2 Clement

1 Brothers and sisters, we ought so to think of Jesus Christ, as of God, as of the Judge of the living and the dead. 2 And we ought not to think lowly things about our Salvation: for when we think lowly things of Him, we also expect to receive lowly things. And those who listen regarding lowly things do wrong; and we ourselves do wrong, not knowing from where and by whom and to what place we were called, and how many things Jesus Christ endured to suffer for our sakes. 3 What recompense then shall we give to Him? Or what fruit is worthy of His own gift to us? And how many mercies do we owe Him! 4 For He bestowed the light on us; He spoke to us, as a father to his sons; He saved us, when we were perishing. 5 What praise then shall we give to Him? Or what payment of recompense for those things which we received? 6 We who were maimed in our understanding, and worshiped wood and stone and gold and silver and bronze, the works of men; and our whole life was nothing else but death. While 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 in which we were wrapped. 7 For He had mercy on us, and in His compassion saved us, having seen in us much error and destruction, even when we had no hope of salvation, except that which came from Him. 8 For He called us, when we were not, and from not being He willed us to be.

1 “Rejoice, you barren who bore no child. Break out and cry, you who have not labored; for more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband.”⁠a In that He said “Rejoice, you barren who bore no child,” He spoke of us: for our Church was barren, before children were given to her. 2 And in that He said, “Cry aloud, you who have not labored,” He means this: Let us not, like women in labor, grow weary of offering up our prayers simply to God. 3 Again, in that He said, “For the children of the desolate are more than of her who has the husband,” He spoke so, because our people seemed desolate and forsaken by God, whereas now, having believed, we have become more than those who seemed to have God. 4 Again another scripture says, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”⁠b 5 He means this: that it is right to save those who are perishing. 6 For this indeed is a great and marvelous work—to establish, not those things that already stand, but those that are falling. 7 So also Christ willed to save the things that were perishing; and He saved many, coming and calling us when we were even now perishing.

1 Seeing then that He bestowed such great mercy on us; first of all, that we, who are living, do not sacrifice to these dead gods or worship them, but through Him have known the Father of truth. What else is this knowledge of Him but not to deny Him through whom we have known the Father? 2 Yes, He Himself says, “Whoever confesses Me, him will I confess before the Father.”⁠a 3 This then is our reward, if truly we shall confess Him through whom we were saved. 4 But how do we confess Him? When we do what He says and are not disobedient to His commandments, and do not merely honor Him with our lips, but with our whole heart and our whole mind. 5 Now He says also in Isaiah, “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.”⁠b

1 Let us therefore not only call Him ‘Lord,’ for this will not save us: 2 for He says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord,’ shall be saved, but the one who does what is right.”⁠a 3 So then, brothers and sisters, let us confess Him by our deeds, by loving one another, by not committing adultery or speaking evil against one another or envying, but by being temperate, merciful, and kind. We ought to have empathy for one another and not be greedy. By these works let us confess Him, and not by the opposite. 4 And we ought not to fear people rather than God. 5 For this reason, if you do these things, the Lord said, “Though you be gathered together with Me in My bosom, and do not My commandments, I will cast you away and will say to you, ‘Depart from Me, I do not know where you are from, you workers of evil.’”⁠b

1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us forsake our stay in this world and do the will of Him who called us, and let us not be afraid to leave this world. 2 For the Lord says, “You shall be as lambs in the midst of wolves.” 3 But Peter answered and said to Him, “What then, if the wolves should tear the lambs?”⁠a 4 Jesus said to Peter, “Do not let the lambs fear the wolves after they are dead; and you also, do not fear those who kill you and cannot do anything more to you; but fear Him who, after you are dead, has power over soul and body, to cast them into the Gehenna of fire.” 5 And you know, brothers and sisters, that the time of this flesh in this world is humble and short, but the promise of Christ is great and marvelous, even the rest of the kingdom that shall be and of eternal life. 6 What then can we do to obtain these things, except walk in holiness and righteousness, and regard these worldly things as foreign to us, and not desire them? 7 For when we desire to have these things, we stray from the path of righteousness.

1 But the Lord says, “No servant can serve two masters.”⁠a 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?⁠b 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. 7 For, if we do the will of Christ, we shall find rest; but if otherwise, then nothing shall save us from eternal punishment if we disobey His commandments. 8 And the scripture also says in Ezekiel, “Though Noah and Job and Daniel should rise up, they shall not deliver their children in the captivity.” 9 But if even such righteous men as these cannot, by their righteous deeds, deliver their children, with what confidence shall we—if we do not keep our baptism pure and undefiled—enter the kingdom of God? Or who shall be our advocate, unless we are found having holy and righteous works?

1 So then, my brothers and sisters, let us struggle, knowing that the contest is near at hand, and that, while many go to the corruptible contests, not all are crowned,⁠a but only those who have worked hard and fought bravely. 2 Let us then contend so that we may all be crowned. 3 Therefore let us run in the straight course, the incorruptible contest. Let us gather there in great numbers and fight, that we may also be crowned. And if we cannot all be crowned, let us at least come near the crown. 4 We should realize that whoever competes in a corruptible contest, if found cheating, is first flogged and then removed and driven out of the racecourse. 5 What do you think then? What shall be done to the one who has cheated in the contest of incorruption? 6 For concerning those who have not kept the seal, He says, “Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be a spectacle to all flesh.”⁠b

1 While we are on earth, then, let us repent: for we are clay under the craftsman’s hand. 2 For just as a potter, if he is making a vessel and it gets twisted or crushed in his hands, reshapes it again; but if he has once put it into the fiery oven, he can no longer mend it:⁠a so also let us, while we are in this world, repent wholeheartedly of the evil things which we have done in the flesh, so that we may be saved by the Lord while we still have time for repentance. 3 For after we have left the world, we can no longer make confession there or repent any more. 4 Therefore, brothers and sisters, if we do the will of the Father and keep the flesh pure and guard the commandments of the Lord, we shall receive eternal life. 5 For the Lord says in the Gospel, “If you did not keep what is little, who will give you what is great? For I say to you that whoever is faithful in the least, is also faithful in much.”⁠b 6 So then He means this: keep the flesh pure and the seal unstained, so that we may receive life.

1 And let none of you say that this flesh is not judged or does not rise again. 2 Understand this: in what were you saved? In what did you recover your sight—if not in this flesh? 3 We ought therefore to guard the flesh as a temple of God:⁠a 4 for just as you were called in the flesh, you shall also come in the flesh. 5 If Christ the Lord who saved us, being first spirit, then became flesh and so called us, then in the same way, in this flesh we shall receive our reward. 6 Let us therefore love one another, that we may all enter the kingdom of God. 7 While we have time to be healed, let us place ourselves in the hands of God the physician, offering Him a return. 8 What return? Sincere repentance from the heart. 9 For He foresees all things and knows what is in our heart. 10 Let us therefore give Him praise forever, not only from our lips but also from our heart, that He may accept us as children. 11 For the Lord also said, “These are my siblings, who do the will of My Father.”⁠b

1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, let us do the will of the Father who called us, that we may live; and rather let us pursue virtue, forsaking vice as the forerunner of our sins, and flee from ungodliness so that evil does not overtake us. 2 For if we are diligent in doing good, peace will pursue us. 3 For this reason a person is unable to attain happiness, because they rely on the fears of people, preferring rather the enjoyment here than the promise to come. 4 For they do not know how great a torment the enjoyment here brings, or what delight the promise to come brings. 5 And if they were doing these things by themselves alone, it would be tolerable; but now they continue teaching evil to innocent souls, not realizing that they shall have a double condemnation—both they and their hearers.

1 Let us therefore serve God with a pure heart, and we shall be righteous; but if we do not serve Him, because we do not believe the promise of God, we shall be miserable. 2 For the word of prophecy also says: “Miserable are the double-minded, who doubt in their hearts and say, ‘We heard these things long ago in our fathers’ time, yet day after day we have waited and seen none of them.’”⁠a 3 You fools! Compare yourselves to a tree; take a vine. First it sheds its leaves, then a shoot appears, after this a sour berry, then a fully ripe grape. 4 So likewise My people had turmoil and afflictions, but afterward they shall receive good things. 5 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, let us not be double-minded but patiently endure in hope, so that we may also obtain our reward. 6 For He who promised is faithful⁠b to pay each person the due reward of their works. 7 If therefore we have done what is right in the sight of God, we shall enter His kingdom and shall receive the promises that no ear has heard nor eye seen, nor has it entered into any person’s heart.⁠c

1 Let us therefore look for the kingdom of God without delay in love and righteousness, since we do not know the day of God’s appearing. 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 nor female.”⁠a 3 Now the two are one when we speak truth among ourselves, and in two bodies there shall be one soul without hypocrisy. 4 And by ‘the outside as the inside’ He means this: by the inside He means the soul, and by the outside the body. Therefore, in the same way that your body is visible, let your soul be manifest by its good works. 5 And ‘the male with the female, neither male nor female,’ means this: that a brother seeing a sister should have no thought of her as female, and a sister seeing a brother should not think of him as male. 6 “If you do these things,” He says, “the kingdom of my Father shall come.”

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;”⁠a 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,”⁠b 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.

1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, if we do the will of God our Father, we will be part of the first Church,⁠a which is spiritual and was created before the sun and the moon.⁠b But if we do not do the will of the Lord, we will be as the Scripture says, ‘My house has become a den of robbers.’ So let us choose instead to be part of the Church of life, that we may be saved. 2 And I do not suppose you are unaware that the living Church is the body of Christ; for the Scripture says, ‘God made humankind, male and female.’ The male is Christ and the female is the Church. The Scriptures and the Apostles clearly declare that the Church does not exist now for the first time, but has been from the beginning; for she was spiritual, as our Jesus also was spiritual, yet was manifested in the last days so that He might save us. 3 Now the Church, being spiritual, was revealed in the flesh of Christ, showing us that if any of us protect her in the flesh and do not defile her, we shall receive her again in the Holy Spirit; for this flesh is the counterpart and copy of the spirit. Therefore, anyone who has defiled the copy shall not receive the original for their share. This is what He means, brothers and sisters: Protect the flesh, that you may share in the spirit. 4 But if we say that the flesh is the Church and the spirit is Christ, then whoever has acted immorally with the flesh has acted immorally with the Church. Such a one, therefore, shall not partake of the spirit, which is Christ. 5 So excellent is the life and immortality that this flesh can receive as its share if the Holy Spirit joins with it. No one can describe or explain the things the Lord has prepared for His chosen ones.

1 Now I do not think that I have given any lowly advice regarding self-control, and whoever practices it will not regret it, but will save both themselves and me, their counselor. For it is no small reward to turn back a wandering and perishing soul, so that it may be saved. 2 For this is the return we can give to God who created us, if the one who speaks and the one who hears both speak and hear with faith and love. 3 Let us therefore remain in the things we believed, in righteousness and holiness, so that we may speak confidently to God, who says, “While you are still speaking I will say, ‘Look, I am here.’” 4 For this saying is a sign of a great promise: for the Lord says of Himself that He is more ready to give than the one who asks is to ask. 5 Since we share in such great kindness, let us not deny ourselves the obtaining of so many good things. For just as great as the joy these words bring to those who perform them, so also is the condemnation they bring to those who disobey them.

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.⁠a 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,⁠b 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.⁠c

1 Let us therefore repent with our whole heart, so that none of us may perish along the way. For if we have been commanded to make it our business to pull people away from idols and to teach them, how much more is it wrong that a soul which already knows God should perish! 2 Therefore let us help one another, so that we may also lead the weak toward what is good, so that we all may be saved; and let us guide and encourage one another. 3 And let us not think to heed and believe only now, but when we have gone home, let us remember the commandments of the Lord, and not let ourselves be dragged away by worldly desires; but coming here more often, let us try to advance in the commandments of the Lord, so that we all, having the same mind, may be gathered together for life. 4 For the Lord said, “I come to gather together all nations, tribes, and languages.” Here He speaks of the day of His appearing, when He shall come and reward each person according to their deeds. 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 to us, for You were there, and we did not realize it, and we did not believe; and we did not obey the elders when they told us about our salvation. And their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be a spectacle to all flesh.” 6 He speaks of that day of judgment, when people shall see those among us who lived unrighteously and dealt falsely with the commandments of Jesus Christ. 7 But the righteous, who have done good and endured suffering and rejected the pleasures of the soul, when they see those who have done wrong and denied Jesus by their words or by their deeds—how they are punished with dreadful torments in unquenchable fire—shall give glory to God, saying, “There will be hope for the one who has served God with their whole heart.”

1 Therefore let us also be counted among those who give thanks, among those who have served God, and not among the ungodly who are judged. 2 For I too, being a complete sinner and not yet freed from temptation, but still in the midst of the devil’s devices, do my best to pursue righteousness, so that I may succeed at least in coming near to it, while I fear the judgment to come.

1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, after hearing the God of truth, I have read aloud this exhortation among you so that you may heed the things written and thus save both yourselves and the one who reads among you. For I ask of you, as a reward, that you repent wholeheartedly and give salvation and life to yourselves. By doing this, we shall set an example for all the young who desire to labor in pursuing the piety and goodness of God. 2 And let us not be irritated and distressed—foolish as we are—whenever someone admonishes us and turns us from wrongdoing to what is right. For sometimes, while we do bad things, we do not notice because of the doubt and unbelief in our hearts, and we are darkened in our understanding by our empty desires. 3 Let us therefore practice righteousness so that we may be saved in the end. Blessed are those who obey these guidelines. Though they may suffer affliction for a short time in this world, they will gather the immortal fruit of the resurrection. 4 Therefore, do not let the righteous person be upset if they are miserable in the present time: a blessed time awaits them. They shall live again in heaven with our fathers, and shall have joy for all eternity, free from sorrow.

1 And do not let this again trouble your mind, that we see the unrighteous possessing wealth, while the servants of God are in need. 2 Let us then have faith, brothers and sisters. We are being trained by the present life so that we may be crowned in the life to come. 3 No righteous person has quickly reaped reward, but waits for it. 4 For if God had paid the recompense of the righteous right away, then immediately we would be training ourselves for profit, not for godliness; for we would appear righteous while not pursuing what is godly but what is beneficial to us. And for this reason Divine judgment overtakes a spirit that is not upright, and binds it with chains. 5 To the only invisible God, the Father of truth,⁠a who sent to us the Savior and Prince of immortality, through whom also He revealed to us the truth and heavenly life—to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.