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The Second Letter of Clement (see Online Text) is an early Christian document, included in collections of Apostolic Fathers.

Overview

The document was handed down as a letter of Clement of Rome, the fourth Bishop of Rome (88-99) according to the Christian tradition, after Peter, Linus (67-76), and Anacletus (76-88). Modern scholars see it rather as a sermon written around 95-140 CE by an anonymous author.

The earliest external reference to 2 Clement is found in Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History (4th cent.):

"But it must be observed also that there is said to be a second epistle of Clement. But we do not know that this is recognized like the former, for we do not find that the ancients have made any use of it. And certain men have lately brought forward other wordy and lengthy writings under his name, containing dialogues of Peter and Apion. But no mention has been made of these by the ancients; for they do not even preserve the pure stamp of apostolic orthodoxy."(Book3, Chapter 38)

Major themes

As now typical of the Christian literature of the period, the writing addresses the members of the community, focusing on the kind of life Christians are expected to live after baptism.

Remaining blameless

[Jesus] saved us when we were perishing... when we had no hope of salvation... He called us when we did not exist, and out of nothing he willed us into being (1)

Let us, therefore, not just call him Lord, for this will not save us... Let us acknowledge him in our actions by loving each other, by not committing adultery, or slandering one another or being jealous, but by being self-controlled, compassionate, and kind. (4)

If we disobey his commandments, then nothing will save us from eternal punishment... What assurance do we have of entering the kingdom of God, if we fail to keep our baptism pure and undefiled? (6)

Let us enter the contest, realizing that the contest is at hand and that while many come to enter the earthly contests, not all are crowned, but only those who have trained hard and compete well... For concerning those who have not kept the seal, he says: “their worm will not die and their fire will not be quenched, and they will be a spectacle for all flesh” (7)

Let us repent with our whole heart of the evil things which we have done in the flesh, in order that we may be saved by the Lord while we still have time for repentance... For after we have departed from the world, we are no longer able either to confess or to repent anymore (8)

Charitable giving is good, as is repentance from sin. Fasting is better than prayer, while charitable giving is better than both and “love covers a multitude of sins,” while prayer arising from a good conscience delivers one from death. Blessed is everyone who is found full of these, for charitable giving relieves the burden of sin (16)

I myself am utterly sinful and have not yet escaped from temptation, but even though I am surrounded by the tools of the devil, I make every effort to pursue righteousness, that I may succeed in at least getting close to it, because I fear the coming judgment. (18)

We are competing in the contest of a living God, and are being trained by the present life in order that we may be crowned in the life to come. (21)

External links

• Wikipedia -- Early Christian Writings