2 Clement

SECOND CLEMENT (2 Clement)

Translated by J.B. Lightfoot.

2Clem 1:1 Brethren, we ought so to think of Yeshua the Messiah, as of Yahweh, as of the judge of quick and dead.

2Clem 1:2 And we ought not to think mean things of our Salvation: for when we think mean things of Him, we expect also to receive mean things. And they that listen as concerning mean things do wrong; and we ourselves do wrong, not knowing whence and by whom and unto what place we were called, and how many things Yeshua the Messiah endured to suffer for our sakes.

2Clem 1:3 What recompense then shall we give unto Him? Or what fruit worthy of his own gift to us? And how many mercies do we owe to Him!

2Clem 1:4 For He bestowed the light upon us; He spake to us, as a father to his sons; He saved us, when we were perishing.

2Clem 1:5 What praise then shall we give to Him? Or what payment of recompense for those things which we received?

2Clem 1:6 We who were maimed in our understanding, and worshipped stocks and stones and gold and silver and bronze, the works of men; and our whole life was nothing else but death. While then we were thus wrapped in darkness and oppressed with this thick mist in our vision, we recovered our sight, putting off by His will the cloud wherein we were wrapped.

2Clem 1:7 For He had mercy on us, and in His compassion saved us, having beheld in us much error and perdition, even when we had no hope of salvation, save that which came from Him.

2Clem 1:8 For He called us, when we were not, and from not being He willed us to be.

2Clem 2:1 Rejoice, thou barren that barest not. Break out and cry, thou that travailest not; for more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath the husband. In that He said Rejoice, thou barren that barest not, He spake of us: for our Church was barren, before that children were given unto her.

2Clem 2:2 And in that He said, Cry aloud, thou that travailest not, He meaneth this; Let us not, like women in travail, grow weary of offering up our prayers with simplicity to Yahweh.

2Clem 2:3 Again, in that He said, For the children of the desolate are more than of her that hath the husband, He so spake, because our people seemed desolate and forsaken of Yahweh, whereas now, having believed, we have become more than those who seemed to have Yahweh.

2Clem 2:4 Again another scripture saith, I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

2Clem 2:5 He meaneth this; that it is right to save them that are perishing.

2Clem 2:6 For this indeed is a great and marvelous work, to establish, [cut] those things which stand, but those which are falling.

2Clem 2:7 So also the Messiah willed to save the things which were perish[cut] And he saved many, coming and calling us when we were ev[cut] now perishing.

2Clem 3:1 Seeing then that He bestowed so great mercy on us, first of [cut] that we, who are living, do not sacrifice to these dead g[cut] neither worship them, but through Him have known the Fa[cut] of truth. What else is this knowledge to Himward, but not to [cut] Him through whom we have known Him?

2Clem 3:2 Yea, He Himself saith, Whoso confesseth Me, Him will I co[cut] before the Father.

2Clem 3:3 This then is our reward, if verily we shall confess Him t[cut] whom we were saved.

2Clem 3:4 But wherein do we confess Him? When we do that which [cut] and are not disobedient unto His commandments, and [cut] honor Him with our lips, but with our whole heart and [cut] whole mind.

2Clem 3:5 Now He saith also in Isaiah, This people honoreth me w[cut] lips, but their heart is far from Me.

2Clem 4:1 Let us therefore not only call Him Yeshua, for this will n[cut]

2Clem 4:2 for He saith, Not every one that saith unto Me, Lo[cut] saved, but he that doeth righteousness.

2Clem 4:3 So then, brethren, let us confess Him in our works, b[cut] another, by not committing adultery nor speak[cut] against another nor envying, but being temper[cut] kindly. And we ought to have fellow-feeling one with [cut] not to be covetous. By these works let us confess [cut] by the contrary.

2Clem 4:4 And we ought not rather to fear men but Yahweh.

2Clem 4:5 For this cause, if ye do these things, Yeshua said [cut] gathered together with Me in My bosom, an[cut] commandments, I will cast you away and will [cut] Depart from Me, I know you not whence ye are, [cut] iniquity.

2Clem 5:1 Wherefore, brethren, let us forsake our sojourn i[cut] do the will of Him that called us, and let us not be [cut] out of this world.

2Clem 5:2 For Yeshua saith, Ye shall be as lambs in the [cut]

2Clem 5:3 But Peter answered and said unto Him, What t[cut] should tear the lambs?

[Printed pages 406–408 were not photographed; 2 Clement continues beyond 5:3 — the held text ends at 5:3.]