Skip to Content
intertextual.bible
Go to Related Reading
About this book

2 Clement

About this book
Chapter 16

1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have found no small chance for repentance, seeing that we still have time, let us turn again to God who called us, while we still have One who will receive us. 2 For if we let go of these pleasures and subdue our soul by refusing to follow its evil desires, we shall share in the mercy of Jesus. 3 But you know that the day of judgment comes even now like a burning oven, and the powers of the heavens shall melt, and all the earth like lead melting in the fire, and then shall appear the hidden and the open works of humanity.⁠ 4 Giving to the poor, therefore, is good, just like repentance from sin. Fasting is better than prayer, but giving to the poor is better than both. And love covers a multitude of sins,⁠ while prayer from a good conscience delivers from death. Blessed is everyone found full of these virtues. For giving to the poor lifts the burden of sin.⁠

Texts in conversation

Compare 2 Peter 3:10 and 2 Clement 16:3

New Testament · Early Christian

Share:

Summary

In 2 Peter 3, the author describes the heavens melting and human deeds exposed at judgment. In 2 Clement, the preacher uses similar language to urge repentance; both may draw on the same lost Jewish account of the end times.

Passages

2 Peter 3:10

New Testament
8 Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day. 9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; when it comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare.
120–130 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 2 Peter

2 Clement 16:3

Early Christian
1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have found no small chance for repentance, seeing that we still have time, let us turn again to God who called us, while we still have One who will receive us. 2 For if we let go of these pleasures and subdue our soul by refusing to follow its evil desires, we shall share in the mercy of Jesus. 3 But you know that the day of judgment comes even now like a burning oven, and the powers of the heavens shall melt, and all the earth like lead melting in the fire, and then shall appear the hidden and the open works of humanity.
130–160 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 2 Clement

References

“... The similarity between these passages has been noticed before. Some have thought that 2 Clem 16:3 is dependent on 2 Pet 3:10, 12 (e.g. Salmon, Introduction, 521; Bigg, 209; James, 35), while Donfried (Second Clement, 91–92) suggests they both depend on similar traditions, but the hypothesis of a common written source seems not to have been suggested before. Yet it is fairly clear that 2 Clem 16:3 is a quotation, and more than a combined quotation of Mal 3:19; Isa 34:4 LXX [...] A likely source is the Jewish apocalypse already quoted in 2 Clem 11:2–4. The similarity with 2 Pet 3:10, 12 is greater than can be explained by common dependence on Isa 34:4 LXX, and it should be noticed that 2 Clem 16:1; 17:1, in the vicinity of the quotation, express ideas similar to 2 Pet 3:9b, which may indicate that both writers found them in the original context of the quotation. ...”
Richard Bauckham, Word Biblical Commentary: Jude-2 Peter (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1983), 304–305.

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

Your feedback

2 Peter 3:10 and 2 Clement 16:3

Leave a comment

Your questions and comments are welcome!

Comments

Glossary

Search the Library