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. 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 ye may give heed to the words written, that ye may save both yourselves and him who reads an address in your midst. For as a reward I ask of you repentance with the whole heart, while ye bestow upon yourselves salvation and life. For by so doing we shall set a mark for all the young who wish to be diligent in godliness and the goodness of God. And let not us, in our folly, feel displeasure and indignation, whenever any one admonishes us and turns us from unrighteousness to righteousness. For there are some wicked deeds which we commit, and know it not, because of the double-mindedness and unbelief present in our breasts, and our understanding is darkened by vain desires. Let us, therefore, work righteousness, that we may be saved to the end. Blessed are they who obey these commandments, even if for a brief space they suffer in this world, and they will gather the imperishable fruit of the resurrection. Let not the godly man, therefore, grieve; if for the present he suffer affliction, blessed is the time that awaits him there; rising up to life again with the fathers he will rejoice for ever without a grief.

XIX 1. Ὥστε, ἀδελφοὶ καὶ ἀδελφαί, μετὰ τὸν θεὸν τῆς ἀληθείας ἀναγινώσκω ὑμῖν ἔντευξιν εἰς τὸ προσέχειν τοῖς γεγραμμένοις, ἵνα καὶ ἑαυτοὺς σώσητε καὶ τὸν ἀναγινώσκοντα ἐν ὑμῖν. μισθὸν γὰρ αἰτῶ ὑμᾶς τὸ μετανοῆσαι ἐξ ὅλης καρδίας, σωτηρίαν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ζωὴν διδόντας. τοῦτο γὰρ ποιήσαντες σκοπὸν πᾶσιν τοῖς νέοις θήσομεν, τοῖς βουλομένοις περὶ τὴν εὐσέβειαν καὶ τὴν χρηστότητα τοῦ θεοῦ φιλοπονεῖν. 2. καὶ μὴ ἀηδῶς ἔχωμεν καὶ ἀγανακτῶμεν οἱ ἄσοφοι, ὅταν τις ἡμᾶς νουθετῇ καὶ ἐπιστρέφῃ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀδικίας εἰς τὴν δικαιοσύνην. ἐνίοτε γὰρ πονηρὰ πράσσοντες οὐ γινώσκομεν διὰ τὴν διψυχίαν καὶ ἀπιστίαν τὴν ἐνοῦσαν ἐν τοῖς στήθεσιν ἡμῶν, καὶ ἐσκοτίσμεθα τὴν διάνοιαν ὑπὸ τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν τῶν ματαίων. 3. πράξωμεν οὖν τὴν δικαιοφύνην, ἵνα εἰς τέλος σωθῶμεν. μακάριοι οἱ τούτοις ὑπακούοντες τοῖς προστάγμασιν· κἂν ὀλίγον χρόνον κακοπαθήσωσιν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ τούτῳ, τὸν ἀθάνατον τῆς ἀναστάσεως καρπὸν τρυγήσουσιν. 4. μὴ οὖν λυπείσθω ὁ εὐσεβής, ἐὰν ἐπὶ τοῖς νῦν χρόνος· ἐκεῖνος ἄνω μετὰ τῶν πατέρων ἀναβιώσας εὐφρανθήσεται εἰς τὸν ἀλύπητον αἰῶνα.