Texts in Conversation
In Luke 16, Jesus connects faithfulness in small matters with faithfulness in greater ones. In 2 Clement, the preacher quotes a similar saying from one of the gospels but significantly changed, and applies it to bodily purity.
Share:
2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Luke 16:10
New Testament
10 “The one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you haven’t been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will entrust you with the true riches? 12 And if you haven’t been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” 14 The Pharisees (who loved money) heard all this and ridiculed him.
2 Clement 8:5
Early Christian
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.” 6 So then He means this: keep the flesh pure and the seal unstained, so that we may receive life.
Date: 130-160 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Search:
Notes and References
“... This saying in 2 Clement is of interest as it is the only one which is said to be ‘in the gospel’ [...]. The word ‘gospel’ is of course notoriously ambiguous, especially in Christian usage around this period. However, the most obvious interpretation of the word here is that it refers to a written text containing words attributed to Jesus. The identification of that text is, however, not explicitly specified. The second half of the saying is close in wording to Luke 16. 10a. [...] The first part of the saying as recorded in 2 Clement has no clear parallel in the synoptic tradition (its sentiments are not far removed from Luke 16. 11–12, but there is no clear verbal agreement). ...”
Gregory, Andrew F.
The Reception of the New Testament in the Apostolic Fathers
(p. 269) 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
,