12 And the Lord desireth to take away from the toil of His soul, to

show Him light and to mould Him with understanding, to justify a

Just One that is a good servant unto many. And He shall bear their

sins. 



1Clem 16:13 Therefore He shall inherit many, and shall divide the spoils of the

strong; because His soul was delivered unto death, and He was

reckoned unto the transgressors; 



1Clem 16:14 and He bare the sins of many, and for their sins was He delivered

up. 



1Clem 16:15

And again He Himself saith; But I am a worm and no man, a reproach

of men and an outcast of the people. 



1Clem 16:16 All they that beheld me mocked at me; they spake with their lips;

they wagged their heads, saying, He hoped on the Lord; let Him

deliver him, or let Him save him, for He desireth him. 



1Clem 16:17

Ye see, dearly beloved, what is the pattern that hath been given unto

us; for, if the Lord was thus lowly of mind, what should we do, who

through Him have been brought under the yoke of His grace?



1Clem 17:1

   Let us be imitators also of them which went about in goatskins and

sheepskins, preaching the coming of Christ. We mean Elijah and Elisha

and likewise Ezekiel, the prophets, and besides them those men also

that obtained a good report.



1Clem 17:2

Abraham obtained an exceeding good report and was called the friend

of God; and looking steadfastly on the glory of God, he saith in

lowliness of mind, But I am dust and ashes. 



1Clem 17:3

Moreover concerning Job also it is thus written; And Job was

righteous and unblamable, one that was true and honored God and

abstained from all evil.



1Clem 17:4

Yet he himself accuseth himself saying, No man from filth; no, not

though his life be but for a day. 



1Clem 17:5

Moses was called faithful in all His house, and through his

ministration God judged Egypt with the plagues and the torments which

befell them. Howbeit he also, though greatly glorified, yet spake no

proud words, but said, when an oracle was given to him at the bush, 

Who am I, that Thou sendest me? 



1Clem 17:6 Nay, I am feeble of speech and slow of tongue. 

And again he saith, But I am smoke from the pot. 



1Clem 18:1

   But what must we say of David that obtained a good report? of whom

God said, I have found a man after My heart, David the son of

Jesse: with eternal mercy have I anointed him. 



1Clem 18:2

Yet he too saith unto God Have mercy upon me, O God, according to

Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions,

blot out mine iniquity. 



1Clem 18:3 Wash me yet more from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me.

Against Thee only did I sin, and I wrought evil in Thy sight; that

Thou mayest be justified in Thy words, and mayest conquer in Thy

pleading. 



1Clem 18:4 For behold, in iniquities was I conceived, and in sins did my

mother bear me. For behold Thou hast loved truth: the dark and

hidden things of Thy wisdom hast Thou showed unto me. 



1Clem 18:5 Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean. Thou

shalt wash me, and I shall become whiter than snow. 



1Clem 18:6 Thou shalt make me to hear of joy and gladness. The bones which

have been humbled shall rejoice. 



1Clem 18:7 Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 



1Clem 18:8 Make a clean heart within me, O God, and renew a right spirit in

mine inmost parts. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not

Thy Holy Spirit from me. 



1Clem 18:9 Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and strengthen me with a

princely spirit. 



1Clem 18:10 I will teach sinners Thy ways, and godless men shall be converted

unto Thee. 



1Clem 18:11 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation.

My tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. 



1Clem 18:12 Lord, Thou shalt open my mouth, and my lips shall declare Thy

praise. 



1Clem 18:13 For, if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would have given it: in

whole burnt offerings Thou wilt have no pleasure. 



1Clem 18:14 A sacrifice unto God is a contrite spirit; a contrite and humbled

heart God will not despise. 



1Clem 19:1

   The humility therefore and the submissiveness of so many and so

great men, who have thus obtained a good report, hath through

obedience made better not only us but also the generations which were

before us, even them that received His oracles in fear and truth.



1Clem 19:2

Seeing then that we have been partakers of many great and glorious

doings, let us hasten to return unto the goal of peace which hath

been handed down to us from the beginning, and let us look

steadfastly unto the Father and Maker of the whole world, and cleave

unto His splendid and excellent gifts of peace and benefits.



1Clem 19:3

Let us behold Him in our mind, and let us look with the eyes of our

soul unto His long-suffering will. Let us note how free from anger He

is towards all His creatures.



1Clem 20:1

   The heavens are moved by His direction and obey Him in peace.



1Clem 20:2

Day and night accomplish the course assigned to them by Him, without

hindrance one to another.



1Clem 20:3

The sun and the moon and the dancing stars according to His

appointment circle in harmony within the bounds assigned to them,

without any swerving aside.



1Clem 20:4

The earth, bearing fruit in fulfillment of His will at her proper

seasons, putteth forth the food that supplieth abundantly both men

and beasts and all living things which are thereupon, making no

dissension, neither altering anything which He hath decreed.



1Clem 20:5

Moreover, the inscrutable depths of the abysses and the unutterable

statutes of the nether regions are constrained by the same

ordinances.



1Clem 20:6

The basin of the boundless sea, gathered together by His workmanship 

into it's reservoirs, passeth not the barriers wherewith it is

surrounded; but even as He ordered it, so it doeth.



1Clem 20:7

For He said, So far shalt thou come, and thy waves shall be broken

within thee. 



1Clem 20:8

The ocean which is impassable for men, and the worlds beyond it, are

directed by the same ordinances of the Master.



1Clem 20:9

The seasons of spring and summer and autumn and winter give way in

succession one to another in peace.



1Clem 20:10

The winds in their several quarters at their proper season fulfill

their ministry without disturbance; and the ever flowing fountains,

created for enjoyment and health, without fail give their breasts

which sustain the life for men. Yea, the smallest of living things

come together in concord and peace.



1Clem 20:11

All these things the great Creator and Master of the universe ordered

to be in peace and concord, doing good unto all things, but far

beyond the rest unto us who have taken refuge in His compassionate

mercies through our Lord Jesus Christ,



1Clem 20:12

to whom be the glory and the majesty for ever and ever. Amen.



1Clem 21:1

   Look ye, brethren, lest His benefits, which are many, turn unto

judgment to all of us, if we walk not worthily of Him, and do those

things which are good and well pleasing in His sight with concord.



1Clem 21:2

For He saith in a certain place, The Spirit of the Lord is a lamp

searching the closets of the belly.



1Clem 21:3

Let us see how near He is, and how that nothing escapeth Him of our

thoughts or our devices which we make.



1Clem 21:4

It is right therefore that we should not be deserters from His will.



1Clem 21:5

Let us rather give offense to foolish and senseless men who exalt

themselves and boast in the arrogance of their words, than to God.



1Clem 21:6

Let us fear the Lord Jesus [Christ], whose blood was given for us.

Let us reverence our rulers; let us honor our elders; let us instruct

our young men in the lesson of the fear of God. Let us guide our

women toward that which is good:



1Clem 21:7

let them show forth their lovely disposition of purity; let them

prove their sincere affection of gentleness; let them make manifest

the moderation of their tongue through their silence; let them show

their love, not in factious preferences but without partiality

towards all them that fear God, in holiness. Let our children be

partakers of the instruction which is in Christ:



1Clem 21:8

let them learn how lowliness of mind prevaileth with God, what power

chaste love hath with God, how the fear of Him is good and great and

saveth all them that walk therein in a pure mind with holiness.



1Clem 21:9

For He is the searcher out of the intents and desires; whose breath

is in us, and when He listeth, He shall take it away.



1Clem 22:1

   Now all these things the faith which is in Christ confirmeth: for He

Himself through the Holy Spirit thus invite thus: Come, my

children, hearken unto Me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 



1Clem 22:2 What man is he that desireth life and loveth to see good days? 



1Clem 22:3 Make thy tongue to cease from evil, and thy lips that they speak no

guile. 



1Clem 22:4 Turn aside from evil and do good. 



1Clem 22:5 Seek peace and ensue it. 



1Clem 22:6 The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are

turned to their prayers. But the face of the Lord is upon them that

do evil, to destroy their memorial from the earth. 



1Clem 22:7 The righteous cried out, and the Lord heard him, and delivered him

from all his troubles. Many are the troubles of the righteous, and

the Lord shall deliver him from them all.



1Clem 22:8

And again Many are the stripes of the sinner, but them that set

their hope on the Lord mercy shall compass about.



1Clem 23:1

   The Father, who is pitiful in all things, and ready to do good, hath

compassion on them that fear Him, and kindly and lovingly bestoweth

His favors on them that draw nigh unto Him with a single mind.



1Clem 23:2

Therefore let us not be double-minded, neither let our soul indulge in

idle humors respecting His exceeding and glorious gifts.



1Clem 23:3

Let this scripture be far from us where He saith Wretched are the

double-minded, Which doubt in their soul and say, These things we

did hear in the days of our fathers also, and behold we have grown

old, and none of these things hath befallen us. 



1Clem 23:4 Ye fools, compare yourselves unto a tree; take a vine. First it

sheddeth its leaves, then a shoot cometh, then a leaf, then a

flower, and after these a sour berry, then a full ripe grape. Ye

see that in a little time the fruit of the tree attaineth unto

mellowness.



1Clem 23:5

Of a truth quickly and suddenly shall His will be accomplished, the

scripture also bearing witness to it, saying He shall come quickly

and shall not tarry; and the Lord shall come suddenly into His

temple, even the Holy One, whom ye expect.



1Clem 24:1

   Let us understand, dearly beloved, how the Master continually

showeth unto us the resurrection that shall be hereafter; whereof He

made the Lord Jesus Christ the firstfruit, when He raised Him from

the dead.



1Clem 24:2

Let us behold, dearly beloved, the resurrection which happeneth at

its proper season.



1Clem 24:3

Day and night show unto us the resurrection. The night falleth

asleep, and day ariseth; the day departeth, and night cometh on.



1Clem 24:4

Let us mark the fruits, how and in what manner the sowing taketh

place.



1Clem 24:5 The sower goeth forth and casteth into the earth each of the

seeds; and these falling into the earth dry and bare decay: then out

of their decay the mightiness of the Master's providence raiseth them

up, and from being one they increase manifold and bear fruit.



1Clem 25:1

   Let us consider the marvelous sign which is seen in the regions of

the east, that is, in the parts about Arabia.



1Clem 25:2

There is a bird, which is named the phoenix. This, being the only

one of its kind, liveth for five hundred years; and when it hath now

reached the time of its dissolution that it should die, it maketh for

itself a coffin of frankincense and myrrh and the other spices, into

the which in the fullness of time it entereth, and so it dieth.



1Clem 25:3

But, as the flesh rotteth, a certain worm is engendered, which is

nurtured from the moisture of the dead creature and putteth forth

wings. Then, when it is grown lusty, it taketh up that coffin where

are the bones of its parent, and carrying them journeyeth from the

country of Arabia even unto Egypt, to the place called the City of

the Sun;



1Clem 25:4

and in the daytime in the sight of all, flying to the altar of the

Sun, it layeth them thereupon; and this done, it setteth forth to

return.



1Clem 25:5

So the priests examine the registers of the times, and they find that

it hath come when the five hundredth year is completed.



1Clem 26:1

   Do we then think it to be a great and marvelous thing, if the

Creator of the universe shall bring about the resurrection of them

that have served Him with holiness in the assurance of a good faith,

seeing that He showeth to us even by a bird the magnificence of His

promise?



1Clem 26:2

For He saith in a certain place And Thou shalt raise me up, and I

will praise Thee; and; I went to rest and slept, I was awaked,

for Thou art with me.



1Clem 26:3

And again Job saith And Thou shall raise this my flesh which hath

endured all these things.



1Clem 27:1

   With this hope therefore let our souls be bound unto Him that is

faithful in His promises and that is righteous in His judgments.



1Clem 27:2

He that commanded not to lie, much more shall He Himself not lie:

for nothing is impossible with God save to lie.



1Clem 27:3

Therefore let our faith in Him be kindled within us, and let us

understand that all things are nigh unto Him.



1Clem 27:4

By a word of His majesty He compacted the universe; and by a word He

can destroy it.



1Clem 27:5 Who shall say unto Him, What hast thou done? or who shall resist

the might of His strength? When He listeth, and as He listeth, He

will do all things; and nothing shall pass away of those things that

He hath decreed.



1Clem 27:6

All things are in His sight, and nothing escapeth His counsel,



1Clem 27:7

seeing that The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament

proclaimeth His handiwork. Day uttereth word unto day, and night

proclaimeth knowledge unto night; and there are neither words nor

speeches, whose voices are not heard.



1Clem 28:1

   Since therefore all things are seen and heard, let us fear Him and

forsake the abominable lusts of evil works, that we maybe shielded by

His mercy from the coming judgments.



1Clem 28:2

For where can any of us escape from His strong hand? And what world

will receive any of them that desert from His service?



1Clem 28:3

For the holy writing saith in a certain place Where shall I go, and

where shall I be hidden from Thy face? If I ascend into the heaven,

Thou art there; if I depart into the farthest parts of the earth,

there is Thy right hand; if I make my bed in the depths, there is

Thy Spirit.



1Clem 28:4

Whither then shall one depart, or where shall one flee, from Him that

embraceth the universe?



1Clem 29:1

   Let us therefore approach Him in holiness of soul, lifting up pure

and undefiled hands unto Him, with love towards our gentle and

compassionate Father who made us an elect portion unto Himself.



1Clem 29:2

For

thus it is written: When the Most High divided the nations, when He

dispersed the sons of Adam, He fixed the boundaries of the nations

according to the number of the angels of God. His people Jacob

became the portion of the Lord, and Israel the measurement of His

inheritance. 



1Clem 29:3

And in another place He saith, Behold, the Lord taketh for Himself

a nation out of the midst of the nations, as a man taketh the first

fruits of his threshing floor; and the holy of holies shall come

forth from that nation.



1Clem 30:1

   Seeing then that we are the special portion of a Holy God, let us do

all things that pertain unto holiness, forsaking evil speakings,

abominable and impure embraces, drunkennesses and tumults and hateful

lusts, abominable adultery, hateful pride.



1Clem 30:2 For God, He saith, resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the

lowly. 



1Clem 30:3

Let us therefore cleave unto those to whom grace is given from God.

Let us clothe ourselves in concord, being lowlyminded and temperate,

holding ourselves aloof from all back biting and evil speaking, being

justified by works and not by words.



1Clem 30:4

For He saith, He that saith much shall hear also again. Doth the

ready talker think to be righteous? 



1Clem 30:5 Blessed is the offspring of a woman that liveth but a short time.

Be not thou abundant in words.



1Clem 30:6

Let our praise be with God, and not of ourselves: for God hateth

them that praise themselves.



1Clem 30:7

Let the testimony to our well doing be given by others, as it was

given unto our fathers who were righteous.



1Clem 30:8

Boldness and arrogance and daring are for them that are accursed of

God; but forbearance and humility and gentleness are with them that

are blessed of God.



1Clem 31:1

   Let us therefore cleave unto His blessing, and let us see what are

the ways of blessing. Let us study the records of the things that

have happened from the beginning.



1Clem 31:2

Wherefore was our father Abraham blessed? Was it not because he

wrought righteousness and truth through faith?



1Clem 31:3

Isaac with confidence, as knowing the future, was led a willing

sacrifice.



1Clem 31:4

Jacob with humility departed from his land because of his brother,

and went unto Laban and served; and the twelve tribes of Israel were

given unto him.



1Clem 32:1

   If any man will consider them one by one in sincerity, he shall

understand the magnificence of the gifts that are given by Him.



1Clem 32:2

For of Jacob are all the priests and levites who minister unto the

altar of God; of him is the Lord Jesus as concerning the flesh; of

him are kings and rulers and governors in the line of Judah; yea and

the rest of his tribes are held in no small honor, seeing that God

promised saying, Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven.



1Clem 32:3

They all therefore were glorified and magnified, not through

themselves or their own works or the righteous doing which they

wrought, but through His will.



1Clem 32:4

And so we, having been called through His will in Christ Jesus, are

not justified through ourselves or through our own wisdom or

understanding or piety or works which we wrought in holiness of

heart, but through faith, whereby the Almighty God justified all men

that have been from the beginning; to whom be the glory for ever and

ever. Amen.



1Clem 33:1

   What then must we do, brethren? Must we idly abstain from doing

good, and forsake love? May the Master never allow this to befall us

at least; but let us hasten with instancy and zeal to accomplish

every good work.



1Clem 33:2

For the Creator and Master of the universe Himself rejoiceth in His

works.



1Clem 33:3

For by His exceeding great might He established the heavens, and in

His incomprehensible wisdom He set them in order. And the earth He

separated from the water that surroundeth it, and He set it firm on

the sure foundation of His own will; and the living creatures which

walk upon it He commanded to exist by His ordinance. Having before

created the sea and the living creatures therein, He enclosed it by

His own power.



1Clem 33:4

Above all, as the most excellent and exceeding great work of His

intelligence, with His sacred and faultless hands He formed man in

the impress of His own image.



1Clem 33:5

For thus saith God Let us make man after our image and after our

likeness. And God made man; male and female made He them. 



1Clem 33:6

So having finished all these things, He praised them and blessed them

and said, Increase and multiply. 



1Clem 33:7

We have seen that all the righteous were adorned in good works. Yea,

and the Lord Himself having adorned Himself with worlds rejoiced.



1Clem 33:8

Seeing then that we have this pattern, let us conform ourselves with

all diligence to His will; let us with all our strength work the work

of righteousness.



1Clem 34:1

   The good workman receiveth the bread of his work with boldness, but

the slothful and careless dareth not look his employer in the face.



1Clem 34:2

It is therefore needful that we should be zealous unto well doing,

for of Him are all things:



1Clem 34:3

since He forewarneth us saying, Behold, the Lord, and His reward is

before His face, to recompense each man according to his work. 



1Clem 34:4

He exhorteth us therefore to believe on Him with our whole heart, and

to be not idle nor careless unto every good work.



1Clem 34:5

Let our boast and our confidence be in Him: let us submit ourselves

to His will; let us mark the whole host of His angels, how they stand

by and minister unto His will.



1Clem 34:6

For the scripture saith, Ten thousands of ten thousands stood by

Him, and thousands of thousands ministered unto Him: and they cried

aloud, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Sabaoth; all creation is

full of His glory.



1Clem 34:7

Yea, and let us ourselves then, being gathered together in concord

with intentness of heart, cry unto Him as from one mouth earnestly

that we may be made partakers of His great and glorious promises.



1Clem 34:8

For He saith, Eye hath not seen and ear hath not heard, and it hath

not entered into the heart of man what great things He hath

prepared for them that patiently await Him. 



1Clem 35:1

   How blessed and marvelous are the gifts of God, dearly beloved!!



1Clem 35:2

Life in immortality, splendor in righteousness, truth in boldness,

faith in confidence, temperance in sanctification! And all these

things fall under our apprehension.



1Clem 35:3

What then, think ye, are the things preparing for them that patiently

await Him? The Creator and Father of the ages, the All holy One

Himself knoweth their number and their beauty.



1Clem 35:4

Let us therefore contend, that we may be found in the number of those

that patiently await Him, to the end that we may be partakers of His

promised gifts.



1Clem 35:5

But how shall this be, dearly beloved? If our mind be fixed through

faith towards God; if we seek out those things which are well

pleasing and acceptable unto Him; if we accomplish such things as

beseem His faultless will, and follow the way of truth, casting off

from ourselves all unrighteousness and iniquity, covetousness,

strifes, malignities and deceits, whisperings and backbitings, hatred

of God, pride and arrogance, vainglory and inhospitality.



1Clem 35:6

For they that do these things are hateful to God; and not only they

that do them, but they also that consent unto them.



1Clem 35:7

For the scripture saith, But unto the sinner said God, Wherefore

dost thou declare Mine ordinances, and takest My covenant upon thy

lips? 



1Clem 35:8 Yet Thou didst hate instruction and didst cast away My words behind

thee. If thou sawest a thief thou didst keep company with him, and

with the adulterers thou didst set thy portion. Thy mouth

multiplied wickedness and thy tongue wove deceit. Thou sattest and

spakest against thy brother, and against the son of thy mother thou

didst lay a stumbling block. 



1Clem 35:9 These things Thou hast done, and I kept silence. Thou thoughtest,

unrighteous man, that I should be like unto thee. 



1Clem 35:10 I will convict thee and will set thee face to face with thyself. 



1Clem 35:11 Now understand ye these things, ye that forget God, lest at any

time He seize you as a lion, and there be none to deliver. 



1Clem 35:12 The sacrifice of praise shall glorify Me, and there is the way

wherein I will show him the salvation of God.



1Clem 36:1

   This is the way, dearly beloved, wherein we found our salvation,

even Jesus Christ the High priest of our offerings, the Guardian and

Helper of our weakness.



1Clem 36:2

Through Him let us look steadfastly unto the heights of the heavens;

through Him we behold as in a mirror His faultless and most excellent

visage; through Him the eyes of our hearts were opened; through Him

our foolish and darkened mind springeth up unto the light; through

Him the Master willed that we should taste of the immortal knowledge 

Who being the brightness of His majesty is so much greater than

angels, as He hath inherited a more excellent name. 



1Clem 36:3

For so it is written Who maketh His angels spirits and His

ministers aflame of fire 



1Clem 36:4

but of His Son the Master said thus, Thou art My Son, I this day

have begotten thee. Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the Gentiles

for Thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Thy

possession. 



1Clem 36:5

And again He saith unto Him Sit Thou on My right hand, until I make

Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet. 



1Clem 36:6

Who then are these enemies? They that are wicked and resist His

will.



1Clem 37:1

   Let us therefore enlist ourselves, brethren, with all earnestness in

His faultless ordinances.



1Clem 37:2

Let us mark the soldiers that are enlisted under our rulers, how

exactly, how readily, how submissively, they execute the orders given

them.



1Clem 37:3

All are not prefects, nor rulers of thousands, nor rulers of

hundreds, nor rulers of fifties, and so forth; but each man in his

own rank executeth the orders given by the king and the governors.



1Clem 37:4

The great without the small cannot exist, neither the small without

the great. There is a certain mixture in all things, and therein is

utility.



1Clem 37:5

Let us take our body as an example. The head without the feet is

nothing; so likewise the feet without the head are nothing: even the

smallest limbs of our body are necessary and useful for the whole

body: but all the members conspire and unite in subjection, that the

whole body maybe saved.



1Clem 38:1

   So in our case let the whole body be saved in Christ Jesus, and let

each man be subject unto his neighbor, according as also he was

appointed with his special grace.



1Clem 38:2

Let not the strong neglect the weak; and let the weak respect the

strong. Let the rich minister aid to the poor; and let the poor give

thanks to God, because He hath given him one through whom his wants

may be supplied. Let the wise display his wisdom, not in words, but

in good works. He that is lowly in mind, let him not bear testimony

to himself, but leave testimony to be borne to him by his neighbor.

He that is pure in the flesh, let him be so, and not boast, knowing

that it is Another who bestoweth his continence upon him.



1Clem 38:3

Let us consider, brethren, of what matter we were made; who and what

manner of beings we were, when we came into the world; from what a

sepulchre and what darkness He that molded and created us brought us

into His world, having prepared His benefits aforehand ere ever we

were born.



1Clem 38:4

Seeing therefore that we have all these things from Him, we ought in

all things to give thanks to Him, to whom be the glory for ever and

ever. Amen.



1Clem 39:1

   Senseless and stupid and foolish and ignorant men jeer and mock at

us, desiring that they themselves should be exalted in their

imaginations.



1Clem 39:2

For what power hath a mortal? or what strength hath a child of earth?



1Clem 39:3

For it is written; There was no form before mine eyes; only I heard

a breath and a voice. 



1Clem 39:4 What then? Shall a mortal be clean in the sight of the Lord; or

shall a man be unblamable for his works? seeing that He is

distrustful against His servants and noteth some perversity against

His angels. 



1Clem 39:5 Nay, the heaven is not clean in His sight. Away then, ye that dwell

in houses of clay, whereof, even of the same clay, we ourselves are

made. He smote them like a moth, and from morn to even they are no

more. Because they could not succor themselves, they perished. 



1Clem 39:6 He breathed on them and they died, because they had no wisdom. 



1Clem 39:7 But call thou, if perchance one shall obey thee, or if thou shalt

see one of the holy angels. For wrath killeth the foolish man, and

envy slayeth him that has gone astray. 



1Clem 39:8 And I have seen fools throwing out roots, but forthwith their

habitation was eaten up. 



1Clem 39:9 Far be their sons from safety. May they be mocked at the gates of

inferiors, and there shall be none to deliver them. For the things

which are prepared for them, the righteous shall eat; but they

themselves shall not be delivered from evils. 



1Clem 40:1

   Forasmuch then as these things are manifest beforehand, and we have

searched into the depths of the Divine knowledge, we ought to do all

things in order, as many as the Master hath commanded us to perform

at their appointed seasons.



1Clem 40:2

Now the offerings and ministrations He commanded to be performed with

care, and not to be done rashly or in disorder, but at fixed times

and seasons.



1Clem 40:3

And where and by whom He would have them performed, He Himself fixed

by His supreme will: that all things being done with piety according

to His good pleasure might be acceptable to His will.



1Clem 40:4

They therefore that make their offerings at the appointed seasons are

acceptable and blessed: for while they follow the institutions of

the Master they cannot go wrong.



1Clem 40:5

For unto the high priest his proper services have been assigned, and

to the priests their proper office is appointed, and upon the levites

their proper ministrations are laid. The layman is bound by the

layman's ordinances.



1Clem 41:1

   Let each of you, brethren, in his own order give thanks unto God,

maintaining a good conscience and not transgressing the appointed

rule of his service, but acting with all seemliness.



1Clem 41:2

Not in every place, brethren, are the continual daily sacrifices

offered, or the freewill offerings, or the sin offerings and the

trespass offerings, but in Jerusalem alone. And even there the

offering is not made in every place, but before the sanctuary in the

court of the altar; and this too through the high priest and the afore

said ministers, after that the victim to be offered hath been

inspected for blemishes.



1Clem 41:3

They therefore who do any thing contrary to the seemly ordinance of

His will receive death as the penalty.



1Clem 41:4

Ye see, brethren, in proportion as greater knowledge hath been

vouchsafed unto us, so much the more are we exposed to danger.



1Clem 42:1

   The Apostles received the Gospel for us from the Lord Jesus

Christ; Jesus Christ was sent forth from God.



1Clem 42:2

So then Christ is from God, and the Apostles are from Christ. Both

therefore came of the will of God in the appointed order.



1Clem 42:3

Having therefore received a charge, and having been fully assured

through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and confirmed in

the word of God with full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went

forth with the glad tidings that the kingdom of God should come.



1Clem 42:4

So preaching everywhere in country and town, they appointed their

firstfruits, when they had proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops

and deacons unto them that should believe.



1Clem 42:5

And this they did in no new fashion; for indeed it had been written

concerning bishops and deacons from very ancient times; for thus

saith the scripture in a certain place, I will appoint their

bishops in righteousness and their deacons in faith. 



1Clem 43:1

   And what marvel, if they which were entrusted in Christ with such a

work by God appointed the aforesaid persons? seeing that even the

blessed Moses who was a faithful servant in all His house recorded

for a sign in the sacred books all things that were enjoined upon

him. And him also the rest of the prophets followed, bearing witness

with him unto the laws that were ordained by him.



1Clem 43:2

For he, when jealousy arose concerning the priesthood, and there was

dissension among the tribes which of them was adorned with the

glorious name, commanded the twelve chiefs of the tribes to bring to

him rods inscribed with the name of each tribe. And he took them and

tied them and sealed them with the signet rings of the chiefs of the

tribes, and put them away in the tabernacle of the testimony on the

table of God.



1Clem 43:3

And having shut the tabernacle he sealed the keys and likewise also

the doors.



1Clem 43:4

And he said unto them, Brethren, the tribe whose rod shall bud, this

hath God chosen to be priests and ministers unto Him.



1Clem 43:5

Now when morning came, he called together all Israel, even the six

hundred thousand men, and showed the seals to the chiefs of the

tribes and opened the tabernacle of the testimony and drew forth the

rods. And the rod of Aaron was found not only with buds, but also

bearing fruit.



1Clem 43:6

What think ye, dearly beloved? Did not Moses know beforehand that

this would come to pass? Assuredly he knew it. But that disorder

might not arise in Israel, he did thus, to the end that the Name of

the true and only God might be glorified: to whom he the glory for

ever and ever. Amen...



1Clem 44:1

   And our Apostles knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there would

be strife over the name of the bishop's office.



1Clem 44:2

For this cause therefore, having received complete foreknowledge,

they appointed the aforesaid persons, and afterwards they provided a

continuance, that if these should fall asleep, other approved men

should succeed to their ministration. Those therefore who were

appointed by them, or afterward by other men of repute with the

consent of the whole Church, and have ministered unblamably to the

flock of Christ in lowliness of mind, peacefully and with all

modesty, and for long time have borne a good report with all these

men we consider to be unjustly thrust out from their ministration.



1Clem 44:3

For it will be no light sin for us, if we thrust out those who have

offered the gifts of the bishop's office unblamably and holily.



1Clem 44:4

Blessed are those presbyters who have gone before, seeing that their

departure was fruitful and ripe: for they have no fear lest any one

should remove them from their appointed place.



1Clem 44:5

For we see that ye have displaced certain persons, though they were

living honorably, from the ministration which had been respected by

them blamelessly.



1Clem 45:1

   Be ye contentious, brethren, and jealous about the things that

pertain unto salvation.



1Clem 45:2

Ye have searched the scriptures, which are true, which were given

through the Holy Ghost;



1Clem 45:3

and ye know that nothing unrighteous or counterfeit is written in

them. Ye will not find that righteous persons have been thrust out

by holy men.



1Clem 45:4

Righteous men were persecuted, but it was by the lawless; they were

imprisoned, but it was by the unholy. They were stoned by

transgressors: they were slain by those who had conceived a

detestable and unrighteous jealousy.



1Clem 45:5

Suffering these things, they endured nobly.



1Clem 45:6

For what must we say, brethren? Was Daniel cast into the lions' den

by them that feared God?



1Clem 45:7

Or were Ananias and Azarias and Misael shut up in the furnace of fire

by them that professed the excellent and glorious worship of the Most

High? Far be this from our thoughts. Who then were they that did

these things? Abominable men and full of all wickedness were stirred

up to such a pitch of wrath, as to bring cruel suffering upon them

that served God in a holy and blameless purpose, not knowing that the

Most High is the champion and protector of them that in a pure

conscience serve His excellent Name: unto whom be the glory for ever

and ever. Amen.



1Clem 45:8

But they that endured patiently in confidence

inherited glory and honor; they were exalted, and had their names

recorded by God in their memorial for ever and ever. Amen.



1Clem 46:1

   To such examples as these therefore, brethren, we also ought to

cleave.



1Clem 46:2

For it is written; Cleave unto the saints, for they that cleave

unto them shall be sanctified.



1Clem 46:3

And again He saith in another place; With the guiltless man thou

shalt be guiltless, and with the elect thou shalt be elect, and

with the crooked thou shalt deal crookedly.



1Clem 46:4

Let us therefore cleave to the guiltless and righteous: and these

are the elect of God.



1Clem 46:5

Wherefore are there strifes and wraths and factions and divisions and

war among you?



1Clem 46:6

Have we not one God and one Christ and one Spirit of grace that was

shed upon us? And is there not one calling in Christ?



1Clem 46:7

Wherefore do we tear and rend asunder the members of Christ, and stir

up factions against our own body, and reach such a pitch of folly, as

to forget that we are members one of another?



1Clem 46:8

Remember the words of Jesus our Lord: for He said, Woe unto that

man; it were good for him if he had not been born, rather than that

at he should offend one of Mine elect. It were better for him that

a millstone were hanged about him, and be cast into the sea, than

that he should pervert one of Mine elect.



1Clem 46:9

Your division hath perverted many; it hath brought many to despair,

many to doubting, and all of us to sorrow. And your sedition still

continueth.



1Clem 47:1

   Take up the epistle of the blessed Paul the Apostle.



1Clem 47:2

What wrote he first unto you in the beginning of the Gospel?



1Clem 47:3

Of a truth he charged you in the Spirit concerning himself and Cephas

and Apollos, because that even then ye had made parties.



1Clem 47:4

Yet that making of parties brought less sin upon you; for ye were

partisans of Apostles that were highly reputed, and of a man approved

in their sight.



1Clem 47:5

But now mark ye, who they are that have perverted you and diminished

the glory of your renowned love for the brotherhood.



1Clem 47:6

It is shameful, dearly beloved, yes, utterly shameful and unworthy of

your conduct in Christ, that it should be reported that the very

steadfast and ancient Church of the Corinthians, for the sake of one

or two persons, maketh sedition against its presbyters.



1Clem 47:7

And this report hath reached not only us, but them also which differ

from us, so that ye even heap blasphemies on the Name of the Lord by

reason of your folly, and moreover create peril for yourselves.



1Clem 48:1

   Let us therefore root this out quickly, and let us fall down before

the Master and entreat Him with tears, that He may show Himself

propitious and be reconciled unto us, and may restore us to the

seemly and pure conduct which belongeth to our love of the brethren.



1Clem 48:2

For this is a gate of righteousness opened unto life, as it is

written; Open me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter in

thereby and preach the Lord. 



1Clem 48:3 This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter in

thereby.



1Clem 48:4

Seeing then that many gates are opened, this is that gate which is in

righteousness, even that which is in Christ, whereby all are blessed

that have entered in and direct their path in holiness and

righteousness, performing all things without confusion.



1Clem 48:5

Let a man be faithful, let him be able to expound a deep saying, let

him be wise in the discernment of words, let him be strenuous in

deeds, let him be pure;



1Clem 48:6

for so much the more ought he to be lowly in mind, in proportion as

he seemeth to be the greater; and he ought to seek the common

advantage of all, and not his own.



1Clem 49:1

   Let him that hath love in Christ fulfill the commandments of Christ.



1Clem 49:2

Who can declare the bond of the love of God?



1Clem 49:3

Who is sufficient to tell the majesty of its beauty?



1Clem 49:4

The height, where unto love exalteth, is unspeakable.



1Clem 49:5

Love joineth us unto God; love covereth a multitude of sins; love

endureth all things, is long-suffering in all things. There is

nothing coarse, nothing arrogant in love. Love hath no divisions,

love maketh no seditions, love doeth all things in concord. In love

were all the elect of God made perfect; without love nothing is well

pleasing to God:



1Clem 49:6

in love the Master took us unto Himself; for the

love which He had toward us, Jesus Christ our Lord hath given His

blood for us by the will of God, and His flesh for our flesh and His

life for our lives.



1Clem 50:1

   Ye see, dearly beloved, how great and marvelous a thing is love, and

there is no declaring its perfection.



1Clem 50:2

Who is sufficient to be found therein, save those to whom God shall

vouchsafe it? Let us therefore entreat and ask of His mercy, that we

may be found blameless in love, standing apart from the factiousness

of men. All the generations from Adam unto this day have passed

away: but they that by God's grace were perfected in love dwell in

the abode of the pious; and they shall be made manifest in the

visitation of the Kingdom of God.



1Clem 50:3

For it is written; Enter into the closet for a very little while

until Mine anger and Mine wrath shall pass away, and I will

remember a good day and will raise you from your tombs.



1Clem 50:4

Blessed were we, dearly beloved, if we should be doing the

commandments of God in concord of love, to the end that our sins may

through love be forgiven us.



1Clem 50:5

For it is written; Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven,

and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord

shall impute no sin, neither is guile in his mouth.



1Clem 50:6

This declaration of blessedness was pronounced upon them that have

been elected by God through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be the

glory for ever and ever. Amen.



1Clem 51:1

   For all our transgressions which we have committed through any of

the wiles of the adversary, let us entreat that we may obtain

forgiveness. Yea and they also, who set themselves up as leaders of

faction and division, ought to look to the common ground of hope.



1Clem 51:2

For such as walk in fear and love desire that they themselves should

fall into suffering rather than their neighbors; and they pronounce

condemnation against themselves rather than against the harmony which

hath been handed down to us nobly and righteously.



1Clem 51:3

For it is good for a man to make confession of his trespasses rather

than to harden his heart, as the heart of those was hardened who made

sedition against Moses the servant of God; whose condemnation was

clearly manifest,



1Clem 51:4

for they went down to hades alive, and Death shall be their

shepherd.



1Clem 51:5

Pharaoh and his host and all the rulers of Egypt, their chariots

and their horsemen, were overwhelmed in the depths of the Red Sea,

and perished for none other reason but because their foolish hearts

were hardened after that the signs and the wonders had been wrought

in the land of Egypt by the hand of Moses the servant of God.



1Clem 52:1

   The Master, brethren, hath need of nothing at all. He desireth not

anything of any man, save to confess unto Him.



1Clem 52:2

For the elect David saith; I will confess unto the Lord, and it

shall please Him more than a young calf that groweth horns and

hoofs. Let the poor see it, and rejoice.



1Clem 52:3

And again He saith; Sacrifice to God a sacrifice of praise, and pay

thy vows to the Most High: and call upon Me in the day of thine

affliction, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.



1Clem 52:4 For a sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit. 



1Clem 53:1

   For ye know, and know well, the sacred scriptures, dearly beloved,

and ye have searched into the oracles of God. We write these things

therefore to put you in remembrance.



1Clem 53:2

When Moses went up into the mountain and had spent forty days and

forty nights in fasting and humiliation, God said unto him; Moses,

Moses, come down , quickly hence, for My people whom thou leadest

forth from the land of Egypt have wrought iniquity: they have

transgressed quickly out of the way which thou didst command unto

them: they have made for themselves molten images.



1Clem 53:3 And the Lord said unto him; I have spoken unto thee once and twice,

saying, I have seen this people, and behold it is stiff-necked. Let

Me destroy them utterly, and I will blot out their name from under

heaven, and I will make of thee a nation great and wonderful and

numerous more than this.



1Clem 53:4

And Moses said; Nay, not so, Lord Forgive this people their sin, or

blot me also out of the book of the living.



1Clem 53:5

O mighty love! O unsurpassable perfection! The servant is bold with

his Master; he asketh forgiveness for the multitude, or he demandeth

that himself also be blotted out with them.



1Clem 54:1

   Who therefore is noble among you? Who is compassionate? Who is

fulfilled with love?



1Clem 54:2

Let him say; If by reason of me there be faction and strife and

divisions, I retire, I depart, whither ye will, and I do that which

is ordered by the people: only let the flock of Christ be at peace

with its duly appointed presbyters.



1Clem 54:3

He that shall have done this, shall win for himself great renown in

Christ, and every place will receive him: for the earth is the

Lord's and the fullness thereof.



1Clem 54:4

Thus have they done and will do, that live as citizens of that

kingdom of God which bringeth no regrets.



1Clem 55:1

   But, to bring forward examples of Gentiles also; many kings and

rulers, when some season of pestilence pressed upon them, being

taught by oracles have delivered themselves over to death, that they

might rescue their fellow citizens through their own blood. Many

have retired from their own cities, that they might have no more

seditions.



1Clem 55:2

We know that many among ourselves have delivered themselves to

bondage, that they might ransom others. Many have sold themselves to

slavery, and receiving the price paid for themselves have fed others.



1Clem 55:3

Many women being strengthened through the grace of God have

performed many manly deeds.



1Clem 55:4

The blessed Judith, when the city was beleaguered, asked of the

elders that she might be suffered to go forth into the camp of the

aliens.



1Clem 55:5

So she exposed herself to peril and went forth for love of her

country and of her people which were beleaguered; and the Lord

delivered Holophernes into the hand of a woman.



1Clem 55:6

To no less peril did Esther also, who was perfect in faith, expose

herself, that she might deliver the twelve tribes of Israel, when

they were on the point to perish. For through her fasting and her

humiliation she entreated the all seeing Master, the God of the

ages; and He, seeing the humility of her soul, delivered the people

for whose sake she encountered the peril.



1Clem 56:1

   Therefore let us also make intercession for them that are in any

transgression, that forbearance and humility may be given them, to

the end that they may yield not unto us, but unto the will of God.

For so shall the compassionate remembrance of them with God and the

saints be fruitful unto them, and perfect.



1Clem 56:2

Let us accept chastisement, whereat no man ought to be vexed, dearly

beloved. The admonition which we give one to another is good and

exceeding useful; for it joineth us unto the will of God.



1Clem 56:3

For thus saith the holy word; The Lord hath indeed chastened me,

and hath not delivered me over unto death. 



1Clem 56:4 For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son

whom He receiveth. 



1Clem 56:5 For the righteous, it is said, shall chasten me in mercy and

shall reprove me, but let not the mercy of sinners anoint my head.



1Clem 56:6

And again He saith; Blessed is the man whom the Lord hath reproved,

and refuse not thou the admonition of the Almighty. For He causeth

pain, and he restoreth again: 



1Clem 56:7 He hath smitten, and His hands have healed. 



1Clem 56:8 Six times shall He rescue thee from afflictions and at the seventh

no evil shall touch thee. 



1Clem 56:9 In famine he shall deliver thee from death, and in war He shall

release thee from the arm of the sword. 



1Clem 56:10 And from the scourge of the tongue He shall hide thee and thou

shalt not be afraid when evils approach. 



1Clem 56:11 Thou shalt laugh at the unrighteous and wicked, and of the wild

beasts thou shalt not be afraid. 



1Clem 56:12 For wild beasts shall be at peace with thee. 



1Clem 56:13 Then shalt thou know that thy house shall be at peace: and the

abode of thy tabernacle shall not go wrong, 



1Clem 56:14 and thou shalt know that thy seed is many, and thy children as the

plenteous herbage of the field. 



1Clem 56:15 And thou shalt come to the grave as ripe corn reaped in due season,

or as the heap of the threshing floor gathered together at the

right time. 



1Clem 56:16

Ye see, dearly beloved, how great protection there is for them that

are chastened by the Master: for being a kind father He chasteneth

us to the end that we may obtain mercy through His holy chastisement.



1Clem 57:1

   Ye therefore that laid the foundation of the sedition, submit

yourselves unto the presbyters and receive chastisement unto

repentance, bending the knees of your heart.



1Clem 57:2

Learn to submit yourselves, laying aside the arrogant and proud

stubbornness of your tongue. For it is better for you to be found

little in the flock of Christ and to have your name on God's roll,

than to be had in exceeding honor and yet be cast out from the hope

of Him.



1Clem 57:3

For thus saith the All virtuous Wisdom; Behold I will pour out for

you a saying of My breath, and I will teach you My word. 



1Clem 57:4 Because I called and ye obeyed not, and I held out words and ye

heeded not, but made My councils of none effect, and were

disobedient unto My reproofs; therefore I also will laugh at your

destruction, and will rejoice over you when ruin cometh upon you,

and when confusion overtaketh you suddenly, and your overthrow is

at hand like a whirlwind, 



1Clem 57:5 or when ye call upon Me, yet will I not here you. Evil men shall

seek me and not find me: for they hated wisdom, and chose not the

fear of the Lord, neither would they give head unto My councils,

but mocked at My reproofs. 



1Clem 57:6 Therefore they shall eat the fruits of their own way, and shall be

filled with their own ungodliness. 



1Clem 57:7 For because they wronged babes, they shall be slain, and

inquisition shall destroy the ungodly. But he that heareth Me shall

dwell safely trusting in hope, and shall be quiet from all fear of

all evil. 



1Clem 58:1

   Let us therefore be obedient unto His most holy and glorious Name,

thereby escaping the threatenings which were spoken of old by the

mouth of Wisdom against them which disobey, that we may dwell safely,

trusting in the most holy Name of His majesty.



1Clem 58:2

Receive our counsel, and ye shall have no occasion of regret. For as

God liveth, and the Lord Jesus Christ liveth, and the Holy Spirit,

who are the faith and the hope of the elect, so surely shall he, who

with lowliness of mind and instant in gentleness hath without

regretfulness performed the ordinances and commandments that are

given by God, be enrolled and have a name among the number of them

that are saved through Jesus Christ, through whom is the glory unto

Him for ever and ever. Amen.



1Clem 59:1

   But if certain persons should be disobedient unto the words spoken

by Him through us, let them understand that they will entangle

themselves in no slight transgression and danger;



1Clem 59:2

but we shall be guiltless of this sin. And we will ask, with

instancy of prayer and supplication, that the Creator of the universe

may guard intact unto the end the number that hath been numbered of

His elect throughout the whole world, through His beloved Son Jesus

Christ, through whom He called us from darkness to light, from

ignorance to the full knowledge of the glory of His Name.



1Clem 59:3

   [Grant unto us, Lord,] that we may set our hope on Thy Name which is

the primal source of all creation, and open the eyes of our hearts,

that we may know Thee, who alone abidest Highest in the lofty, Holy

in the holy; who layest low in the insolence of the proud, 

who settest the lowly on high, and bringest the lofty low; 

who makest rich and makest poor; who killest and makest alive; who

alone art the Benefactor of spirits and the God of all flesh; who 

lookest into the abysses, who scanest the works of man; the Succor

of them that are in peril, the Savior of them that are in 

despair; The Creator and Overseer of every spirit; who multipliest

the nations upon earth, and hast chosen out from all men those that

love Thee through Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, through whom Thou

didst instruct us, didst sanctify us, didst honor us.



1Clem 59:4

We beseech Thee, Lord and Master, to be our help and succor. Save

those among us who are in tribulation; have mercy on the lowly; lift

up the fallen; show Thyself unto the needy; heal the ungodly; convert

the wanderers of Thy people; feed the hungry; release our prisoners;

raise up the weak; comfort the fainthearted. Let all the Gentiles

know that Thou art the God alone, and Jesus Christ is Thy Son, and 

we are Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture. 



1Clem 60:1

   Thou through Thine operations didst make manifest the everlasting

fabric of the world. Thou, Lord, didst create the earth. Thou that

art faithful throughout all generations, righteous in Thy judgments,

marvelous in strength and excellence, Thou that art wise in creating

and prudent in establishing that which Thou hast made, that art good

in the things which are seen and faithful with them that trust on

Thee, pitiful and compassionate, forgive us our iniquities and our

unrighteousnesses and our transgressions and shortcomings.



1Clem 60:2

Lay not to our account every sin of Thy servants and Thine handmaids,

but cleanse us with the cleansing of Thy truth, and guide our steps

to walk in holiness and righteousness and singleness of heart 

and to do such things as are good and well pleasing in Thy sight 

and in the sight of our rulers.



1Clem 60:3

Yea, Lord, make Thy face to shine upon us in peace for our good,

that we may be sheltered by Thy mighty hand and delivered from

every sin by Thine uplifted arm. And deliver us from them that

hate us wrongfully.



1Clem 60:4

Give concord and peace to us and to all that dwell on the earth, as

Thou gavest to our fathers, when they called on Thee in faith

and truth with holiness, [that we may be saved,] while we render

obedience to Thine almighty and most excellent Name, and to our

rulers and governors upon the earth.



1Clem 61:1

   Thou, Lord and Master, hast given them the power of sovereignty

through Thine excellent and unspeakable might, that we knowing the

glory and honor which Thou hast given them may submit ourselves unto

them, in nothing resisting Thy will. Grant unto them therefore, O

Lord, health peace, concord, stability, that they may administer the

government which Thou hast given them without failure.



1Clem 61:2

For Thou, O heavenly Master, King of the ages, givest to the sons of

men glory and honor and power over all things that are upon the

earth. Do Thou, Lord, direct their counsel according to that which

is good and well pleasing in Thy sight, that, administering in peace

and gentleness with Godliness the power which Thou hast given them,

they may obtain Thy favor.



1Clem 61:3

O Thou, who alone art able to do these things and things far more

exceeding good than these for us, we praise Thee through the High

priest and Guardian of our souls, Jesus Christ, through whom be the

glory and the majesty unto Thee both now and for all generations and

for ever and ever. Amen.



1Clem 62:1

   As touching those things which befit our religion and are most

useful for a virtuous life to such as would guide [their steps] in

holiness and righteousness, we have written fully unto you, brethren.



1Clem 62:2

For concerning faith and repentance and genuine love and temperance

and sobriety and patience we have handled every argument, putting you

in remembrance, that ye ought to please Almighty God in righteousness

and truth and long suffering with holiness, laying aside malice and

pursuing concord in love and peace, being instant in gentleness; even

as our fathers, of whom we spake before, pleased Him, being lowly

minded toward their Father and God and Creator and towards all men.



1Clem 62:3

And we have put you in mind of these things the more gladly, since we

knew well that we were writing to men who are faithful and highly

accounted and have diligently searched into the oracles of the

teaching of God.



1Clem 63:1

   Therefore it is right for us to give heed to so great and so many

examples and to submit the neck and occupying the place of obedience

to take our side with them that are the leaders of our souls, that

ceasing from this foolish dissension we may attain unto the goal

which lieth before us in truthfulness, keeping aloof from every

fault.



1Clem 63:2

For ye will give us great joy and gladness, if ye render obedience

unto the things written by us through the Holy Spirit, and root out

the unrighteous anger of your jealousy, according to the entreaty

which we have made for peace and concord in this letter.



1Clem 63:3

And we have also sent faithful and prudent men that have walked among

us from youth unto old age unblamably, who shall also be witnesses

between you and us.



1Clem 63:4

And this we have done that ye might know that we have had, and still

have, every solicitude that ye should be speedily at peace.



1Clem 64:1

   Finally may the All seeing God and Master of spirits and Lord of all

flesh, who chose the Lord Jesus Christ, and us through Him for a

peculiar people, grant unto every soul that is called after His

excellent and holy Name faith, fear, peace, patience, long-suffering,

temperance, chastity and soberness, that they may be well pleasing

unto His Name through our High priest and Guardian Jesus Christ,

through whom unto Him be glory and majesty, might and honor, both now

and for ever and ever. Amen.



1Clem 65:1

   Now send ye back speedily unto us our messengers Claudius Ephebus

and Valerius Bito, together with Fortunatus also, in peace and with

joy, to the end that they may the more quickly report the peace and

concord which is prayed for and earnestly desired by us, that we also

may the more speedily rejoice over your good order.



1Clem 65:2

   The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and with all men in

all places who have been called by God and through Him, through whom

be glory and honor, power and greatness and eternal dominion, unto

Him, from the ages past and forever and ever. Amen.


  

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