2 Clement

2 Clement
  2Clem 1:1

   Brethren, we ought so to think of Jesus Christ, as of God, as of the

Judge of quick and dead.



2Clem 1:2

And we ought not to think mean things of our Salvation: for when we

think mean things of Him, we expect also to receive mean things. And

they that listen as concerning mean things do wrong; and we ourselves

do wrong, not knowing whence and by whom and unto what place we were

called, and how many things Jesus Christ endured to suffer for our

sakes.



2Clem 1:3

What recompense then shall we give unto Him? Or what fruit worthy of

His own gift to us? And how many mercies do we owe to Him!



2Clem 1:4

For He bestowed the light upon us; He spake to us, as a father to his

sons; He saved us, when we were perishing.



2Clem 1:5

What praise then shall we give to Him? Or what payment of recompense

for those things which we received?



2Clem 1:6

We who were maimed in our understanding, and worshipped stocks and

stones and gold and silver and bronze, the works of men; and our

whole life was nothing else but death. While then we were thus

wrapped in darkness and oppressed with this thick mist in our vision,

we recovered our sight, putting off by His will the cloud wherein we

were wrapped.



2Clem 1:7

For He had mercy on us, and in His compassion saved us, having beheld

in us much error and perdition, even when we had no hope of

salvation, save that which came from Him.



2Clem 1:8

For He called us, when we were not, and from not being He willed us

to be.



2Clem 2:1 Rejoice, thou barren that barest not. Break out and cry, thou that

travailest not; for more are the children of the desolate than of

her that hath the husband. In that He said Rejoice, thou barren

that barest not, He spake of us: for our Church was barren, before

that children were given unto her.



2Clem 2:2

And in that He said, Cry aloud, thou that travailest not, He

meaneth this; Let us not, like women in travail, grow weary of

offering up our prayers with simplicity to God.



2Clem 2:3

Again, in that He said, For the children of the desolate are more

than of her that hath the husband, He so spake, because our people

seemed desolate and forsaken of God, whereas now, having believed, we

have become more than those who seemed to have God.



2Clem 2:4

Again another scripture saith, I came not to call the righteous,

but sinners.



2Clem 2:5

He meaneth this; that it is right to save them that are perishing.



2Clem 2:6

For this indeed is a great and marvelous work, to establish, not

those things which stand, but those which are falling.



2Clem 2:7

So also Christ willed to save the things which were perishing And He

saved many, coming and calling us when we were even now perishing.



2Clem 3:1

   Seeing then that He bestowed so great mercy on us; first of all,

that we, who are living, do not sacrifice to these dead gods, neither

worship them, but through Him have known the Father of truth. What

else is this knowledge to Himward, but not to deny Him through whom

we have known Him?



2Clem 3:2

Yea, He Himself saith, Whoso confesseth Me, Him will I confess

before the Father.



2Clem 3:3

This then is our reward, if verily we shall confess Him through whom

we were saved.



2Clem 3:4

But wherein do we confess Him? When we do that which He saith and are

not disobedient unto His commandments, and not only honor Him

with our lips, but with our whole heart and with our whole

mind.



2Clem 3:5

Now He saith also in Isaiah, This people honoreth me with their

lips, but their heart is far from Me. 2Clem 4:1

   Let us therefore not only call Him Lord, for this will not save us:



2Clem 4:2

for He saith, Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, shall be

saved, but he that doeth righteousness. 2Clem 4:3

So then, brethren, let us confess Him in our works, by loving one

another, by not committing adultery nor speaking evil one against

another nor envying, but being temperate, merciful, kindly. And we

ought to have fellow-feeling one with another and not to be covetous.

By these works let us confess Him, and not by the contrary.



2Clem 4:4

And we ought not rather to fear men but God.



2Clem 4:5

For this cause, if ye do these things, the Lord said, Though ye be

gathered together with Me in My bosom, and do not My commandments,

I will cast you away and will say unto you, Depart from Me, I know

you not whence ye are, ye workers of iniquity. 2Clem 5:1

   Wherefore, brethren, let us forsake our sojourn in this world and do

the will of Him that called us, and let us not be afraid to depart

out of this world.



2Clem 5:2

For the Lord saith, Ye shall be as lambs in the midst of wolves. 2Clem 5:3

But Peter answered and said unto Him, What then, if the wolves

should tear the lambs? 2Clem 5:4

Jesus said unto Peter, Let not the lambs fear the wolves after they

are dead; and ye also, fear ye not them that kill you and are not

able to do anything to you; but fear Him that after ye are dead

hath power over soul and body, to cast them into the Gehenna of

fire. 2Clem 5:5

And ye know, brethren, that the sojourn of this flesh in this world

is mean and for a short time, but the promise of Christ is great and

marvelous, even the rest of the kingdom that shall be and of life

eternal.



2Clem 5:6

What then can we do to obtain them, but walk in holiness and

righteousness, and consider these worldly things as alien to us, and

not desire them?



2Clem 5:7

For when we desire to obtain these things we fall away from the

righteous path.



2Clem 6:1

   But the Lord saith, No servant can serve two masters. If we

desire to serve both God and mammon, it is unprofitable for us:



2Clem 6:2 For what advantage is it, if a man gain the whole world and forfeit

his soul? 2Clem 6:3

Now this age and the future are two enemies.



2Clem 6:4

The one speaketh of adultery and defilement and avarice and deceit,

but the other biddeth farewell to these.



2Clem 6:5

We cannot therefore be friends of the two, but must bid farewell to

the one and hold companionship with the other.



2Clem 6:6

Let us consider that it is better to hate the things which are here,

because they are mean and for a short time and perishable, and to

love the things which are there, for they are good and imperishable.



2Clem 6:7

For, if we do the will of Christ, we shall find rest; but if

otherwise, then nothing shall deliver us from eternal punishment, if

we should disobey His commandments.



2Clem 6:8

And the scripture also saith in Ezekiel, Though Noah and Job and

Daniel should rise up, they shall not deliver their children in

the captivity.



2Clem 6:9

But if even such righteous men as these cannot by their righteous

deeds deliver their children, with what confidence shall we, if we

keep not our baptism pure and undefiled, enter into the kingdom of

God? Or who shall be our advocate, unless we be found having holy

and righteous works?



2Clem 7:1

   So then, my brethren, let us contend, knowing that the contest is

nigh at hand, and that, while many resort to the corruptible

contests, yet not all are crowned, but only they that have toiled

hard and contended bravely.



2Clem 7:2

Let us then contend that we all may be crowned.



2Clem 7:3

Wherefore let us run in the straight course, the incorruptible

contest. And let us resort to it in throngs and contend, that we may

also be crowned. And if we cannot all be crowned, let us at least

come near to the crown.



2Clem 7:4

We ought to know that he which contendeth in the corruptible contest,

if he be found dealing corruptly with it, is first flogged. and then

removed and driven out of the race course.



2Clem 7:5

What think ye? What shall be done to him that hath dealt corruptly

with the contest of incorruption?



2Clem 7:6

For as concerning them that have not kept the seal, He saith, Their

worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they

shall be for a spectacle unto all flesh.



2Clem 8:1

   While we are on earth then, let us repent: for we are clay under the

craftsman's hand.



2Clem 8:2

For in like manner as the potter, if he be making a vessel, and it

get twisted or crushed in his hands, reshapeth it again; but if he

have once put it into the fiery oven, he shall no longer mend it: so

also let us, while we are in this world, repent with our whole heart

of the evil things which we have done in the flesh, that we may be

saved by the Lord, while we have yet time for repentance.



2Clem 8:3

For after that we have departed out of the world, we can no more make

confession there, or repent any more.



2Clem 8:4

Wherefore, brethren, if we shall have done the will of the Father and

kept the flesh pure and guarded the commandments of the Lord, we

shall receive life eternal.



2Clem 8:5

For the Lord saith in the Gospel, If ye kept not that which is

little, who shall give unto you that which is great? For I say unto

you that he which is faithful in the least, is also faithful in

much.



2Clem 8:6

So then He meaneth this, Keep the flesh pure and the seal unstained,

to the end that we may receive life.



2Clem 9:1

   And let not any one of you say that this flesh is not judged neither

riseth again.



2Clem 9:2

Understand ye. In what were ye saved? In what did ye

recover your sight? if ye were not in this flesh.



2Clem 9:3

We ought therefore to guard the flesh as a temple of God:



2Clem 9:4

for in like manner as ye were called in the flesh, ye shall come also

in the flesh.



2Clem 9:5

If Christ the Lord who saved us, being first spirit, then became

flesh, and so called us, in like manner also shall we in this flesh

receive our reward.



2Clem 9:6

Let us therefore love one another, that we all may come unto the

kingdom of God.



2Clem 9:7

While we have time to be healed, let us place ourselves in the hands

of God the physician, giving Him a recompense.



2Clem 9:8

What recompense? Repentance from a sincere heart.



2Clem 9:9

For He discerneth all things beforehand and knoweth what is in our

heart.



2Clem 9:10

Let us therefore give unto Him eternal praise, not from our lips

only, but also from our heart, that He may receive us as sons.



2Clem 9:11

For the Lord also said, These are my brethren, which do the will of

My Father.



2Clem 10:1

   Wherefore, my brethren, let us do the will of the Father which

called us, that we may live; and let us the rather pursue virtue, but

forsake vice as the forerunner of our sins, and let us flee from

ungodliness, lest evils overtake us.



2Clem 10:2

For if we be diligent in doing good, peace will pursue us.



2Clem 10:3

For this cause is a man unable to *attain happiness*, seeing that

they call in the fears of men, preferring rather the enjoyment which

is here than the promise which is to come.



2Clem 10:4

For they know not how great torment the enjoyment which is here

bringeth, and what delight the promise which is to come bringeth.



2Clem 10:5

And if verily they were doing these things by themselves alone, it

had been tolerable: but now they continue teaching evil to innocent

souls, not knowing that they shall have their condemnation doubled,

both themselves and their hearers.



2Clem 11:1

   Let us therefore serve God in a pure heart, and we shall be

righteous; but if we serve Him not, because we believe not the

promise of God, we shall be wretched.



2Clem 11:2

For the word of prophecy also saith: Wretched are the

double-minded, that doubt in their heart and say, These things we

heard of old in the days of our fathers also, yet we have waited

day after day and seen none of them. 



2Clem 11:3 

Ye fools! compare yourselves unto a tree; take a vine. First it

sheds its leaves, then a shoot cometh, after this a sour berry,

then a full ripe grape. 



2Clem 11:4 

So likewise My people had tumults and afflictions: but afterward

they shall receive good things. 



2Clem 11:5

Wherefore, my brethren, let us not be double-minded but endure

patiently in hope, that we may also obtain our reward.



2Clem 11:6 

For faithful is He that promised to pay to each man the recompense

of his works.



2Clem 11:7

If therefore we shalt have wrought righteousness in the sight of God,

we shalt enter into His kingdom and shall receive the promises which 

ear hath not heard nor eye seen, nor eye seen, neither hath it

entered into the heart of man. 



2Clem 12:1

   Let us therefore await the kingdom of God betimes in love and

righteousness, since we know not the day of God's appearing.



2Clem 12:2

For the Lord Himself, being asked by a certain person when his

kingdom would come, said, When the two shall be one, and the

outside as the inside, and the male with the female, neither male

or female. 2Clem 12:3

Now the two are one, when we speak truth among ourselves, and

in two bodies there shall be one soul without dissimulation.



2Clem 12:4

And by the outside as the inside He meaneth this: by the inside he

meaneth the soul and by the outside the body. Therefore in like

manner as they body appeareth, so also let thy soul be manifest by

its good works.



2Clem 12:5

And by the male with the female, neither male nor female, he

meaneth this; that a brother seeing a sister should have no thought

of her as a female, and that a sister seeing a brother should not

have any thought of him as a male.



2Clem 12:6

These things if ye do, saith He, the kingdom of my father shall come.



2Clem 13:1

   Therefore, brethren, let us repent forthwith. Let us be sober unto

that which is good: for we are full of much folly and wickedness.

Let us wipe away from us our former sins, and let us not be found to

be men pleasers. Neither let us desire to please one another only,

but also those men that are without, by our righteousness, that the

Name be not blasphemed by reason of us.



2Clem 13:2

For the Lord saith, Every way My Name is blasphemed among all the

Gentiles; and again, Woe unto him by reason of whom My Name is

blasphemed. Wherein is it blasphemed? In that ye do not the things

which I desire.



2Clem 13:3

For the Gentiles, when they hear from our mouths the oracles of God,

marvel at them for their beauty and greatness; then, when they

discover that our works are not worthy of the words which we speak,

forthwith they betake themselves to blasphemy, saying that it is an

idle story and a delusion.



2Clem 13:4

For when they here from us that God saith, It is no thank unto you,

if ye love them that love you, but this is thank unto you, if ye

love your enemies and them that hate you; when they hear these

things, I say, they marvel at their exceeding goodness; but when they

see that we not only do not love us, they laugh us to scorn, and the

Name is blasphemed.



2Clem 14:1

   Wherefore, brethren, if we do the will of God our Father, we shall

be of the first Church, which is spiritual, which was created before

the sun and the moon; but if we do not the will of the Lord, we shall

be of the scripture that saith, My house was made a den of 

robbers. So therefore let us choose rather to be of the Church of

life, that we may be saved.



2Clem 14:2

And I do not suppose ye are ignorant that the living Church is the

body of Christ: for the scripture saith, God made man, male and

female. The male is Christ and the female is the Church. And the

Books and the Apostles plainly declare that the Church existeth not

now for the first time, but hath been from the beginning: for she was

spiritual, as our Jesus also was spiritual, but was manifested in the

last days that He might save us.



2Clem 14:3

Now the Church, being spiritual was manifested in the flesh of

Christ, thereby showing us that if any of us guard her in the flesh

and defile her not, he shall receive her again in the Holy Spirit:

for this flesh is the counterpart and copy of the spirit. No man

therefore, when he hath defiled the copy, shall receive the original

for his portion. This therefore is what He meaneth, brethren; Guard

ye the flesh, that ye may partake of the spirit.



2Clem 14:4

But if we say that the flesh is the Church and the spirit is Christ,

then he that hath dealt wantonly with the flesh hath dealt wantonly

with the Church. Such and one therefore shall not partake of the

spirit, which is Christ>.



2Clem 14:5

So excellent is the life and immortality which this flesh can receive

as its portion, if the Holy Spirit be joined to it. No man can

declare or tell those things which the Lord hath prepared for His

elect.



2Clem 15:1

   Now I do not think that I have given any mean council respecting

continence, and whosoever performeth it shall not repent thereof, but

shall save both himself and me his councilor. For it is no mean

reward to convert a wondering and perishing soul, that it may be

saved.



2Clem 15:2

For this is the recompense which we are able to pay to God who

created us, if he that speaketh and heareth both speak and hear with

faith and love.



2Clem 15:3

Let is therefore abide in the things which we believed, in

righteousness and holiness, that we may with boldness as of God who

saith, Whiles thou art still speaking I will say, Behold, I am

here. 2Clem 15:4

For this word is the token of a great promise: for the Lord saith of

Himself that He is more ready to give than he that asketh to ask.



2Clem 15:5

Seeing then that we are partakers of so great kindness, let us not

grudge ourselves the obtaining of so many good things. For in

proportion as the pleasure is great which these words bring to them

that have performed them, so also is the condemnation great which

they bring to them that have been disobedient.



2Clem 16:1

   Therefore, brethren, since we have found no small opportunity for

repentance, seeing that we have time, let us turn again unto God that

called us, while we have still One that receiveth us.



2Clem 16:2

For if we bid farewell to these enjoyments and conquer our soul in

refusing to fulfill its evil lusts, we shall be partakers of the mercy

of Jesus.



2Clem 16:3

But ye know that the day of judgment cometh even now as a burning

oven, and the powers of the heavens shall melt, and all the earth

as lead melting on the fire, and then shall appear the secret and

open works of men.



2Clem 16:4

Almsgiving therefore is a good thing, even as repentance from sin>

Fasting is better than prayer, but almsgiving better than both. And 

love covereth a multitude of sins, but prayer out of a good

conscience delivereth from death. Blessed is every man that is found

full of these. For almsgiving lifteth off the burden of sin.



2Clem 17:1

   Let us therefore repent with our whole heart, lest any of us perish

by the way. For if we have received commands, that we should make

this our business, to tear men away from idols and to instruct them,

how much more is it wrong that a soul which knoweth God already

should perish!



2Clem 17:2

Therefore let us assist one another, that we may also lead the weak

upward as touching that which is good, to the end that we all may be

saved: and let us convert and admonish one another.



2Clem 17:3

And let us not think to give heed and believe now only, while we have

departed home, let us remember the commandments of the Lord, and not

suffer ourselves to be dragged off the other way by our worldly

lusts; but coming hither more frequently, let us strive to go forward

in the commandments of the Lord, that we all having the same mind may

be gathered together unto life.



2Clem 17:4

For the Lord said, I come to gather together all the nations,

tribes, and languages. Herein He speaketh of the day of His

appearing, when He shall come and redeem us, each man according to

his works.



2Clem 17:5 

And the unbelievers shall see His glory and His might: and they

shall be amazed when they see the kingdom of the world given to

Jesus, saying, Woe unto us, for Thou wast, and we knew it not, and

believed not; and we obeyed not the presbyters when they told us of

our salvation. And Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall

not be quenched, and they shall be for a spectacle unto all flesh.



2Clem 17:6

He speaketh of that day of judgment, when men shall see those among

us that live ungodly lives and dealt falsely with the commandments of

Jesus Christ.



2Clem 17:7

But the righteous, done good and endured torments and

hated pleasures of the soul, when they shall behold them that have

done amiss and denied Jesus by their words or by their deeds, how

that they are punished with grievous torments in unquenchable fire,

shall give glory to God, saying, There will be hope for him that hath

served God with his whole heart.



2Clem 18:1

   Therefore let us also be found among those that give thanks, among

those that have served God, and not among the ungodly that are

judged.



2Clem 18:2

For I myself too, being an utter sinner and not yet escaped from

temptation, but being still amidst the engines of the devil, do my

diligence to follow after righteousness, that I may prevail so far at

least as to come near unto it, while I fear the judgment to come.



2Clem 19:1

Therefore, brothers and sisters, after the God of truth hath been

heard, I read unto you an exhortation to the end that ye may give

heed to the things which are written, for that ye may save both

yourselves and him that readeth in the midst of you. For I ask of

you as a reward that ye repent with your whole heart, and give

salvation and life to yourselves. For doing this we shall set a goal

for all the young who desire to toil in the study of piety and of the

goodness of God.



2Clem 19:2

And let is not be displeased and vexed, fools that we are, whensoever

any one admonish us and turneth us aside from unrighteousness unto

righteousness. For sometimes while we do evil things, we perceive it

not by reason of the double-mindedness and unbelief which is in our

breasts, and we are darkened in our understanding by our vain

lusts.



2Clem 19:3

Let us therefore practice righteousness that we may be saved unto the

end. Blessed are they that obey these ordinances. Though they may

endure affliction for a short time in the world, they will gather the

immortal fruit of the resurrection.



2Clem 19:4

Therefore let not the godly be grieved, if he be miserable in the

times that now are: a blessed time awaiteth him. He shall live

again in heaven with our fathers, and shall have rejoicing throughout

a sorrowless eternity.



2Clem 20:1

   Neither suffer ye this again to trouble your mind, that we see the

unrighteous possessing wealth, and the servants of God straitened.



2Clem 20:2

Let us then have faith, brothers and sisters. We are trained by the

present life, that we may be crowned with the future.



2Clem 20:3

No righteous man hath reaped fruit quickly but waiteth for it.



2Clem 20:4

For if God had paid the recompense of the righteous speedily, then

straightway we should have been training ourselves in merchandise,

and not in godliness; for we should seem to be righteous, though we

were pursuing not that which is godly, but which is gainful. And for

this cause Divine judgment overtaketh a spirit that is not just, and

loadeth it with chains.



2Clem 20:5

   To the only God invisible, the Father of truth, who sent forth unto

us the Savior and Prince of immortality, through whom also He made

manifest unto us the truth and the heavenly life, to Him be the glory

for ever and ever. Amen.