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2 Clement

About this book
Chapter 13

1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us repent at once. Let us be sober to what is good: for we are full of much folly and wickedness. Let us wipe away our former sins from ourselves, and let us not be people-pleasers. Neither let us desire only to please each other, but also those who are outside, by our righteousness, so that the Name is not blasphemed because of us. 2 For the Lord says, “Every way My Name is blasphemed among all the Gentiles;”⁠ and again, “Woe to the one by whom My Name is blasphemed.” How is it blasphemed? Because you do not do the things I desire. 3 For when the Gentiles hear from our mouths the oracles of God, they marvel at their beauty and greatness; then, when they discover that our deeds are not worthy of the words we speak, they turn at once to blasphemy, saying that it is an empty tale and a deception. 4 For when they hear from us that God says, “It is no credit to you if you love those who love you, but you gain credit if you love your enemies and those who hate you,”⁠ when they hear these things, they marvel at their extreme goodness. But when they see that we do not love them, they ridicule us, and the Name is blasphemed.

Texts in conversation

Compare LXX Isaiah 52:5 and Romans 2:24 and 2 Clement 13:2

Septuagint · New Testament · Early Christian

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Summary

In the Greek version of Isaiah 52, God says the nations dishonor his name. Paul quotes this against disobedient Jewish teachers in Romans 2 and in 2 Clement, the preacher applies it to Christian disobedience, likely drawing directly on Isaiah.

Passages

LXX Isaiah 52:5

Septuagint
3 For thus says the Lord, You have been sold for nothing; and you shall not be ransomed with silver. 4 Thus says the Lord, My people went down before to Egypt to stay there; and were carried away forcibly to the Assyrians. 5 And now why are you here? Thus says the Lord, Because my people was taken for nothing, wonder and howl. Thus says the Lord, On account of you my name is continually blasphemed among the Gentiles. 6 Therefore shall my people know my name in that day, for I am he that speaks: I am present, 7 as a season of beauty upon the mountains, as the feet of one preaching glad news of peace, as one preaching good news: for I will publish your salvation, saying, Zion, your God shall reign.
100–1 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in LXX Isaiah

Romans 2:24

New Testament
19 and if you are convinced that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an educator of the senseless, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the essential features of knowledge and of the truth— 21 therefore you who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who tell others not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by transgressing the law! 24 For just as it is written, “the name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
55–58 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Romans

2 Clement 13:2

Early Christian
1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us repent at once. Let us be sober to what is good: for we are full of much folly and wickedness. Let us wipe away our former sins from ourselves, and let us not be people-pleasers. Neither let us desire only to please each other, but also those who are outside, by our righteousness, so that the Name is not blasphemed because of us. 2 For the Lord says, “Every way My Name is blasphemed among all the Gentiles;” and again, “Woe to the one by whom My Name is blasphemed.” How is it blasphemed? Because you do not do the things I desire.
130–160 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 2 Clement

References

“... Five potential parallels may be noted. In two instances they may be explained by the independent use of a passage in the Jewish Scriptures. [...] This parallel was not recorded by the Oxford Committee, and may be explained by ‘Clement’ citing Isaiah without direct recourse to Paul. The same passage appears to be used also in Ign., Trall. 8. 2; Poly. Phil. 10. 3; and Ap Const, 1. 10. 1 and 3. 5. 6) The source of the second quotation is unknown. ...”
Andrew Gregory and Christopher Tuckett, eds., The Reception of the New Testament in the Apostolic Fathers (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005), 280–281.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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LXX Isaiah 52:5 and Romans 2:24 and 2 Clement 13:2

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