THE FIRST EPISTLE OF CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS
CHAP. I.--THE SALUTATION. PRAISE OF THE CORINTHIANS BEFORE THE
BREAKING FORTH OF SCHISM AMONG THEM.
THE Church of God which sojourns at Rome, to the Church of God sojourning at Corinth,
to them that are called and sanctified by the will of God, through our Lord Jesus
Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from Almighty God through Jesus Christ, be multiplied.
Owing, dear brethren, to the sudden and successive calamitous events which have
happened to ourselves, we feel that we have been somewhat tardy in turning our attention
to the points respecting which you consulted us;(2) and especially to that shameful and detestable sedition, utterly abhorrent to the elect of God, which a few rash
and self-confident persons have kindled to such a pitch of frenzy, that your venerable
and illustrious name, worthy to be universally loved, has suffered grievous injury.(3)
For who ever dwelt even for a short time among you, and did not find your faith to
be as fruitful of virtue as it was firmly established?(4) Who did not admire the
sobriety and moderation of your godliness in Christ? Who did not proclaim the magnificence
of your habitual hospitality? And who did not rejoice over your perfect and well-grounded
knowledge? For ye did all things without respect of persons, and walked in the command-merits
of God, being obedient to those who had the rule over you, and giving all fitting honour to the presbyters among you. Ye enjoined young men to be of a sober
and serious mind; ye instructed your wives to do all things with a blameless, becoming,
and pure conscience, loving their husbands as in duty bound; and ye taught them that, living in the rule of obedience, they should manage their household affairs becomingly,
and be in every respect marked by discretion.
CHAP. II.--PRAISE OF THE CORINTHIANS CON-
TINUED.
Moreover, ye were all distinguished by humility, and were in no respect puffed
up with pride, but yielded obedience rather than extorted it,(5) and were more willing
to give than to receive? Content with the provision which God had made for you, and
carefully attending to His words, ye were inwardly filled(7) with His doctrine, and
His sufferings were before your eyes. Thus a profound and abundant peace was given
to you all, and ye had an insatiable desire for doing good, while a full outpouring
of the Holy Spirit was upon you all. Full of holy designs, ye did, with true earnestness
of mind and a godly confidence, stretch forth your hands to God Almighty, beseeching
Him to be merciful unto you, if ye had been guilty of any involuntary transgression.
Day and night ye were anxious for the whole brotherhood,(8) that the number of God's elect
might be saved with mercy and a good conscience.(9) Ye were sincere and uncorrupted,
and forgetful of injuries between one another. Every kind of faction and schism was
abominable in your sight. Ye mourned over the transgressions of your neighhours: their
deficiencies you deemed your own. Ye never grudged any act of kindness, being "ready
to every good work."(10) Adorned by a thoroughly virtuous and religious life, ye
did all things in the fear of God. The commandments and ordinances of the Lord were written
upon the tablets of your hearts.(11)
CHAP. III.--THE SAD STATE OF THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH AFTER SEDITION
AROSE IN IT FROM ENVY AND EMULATION.
Every kind of honour and happiness(12) was bestowed upon you, and then was fulfilled
that which is written, "My beloved did eat and drink, and was enlarged and became
fat, and kicked."(13) Hence flowed emulation and envy, strife and sedition, persecution and disorder, war and captivity. So the worthless rose up against the honoured,
those of no reputation
6
against such as were renowned, the foolish against the wise, the young against those
advanced in years. For this reason righteousness and peace are now far departed from
you, inasmuch as every one abandons the fear of God, and is become blind in His faith,(1) neither walks in the ordinances of His appointment, nor acts a part becoming a
Christian,(2) but walks after his own wicked lusts, resuming the practice of an unrighteous
and ungodly envy, by which death itself entered into the world.(3)
CHAP. IV.--MANY EVILS HAVE ALREADY FLOWED FROM THIS SOURCE IN
ANCIENT TIMES.
For thus it is written: "And it came to pass after certain days, that Cain brought
of the fruits of the earth a sacrifice unto God; and Abel also brought of the firstlings
of his sheep, and of the fat thereof. And God had respect to Abel and to his offerings, but Cain and his sacrifices He did not regard. And Cain was deeply grieved,
and his countenance fell. And God said to Cain, Why art thou grieved, and why is
try countenance fallen? If thou offerest rightly, but dost not divide rightly, hast
thou not sinned? Be at peace: thine offering returns to thyself, and thou shalt again possess
it. And Cain said to Abel his brother, Let us go into the field. And it came to pass,
while they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew
him."(4) Ye see, brethren, how envy and jealousy led to the murder of a brother. Through
envy, also, our father Jacob fled from the face of Esau his brother.(5) Envy made
Joseph be persecuted unto death, and to come into bondage.(6) Envy compelled Moses
to flee from the face of Pharaoh king of Egypt, when he heard these words from his fellow-countryman,
"Who made thee a judge or a ruler over us? wilt thou kill me, as thou didst kill
the Egyptian yesterday?"(7) On account of envy, Aaron and Miriam had to make their abode without the camp.(8) Envy brought down Dathan and Abiram alive to Hades,
through the sedition which they excited against God's servant Moses.(9) Through envy,
David underwent the hatred not only of foreigners, but was also persecuted by Saul
king of Israel.(10)
CHAP. V.--NO LESS EVILS HAVE ARISEN FROM THE SAME SOURCE IN THE
MOST RECENT TIMES. THE MARTYRDOM OF PETER AND PAUL.
But not to dwell upon ancient examples, let us come to the most recent spiritual
heroes.(11) Let us take the noble examples furnished in our own generation. Through
envy and jealousy, the greatest and most righteous pillars[of the Church](3) have
been persecuted and put to death.(12) Let us set before our eyes the illustrious(13) apostles.
Peter, through unrighteous envy, endured not one or two, but numerous labours and
when he had at length suffered martyrdom, departed to the place of glory due to him. Owing to envy, Paul also obtained the reward of patient endurance, after being seven
times thrown into captivity,(14) compelled(15) to flee, and stoned. After preaching
both in the east and west, he gained the illustrious reputation due to his faith,
having taught righteousness to the whole world, and come to the extreme limit of the west,(16)
and suffered martyrdom under the prefects.(17) Thus was he removed from the world,
and went into the holy place, having proved himself a striking example of patience.
CHAP. VI.--CONTINUATION. SEVERAL OTHER MARTYRS.
To these men who spent their lives in the practice of holiness, there is to be
added a great multitude of the elect, who, having through envy endured many indignities
and tortures, furnished. us with a most excellent example. Through envy, those women, the Danaids(18) and Dircae, being persecuted, after they had suffered terrible and
unspeakable torments, finished the course of their faith with stedfastness,(19) and
though weak in body, received a noble reward. Envy has alienated wives from their
husbands, and changed that saying of our father Adam, "This is now bone of my bones, and
flesh of my flesh." Envy and strife have overthrown great cities and rooted up mighty
nations.
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CHAP. VII.--AN EXHORTATION TO REPENTANCE.
These things, beloved, we write unto you, not merely to admonish you of your duty,
but also to remind ourselves. For we are struggling on the same arena, and the same
conflict is assigned to both of us. Wherefore let us give up vain and fruitless cares, and approach to the glorious and venerable rule of our holy calling. Let us attend
to what is good, pleasing, and acceptable in the sight of Him who formed us. Let
us look stedfastly to the blood of Christ, and see how precious that blood is to
God,(1) which, having been shed for our salvation, has set the grace of repentance before the
whole world. Let us turn to every age that has passed, and learn that, from generation
to generation, the Lord has granted a place of repentance to all such as would be
converted unto Him. Noah preached repentance, and as many as listened to him were saved.(2)
Jonah proclaimed destruction to the Ninevites;(3) but they, repenting of their sins,
propitiated God by prayer, and obtained salvation, although they were aliens [to
the covenant] of God.
CHAP. VIII.--CONTINUATION RESPECTING REPENTANCE.
The ministers of the grace of God have, by the Holy Spirit, spoken of repentance;
and the Lord of all things has himself declared with an oath regarding it, "As I
live, saith the Lord, I desire not the death of the sinner, but rather his repentance
; "(4) adding, moreover, this gracious declaration Repent O house of Israel, of your
iniquity.(5) Say to the children of My people, Though your sins reach from earth
to heaven, I and though they be redder(6) than scarlet, and blacker than sackcloth,
yet if ye turn to Me with your whole heart, and say, Father ! I will listen to you, as to
a holy(7) people." And in another place He speaks thus: "Wash you, and become clean;
put away the wickedness of your souls from before mine eyes; cease from your evil
ways, and learn to do well; seek out judgment, deliver the oppressed, judge the fatherless,
and see that justice is done to the widow; and come, and let us reason together.
He declares, Though your sins be like crimson, I will make them white as snow; though
they be like scarlet, I will whiten them like wool. And if ye be willing and obey Me,
ye shall eat the good of the land; but if ye refuse, and will not hearken unto Me,
the sword shall devour you, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken these things."(8)
Desiring, therefore, that all His beloved should be partakers of repentance, He has, by
His almighty will, established [these declarations].
CHAP. IX.--EXAMPLES OF THE SAINTS.
Wherefore, let us yield obedience to His excellent and glorious will; and imploring
His mercy and loving-kindness, while we forsake all fruitless labours,(9) and strife,
and envy, which leads to death, let us turn and have recourse to His compassions.
Let us stedfastly contemplate those who have perfectly ministered to His excellent
glory. Let us take (for instance) Enoch, who, being found righteous in obedience,
was translated, and death was never known to happen to him? Noah, being found faithful,
preached regeneration to the world through his ministry; and the Lord saved by him the
animals which, with one accord, entered into the ark.
CHAP. X.--CONTINUATION OF THE ABOVE.
Abraham, styled "the friend,"(11) was found faithful, inasmuch as he rendered
obedience to the words of God. He, in the exercise of obedience, went out from his
own country, and from his kindred, and from his father's house, in order that, by
forsaking a small territory, and a weak family, and an insignificant house, he might inherit
the promises of God. For God said to him, "Get thee out from thy country,, and from
thy kindred, and from thy father's house, into the land which I shall show thee.
And I will make thee a great nation, and will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou
shall be blessed. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse
thee; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed."(12) And again,
on his departing from Lot, God said to him. "Lift up thine eyes, and look from the place
where thou now art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward; for all
the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And
I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, [so that] if a man can number the dust of the
earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered."(13) And again [the Scripture] saith,
"God brought forth Abram, and spake unto him, Look up now to heaven, and count the
stars if thou be able to number them; so shall thy seed be. And Abram believed God, and
it was counted to him for righteousness."(14) On account of his faith and hospitality,
a son
8
was given him in his old age; and in the exercise of obedience, he offered him as
a sacrifice to God on one of the mountains which He showed him.(1)
CHAP. XL.--CONTINUATION. LOT.
On account of his hospitality and godliness, Lot was saved out of Sodore when
all the country round was punished by means of fire and brimstone, the Lord thus
making it manifest that He does not forsake those that hope in Him, but gives up
such as depart from Him to punishment and torture.(2) For Lot's wife, who went forth with him,
being of a different mind from himself and not continuing in agreement with him [as
to the command which had been given them], was made an example of, so as to be a
pillar of salt unto this day.(3) This was done that all might know that those who are of a
double mind, and who distrust the power of God, bring down judgment on themselves?
and become a sign to all succeeding generations.
CHAP. XII.--THE REWARDS OF AITH AND HOSPITALITY. RAHAB.
On account of her faith and hospitality, Rahab the harlot was saved. For when
spies were sent by Joshua, the son of Nun, to Jericho, the king of the country ascertained
that they were come to spy out their land, and sent men to seize them, in order that, when taken, they might be put to death. But the hospitable Rahab receiving them,
concealed them on the roof of her house under some stalks of flax. And when the men
sent by the king arrived and said "There came men unto thee who are to spy out our
land; bring them forth, for so the king commands," she answered them, "The two men whom
ye seek came unto me, but quickly departed again and are gone," thus not discovering
the spies to them. Then she said to the men, "I know assuredly that the Lord your
God hath given you this city, for the fear and dread of you have fallen on its inhabitants.
When therefore ye shall have taken it, keep ye me and the house of my father in safety."
And they said to her, "It shall be as thou hast spoken to us. As soon, therefore, as thou knowest that we are at hand, thou shall gather all thy family under thy roof,
and they shall be preserved, but all that. are found outside of thy dwelling shall
perish."(5) Moreover, they gave her a sign to this effect, that she should hang
forth from her house a scarlet thread. And thus they made it manifest that redemption should
flow through the blood of the Lord to all them that believe and hope in God.(6)
Ye see, beloved, that there was not only faith, but prophecy, in this woman.
CHAP. XIII.--AN EXHORTATION TO HUMILITY.
Let us therefore, brethren, be of humble mind, laying aside all haughtiness, and
pride, and foolishness, and angry feelings; and let us act according to that which
is written (for the Holy Spirit saith, "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
neither let the mighty man glory in his might, neither let the rich man Story in his riches;
but let him that glorieth glory in the Lord, in diligently seeking Him, and doing
judgment and righteousness"(7)), being especially mindful of the words of the Lord
Jesus which He spake, teaching us meekness and long-suffering. For thus He spoke: "Be
ye merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; forgive, that it may be forgiven to you ;
as ye do, so shall it be done unto you; as ye judge, so shall ye be judged; as ye
are kind, so shall kindness be shown to you; with what measure ye mete, with the same it shall
be measured to you."(8) By this precept and by these rules let us stablish ourselves,
that we walk with all humility in obedience to His holy words. For the holy word
saith, "On whom shall I look, but on him that is meek and peaceable, and that trembleth
at My words?"(9)
CHAP. XIV.--WE SHOULD OBEY GOD RATHER THAN THE AUTHORS OF SEDITION.
It is right and holy therefore, men and brethren, rather to obey God than to follow
those who, through pride and sedition, have become the leaders of a detestable emulation.
For we shall incur no slight injury, but rather great danger, if we rashly yield ourselves to the inclinations of men who aim at exciting strife and tumults, so
as to draw us away from what is good. Let us be kind one to another after the pattern
of the tender mercy and benignity of our Creator. For it is written, "The kind-hearted
shall inhabit the land, and the guiltless shall be left upon it, but transgressors
shall be destroyed from off the face of it."(10) And again [the Scripture] saith,
"I saw the ungodly highly exalted, and lifted up like the cedars of Lebanon: I passed
by, and, behold, he was not; and I diligently sought his place, and could not find it.
Preserve innocence, and look on equity: for there shall be a remnant to the peaceful
man."(11)
9
CHAP. XV.--WE MUST ADHERE TO THOSE WHO CULTIVATE PEACE, NOT TO THOSE WHO MERELY PRETEND
TO DO SO.
Let us cleave, therefore, to those who cultivate peace with godliness, and not
to those who hypocritically profess to desire it. For [the Scripture] saith in a
certain place, "This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far
from Me."(1) And again: "They bless with their mouth, but curse with their heart."(2) And again
it saith, "They loved Him with their mouth, and lied to Him with their tongue; but
their heart was not right with Him, neither were they faithful in His covenant."(3)
"Let the deceitful lips become silent,"(4) [and "let the Lord destroy all the lying lips,(5)]
and the boastful tongue of those who have said, Let us magnify our tongue; our lips
are our own; who is lord over us? For the oppression of the poor, and for the sighing of the needy, will I now arise, saith the Lord: I will place him in safety; I
will deal confidently with him."(6)
CHAP. XVI.--CHRIST AS AN EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY,
For Christ is of those who are humble-minded, and not of those who exalt themselves
over His flock. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Sceptre of the majesty of God, did not
come in the pomp of pride or arrogance, although He might have done so, but in a
lowly condition, as the Holy Spirit had declared regarding Him. For He says, "Lord, who
hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ? We have declared
[our message] in His presence: He is, as it were, a child, and like a root in thirsty ground; He has no form nor glory, yea, we saw Him, and He had no form nor comeliness;
but His form was without eminence, yea, deficient in comparison with the [ordinary]
form of men. He is a man exposed to stripes and suffering, anti acquainted with the
endurance of grief: for His countenance was turned away; He was despised, and not
esteemed. He bears our iniquities, and is in sorrow for our sakes; yet we supposed
that [on His own account] He was exposed to labour, and stripes, and affliction.
But He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement
of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we were healed. All we, like sheep,
have gone astray; [every] man has wandered in his own way; and the Lord has delivered
Him up for our sins, while He in the midst of His sufferings openeth not His mouth. He
was brought as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before her shearer is dumb,
so He openeth not His mouth. In His humiliation His judgment was taken away; who
shall declare His generation? for His life is taken from the earth. For the transgressions of
my people was He brought down to death. And I will give the wicked for His sepulchre,
and the rich for His death? because He did no iniquity, neither was guile found in
His mouth. And the Lord is pleased to purify Him by stripes.(8) If ye make(9) an offering
for sin, your soul shall see a long-lived seed. And the Lord is pleased to relieve
Him of the affliction of His soul, to show Him light, and to form Him with understanding,(10) to justify the Just One who ministereth well to many; and the Himself shall
carry their sins. On this account He shall inherit many, and shall divide the spoil
of the strong; because His soul was delivered to death, and He was reckoned among
the transgressors, and He bare the sins of many, and for their sins was He delivered."(11)
And again He saith, "I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of
the people. All that see Me have derided Me; they have spoken with their lips; they
have wagged their head, [saying] He hoped in God, let Him deliver Him, let Him save Him,
since He delighteth in Him."(12) Ye see, beloved, what is the example which has been
given us; for if the Lord thus humbled Himself, what shall we do who have through
Him come under the yoke of His grace ?
CHAP. XVII.--THE SAINTS AS EXAMPLES OF HUMILITY.
Let us be imitators also of those who in goat-skins and sheep-skins(13) went about
proclaiming the coming of Christ; I mean Elijah, Elisha, and Ezekiel among the prophets,
with those others to whom a like testimony is borne [in Scripture]. Abraham was specially honoured, and was called the friend of God; yet he, earnestly regarding
the glory of God, humbly declared, "I am but dust and ashes."(14) Moreover, it is
thus written of Job, "Job was a righteous man, and blameless, truthful, God-fearing,
and one that kept himself from all evil."(15) But bringing an accu-
1O
sation against himself, he said, " No man is free from defilement, even if his life
be but of one day."(1) Moses was called faithful in all God's house;(2) and through
his instrumentality, God punished Egypt(3) with plagues and tortures. Yet he, though
thus greatly honoured, did not adopt lofty language, but said, when the divine oracle
came to him out of the bush, "Who am I, that Thou sendest me ? I am a man of a feeble
voice and a slow tongue."(4) And again he said, "I am but as the smoke of a pot."(5)
CHAP. XVIII.--DAVID AS AN EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY.
But what shall we say concerning David, to whom such testimony was borne, and
of whom(6) God said, "I have found a man after Mine own heart, David the son of Jesse;
and in everlasting mercy have I anointed him?"(7) Yet this very man saith to God,
"Have mercy on me, O Lord, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude
of Thy compassions, blot out my transgression. Wash me still more from mine iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is ever before
me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done that which was evil in Thy sight; that
Thou mayest be justified in Thy sayings, and mayest overcome when Thou(8) art judged.
For, behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in my sins did my mother conceive
me. For, behold, Thou hast loved truth; the secret and hidden things of wisdom hast
Thou shown me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; Thou
shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and
gladness; my bones, which have been humbled, shall exult. Turn away Thy face from my sins,
and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a
right spirit within me.(9) Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy
Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and establish me by Thy governing
Spirit. I will teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall be converted unto
Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness,(10) O God, the God of my salvation: my tongue
shall exult in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my mouth, and my lips shall
show forth Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would have given it;
Thou wilt not delight in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a
bruised spirit; a broken and a contrite heart God will not despise."(11)
CHAP. XIX.--IMITATING THESE EXAMPLES, LET US SEEK AFTER PEACE.
Thus the humility and godly submission of so great and illustrious men have rendered
not only us, but also all the generations before us, better; even as many as have
received His oracles in fear and truth. Wherefore, having so many great and glorious
examples set before us, let us turn again to the practice of that peace which from
the beginning was the mark set before us;(12) and let us look stedfastly to the Father
and Creator of the universe, and cleave to His mighty and surpassingly great gifts
and benefactions, of peace. Let us contemplate Him with our understanding, and look with
the eyes of our soul to His long-suffering will. Let us reflect how free from wrath
He is towards all His creation.
CHAP. XX.--THE PEACE AND HARMONY OF THE UNIVERSE.
The heavens, revolving under His government, are subject to Him in peace. Day
and night run the course appointed by Him, in no wise hindering each other. The sun
and moon, with the companies of the stars, roll on in harmony according to His command,
within their prescribed limits, and without any deviation. The fruitful earth, according
to His will, brings forth food in abundance, at the proper seasons, for man and beast
and all the living beings upon it, never hesitating, nor changing any of the ordinances which He has fixed. The unsearchable places of abysses, and the indescribable
arrangements of the lower world, are restrained by the same laws. The vast unmeasurable
sea, gathered together by His working into various basins,(13) never passes beyond
the bounds placed around it, but does as He has commanded. For He said, "Thus far shalt
thou come, and thy waves shall be broken within thee."(14) The ocean, impassible
to man, and the worlds beyond it, are regulated by the same enactments of the Lord.
The seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, peacefully give place to one another.
The winds in their several quarters(15) fulfil, at the proper time, their service
without hindrance. The ever-flowing fountains, formed both for enjoyment and health,
furnish without fail their breasts for the life of men. The very smallest
11
of living beings meet together in peace and concord. All these the great Creator and
Lord of all has appointed to exist in peace and harmony; while He does good to all,
but most abundantly to us who have fled for refuge to His compassions through Jesus
Christ our Lord, to whom be glory and majesty for ever and ever. Amen.
CHAP. XXI.--LET US OBEY GOD, AND NOT THE AUTHORS OF SEDITION.
Take heed, beloved, lest His many kindnesses lead to the condemnation of us all.
[For thus it must be] unless we walk worthy of Him, and with one mind do those things
which are good and well-pleasing in His sight. For [the Scripture] saith in a certain place, "The Spirit of the Lord is a candle searching the secret parts of the belly."(1)
Let us reflect how near He is, and that none of the thoughts or reasonings in which
we engage are hid from Him. It is right, therefore, that we should not leave the
post which His will has assigned us. Let us rather offend those men who are foolish,
and inconsiderate, and lifted up, and who glory in the pride of their speech, than
[offend] God. Let us reverence the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was given for us;
let us esteem those who have the rule over us;(2) let us honour the aged(3) among us; let
us train up the young men in the fear of God; let us direct our wives to that which
is good. Let them exhibit the lovely habit of purity [in all their conduct]; let
them show forth the sincere disposition of meekness; let them make manifest the command which
they have of their tongue, by their manner(4) of speaking; let them display their
love, not by preferring(5) one to another, but by showing equal affection to all
that piously fear God. Let your children be partakers of true Christian training; let them
learn of how great avail humility is with God--how much the spirit of pure affection
can prevail with Him--how excellent and great His fear is, and how it saves all those
who walk in(6) it with a pure mind. For He is a Searcher of the thoughts and desires
[of the heart]: His breath is in us; and when He pleases, He will take it away.
CHAP. XXII.--THESE EXHORTATIONS ARE CONFIRMED BY THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, WHICH PROCLAIMS
THE MISERY OF SINFUL CONDUCT.
Now the faith which is in Christ confirms all these [admonitions]. For He Himself
by the Holy Ghost thus addresses us: "Come, ye children, hearken unto Me; I will
teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth to
see good days ? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil,
and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous,
and His ears are [open] unto their prayers. The face of the Lord is against them
that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cried,
and the Lord heard him, and delivered him out of all his troubles."(7) "Many are
the stripes [appointed for] the wicked; but mercy shall compass those about who hope
in the Lord."(8)
CHAP. XXIII.--BE HUMBLE, AND BELIEVE THAT CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN.
The all-merciful and beneficent Father has bowels [of compassion] towards those
that fear Him, and kindly and lovingly bestows His favours upon those who come to
Him with a simple mind. Wherefore let us not be double-minded; neither let our soul
be lifted(9) up on account of His exceedingly great and glorious gifts. Far from us be that
which is written, "Wretched are they who are of a double mind, and of a doubting
heart; who say, These things we have heard even in the times of our fathers; but,
behold, we have grown old, and none of them has happened unto us.."(10) Ye foolish ones!
compare yourselves to a tree: take [for instance] the vine. First of all, it sheds
its leaves, then it buds, next it puts forth leaves, and then it flowers; after that
comes the sour grape, and then follows the ripened fruit. Ye perceive how in a little time
the fruit of a tree comes to maturity. Of a truth, soon and suddenly shall His will
be accomplished, as the Scripture also bears witness, saying, "Speedily will He come,
and will not tarry;"(11) and, "The Lord shall suddenly come to His temple, even the
Holy One, for whom ye look."(12)
CHAP. XXIV.--GOD CONTINUALLY SHOWS US IN NATURE THAT THERE WILL BE A RESURRECTION.
Let us consider, beloved, how the Lord continually proves to us that there shall
be a future resurrection, of which He has rendered the Lord Jesus Christ the first-fruits(13)
by raising Him from the dead. Let us contemplate, beloved, the resurrection which is at all times taking place. Day and night declare to us a resurrection. The
night sinks to sleep, and the day arises; the day [again] departs, and the night
comes on.
12
Let us behold the fruits [of the earth], how the sowing of grain takes place. The
sower(1) goes forth, and casts it into the ground; and the seed being thus scattered,
though dry and naked when it fell upon the earth, is gradually dissolved. Then out
of its dissolution the mighty power of the providence of the Lord raises it up again, and
from one seed many arise and bring forth fruit.
CHAP. XXV.--THE PHOENIX AN EMBLEM OF OUR RESURRECTION.
Let us consider that wonderful sign [of the resurrection] which takes place in
Eastern lands, that is, in Arabia and the countries round about. There is a certain
bird which is called a phoenix. This is the only one of its kind, and lives five
hundred years. And when the time of its dissolution draws near that it must die, it builds
itself a nest of frankincense, and myrrh, and other spices, into which, when the
time is fulfilled, it enters and dies. But as the flesh decays a certain kind of
worm is produced, which, being nourished by the juices of the dead bird, brings forth feathers.
Then, when it has acquired strength, it takes up that nest in which are the bones
of its parent, and bearing these it passes from the land of Arabia into Egypt, to
the city called Heliopolis. And, in open day, flying in the sight of all men, it places them
on the altar of the sun, and having done this, hastens back to its former abode.
The priests then inspect the registers of the dates, and find that it has returned
exactly as the five hundredth year was completed.(2)
CHAP. XXVI.--WE SHALL RISE AGAIN, THEN, AS THE SCRIPTURE ALSO TESTIFIES.
Do we then deem it any great and wonderful thing for the Maker of all things to
raise up again those that have piously served Him in the assurance of a good faith,
when even by a bird He shows us the mightiness of His power to fulfil His promise
?(3) For [the Scripture] saith in a certain place, "Thou shalt raise me up, and I shall
confess unto Thee; "(4) and again, "I laid me down, and slept; I awaked, because
Thou art with me; "(5) and again, Job says, "Thou shalt raise up this flesh of mine,
which has suffered all these things."(6)
CHAP. XXVII.--IN THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION, LET US CLEAVE TO THE OMNIPOTENT
AND OMNISCIENT GOD.
Having then this hope, let our souls be bound to Him who is faithful in His promises,
and just in His judgments. He who has commanded us not to lie, shall much more Himself
not lie; for nothing is impossible with God, except to lie.(7) Let His faith therefore be stirred up again within us, and let us consider that all things are nigh
unto Him. By the word of His might(8) He established all things, and by His word
He can overthrow them. "Who shall say unto Him, What hast thou done ? or, Who shall
resist the power of His strength?"(9) When and as He pleases He will do all things, and none
of the things determined by Him shall pass away? All things are open before Him,
and nothing can be hidden from His counsel. "The heavens(11) declare the glory of
God, and the firmament showeth His handy-work. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto
night showeth knowledge. And there are no words or speeches of which the voices are
not heard."(12)
CHAP.XXVIII.--GOD SEES ALL THINGS: THEREFORE LET US AVOID TRANSGRESSION.
Since then all things are seen and heard [by God], let us fear Him, and forsake
those wicked works which proceed from evil desires;(13) so that, through His mercy,
we may be protected from the judgments to come. For whither can any of us flee from
His mighty hand ? Or what world will receive any of those who run away from Him ? For
the Scripture saith in a certain place, "Whither shall I go, and where shall I be
hid from Thy presence? If I ascend into heaven, Thou art there; if I go away even
to the uttermost parts of the earth, there is Thy right hand; if I make my bed in the abyss,
there is Thy Spirit."(14) Whither, then, shall any one go, or where shall he escape
from Him who comprehends all things ?
CHAP. XXIX.--LET US AlSO DRAW NEAR TO GOD IN PURITY OF HEART.
Let us then draw near to Him with holiness of spirit, lifting up pure and undefiled
hands unto Him, loving our gracious and merciful Father, who has made us partakers
in the blessings of His elect.(15) For thus it is written, "When the Most High divided the nations, when He scattered(16) the sons of Adam, He fixed the bounds of the
nations according to the number of the angels of God. His people Jacob became the
portion of the Lord, and Israel the lot of His
13
inheritance."(1) And in another place [the Scripture] saith, "Behold, the Lord taketh
unto Himself a nation out of the midst of the nations, as a man takes the first-fruits
of his threshing-floor; and from that nation shall come forth the Most Holy.(2)
CHAP. XXX.--LET US DO THOSE THINGS THAT PLEASE GOD, AND FLEE FROM THOSE HE HATES,
THAT WE MAY BE BLESSED.
Seeing, therefore, that we are the portion of the Holy One, let us do all those
things which pertain to holiness, avoiding all evil-speaking, all abominable and
impure embraces, together with all drunkenness, seeking after change,(3) all abominable
lusts, detestable adultery, and execrable pride. "For God," saith [the Scripture], "resisteth
the proud, but giveth grace to the humble."(4) Let us cleave, then, to those to whom
grace has been given by God. Let us clothe ourselves with concord and humility, ever exercising self-control, standing far off from all whispering and evil-speaking,
being justified by our works, and not our words. For [the Scripture] saith, "He that
speaketh much, shall also hear much in answer. And does he that is ready in speech
deem himself righteous? Blessed is he that is born of woman, who liveth but a short
time: be not given to much speaking."(5) Let our praise be in God, and not of ourselves;
for God hateth those that commend themselves. Let testimony to our good deeds be
borne by others, as it was in the case of our righteous forefathers. Boldness, and arrogance,
and audacity belong to those that are accursed of God; but moderation, humility,
and meekness to such as are blessed by Him.
CHAP. XXXI.--LET US SEE BY WHAT MEANS WE MAY OBTAIN THE DIVINE BLESSING.
Let us cleave then to His blessing, and consider what are the means(6) of possessing
it. Let us think(7) over the things which have taken place from the beginning. For
what reason was our father Abraham blessed? was it not because he wrought righteousness and truth through faith?(8) Isaac, with perfect confidence, as if knowing what
was to happen,(9) cheerfully yielded himself as a sacrifice.(10) Jacob, through reason(11)
of his brother, went forth with humility from his own land, and came to Laban and
served him; and there was given to him the sceptre of the twelve tribes of Israel.
CHAP. XXXII.--WE ARE JUSTIFIED NOT BY OUR OWN WORKS, BUT BY FAITH.
Whosoever will candidly consider each particular, will recognise the greatness
of the gifts which were given by him.(12) For from him(13) have sprung the priests
and all the Levites who minister at the altar of God. From him also [was descended]
our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.(14) From him [arose] kings, princes, and rulers
of the race of Judah. Nor are his other tribes in small glory, inasmuch as God had
promised, "Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven."(15) All these, therefore,
were highly honoured, and made great, not for their own sake, or for their own works,
or for the righteousness which they wrought, but through the operation of His will.
And we, too, being called by His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves,
nor by our own wisdom, or understanding, or godliness, or works which we have wrought
in holiness of heart; but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty
God has justified all men; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
CHAP. XXXIII.--BUT LET US NOT OWE UP THE PRACTICE OF GOOD WORKS AND LOVE. GOD HIMSELF
IS AN EXAMPLE TO US OF GOOD WORKS.
What shall we do, then, brethren? Shall we become slothful in well-doing, and
cease from the practice of love? God forbid that any such course should be followed
by us! But rather let us hasten with all energy and readiness of mind to perform
every good work. For the Creator and Lord of all Himself rejoices in His works. For by His
infinitely great power He established the heavens, and by His incomprehensible wisdom
He adorned them. He also divided the earth from the water which surrounds it, and
fixed it upon the immoveable foundation of His own will. The animals also which are upon
it He commanded by His own word(16) into existence. So likewise, when He had formed
the sea, and the living creatures which are in it, He enclosed them [within their
proper bounds] by His own power. Above all,(17) with His holy and undefiled hands He formed
man, the most excellent [of His creatures], and truly great through the understanding
given him--the express likeness of His own image. For
14
thus says God: "Let us make man in Our image, and after Our likeness. So God made
man; male and female He created them."[1] Having thus finished all these things,
He approved them, and blessed them, and said, "Increase and multiply."(2) We see,(3)
then, how all righteous men have been adorned with good works, and how the Lord Himself, adorning
Himself with His works, rejoiced. Having therefore such an example, let us without
delay accede to His will, and let us work the work of righteousness with our whole
strength.
CHAP. XXXIV.--GREAT IS THE REWARD OF GOOD WORKS WITH GOD. JOINED TOGETHER IN HARMONY,
LET US IMPLORE THAT REWARD FROM HIM.
The good servant(4) receives the bread of his labour with confidence; the lazy
and slothful cannot look his employer in the face. It is requisite, therefore, that
we be prompt in the practice of well-doing; for of Him are all things. And thus He
forewarns us: "Behold, the Lord [cometh], and His reward is before His face, to render to
every man according to his work."(5) He exhorts us, therefore, with our whole heart
to attend to this,(6) that we be not lazy or slothful in any good work. Let our boasting and our confidence be in Him. Let us submit ourselves to His will. Let us consider
the whole multitude of His angels, how they stand ever ready to minister to His will.
For the Scripture saith, "Ten thousand times ten thousand stood around Him, and thousands of thousands ministered unto Him,(7) and cried, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the Lord
of Sabaoth; the whole creation is full of His glory."(8) And let us therefore, conscientiously
gathering together in harmony, cry to Him earnestly, as with one mouth, that we may be made partakers of His great and glorious promises. For [the Scripture] saith,
"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the
things which He hath prepared for them that wait for Him."(9)
CHAP. XXXV.--IMMENSE IS THIS REWARD. HOW SHALL WE OBTAIN IT?
How blessed and wonderful, beloved, are the gifts of God! Life in immortality,
splendour in righteousness, truth in perfect confidence,(10) faith in assurance,
self-control in holiness! And all these fall under the cognizance of our understandings
[now]; what then shall those things be which are prepared for such as wait for Him? The
Creator and Father of all worlds,(11) the Most Holy, alone knows their amount and
their beauty. Let us therefore earnestly strive to be found in the number of those
that wait for Him, in order that we may share in His promised gifts. But how, beloved, shall
this be done? If our understanding be fixed by faith rewards God; if we earnestly
seek the things which are pleasing and acceptable to Him; if we do the things which
are in harmony with His blameless will; and if we follow the way of truth, casting away
from us all unrighteousness and iniquity, along with all covetousness, strife, evil
practices, deceit, whispering, and evil-speaking, all hatred of God, pride and haughtiness, vainglory and ambition.(12) For they that do such things are hateful to God; and
not only they that do them, but also those that take pleasure in them that do them.(13)
For the Scripture saith, "But to the sinner God said, Wherefore dost thou declare
my statutes, and take my covenant into thy mouth, seeing thou hatest instruction, and
castest my words behind thee? When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst with(14)
him, and didst make thy portion with adulterers. Thy mouth has abounded with wickedness,
and thy tongue contrived(15) deceit. Thou sittest, and speakest against thy brother;
thou slanderest(16) thine own mother's son. These things thou hast done, and I kept
silence; thou thoughtest, wicked one, that I should be like to thyself. But I will
reprove thee, and set thyself before thee. Consider now these things, ye that forget God,
lest He tear you in pieces, like a lion, and there be none to deliver. The sacrifice
of praise will glorify Me, and a way is there by which I will show him the salvation
of God."(17)
CHAP. XXXVI.--ALL BLESSINGS ARE GIVEN TO US THROUGH CHRIST.
This is the way, beloved, in which we find our Saviour,(18) even Jesus Christ,
the High Priest of all our offerings, the defender and helper of our infirmity. By
Him we look up to the heights of heaven. By Him we behold, as in a glass, His immaculate
and most excellent visage. By Him are the eyes of our hearts opened. By Him our foolish
and darkened understanding blossoms(19) up anew towards His marvellous light. By
Him the Lord has willed that we should taste of im-
15
mortal knowledge,(1) "who, being the brightness of His majesty, is by so much greater
than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."(1)
For it is thus written, "Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire."(3) But concerning His Son(4) the Lord spoke thus: "Thou art my Son, to-day
have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance,
and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession."(5) And again He saith to Him, "Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool."(6) But
who are His enemies? All the wicked, and those who set themselves to oppose the will
of God.(7)
CHAP. XXXVII.--CHRIST IS OUR LEADER, AND WE HIS SOLDIERS.
Let us then, men and brethren, with all energy act the part of soldiers, in accordance
with His holy commandments. Let us consider those who serve under our generals, with
what order, obedience, and submissiveness they perform the things which are commanded them. All are not prefects, nor commanders of a thousand, nor of a hundred,
nor of fifty, nor the like, but each one in his own rank performs the things commanded
by the king and the generals. The great cannot subsist without the small, nor the
small without the great. There is a kind of mixture in all things, and thence arises mutual
advantage.(8) Let us take our body for an example.(9) The head is nothing without
the feet, and the feet are nothing without the head; yea, the very smallest members
of our body are necessary and useful to the whole body. But all work(10) harmoniously
together, and are under one common rule(11) for the preservation of the whole body.
CHAP. XXXVIII.--LET THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH SUBMIT THEMSELVES, AND NO ONE EXALT
HIMSELF ABOVE ANOTHER.
Let our whole body, then, be preserved in, Christ Jesus; and let every one be
subject to his neighbour, according to the special gift(12) bestowed upon him. Let
the strong not despise the weak, and let the weak show respect unto the strong. Let
the rich man provide for the wants of the poor; and let the poor man bless God, because He
hath given him one by whom his need may be supplied. Let the wise man display his
wisdom, not by [mere] words, but through good deeds. Let the humble not bear testimony
to himself, but leave witness to be borne to him by another.(13) Let him that is pure
in the flesh not grow proud(14) of it, and boast, knowing that it was another who
bestowed on him the gift of continence. Let us consider, then, brethren, of what
matter we were made,--who and what manner of beings we came into the world, as it were out of
a sepulchre, and from utter darkness.(15) He who made us and fashioned us, having
prepared His bountiful gifts for us before we were born, introduced us into His world.
Since, therefore, we receive all these things from Him, we ought for everything to give
Him thanks; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
CHAP. XXXIX.--THERE IS NO REASON FOR SELF-CONCEIT.
Foolish and inconsiderate men, who have neither wisdom(16) nor instruction, mock
and deride us, being eager to exalt themselves in their own conceits. For what can
a mortal man do? or what strength is there in one made out of the dust? For it is
written, "There was no shape before mine eyes, only I heard a sound,(17) and a voice [saying],
What then? Shall a man be pure before the Lord? or shall such an one be [counted]
blameless in his deeds, seeing He does not confide in His servants, and has charged(18) even His angels with perversity? The heaven is not clean in His sight: how much
less they that dwell in houses of clay, of which also we ourselves were made! He
smote them as a moth; and from morning even until evening they endure not. Because
they could furnish no assistance to themselves, they perished. He breathed upon them, and they
died, because they had no wisdom. But call now, if any one will answer thee, or if
thou wilt look to any of the holy angels; for wrath destroys the foolish man, and
envy killeth him that is in error. I have seen the foolish taking root, but their habitation
was presently consumed. Let their sons be far from safety; let them be despised(19)
before the gates of those less than themselves, and there shall be none to deliver.
For what was prepared for them, the righteous shall eat; and they shall not be delivered
from evil."(20)
16
CHAP. XL.--LET US PRESERVE IN THE CHURCH THE ORDER APPOINTED BY GOD.
These things therefore being manifest to us, and since we look into the depths
of the divine knowledge, it behoves us to do all things in [their proper] order,
which the Lord has commanded us to perform at stated times.(1) He has enjoined offerings
[to be presented] and service to be performed [to Him], and that not thoughtlessly or
irregularly, but at the appointed times and hours. Where and by whom He desires these
things to be done, He Himself has fixed by His own supreme will, in order that all
things being piously done according to His good pleasure, may be acceptable unto Him.(2)
Those, therefore, who present their offerings at the appointed times, are accepted
and blessed; for inasmuch as they follow the laws of the Lord, they sin not. For
his own peculiar services are assigned to the high priest, and their own proper place is
prescribed to the priests, and their own special ministrations devolve on the Levites.
The layman is bound by the laws that pertain to laymen.
CHAP. XLI.--CONTINUATION OF THE SAME SUBJECT.
Let every one of you, brethren, give thanks to God in his own order, living in
all good conscience, with becoming gravity, and not going beyond the rule of the
ministry prescribed to him. Not in every place, brethren, are the daily sacrifices
offered, or the peace-offerings, or the sin-offerings and the trespass-offerings, but in Jerusalem
only. And even there they are not offered in any place, but only at the altar before
the temple, that which is offered being first carefully examined by the high priest and the ministers already mentioned. Those, therefore, who do anything beyond that
which is agreeable to His will, are punished with death. Ye see,(3) brethren, that
the greater the knowledge that has been vouchsafed to us, the greater also is the
danger to which we are exposed.
CHAP. XLII.--THE ORDER OF MINISTERS IN THE CHURCH.
The apostles have preached the Gospel to us from(4) the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus
Christ [has done sol from(4) God. Christ therefore was sent forth by God, and the
apostles by Christ. Both these appointments,(5) then, were made in an orderly way,
according to the will of God. Having therefore received their orders, and being fully assured
by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and established(6) in the word of God,
with full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went forth proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand. And thus preaching through countries and cities, they appointed
the first-fruits [of their labours], having first proved them by the Spirit,(7) to
be bishops and deacons of those who should afterwards believe. Nor was this any new
thing, since indeed many ages before it was written concerning bishops and deacons. For
thus saith the Scripture(8) a certain place, "I will appoint their bishops s in righteousness,
and their deacons(9) in faith."(10)
CHAP. XLIII.--MOSES OF OLD STILLED THE CONTENTION WHICH AROSE CONCERNING THE PRIESTLY
DIGNITY.
And what wonder is it if those in Christ who were entrusted with such a duty by
God, appointed those [ministers] before mentioned, when the blessed Moses also, "a
faithful servant in all his house,"(11) noted down in the sacred books all the injunctions which were given him, and when the other prophets also followed him, bearing witness
with one consent to the ordinances which he had appointed? For, when rivalry arose
concerning the priesthood, and the tribes were contending among themselves as to
which of them should be adorned with that glorious title, he commanded the twelve princes
of the tribes to bring him their rods, each one being inscribed with the name(12)
of the tribe. And he took them and bound them [together], and sealed them with the
rings of the princes of the tribes, and laid them up in the tabernacle of witness on the
table of God. And having shut the doors of the tabernacle, he sealed the keys, as
he had done the rods, and said to them, Men and brethren, the tribe whose rod shall
blossom has God chosen to fulfil the office of the priesthood, and to minister unto Him.
And when the morning was come, he assembled all Israel, six hundred thousand men,
and showed the seals to the princes of the tribes, and opened the tabernacle of witness,
and brought forth the rods. And the rod of Aaron was found not only to have blossomed,
but to bear fruit upon it.(13) What think ye, beloved? Did not Moses know beforehand
that this would happen? Undoubtedly he knew; but he acted thus, that there might
be no sedition in Israel, and that
17
the name of the true and only God might be glorified; to whom be glory for ever and
ever. Amen.
CHAP. XLIV.--THE ORDINANCES OF THE APOSTLES, THAT THERE MIGHT BE NO CONTENTION RESPECTING
THE PRIESTLY OFFICE.
Our apostles also knew, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and there would be strife
on account of the office(1) of the episcopate. For this reason, therefore, inasmuch
as they had obtained a perfect fore-knowledge of this, they appointed those [ministers] already mentioned, and afterwards gave instructions,(2) that when these should fall
asleep, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry. We are of opinion,
therefore, that those appointed by them,(3) or afterwards by other eminent men, with
the consent of the whole Church, and who have blame-lessly served the flock of Christ
in a humble, peaceable, and disinterested spirit, and have for a long time possessed
the good opinion of all, cannot be justly dismissed from the ministry. For our sin
will not be small, if we eject from(1) the episcopate(4) those who have blamelessly and
holily fulfilled its duties.(5) Blessed are those presbyters who, having finished
their course before now, have obtained a fruitful and perfect departure [from this
world]; for they have no fear lest any one deprive them of the place now appointed them.
But we see that ye have removed some men of excellent behaviour from the ministry,
which they fulfilled blamelessly and with honour.
CHAP. XLV.--IT IS THE PART OF THE WICKED TO VEX THE RIGHTEOUS,
Ye are fond of contention, brethren, and full of zeal about things which do not
pertain to salvation. Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances
of the Holy Spirit. Observe(6) that nothing of an unjust or counterfeit character
is written in them. There(7) you will not find that the righteous were cast off by men
who themselves were holy. The righteous were indeed persecuted, but only by the wicked.
They were cast into prison, but only by the unholy; they were stoned, but only by
transgressors; they were slain, but only by the accursed, and such as had conceived
an unrighteous envy against them. Exposed to such sufferings, they endured them gloriously.
For what shall we say, brethren? Was Daniel s cast into the den of lions by such
as feared God? Were Ananias, and Azarias, and Mishael shut up in a furnace(9) of fire
by those who observed(10) the great and glorious worship of the Most High? Far from
us be such a thought! Who, then, were they that did such things? The hateful, and
those full of all wickedness, were roused to such a pitch of fury, that they inflicted
torture on those who served God with a holy and blameless purpose [of heart], not
knowing that the Most High is the Defender and Protector of all such as with a pure
conscience venerate" His all-excellent name; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. But
they who with confidence endured [these things] are now heirs of glory and honour,
and have been exalted and made illustrious(12) by God in their memorial for ever
and ever. Amen.
CHAP. XLVI.--LET US CLEAVE TO THE RIGHTEOUS: YOUR STRIFE IS PERNICIOUS.
Such examples, therefore, brethren, it is right that we should follow;(13) since
it is written, "Cleave to the holy, for those that cleave to them shall [themselves]
be made holy."(14) And again, in another place, [the Scripture] saith, "With a harmless man thou shalt prove(15) thyself harmless, and with an elect man thou shalt be elect,
and with a perverse man thou shalt show(16) thyself perverse."(17) Let us cleave,
therefore, to the innocent and righteous, since these are the elect of God. Why are
there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars(18) among you? Have
we not [all] one God and one Christ? Is there not one Spirit of grace poured out
upon us? And have we not one calling in Christ?(19) Why do we divide and tear to
pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such
a height of madness as to forget that "we are members one of another?"(20) Remember
the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how(21) He said, "Woe to that man [by whom(21)
offences come]! It were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should
cast a stumbling-block before one of my elect. Yea, it were better for him that a
millstone should be
18
hung about [his neck], and he should be sunk in the depths of the sea, than that he
should cast a stumbling-block before one of my little ones.(1) Your schism has subverted
[the faith of] many, has discouraged many, has given rise to doubt in many, and has caused grief to us all. And still your sedition continueth.
CHAP. XLVII.--YOUR RECENT DISCORD IS WORSE THAN THE FORMER WHICH TOOK PLACE IN THE
TIMES OF PAUL.
Take up the epistle of the blessed Apostle Paul. What did he write to you at the
time when the Gospel first began to be preached?(2) Truly, under the inspiration(3)
of the Spirit, he wrote to you concerning himself, and Cephas, and Apollos,(4) because
even then parties(5) had been formed among you. But that inclination for one above
another entailed less guilt upon you, inasmuch as your partialities were then shown
towards apostles, already of high reputation, and towards a man whom they had approved.
But now reflect who those are that have perverted you, and lessened the renown of your
far-famed brotherly love. It is disgraceful, beloved, yea, highly disgraceful, and
unworthy of your Christian profession,(6) that such a thing should be heard of as
that the most stedfast and ancient Church of the Corinthians should, on account of one
or two persons, engage in sedition against its presbyters. And this rumour has reached
not only us, but those also who are unconnected(7) with us; so that, through your
infatuation, the name of the Lord is blasphemed, while danger is also brought upon yourselves.
CHAP. XLVIII.--LET US RETURN TO THE PRACTICE OF BROTHERLY LOVE.
Let us therefore, with all haste, put an end s to this [state of things]; and
let us fall down before the Lord, and beseech Him with tears, that He would mercifully(9)
be reconciled to us, and restore us to our former seemly and holy practice of brotherly love. For [such conduct] is the gate of righteousness, which is set open for the
attainment of life, as it is written, "Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will
go in by them, and will praise the Lord: this is the gate of the Lord: the righteous
shall enter in by it."(10) Although, therefore, many gates have been set open, yet
this gate of righteousness is that gate in Christ by which blessed are all they that
have entered in and have directed their way in holiness and righteousness, doing
all things without disorder. Let a man be faithful: let him be powerful in the utterance of
knowledge; let him be wise in judging of words; let him be pure in all his deeds;
yet the more he seems to be superior to others [in these respects], the more humble-minded ought he to be, and to seek the common good of all, and not merely his own advantage.
CHAP. XLIX.--THE PRAISE OF LOVE.
Let him who has love in Christ keep the commandments of Christ. Who can describe
the [blessed] bond of the love of God? What man is able to tell the excellence of
its beauty, as it ought to be told? The height to which love exalts is unspeakable.
Love unites us to God. Love covers a multitude of sins.(11) Love beareth all things, is
long-suffering in all things.(12) There is nothing base, nothing arrogant in love.
Love admits of no schisms: love gives rise to no seditions: love does all things
in harmony. By love have all the elect of God been made perfect; without love nothing is well-pleasing
to God. In love has the Lord taken us to Himself. On account of the Love he bore
us, Jesus Christ our Lord gave His blood for us by the will of God; His flesh for our flesh, and His soul for our souls.(13)
CHAP. L.--LET US PRAY TO BE THOUGHT WORTHY OF LOVE.
Ye see, beloved, how great and wonderful a thing is love, and that there is no
declaring its perfection. Who is fit to be found in it, except such as God has vouchsafed
to render so? Let us pray, therefore, and implore of His mercy, that we may live
blameless in love, free from all human partialities for one above another. All the generations
from Adam even unto this day have passed away; but those who, through the grace of
God, have been made perfect in love, now possess a place among the godly, and shall be made manifest at the revelation(14) of the kingdom of Christ. For it is written,
"Enter into thy secret chambers for a little time, until my wrath and fury pass away;
and I will remember a propitious(15) day, and will raise you up out of your graves."(16) Blessed are we, beloved, if we keep the commandments of God in the harmony
of love; that so through love our sins may be forgiven us. For it is written, "Blessed
are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is
the man whose sin
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the Lord will not impute to him, and in whose mouth there is no guile."(1) This blessedness
cometh upon those who have been chosen by God through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom
be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
CHAP. LI.--LET THE PARTAKERS IN STRIFE ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR SINS.
Let us therefore implore forgiveness for all those transgressions which through
any [suggestion] of the adversary we have committed. And those who have been the
leaders of sedition and disagreement ought to have respect(2) to the common hope.
For such as live in fear and love would rather that they themselves than their neighbours should
be involved in suffering. And they prefer to bear blame themselves, rather than that
the concord which has been well and piously(3) handed down to us should suffer. For it is better that a man should acknowledge his transgressions than that he should
harden his heart, as the hearts of those were hardened who stirred up sedition against
Moses the servant of God, and whose condemnation was made manifest [unto all]. For
they went down alive into Hades, and death swallowed them up.(4) Pharaoh with his army
and all the princes of Egypt, and the chariots with their riders, were sunk in the
depths of the Red Sea, and perished,(5) for no other reason than that their foolish
hearts were hardened, after so many signs and wonders had been wrought in the land of
Egypt by Moses the servant of God.
CHAP. LII.--SUCH A CONFESSION IS PLEASING TO GOD.
The Lord, brethren, stands in need of nothing; and He desires nothing of any one,
except that confession be made to Him. For, says the elect David, "I will confess
unto the Lord ; and that will please Him more than a young bullock that hath horns
and hoofs. Let the poor see it, and be glad."(6) And again he saith, "Offer(7) unto God
the sacrifice of praise, and pay thy vows unto the Most High. And call upon Me in
the day of thy trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me."(8) For "the
sacrifice of God is a broken spirit."(9)
CHAP. LIII.--THE LOVE OF MOSES TOWARDS HIS PEOPLE.
Ye understand, beloved, ye understand well the Sacred Scriptures, and ye have
looked very earnestly into the oracles of God. Call then these things to your remembrance.
When Moses went up into the mount, and abode there, with fasting and humiliation,
forty days and forty nights, the Lord said unto him, "Moses, Moses, get thee down quickly
from hence; for thy people whom thou didst bring out of the land of Egypt have committed
iniquity. They have speedily departed from the way in which I commanded them to walk, and have made to themselves molten images."(10) And the Lord said unto him,
"I have spoken to thee once and again, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold,
it is a stiff-necked people: let Me destroy them, and blot out their name from under
heaven; and I will make thee a great and wonderful nation, and one much more numerous
than this."(11) But Moses said, "Far be it from Thee, Lord: pardon the sin of this
people; else blot me also out of the book of the living."(12) O marvellous(13) love!
O insuperable perfection! The servant speaks freely to his Lord, and asks forgiveness
for the people, or begs that he himself might perish(14) along with them.
CHAP. LIV.--HE WHO IS FULL OF LOVE WILL INCUR EVERY LOSS, THAT PEACE MAY BE RESTORED
TO THE CHURCH.
Who then among you is noble-minded? who compassionate? who full of love? Let him
declare, "If on my account sedition and disagreement and schisms have arisen, I will
depart, I will go away whithersoever ye desire, and I will do whatever the majority(15) commands; only let the flock of Christ live on terms of peace with the presbyters
set over it." He that acts thus shall procure to himself great glory in the Lord;
and every place will welcome(16) him. For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness
thereof."(17) These things they who live a godly life, that is never to be repented of,
both have done and always will do.
CHAP. LV.--EXAMPLES OF SUCH LOVE.
To bring forward some examples from among the heathen: Many kings and princes,
in times of pestilence, when they had been instructed by an oracle, have given themselves
up to death, in order that by their own blood they might deliver their fellow-citizens [from destruction]. Many have gone forth from their own cities, that so sedition
might be brought to an end within
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them. We know many among ourselves who have given themselves up to bonds, in order
that they might ransom others. Many, too, have surrendered themselves to slavery,
that with the price(1) which they received for themselves, they might provide food
for others. Many women also, being strengthened by the grace of God, have performed numerous
manly exploits. The blessed Judith, when her city was besieged, asked of the elders
permission to go forth into the camp of the strangers; and, exposing herself to danger, she went out for the love which she bare to her country and people then besieged;
and the Lord delivered Holofernes into the hands of a woman.(2) Esther also, being
perfect in faith, exposed herself to no less danger, in order to deliver the twelve
tribes of Israel from impending destruction. For with fasting and humiliation she entreated
the everlasting God, who seeth all things; and He, perceiving the humility of her
spirit, delivered the people for whose sake she had encountered peril.(3).
CHAP. LVI.--LET US ADMONISH AND CORRECT ONE ANOTHER.
Let us then also pray for those who have fallen into any sin, that meekness and
humility may be given to them, so that they may submit, not unto us, but to the will
of God. For in this way they shall secure a fruitful and perfect remembrance from
us, with sympathy for them, both in our prayers to God, and our mention of them to the
saints.(4) Let us receive correction, beloved, on account of which no one should
feel displeased. Those exhortations by which we admonish one another are both good
[in themselves] and highly profitable, for they tend to unite(5) us to the will of God. For
thus saith the holy Word: "The Lord hath severely chastened me, yet hath not given
me over to death."(6) "For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every
son whom He receiveth."(7) "The righteous," saith it, "shall chasten me in mercy, and reprove
me; but let not the oil of sinners make fat my head."(8) And again he saith, "Blessed
is the man whom the Lord reproveth, and reject not thou the warning of the Almighty. For He causes sorrow, and again restores [to gladness]; He woundeth, and His hands
make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles, yea, in the seventh no evil shall
touch thee. In famine He shall rescue thee from death, and in war He shall free thee
from the power(9) of the sword. From the scourge of the tongue will He hide thee, and
thou shalt not fear when evil cometh. Thou shalt hugh at the unrighteous and the
wicked, and shalt not be afraid of the beasts of the field. For the wild beasts shall
be at peace with thee: then shalt thou know that thy house shall be in peace, and the habitation
of thy tabernacle shall not fail? Thou shall know also that thy seed shall be great,
and thy children like the grass of the field. And thou shall come to the grave like ripened corn which is reaped in its season, or like a heap of the threshing-floor
which is gathered together at the proper time."(11) Ye see, beloved, that protection
is afforded to those that are chastened of the Lord; for since God is good, He corrects us, that we may be admonished by His holy chastisement.
CHAP. LVII.--LET THE AUTHORS OF SEDITION SUBMIT THEMSELVES.
Ye therefore, who laid the foundation of this sedition, submit yourselves to the
presbyters, and receive correction so as to repent, bending the knees of your hearts.
Learn to be subject, laying aside the proud and arrogant self-confidence of your
tongue. For it is better for you that ye should occupy(12) a humble but honourable place
in the flock of Christ, than that, being highly exalted, ye should be cast out from
the hope of His people.(13) For thus speaketh all-virtuous Wisdom:(14)" Behold, I
will bring forth to you the words of My Spirit, and I will teach you My speech. Since I
called, and ye did not hear; I held forth My words, and ye regarded not, but set
at naught My counsels, and yielded not at My reproofs; therefore I too will laugh
at your destruction; yea, I will rejoice when ruin cometh upon you, and when sudden confusion
overtakes you, when overturning presents itself like a tempest, or when tribulation
and oppression fall upon you. For it shall come to pass, that when ye call upon Me,
I will not hear you; the wicked shall seek Me, and they shall not find Me. For they hated
wisdom, and did not choose the fear of the Lord; nor would they listen to My counsels,
but despised My reproofs. Wherefore they shall eat the fruits of their own way, and they shall be filled with their own ungodliness." ...(15)
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CHAP. LVIII.--BLESSINGS SOUGHT FOR ALL THAT CALL UPON GOD.
May God, who seeth all things, and who is the Ruler of all spirits and the Lord
of all flesh--who chose our Lord Jesus Christ and us through Him to be a peculiar(1)
people--grant to every soul that calleth upon His glorious and holy Name, faith,
fear, peace, patience, long-suffering, self-control, purity, and sobriety, to the well-pleasing
of His Name, through our High Priest and Protector, Jesus Christ, by whom be to Him
glory, and majesty, and power, and honour, both now and for evermore. Amen.
CHAP. LIX.--THE CORINTHIANS ARE EXHORTED SPEEDILY TO SEND BACK WORD THAT PEACE HAS
BEEN RESTORED. THE BENEDICTION.
Send back speedily to us in peace and with joy these our messengers to you: Claudius
Ephebus and Valerius Bito, with Fortunatus: that they may the sooner announce to
us the peace and harmony we so earnestly desire and long for [among you], and that
we may the more quickly rejoice over the good order re-established among you. The grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, and with all everywhere that are the called
of God through Him, by whom be to Him glory, honour, power, majesty, and eternal
dominion,(2) from everlasting to everlasting.(3) Amen.(4)