Second Epistle of Clement

Lake, Loeb 1912

Chapter 11

Warning against doubt

Let us then serve God with a pure heart, and we shall be righteous, but if we do not serve him, because we do not believe the promise of God, we shall be miserable.

For the prophetic word also says:—“Miserable are the double-minded that doubt in their heart, who say. These things we heard long ago and in the time of our fathers, but we have waited from day to day, and have seen none of them.”

“O foolish men! compare yourselves to a tree; take a vine; first it sheds its leaves, then there comes a bud, after this the unripe grape, then the full bunch.”

“So also my people has had tumults and afflictions; afterwards it shall receive the good things.”¹

Therefore, my brethren, let us not be double-minded, but let us be patient in hope, that we may also receive the reward.

“For he is faithful who promised” to pay to each mall the recompense of his deeds.

If then we do righteousness before God we shall enter into his kingdom, and shall receive the promises “which ear hath not heard, nor hath eye seen, neither hath it entered into the heart of man.”

Notes

The additional clause at the end of this quotation seems to show that it is not derived from I. Clement, but directly from the “prophetic word,” cf. note on p. 51.