Texts in Conversation
In Matthew 16, Jesus asks what anyone gains by winning the world but losing their life. In 2 Clement, the preacher echoes Matthew's Greek sentence structure to urge rejection of worldly desires, suggesting direct use of Matthew.
Share:
2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Matthew 16:26
New Testament
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. 26 For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.
2 Clement 6:2
Early Christian
1 But the Lord says, “No servant can serve two masters.” If we desire to serve both God and wealth, it is useless for us: 2 For what advantage is it, if a person gains the whole world and loses their soul? 3 Now this age and the age to come are two enemies. 4 One speaks of adultery and defilement and greed and deceit, but the other rejects these. 5 We therefore cannot be friends with both, but must reject the one and keep company with the other. 6 Let us consider that it is better to hate the things here, because they are lowly, short-lived, and perishable, and to love the things there, for they are good and imperishable.
Date: 130-160 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Search:
Notes and References
“... It is not clear whether this is intended to be a continuation of a ‘quotation’ of what ‘the Lord said’ (cf. 6. 1). Clearly, though, what is said here is close to the saying in the synoptics at Mark 8. 36 and pars. Further, the version in 2 Clement is closer to the version in Matthew, in having the ἐάν + subjunctive construction, unlike Mark and Luke. Thus 2 Clement agrees with Matthew precisely where Matthew has redacted Mark. 2 Clement thus shows agreement with Mathew’s redactional activity, and hence appears to be based (directly or indirectly) on Matthew’s finished gospel. ...”
Gregory, Andrew F.
The Reception of the New Testament in the Apostolic Fathers
(p. 268) Oxford University Press, 2005
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.
User Comments
,