The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

Apostolic Fathers (Lightfoot) · Clement of Rome · 394 sections

16.13
Therefore He shall inherit many, and shall divide the spoils of the strong; because His soul was delivered unto death, and He was reckoned unto the transgressors;
16.14
and He bare the sins of many, and for their sins was He delivered up.
16.15
And again He Himself saith; But I am a worm and no man, a reproach of men and an outcast of the people.
16.16
All they that beheld me mocked at me; they spake with their lips; they wagged their heads, saying, He hoped on the Lord; let Him deliver him, or let Him save him, for He desireth him.
16.17
Ye see, dearly beloved, what is the pattern that hath been given unto us; for, if the Lord was thus lowly of mind, what should we do, who through Him have been brought under the yoke of His grace?
17.1
Let us be imitators also of them which went about in goatskins and sheepskins, preaching the coming of Christ. We mean Elijah and Elisha and likewise Ezekiel, the prophets, and besides them those men also that obtained a good report.
17.2
Abraham obtained an exceeding good report and was called the friend of God; and looking steadfastly on the glory of God, he saith in lowliness of mind, But I am dust and ashes.
17.3
Moreover concerning Job also it is thus written; And Job was righteous and unblamable, one that was true and honored God and abstained from all evil.
17.4
Yet he himself accuseth himself saying, No man from filth; no, not though his life be but for a day.
17.5
Moses was called faithful in all His house, and through his ministration God judged Egypt with the plagues and the torments which befell them. Howbeit he also, though greatly glorified, yet spake no proud words, but said, when an oracle was given to him at the bush, Who am I, that Thou sendest me?
17.6
Nay, I am feeble of speech and slow of tongue. And again he saith, But I am smoke from the pot.
18.1
But what must we say of David that obtained a good report? of whom God said, I have found a man after My heart, David the son of Jesse: with eternal mercy have I anointed him.
18.2
Yet he too saith unto God Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, blot out mine iniquity.
18.3
Wash me yet more from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only did I sin, and I wrought evil in Thy sight; that Thou mayest be justified in Thy words, and mayest conquer in Thy pleading.
18.4
For behold, in iniquities was I conceived, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold Thou hast loved truth: the dark and hidden things of Thy wisdom hast Thou showed unto me.
18.5
Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean. Thou shalt wash me, and I shall become whiter than snow.
18.6
Thou shalt make me to hear of joy and gladness. The bones which have been humbled shall rejoice.
18.7
Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
18.8
Make a clean heart within me, O God, and renew a right spirit in mine inmost parts. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
18.9
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and strengthen me with a princely spirit.
18.10
I will teach sinners Thy ways, and godless men shall be converted unto Thee.
18.11
Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness.
18.12
Lord, Thou shalt open my mouth, and my lips shall declare Thy praise.
18.13
For, if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would have given it: in whole burnt offerings Thou wilt have no pleasure.
18.14
A sacrifice unto God is a contrite spirit; a contrite and humbled heart God will not despise.
19.1
The humility therefore and the submissiveness of so many and so great men, who have thus obtained a good report, hath through obedience made better not only us but also the generations which were before us, even them that received His oracles in fear and truth.
19.2
Seeing then that we have been partakers of many great and glorious doings, let us hasten to return unto the goal of peace which hath been handed down to us from the beginning, and let us look steadfastly unto the Father and Maker of the whole world, and cleave unto His splendid and excellent gifts of peace and benefits.
19.3
Let us behold Him in our mind, and let us look with the eyes of our soul unto His long-suffering will. Let us note how free from anger He is towards all His creatures.
20.1
The heavens are moved by His direction and obey Him in peace.
20.2
Day and night accomplish the course assigned to them by Him, without hindrance one to another.
20.3
The sun and the moon and the dancing stars according to His appointment circle in harmony within the bounds assigned to them, without any swerving aside.
20.4
The earth, bearing fruit in fulfillment of His will at her proper seasons, putteth forth the food that supplieth abundantly both men and beasts and all living things which are thereupon, making no dissension, neither altering anything which He hath decreed.
20.5
Moreover, the inscrutable depths of the abysses and the unutterable statutes of the nether regions are constrained by the same ordinances.
20.6
The basin of the boundless sea, gathered together by His workmanship into it's reservoirs, passeth not the barriers wherewith it is surrounded; but even as He ordered it, so it doeth.
20.7
For He said, So far shalt thou come, and thy waves shall be broken within thee.
20.8
The ocean which is impassable for men, and the worlds beyond it, are directed by the same ordinances of the Master.
20.9
The seasons of spring and summer and autumn and winter give way in succession one to another in peace.
20.10
The winds in their several quarters at their proper season fulfill their ministry without disturbance; and the ever flowing fountains, created for enjoyment and health, without fail give their breasts which sustain the life for men. Yea, the smallest of living things come together in concord and peace.
20.11
All these things the great Creator and Master of the universe ordered to be in peace and concord, doing good unto all things, but far beyond the rest unto us who have taken refuge in His compassionate mercies through our Lord Jesus Christ,
20.12
to whom be the glory and the majesty for ever and ever. Amen.
21.1
Look ye, brethren, lest His benefits, which are many, turn unto judgment to all of us, if we walk not worthily of Him, and do those things which are good and well pleasing in His sight with concord.
21.2
For He saith in a certain place, The Spirit of the Lord is a lamp searching the closets of the belly.
21.3
Let us see how near He is, and how that nothing escapeth Him of our thoughts or our devices which we make.
21.4
It is right therefore that we should not be deserters from His will.
21.5
Let us rather give offense to foolish and senseless men who exalt themselves and boast in the arrogance of their words, than to God.
21.6
Let us fear the Lord Jesus [Christ], whose blood was given for us. Let us reverence our rulers; let us honor our elders; let us instruct our young men in the lesson of the fear of God. Let us guide our women toward that which is good:
21.7
let them show forth their lovely disposition of purity; let them prove their sincere affection of gentleness; let them make manifest the moderation of their tongue through their silence; let them show their love, not in factious preferences but without partiality towards all them that fear God, in holiness. Let our children be partakers of the instruction which is in Christ:
21.8
let them learn how lowliness of mind prevaileth with God, what power chaste love hath with God, how the fear of Him is good and great and saveth all them that walk therein in a pure mind with holiness.
21.9
For He is the searcher out of the intents and desires; whose breath is in us, and when He listeth, He shall take it away.
22.1
Now all these things the faith which is in Christ confirmeth: for He Himself through the Holy Spirit thus invite thus: Come, my children, hearken unto Me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
22.2
What man is he that desireth life and loveth to see good days?
22.3
Make thy tongue to cease from evil, and thy lips that they speak no guile.
22.4
Turn aside from evil and do good.
22.5
Seek peace and ensue it.
22.6
The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are turned to their prayers. But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil, to destroy their memorial from the earth.
22.7
The righteous cried out, and the Lord heard him, and delivered him from all his troubles. Many are the troubles of the righteous, and the Lord shall deliver him from them all.
22.8
And again Many are the stripes of the sinner, but them that set their hope on the Lord mercy shall compass about.
23.1
The Father, who is pitiful in all things, and ready to do good, hath compassion on them that fear Him, and kindly and lovingly bestoweth His favors on them that draw nigh unto Him with a single mind.
23.2
Therefore let us not be double-minded, neither let our soul indulge in idle humors respecting His exceeding and glorious gifts.
23.3
Let this scripture be far from us where He saith Wretched are the double-minded, Which doubt in their soul and say, These things we did hear in the days of our fathers also, and behold we have grown old, and none of these things hath befallen us.
23.4
Ye fools, compare yourselves unto a tree; take a vine. First it sheddeth its leaves, then a shoot cometh, then a leaf, then a flower, and after these a sour berry, then a full ripe grape. Ye see that in a little time the fruit of the tree attaineth unto mellowness.
23.5
Of a truth quickly and suddenly shall His will be accomplished, the scripture also bearing witness to it, saying He shall come quickly and shall not tarry; and the Lord shall come suddenly into His temple, even the Holy One, whom ye expect.
24.1
Let us understand, dearly beloved, how the Master continually showeth unto us the resurrection that shall be hereafter; whereof He made the Lord Jesus Christ the firstfruit, when He raised Him from the dead.
24.2
Let us behold, dearly beloved, the resurrection which happeneth at its proper season.
24.3
Day and night show unto us the resurrection. The night falleth asleep, and day ariseth; the day departeth, and night cometh on.
24.4
Let us mark the fruits, how and in what manner the sowing taketh place.
24.5
The sower goeth forth and casteth into the earth each of the seeds; and these falling into the earth dry and bare decay: then out of their decay the mightiness of the Master's providence raiseth them up, and from being one they increase manifold and bear fruit.
25.1
Let us consider the marvelous sign which is seen in the regions of the east, that is, in the parts about Arabia.
25.2
There is a bird, which is named the phoenix. This, being the only one of its kind, liveth for five hundred years; and when it hath now reached the time of its dissolution that it should die, it maketh for itself a coffin of frankincense and myrrh and the other spices, into the which in the fullness of time it entereth, and so it dieth.
25.3
But, as the flesh rotteth, a certain worm is engendered, which is nurtured from the moisture of the dead creature and putteth forth wings. Then, when it is grown lusty, it taketh up that coffin where are the bones of its parent, and carrying them journeyeth from the country of Arabia even unto Egypt, to the place called the City of the Sun;
25.4
and in the daytime in the sight of all, flying to the altar of the Sun, it layeth them thereupon; and this done, it setteth forth to return.
25.5
So the priests examine the registers of the times, and they find that it hath come when the five hundredth year is completed.
26.1
Do we then think it to be a great and marvelous thing, if the Creator of the universe shall bring about the resurrection of them that have served Him with holiness in the assurance of a good faith, seeing that He showeth to us even by a bird the magnificence of His promise?
26.2
For He saith in a certain place And Thou shalt raise me up, and I will praise Thee; and; I went to rest and slept, I was awaked, for Thou art with me.
26.3
And again Job saith And Thou shall raise this my flesh which hath endured all these things.
27.1
With this hope therefore let our souls be bound unto Him that is faithful in His promises and that is righteous in His judgments.
27.2
He that commanded not to lie, much more shall He Himself not lie: for nothing is impossible with God save to lie.
27.3
Therefore let our faith in Him be kindled within us, and let us understand that all things are nigh unto Him.
27.4
By a word of His majesty He compacted the universe; and by a word He can destroy it.
27.5
Who shall say unto Him, What hast thou done? or who shall resist the might of His strength? When He listeth, and as He listeth, He will do all things; and nothing shall pass away of those things that He hath decreed.
27.6
All things are in His sight, and nothing escapeth His counsel,
27.7
seeing that The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth His handiwork. Day uttereth word unto day, and night proclaimeth knowledge unto night; and there are neither words nor speeches, whose voices are not heard.
28.1
Since therefore all things are seen and heard, let us fear Him and forsake the abominable lusts of evil works, that we maybe shielded by His mercy from the coming judgments.
28.2
For where can any of us escape from His strong hand? And what world will receive any of them that desert from His service?
28.3
For the holy writing saith in a certain place Where shall I go, and where shall I be hidden from Thy face? If I ascend into the heaven, Thou art there; if I depart into the farthest parts of the earth, there is Thy right hand; if I make my bed in the depths, there is Thy Spirit.
28.4
Whither then shall one depart, or where shall one flee, from Him that embraceth the universe?
29.1
Let us therefore approach Him in holiness of soul, lifting up pure and undefiled hands unto Him, with love towards our gentle and compassionate Father who made us an elect portion unto Himself.
29.2
For thus it is written: When the Most High divided the nations, when He dispersed the sons of Adam, He fixed the boundaries of the nations according to the number of the angels of God. His people Jacob became the portion of the Lord, and Israel the measurement of His inheritance.
29.3
And in another place He saith, Behold, the Lord taketh for Himself a nation out of the midst of the nations, as a man taketh the first fruits of his threshing floor; and the holy of holies shall come forth from that nation.
30.1
Seeing then that we are the special portion of a Holy God, let us do all things that pertain unto holiness, forsaking evil speakings, abominable and impure embraces, drunkennesses and tumults and hateful lusts, abominable adultery, hateful pride.
30.2
For God, He saith, resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the lowly.
30.3
Let us therefore cleave unto those to whom grace is given from God. Let us clothe ourselves in concord, being lowlyminded and temperate, holding ourselves aloof from all back biting and evil speaking, being justified by works and not by words.
30.4
For He saith, He that saith much shall hear also again. Doth the ready talker think to be righteous?
30.5
Blessed is the offspring of a woman that liveth but a short time. Be not thou abundant in words.
30.6
Let our praise be with God, and not of ourselves: for God hateth them that praise themselves.
30.7
Let the testimony to our well doing be given by others, as it was given unto our fathers who were righteous.
30.8
Boldness and arrogance and daring are for them that are accursed of God; but forbearance and humility and gentleness are with them that are blessed of God.
31.1
Let us therefore cleave unto His blessing, and let us see what are the ways of blessing. Let us study the records of the things that have happened from the beginning.
31.2
Wherefore was our father Abraham blessed? Was it not because he wrought righteousness and truth through faith?
31.3
Isaac with confidence, as knowing the future, was led a willing sacrifice.

Translated by J. B. Lightfoot (The Apostolic Fathers, 1891/1893). Text via earlychristianwritings.com/text/<slug>-lightfoot.html. Licence: Public domain.