Second Clement The Second Epistle Of Clement

 Chap. I.--We Ought To Think Highly Of Christ. Brethren, it is fitting that you should think of Jesus Christ as of God,--as the Judge of the living and

 Chap. II.--The Church, Formerly Barren, Is Now Fruitful. Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not break forth and cry, thou that travailest not for sh

 Chap. III.--The Duty Of Confessing Christ. Since, then, He has displayed so great mercy towards us, and especially in this respect, that we who are li

 Chap. IV.--True Confession Of Christ. Let us, then, not only call Him Lord, for that will not save us. For He saith, Not every one that saith to me,

 Chap. V.--This World Should Be Despised. Wherefore, brethren, leaving [willingly] our sojourn in this present world, let us do the will of Him that ca

 Chap. VI.--The Present And Future Worlds Are Enemies To Each Other. Now the Lord declares, No servant can serve two masters. If we desire, then, to

 Chap. VII.--We Must Strive In Order To Be Crowned. Wherefore, then, my brethren, let us struggle with all earnestness, knowing that the contest is [in

 Chap. VIII.--The Necessity Of Repentance While We Are On Earth. As long, therefore, as we are upon earth, let us practise repentance, for we are as cl

 Chap. IX.--We Shall Be Judged In The Flesh. And let no one of you say that this very flesh shall not be judged, nor rise again. Consider ye in what [s

 Chap. X.--Vice Is To Be Forsaken, And Virtue Followed. Wherefore, my brethren, let us do the will of the Father who called us, that we may live and l

 Chap. XI.--We Ought To Serve God, Trusting In His Promises. Let us therefore serve God with a pure heart, and we shall be righteous but if we do not

 Chap. XII.--We Are Constantly To Look For The Kingdom Of God. Let us expect, therefore, hour by hour, the kingdom of God in love and righteousness, si

 Chap. XIII.--God'S Name Not To Be Blasphemed. Brethren, then, let us now at length repent, let us soberly turn to that which is good for we are full

 Chap. XIV.--The Church Spiritual. So, then, brethren, if we do the will of our Father God, we shall be members of the first church, the spiritual,--th

 Chap. XV.--He Who Saves And He Who Is Saved. I think not that I counted trivial counsel concerning continence following it, a man will not repent the

 For in proportion to the pleasure with which these words are fraught to those who shall follow them, in that proportion is the condemnation with which

 Chap. XVI--Preparation For The Day Of Judgment. So, then, brethren, having received no small occasion to repent, while we have opportunity, let us tur

 Chap. XVII.--Same Subject Continued. Let us, then, repent with our whole heart, that no one of us may perish amiss. For if we have commands and engage

 Chap. XVIII.--The Author Sinful, Yet Pursuing. And let us, then, be of the number of those who give thanks, who have served God, and not of the ungodl

 Chap. XIX.--Reward Of The Righteous, Although They May Suffer. So then, brothers and sisters, after the God of truth I address to you an appeal that y

 Chap. XX.--Godliness, Not Gain, The True Riches. But let it not even trouble your mind, that we see the unrighteous possessed of riches and the servan

Chap. V.--This World Should Be Despised.
Wherefore, brethren, leaving [willingly] our sojourn in this present world, let us do the will of Him that called us, and not fear to depart out of this world. For the Lord saith, "Ye shall be as lambs in the midst of wolves." And Peter answered and said unto Him, "What, then, if the wolves shall tear in pieces the lambs?" Jesus said unto Peter, "The lambs have no cause after they are dead to fear the wolves; and in like manner, fear not ye them that kill you, and can do nothing more unto you; but fear Him who, after you are dead, has power over both soul and body to cast them into hell-fire." And consider, brethren, that the sojourning in the flesh in this world is but brief and transient, but the promise of Christ is great and wonderful, even the rest of the kingdom to come, and of life everlasting. By what course of conduct, then, shall we attain these things, but by leading a holy and righteous life, and by deeming these worldly things as not belonging to us, and not fixing our desires upon them? For if we desire to possess them, we fall away from the path of righteousness.

V 1. Ὅθεν, ἀδελφοί, καταλείψαντες τὴν παροικίαν τοῦ κόσμου τούτου ποιησωμεν τὸ θέλημα τοῦ καλέσαντος ἡμᾶς, καὶ μὴ φοβηθῶμεν ἐξελθεῖν ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου. 2. λέγει γὰρ ὁ κύριος Ἔσεσθε ὡς ἀρνία ἐν μέσῳ λύκων. 3. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Πέτρος αὐτῷ λέγει· Ἐὰν οὖν διασπαράξωσιν οἱ λύκοι τὰ ἀρνία; 4. εἶπεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῷ Πέτρῳ· Μῃ φοβείθωσαν τὰ ἀρνία τοὺς λύκους μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν αὐτά· καὶ ὑμεῖς μὴ φοβεῖσθε τοὺς ἀποκτέννοντας ὑμᾶς καὶ μηδὲν ὑμῖν δυναμένους ποιεῖν, ἀλλὰ φοβεῖσθε τὸν μετὰ το ἀποθανεῖν ὑμᾶς ἔχοντα ἐξουσίαν ψυχῆς καὶ σώματος τοῦ βαλεῖν εἰς γέενναν πυρός. 5. καὶ γινώσκετε, ἀδελφοί, ὅτι ἡ ἐπιδημία ἡ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ τούτῳ τῆς σαρκὸς ταύτης μικρά ἐστιν καὶ ὀλιγοχρόνιος, ἡ δὲ ἐαπγγελία τοῦ Χριστοῦ μεγάλη καὶ θαυμαστή ἐστιν, καὶ ἀνάπαυσις τῆς μελλούσης βασιλείας καὶ ζωῆς αἰωνίου. 6. τί οὖν ἐστὶν ποιήσαντας ἐπιτυχεῖν αὐτῶν, εἰ μὴ τὸ ὁσίως καὶ δικαίως ἀναστρέφεσθαι καὶ τὰ κοσμικὰ ταῦτα ὡς ἀλλότρια ἡγεῖσθαι καὶ μὴ ἐπιθυμεῖν αὐτῶν; 7. ἐν γὰρ τῷ ἐπιθυμεῖν ἡμᾶς κτήσασθαι ταῦτα ἀποπίπτομεν τῆς ὁδοῦ τῆς δικαίας.