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. 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 serve both God and mammon, it will be unprofitable for us. "For what will it profit if a man gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" This world and the next are two enemies. The one urges to adultery and corruption, avarice and deceit; the other bids farewell to these things. We cannot, therefore, be the friends of both; and it behoves us, by renouncing the one, to make sure of the other. Let us reckon that it is better to hate the things present, since they are trifling, and transient, and corruptible; and to love those [which are to come,] as being good and incorruptible. For if we do the will of Christ, we shall find rest; otherwise, nothing shall deliver us from eternal punishment, if we disobey His commandments. For thus also saith the Scripture in Ezekiel, "If Noah, Job, and Daniel should rise up, they should not deliver their children in captivity." Now, if men so eminently righteous are not able by their righteousness to deliver their children, how can we hope to enter into the royal residence of God unless we keep our baptism holy and undefiled? Or who shall be our advocate, unless we be found possessed of works of holiness and righteousness?

VI 1. Λέγει δὲ ὁ κύριος· Οὐδεὶς οἰκέτης δύναται δυσὶ κυρίοις δουλεύειν. ἐὰν ἡμεῖς θέλωμεν καὶ θεῷ δουλεύειν καὶ μαμωνᾷ, ἀσύμφορον ἡμῖν ἐστίν. 2. τί γὰρ τὸ ὄφελος, ἐάν τις τὸν κόσμον ὅλον κερδήσῃ, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν ζημιωθῇ; 3. ἔστιν δὲ οὗτος ὁ αἰὼν καὶ ὁ μέλλων δύο ἐχθροί. 4. οὗτος λέγει μοιχείαν καὶ φθορὰν καὶ φιλαργυρίαν καὶ ἀπάτην, ἐκεῖνος δὲ τούτοις ἀποτάσσεται. 5. οὐ δυνάμεθα οὖν τῶν δύο φίλοι εἶναι· δεῖ δὲ ἡμᾶς τούτῳ ἀποταξαμένους ἐκείνῳ χρᾶσθαι. 6. οἰόμεθα, ὅτι βέλτιόν ἐστιν τὰ ἐνθάδε μισῆσαι, ὅτι μικρὰ καὶ ὀλιγοχρόνια καὶ φθαρτά, ἐκεῖνα δὲ ἀγαπῆσαι, τὰ ἀγαθὰ τὰ ἄφθαρτα. 7. ποιοῦντες γὰρ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ Χριστοῦ εὑρήσομεν ἀνάπαυσιν· εἰ δὲ μήγε, οὐδὲν ἡμᾶς ῥύσεται ἐκ τῆς αἰωνίου κολάσεως,ἐὰν παρακούσωμεν τῶν ἐντολῶν αὐτοῦ. 8. λέγει δὲ καὶ ἡ γραφὴ ἐν τῷ Ἰεζεκιήλ, ὅτι ἐὰν ἀναστῇ Νῶε καὶ Ἰωβ καὶ Δανιήλ, οὐ ῥύσονται τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ αἰχμαλωσίᾳ. 9. εἰ δὲ καὶ οἱ τοιοῦτοι δίκαιοι οὐ δύνανται ταῖς ἑαυτῶν δικαιοσύναις ῥύσασθαι τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν, ἡμεῖς, ἐὰν μὴ τηρήσωμεν τὸ βάπτισμα ἁγνὸν καὶ ἀμίαντον, ποίᾳ πεποιθήσει εἰσελευσόμεθα εἰς τὸ βασίλειον τοῦ θεοῦ; ἢ τίς ἡμῶν παράκλητος ἔσται, ἐὰν μὴ εὑρεθῶμεν ἔργα ἔχοντες ὅσια καὶ δίκαια;