Second Epistle of Clement

Lake, Loeb 1912

Chapter 16

The profit of repentance

Seeing therefore, brethren, that we have received no small opportunity for repentance; let us, now that we have time, turn to the God who calls us, while we still have one who awaits us.

For if we bid farewell to these enjoyments, and conquer our soul, by giving up its wicked lusts, we shall share in the mercy of Jesus.

The danger of the Judgment

But you know that “the day” of judgment is already “approaching as a burning oven, and some¹ of the heavens shall melt,” and the whole earth shall be as lead melting in the fire, and then shall be made manifest the secret and open deeds of men.

Almsgiving

Almsgiving is therefore good even as penitence for sin; fasting is better than prayer, but the giving of alms is better than both; and love “covers a multitude of sins,” but prayer from a good conscience rescues from death. Blessed is every man who is found full of these things; for almsgiving lightens sin.

Notes

Possibly the text is corrupt: Lightfoot’s conjecture would be translated, “the powers of heaven,” but the text may be defended as a reference to the early Christian belief in seven concentric heavens surrounding the Earth.