CODEX
SINAITICUS: The New Testament translated from the Sinaitic Manuscript
Discovered by Constantine
Tischendorf at
Copyright ©2004 Jackson H.
Snyder II
CLEMENT TO
THE CORINTHIANS 1
translated by Charles H. Hoole, 1885
NOTE: CLEMENT IS NOT A PART OF THE
SINAITICUS, BUT IS SITUATED IN OTHER EARLY TESTAMENTS AFTER REVELATION
CHAPTER 0
0:1 The Church of God which sojourneth at
Rome, to the Church of God which sojourneth at Corinth, to them that are called
and sanctified in the will of God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and
peace be multiplied unto you from Almighty God through Jesus Christ.
CHAPTER 1
1:1 On account of the sudden and repeated
calamities and mischances, brethren, that have come upon us, we suppose that we
have the more slowly given heed to the things that are disputed among you,
beloved, and to the foul and unholy sedition, alien and foreign to the elect of
God, which a few headstrong and self-willed persons have kindled to such a
degree of madness, that your venerable and famous name, worthy to be loved of
all men, is greatly blasphemed.
1:2 For who that hath tarried among you
hath not approved your most virtuous and firm faith, hath not admired your
sober and seemly piety in Christ, hath not proclaimed your splendid disposition
of hospitality, hath not deemed blessed your perfect and unerring knowledge?
1:3 For ye did all things without respect
of persons, and walked in the laws of God, submitting yourselves to them that
have the rule over you, and giving the due honour to the presbyters that are
among you. Young men ye enjoined to think such things as be sober and grave.
Women ye exhorted to perform all things in a blameless and honourable and pure
conscience, loving dutifully their own husbands; and ye taught them to manage
the affairs of their houses with gravity, keeping in the rule of obedience,
being temperate in all things.
CHAPTER 2
2:1 And ye were all humble, boasting of
nothing, submitting yourselves rather than subjecting others, more gladly
giving than receiving, content with the provision that God had given you; and
attending diligently to his words, ye received them into your very hearts, and
his sufferings were before your eyes.
2:2 Thus a deep and rich peace was given
to all, and an insatiable longing for doing good, and a plentiful outpouring of
the Holy Spirit was upon all of you.
2:3 And ye, being filled with a holy
desire, with excellent zeal and pious confidence, stretched out your arms to
Almighty God, beseeching him to be merciful unto you, if ye had in anything
unwillingly done amiss.
2:4 Ye contended day and night for the
whole brotherhood, that in his mercy and good pleasure the number of his elect
might be saved.
2:5 Ye were simple and sincere without
malice one toward another:
2:6 all sedition and all schism were
abominable unto you. Ye grieved over the transgressions of your neighbour,
judging his short-comings your own.
2:7 Ye repented not of any well-doing,
being ready to every good work;
2:8 and being adorned with a very virtuous
and holy habit of life, ye did all things in his fear. The commandments and
ordinances of the Lord were written on the breadth of your heart.
CHAPTER 3
3:1 All honour and enlargement was given
to you, and then was fulfilled that which is written: -- The beloved ate and
drank, and was enlarged and grew fat and kicked.
3:2 From this came emulation and envy,
strife and sedition, persecution and disorder, war and captivity.
3:3 Thus the mean men were lifted up
against the honourable; those of no repute against those of good repute; the
foolish against the wise; the young against the elder.
3:4 Through this justice and peace are
afar off, because each of you leaveth off the fear of God and is dimsighted in
his faith, nor walketh in the laws of his commandments, nor behaveth as
becometh a citizen of Christ; but each walketh according to his own evil lusts,
having taken up unjust and unholy envy, by which also death entered into the
world.
CHAPTER 4
4:1 For it is thus written: And it came to
pass after certain days, that Cain brought of the fruits of the ground a
sacrifice to God, and Abel brought also of the firstlings of the sheep and of
their fat.
4:2 And God had respect unto Abel and unto
his gifts; but unto Cain and his gifts he had no regard.
4:3 And Cain was grieved greatly, and his
countenance fell.
4:4 And God said unto Cain, Why art thou
very sorrowful, and why hath thy countenance fallen? If thou hast rightly
offered, but hast not rightly divided, hast thou not sinned?
4:5 Hold thy peace; thy gift returneth
unto thee, and thou shalt be master over it.
4:6 And Cain said unto Abel, Let us pass
over into the field. And it came to pass while they were in the field, Cain
rose up against Abel his brother and slew him.
4:7 Ye see, brethren, jealousy and envy
wrought the slaughter of a brother.
4:8 Through envy our father Jacob fled
from the face of his brother Esau.
4:9 Envy caused Joseph to be persecuted
unto death, and to enter into bondage.
4:10 Envy compelled Moses to flee from the
face of Pharaoh, king of
4:11 Through envy Aaron and Miriam pitched
their tents without the camp.
4:12 Envy brought down Dathan and Abiram
alive to the grave, because they contended against Moses, the servant of God.
4:13 Through envy David suffered jealousy
not only of foreigners, but was persecuted also by Saul, king of
CHAPTER 5
5:1 But let us pass from ancient examples,
and come unto those who have in the times nearest to us, wrestled for the
faith.
5:2 Let us take the noble examples of our
own generation. Through jealousy and envy the greatest and most just pillars of
the Church were persecuted, and came even unto death.
5:3 Let us place before our eyes the good
Apostles.
5:4 Peter, through unjust envy, endured
not one or two but many labours, and at last, having delivered his testimony,
departed unto the place of glory due to him.
5:5 Through envy Paul, too, showed by
example the prize that is given to patience:
5:6 seven times was he cast into chains;
he was banished; he was stoned; having become a herald, both in the East and in
the West, he obtained the noble renown due to his faith;
5:7 and having preached righteousness to
the whole world, and having come to the extremity of the West, and having borne
witness before rulers, he departed at length out of the world, and went to the
holy place, having become the greatest example of patience.
CHAPTER 6
6:1 To these men, who walked in holiness,
there was gathered a great multitude of the elect, who, having suffered,
through envy, many insults and tortures, became a most excellent example among
us.
6:2 Through envy women were persecuted,
even the Danaides and Dircae, who, after enduring dreadful and unholy insults,
attained to the sure course of the faith; and they who were weak in body
received a noble reward.
6:3 Envy hath estranged the minds of wives
from their husbands, and changed the saying of our father Adam: This is now
bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh.
6:4 Envy and strife have overthrown mighty
cities and rooted out great nations.
CHAPTER 7
7:1 These things we enjoin you, beloved,
not only by way of admonition to you, but as putting ourselves also in mind.
For we are in the same arena, and the same contest is imposed upon us.
7:2 Wherefore, let us leave empty and vain
thoughts, and come unto the glorious and venerable rule of our holy calling.
7:3 Let us consider what is good and
pleasing and acceptable before him who made us.
7:4 Let us look steadfastly to the blood
of Christ, and see how precious in the sight of God is his blood, which having
been poured out for our salvation, brought to the whole world the grace of
repentance.
7:5 Let us go back to all generations, and
learn that in every generation God hath granted a place for repentance to such
as wished to return unto him.
7:6 Noah preached repentance, and as many
as hearkened unto him were saved.
7:7 Jonah prophesied destruction to the
Ninevites, and they, repenting of their sins, appeased God through prayer, and,
though alien from God, obtained salvation.
CHAPTER 8
8:1 The ministers of the grace of God
spake by the Holy Spirit concerning repentance;
8:2 and the Lord of all himself spake
concerning repentance with an oath. As I live, saith the Lord, I desire not the
death of a sinner, as I desire his repentance; adding thereto an excellent
saying:
8:3 Repent, O house of
8:4 And in another place he speaketh in
this wise: Wash, and be ye clean; take away the wickedness from your souls from
before my eyes; cease from your evil deeds, learn to do well; seek judgment;
deliver him that is oppressed; give judgment for the orphan, and justify the
widow; and come and let us reason together, saith he; and though your sins be
as purple, I will make them white as snow; and though they be as scarlet, I
will make them white as wool. And if ye be willing and hearken unto me, ye
shall eat the good things of the earth; but if ye be not willing, and hearken
not, the sword shall devour you; for the mouth of the Lord hath said this.
8:5 Desiring, therefore, that all his
beloved ones should partake of repentance, he hath confirmed it by his almighty
will.
CHAPTER 9
9:1 Wherefore, let us submit ourselves to
his excellent and glorious will, and, becoming suppliants of his mercy and
goodness, let us fall before him and betake ourselves to his mercies, having
laid aside the vain toil and the strife and the jealousy that leadeth unto
death.
9:2 Let us look steadfastly at those that
have ministered with perfectness to his excellent glory.
9:3 Let us take as example Enoch, who,
having been found just by reason of obedience, was translated, and his death
was not found.
9:4 Noah, having been found faithful,
preached, by his ministry, regeneration unto the world, and by him God
preserved the animals that entered with one consent into the ark.
CHAPTER 10
10:1 Abraham, who was called the friend,
was found faithful, inasmuch as he became obedient to the words of God.
10:2 This man, by obedience, went out from
his land and his kinsfolk, and the house of his father, that, by leaving a
scanty land and weak kinsfolk and a small house, he might inherit the promises
of God.
10:3 For he saith unto him, Go out from
thy land and thy kinsfolk, and the house of thy father, unto the land that I
shall show thee, and I will make thee a great nation, and bless thee, and
magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed; and I will bless them that bless
thee, and curse them that curse thee, and in thee shall all the tribes of the
earth be blessed.
10:4 And again, when he separated from
Lot, God said unto him, Lift up thine eyes, and look from the place where thou
now art unto the north and unto the south, and unto the east and unto the sea;
for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it and to thy seed for
ever,
10:5 and I will make thy seed as the dust
of the earth: if any man can number the dust of the earth, thy seed also shall
be numbered.
10:6 And again he saith, God brought forth
Abraham, and said unto him: Look up to heaven and number the stars, if thou art
able to number them, so shall thy seed be. And Abraham believed God, and it was
counted to him for righteousness.
10:7 Through faith and hospitality a son
was given unto him in old age, and through obedience he offered him a sacrifice
unto God on one of the mountains that he showed him.
CHAPTER 11
11:1 By hospitality and goodness Lot was
saved out of Sodom when the whole region round about was judged with fire and
brimstone; the Lord making it manifest that he leaveth not them that hope upon
him, but appointeth to punishment and torment them that turn in another way.
11:2 For his wife, who went out together
with him, being of another mind, and not being in concord with him, was on that
account placed as a sign, so that she became a pillar of salt even to this day;
that it might be known to all that the double-minded, and they who doubt
concerning the power of God, are for a judgment and a sign to all generations.
CHAPTER 12
12:1 Through faith and hospitality Rahab
the harlot was saved;
12:2 for when spies were sent unto Jericho
by Jesus, the son of Nun, the king of the land knew that they had come to spy
out his country, and sent out men to apprehend them that they might be taken
and put to death.
12:3 But the hospitable Rahab having
received them, hid them in an upper story under the stalks of flax.
12:4 When, therefore, the men from the
king came upon her, and said, There came unto thee men who are spies of this
our land; bring them out, for the king so commandeth it; she answered, The two
men whom ye are seeking entered in unto me, but they departed quickly and are
on their way; but she showed not the men unto them.
12:5 And she said unto the men, Of a
surety I know that the Lord your God has given over this city unto you; for the
fear and trembling of you hath fallen upon them that inhabit it; when,
therefore, it hath happened unto you to take it, save me and the house of my
father.
12:6 And they say unto her, So shall it
be, even as thou hast spoken unto us. When, therefore, thou hast perceived that
we are coming, thou shalt gather together all thy household under thy roof, and
they shall be saved; but as many as shall be found without the house shall be
destroyed.
12:7 And they proceeded further to give
her a sign, that she should hang from her house scarlet, making it manifest
beforehand that through the blood of the Lord there shall be redemption to all
who believe and hope upon God.
12:8 Behold, beloved, how there was not
only faith, but prophecy in the woman.
CHAPTER 13
13:1 Let us therefore, brethren, be
humble, laying aside all boasting and pride, and folly and wrath, and let us do
that which is written; for the Holy Spirit saith, Let not the wise boast in his
wisdom, nor the strong in his strength, nor the rich in his riches; but let him
that boasteth make his boast in the Lord, even by seeking him and doing
judgment and justice. Let us especially remember the words of our Lord Jesus
Christ which he spake when teaching gentleness and long-suffering, for he spake
thus:
13:2 Show mercy, that ye may obtain mercy;
forgive, that it may be forgiven unto you; as ye do, so shall it be done unto
you; as ye give, so shall it be given unto you; as ye judge, so shall ye be
judged; as ye are kindly affectioned, so shall kindness be showed unto you;
with whatsover measure ye measure, with the same shall it be measured unto you.
13:3 With this commandment and with these
exhortations let us strengthen ourselves, that we may walk obedient to his holy
words with all humility. For the Holy Scripture saith,
13:4 Upon whom shall I have respect but
upon him that is meek and quiet, and that trembleth at my words?
CHAPTER 14
14:1 It is therefore meet and right, men
and brethren, that we should be obedient unto God rather than follow them that
in pride and disorderliness are leaders of detestable sedition.
14:2 For we shall incur no slight harm,
but rather a great danger, if we rashly give ourselves up to the wills of men
who launch out into strife and sedition so as to estrange us from that which is
good.
14:3 Let us, therefore, show kindness
towards them according to the mercy and sweetness of him that made us.
14:4 For it is written, The men of
kindness shall inherit the land. The innocent shall be left upon it; but they
that be lawless shall be destroyed out of it.
14:5 And again he saith, I saw the
unrighteous man exalted on high and lifted up like the cedars of Lebanon. And I
passed by, and behold he was not; I sought his place and found it not. Keep
innocence, and regard righteousness; for there is a remnant that remaineth to
the man of peace.
CHAPTER 15
15:1 Let us therefore cleave unto them who
live in peace and godliness, not unto them who hypocritically profess to desire
peace.
15:2 For he saith in a certain place, This
people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
15:3 And again, With their mouth did they
bless, but with their heart did they curse.
15:4 And again he saith, They loved him
with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied against him. For their heart
was not right with him, nor were they faithful in his covenant.
15:5 Let the crafty lips be put to
silence, and may the Lord destroy all the deceitful lips, even the haughty
tongue, they who said, Let us magnify our tongue, our lips are our own; who is
master over us?
15:6 On account of the misery of the poor,
and on account of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise, saith the Lord;
I will set him in safety, I will deal confidently with him.
CHAPTER 16
16:1 For Christ belongeth unto them that
are humble, not unto them that exalt themselves over his flock.
16:2 Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the
sceptre of the majesty of God, came not in the arrogance of boasting and pride,
though he was able to do so; but in humility, even as the Holy Spirit spake
concerning him.
16:3 For he saith, Lord, who hath believed
our report, and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Like a child
have we delivered our message before him; he is as a root in a thirsty land.
There is no form nor glory in him, and we beheld him, and he had neither form
nor comeliness, but his form was despised, lacking comeliness, beyond the form
of the sons of men. He was a man stricken and in toil, knowing how to bear
infirmity, for his face was turned away; it was dishonoured and held in no
reputation.
16:4 He beareth our sins and suffereth
pain on our account, and we esteemed him as one in toil, stricken and
afflicted.
16:5 He was wounded for our sins, and for
our transgressions did he suffer infirmity; the chastisement of our peace was
upon him, and by his stripes we were healed.
16:6 All we, like sheep, have gone astray,
every one hath erred in his own way,
16:7 and the Lord hath given him up for
our sins; and he, through affliction, openeth not his mouth. He was led like a
sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearers is dumb, so openeth
he not his mouth.
16:8 In his humiliation his judgment was
taken away, and who shall declare his generation, for his life is taken from
the earth;
16:9 for the iniquity of my people he hath
come unto death.
16:10 And I will give the wicked in
requital for his burial, and the rich for his death: for he did no sin, neither
was guile found in his mouth: and the Lord willeth to purify him from stripes.
16:11 If ye make an offering for sin your
soul shall prolong its days.
16:12 And the Lord willeth to take away
from the travail of his soul, to show him light and to form him by knowledge,
to justify the righteous man who serveth many well; and their sins he shall
bear himself.
16:13 Wherefore he shall receive the
inheritance of many, and shall divide the spoils of the strong, because his
soul was delivered up unto death, and he was numbered among the transgressors,
16:14 and he bore the sins of many, and
was given up for their sins.
16:15 And again he saith, I am a worm and
no man -- a reproach of men and despised of the people;
16:16 all they who saw me mocked me, they
spake with their lips, they shook the head; he hoped in God, let him deliver
him, let him save him, because he desireth him.
16:17 See, beloved, what is the example
that hath been given unto us; for if the Lord so humbled himself, what shall we
do who have through his mercy come under the yoke of his grace?
CHAPTER 17
17:1 Let us be imitators of them also who
went about in goat-skins and sheep-skins, preaching the coming of Christ; we
mean Elias and Elisaeus and Ezekiel the prophets, and beside them those who
have obtained a good report.
17:2 Abraham obtained an exceeding good
report, and was called the friend of God, and saith, looking steadfastly to the
glory of God in humility, I am but earth and ashes.
17:3 And, moreover, concerning Job, it is
thus written: Job was a just man and blameless, truthful, one that feared God,
and abstained from all evil.
17:4 But he himself, accusing himself,
saith, No one is pure from pollution, though his life be but for one day.
17:5 Moses was called faithful in all his
house, and by his ministry God judged his people
17:6 And again he saith, I am but as the
smoke from a pot.
CHAPTER 18
18:1 But what shall we say of David, who
obtained a good report; unto whom God said, I have found a man after my own
heart, David, the son of Jesse, with my everlasting mercy have I anointed him.
18:2 But he himself saith unto God, Have
mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy, according to the multitude
of thy compassion do away with mine iniquity;
18:3 wash me throughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my iniquity, and my sin is ever before
me.
18:4 Against thee only have I sinned, and
done this evil in thy sight, that thou mightest be justified in thy words, and
overcome when thou art judged.
18:5 Behold, I was shapen in wickedness,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
18:6 Behold, thou hast loved truth; thou
hast shown me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom.
18:7 Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop,
and I shall be clean. Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
18:8 Thou shalt make me to hear of joy and
gladness; the bones that have been humiliated shall rejoice.
18:9 Turn away thy face from my sins, and
blot out all my misdeeds.
18:10 Create in me a new heart, O Lord,
and renew a right spirit within me.
18:11 Cast me not away from thy presence,
and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.
18:12 O give me again the joy of thy
salvation, and establish me with thy guiding Spirit.
18:13 I will teach sinners thy ways; the
ungodly shall be converted unto thee.
18:14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O
God, thou God of my salvation;
18:15 my tongue shall rejoice in thy righteousness.
O Lord, thou shalt open my mouth, and my lips shall show forth thy praise.
18:16 For if thou hadst desired sacrifice,
I would have given it; in whole burnt offerings thou wilt not delight.
18:17 The sacrifice of God is a broken
spirit; a broken and a contrite heart God will not despise.
CHAPTER 19
19:1 The humility of men so many in number
and so great, and who have obtained so good a report, and their subjection
through obedience, hath made not only us but the generations before us better, namely,
those who in fear and truth have received his oracles.
19:2 Since, therefore, we have become the
partakers in many great and glorious actions, let us finally return to that
goal of peace that was given us from the beginning; let us look steadfastly to
the Father and Creator of the whole world, and let us cleave to the glorious
and excellent gifts and benefits of his peace.
19:3 Let us behold him in spirit, and look
with the eyes of the soul to his long-suffering will. Let us consider how
gentle he is toward all his creation.
CHAPTER 20
20:1 The heavens, being put in motion by
his appointment, are subject to him in peace;
20:2 night and day accomplish the course
ordered by him, in nothing hindering one another.
20:3 The sun and the moon and the dances
of the stars according to his appointment, in harmony and without any violation
of order, roll on the courses appointed to them.
20:4 The fruitful earth bringeth forth in
due season, according to his will, abundant nourishment for men and beasts; nothing
doubting, nor changing in anything from the things that are decreed by him.
20:5 The unsearchable things of the abyss,
and the secret ordinances of the lower parts of the earth, are held together by
the same command.
20:6 The hollow of the vast sea, gathered
together by his hand into its reservoirs, transgresseth not the bounds placed
around it; but even as he hath appointed to it, so it doeth;
20:7 for he said, Thus far shalt thou
come, and thy waves shall be broken within thee.
20:8 The ocean, impassable to men, and the
worlds that are beyond it, are governed by the same commandments of their
Master.
20:9 The seasons of spring and summer,
autumn and winter, in peace succeed one another.
20:10 The fixed stations of the winds,
each in their due time, perform their services without offence. The
ever-flowing fountains, made for enjoyment and health, offer their breasts
without fail to sustain the lives of men. Even the smallest of animals come
together in peace and harmony.
20:11 All these things the great Maker and
Master of all things hath appointed to be in peace and harmony, doing good unto
all things, but more especially unto us, who have fled for refuge to his
mercies, through our Lord Jesus Christ,
20:12 to whom be glory and majesty for ever
and ever. Amen.
CHAPTER 21
21:1 Beware, beloved, lest his many
blessings come to be a condemnation to all of us, unless, walking worthily of
him, we do what is honourable and well pleasing before him with oneness of
mind.
21:2 For he saith in a certain place, The
Spirit of the Lord is a candle, searching out the secret places of the heart.
21:3 Let us see how near he is at hand,
and how none of our thoughts and reasonings do escape him.
21:4 It is right, therefore, that we
should not desert from his will.
21:5 Let us offend against men who are
foolish, and senseless, and puffed up in the pride of their own speech, rather
than against God.
21:6 Let us have respect to our Lord Jesus
Christ, whose blood was given for us. Let us reverence them that are over us.
Let us honour our elders. Let us instruct the young in the discipline of the
fear of God. Let us direct our wives to that which is good;
21:7 let them show forth the lovely habit
of chastity, and exhibit the pure disposition of meekness. Let them make
manifest by their conversation the government of their tongues; let them show
love, not according to partiality, but equally to all that fear the Lord in
holiness.
21:8 Let your children be partakers of the
discipline of Christ; let them learn how much humility availeth before God;
what power a pure love hath with God; how his fear is honourable and great,
preserving all who, with a pure mind, walk in holiness before him.
21:9 For he is a searcher out of thoughts
and counsels, his breath is in us, and when he willeth he will take it away.
CHAPTER 22
22:1 All these things doth the faith which
is in Christ assure. For he himself, through the Holy Spirit, thus calleth unto
us: Come, ye children, hearken unto me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
22:2 What man is he that wisheth for life
and would fain see good days?
22:3 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy
lips that they speak no guile.
22:4 Turn away from evil and do good;
22:5 seek peace and pursue it.
22:6 The eyes of the Lord are over the
just, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is
against them that do evil, to destroy their memorial out of the land.
22:7 The righteous cried, and the Lord
heard him, and delivered him out of all his troubles.
22:8 Many are the afflictions of the
sinner, but they that hope in the Lord, mercy shall compass them round about.
CHAPTER 23
23:1 The Father whose mercies are over all
things, who loveth to do good, hath bowels of compassion for them that fear
him, and with gentleness and kindness bestoweth his favour upon them that come
unto him with a pure mind.
23:2 Wherefore let us not be
double-minded, nor let our hearts form vain imaginations concerning his
excellent and glorious gifts.
23:3 Let not that scripture be applicable
unto us which saith, Wretched are the double-minded, even they that doubt in
their heart and say, We have heard these things in the time of our fathers; and
lo, we have grown old, and none of them hath happened unto us.
23:4 O foolish ones! compare yourselves to
a tree. Take, for example, the vine: first it sheddeth its leaves, then cometh
the bud, then the leaf, then the flower, after that the unripe grape, then the
ripe grape. See how in a little time the fruit of the tree attaineth to
maturity.
23:5 Of a truth, quickly and suddenly
shall his will be fulfilled; the scripture also bearing witness that he shall
come quickly, and shall not tarry; and the Lord shall come suddenly into his
temple, even the holy one, whom ye expect.
CHAPTER 24
24:1 Let us consider, beloved, how the
Master showeth to us continually the resurrection that is about to be, of which
he hath made our Lord Jesus Christ the first fruit, having raised him from the
dead.
24:2 Let us look, beloved, at the resurrection
that is ever taking place.
24:3 Day and night show to us the
resurrection; the night is lulled to rest, the day ariseth; the day departeth,
the night cometh on.
24:4 Let us consider the fruits, in what
way a grain of corn is sown.
24:5 The sower goeth forth and casteth it
into the ground, and when the seeds are cast into the ground, they that fell
into the ground dry and naked are dissolved; then after their dissolution, the
mighty power of the providence of the Lord raiseth them up, and from one seed
many grow up and bring forth fruits.
CHAPTER 25 25:1 Let us consider the
wonderful sign that happeneth in the region of the east, even about
25:2 There is a bird which is called the
phoenix. This, being the only one of its kind, liveth for five hundred years.
And when the time of its death draweth near, it maketh for itself a nest of
frankincense and myrrh and the other perfumes, into which, when its time is
fulfilled, it entereth, and then dieth.
25:3 But as its flesh rotteth, a certain
worm is produced, which being nourished by the moisture of the dead animal,
putteth forth feathers. Then, when it hath become strong, it taketh the nest
wherein are the bones of its ancestor, and bearing them, it flieth from the
region of Arabia to that of
25:4 there, in day-time, in the sight of
all, it flieth up, and placeth them upon the altar of the sun, and having done
so, returneth back.
25:5 The priests, therefore, look into the
registers of the times, and find that it has come at the completion of the
five-hundredth year.
CHAPTER 26
26:1 Shall we then think it great and
wonderful, if the Maker of all things shall make a resurrection of those who,
in the confidence of a good faith, have piously seized him, when even by means
of a bird he showeth the greatness of his promises?
26:2 For he saith in a certain place, And
thou shalt raise me up, and I will give thanks unto thee; and again: I
slumbered and slept; I arose up because thou art with me.
26:3 And again Job saith, Thou shalt raise
up this my flesh, which hath suffered all these things.
CHAPTER 27
27:1 In this hope, therefore, let our
souls be bound unto him who is faithful in his promises and just in his
judgments.
27:2 He who hath commanded men not to lie,
much more shall he not lie; for nothing is impossible with God, except to lie.
27:3 Let our faith, therefore, in him be
kindled afresh within us, and let us consider that all things are near unto
him.
27:4 By the word of his majesty did he
constitute all things, and by a word he is able to destroy them.
27:5 Who shall say unto him, What hast
thou done? or who shall resist the might of his strength? He will do all things
when he willeth and as he willeth, and none of the things decreed by him shall
pass away.
27:6 All things are before him, and
nothing hath escaped his counsel:
27:7 seeing that the heavens declare the
glory of God, and the firmament showeth the work of his hands: day unto day
uttereth speech, and night unto night proclaimeth knowledge; and there is no
speech nor language where their voices are not heard.
CHAPTER 28
28:1 Since, therefore, all things are seen
and heard of him, let us fear him and abandon the filthy desires for evil
deeds, that we may be sheltered by his mercy from the judgments to come.
28:2 For whither can any of us fly from
his mighty hand, and what world shall receive any of them that desert from him?
28:3 For the scripture saith in a certain
place, Whither shall I go, and where shall I conceal myself from thy face? If I
ascend into heaven, thou art there; if I depart into the uttermost parts of the
earth, there is thy right hand; if I shall make my bed in the abyss, there is
thy Spirit.
28:4 Whither then shall we depart, and
where shall we fly from him that embraceth all things?
CHAPTER 29
29:1 Let us, therefore, approach him with
holiness of spirit, lifting unto him pure and undefiled hands; loving the kind
and compassionate Father who hath made us a part of his elect.
29:2 For it is thus written, When The Most
High divided the nations, when he dispersed the sons of Adam, he settled the
boundaries of the nations according to the number of the angels of God. The
portion of the Lord was his people Jacob.
29:3
CHAPTER 30
30:1 Since, therefore, we are a portion of
the Holy One, let us do all such things as pertain unto holiness, avoiding
evil-speaking, foul and impure embraces, drunkenness, disorderliness,
abominable desires, detestable adultery, execrable pride;
30:2 for God, he saith, resisteth the
proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
30:3 Let us cleave, therefore, to them to
whom grace has been given from God. Let us clothe ourselves with concord, being
humble, temperate, keeping ourselves far from all whispering and evil speaking,
justified by our deeds, and not by our words.
30:4 For he saith, He who saith many
things shall, in return, hear many things. Doth he that is eloquent think
himself to be just?
30:5 -- doth he that is born of woman and
liveth but for a short time think himself to be blessed? Be not abundant in
speech.
30:6 Let our praise be in God, and not for
ourselves, for God hateth the self-praisers.
30:7 Let the testimony of right actions be
given us from others, even as it was given to our fathers who were just.
30:8 Audacity, self-will, and boldness
belong to them who are accursed of God; but moderation, humility, and meekness,
to them that are blessed of God.
CHAPTER 31
31:1 Let us cleave, therefore, to his
blessing, and let us see what are the ways of blessing. Let us consult the
records of the things that happened from the beginning.
31:2 On what account was our father
Abraham blessed? Was it not that he wrought righteousness and truth through
faith?
31:3 Isaac, with confidence, knowing the
future, willingly became a sacrifice.
31:4 Jacob, with humility, flying from his
brother, went out from his own land and journeyed unto Laban and served as a
slave, and there were given unto him the twelve tribes of
CHAPTER 32
32:1 If any one will consider these things
with sincerity and one by one, he will recognize the magnificence of the gifts
that were given by him.
32:2 For from Jacob came the priests and
all the Levites that serve the altar of God. From him came our Lord Jesus
Christ according to the flesh; from him came the kings and rulers and governors
of the tribe of Judah; and the remainder of his tribes are of no small glory,
since God hath promised, Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven.
32:3 All these, therefore, have been
glorified and magnified, not through themselves or through their works, or
through the righteousness that they have done, but through his will.
32:4 And we who through his will have been
called in Christ Jesus are justified, not by ourselves, or through our wisdom
or understanding or godliness, or the works that we have done in holiness of
heart, but by faith, by which all men from the beginning have been justified by
Almighty God, to whom be glory world without end. Amen.
CHAPTER 33
33:1 What, then, shall we do, brethren?
Shall we cease from well-doing, and abandon charity? May the Master never allow
that this should happen to us! but let us rather with diligence and zeal hasten
to fulfil every good work.
33:2 For the Maker and Lord of all things
rejoiceth in his works.
33:3 By his supreme power he founded the
heavens, and by his incomprehensible understanding he ordered them. The earth
he separated from the water that surrounded it, and fixed it on the firm
foundation of his own will. The animals which inhabit therein he commanded to
be by his ordinance. Having made beforehand the sea and the animals that are
therein, he shut them in by his own power.
33:4 Man, the most excellent of all
animals, infinite in faculty, he moulded with his holy and faultless hands, in
the impress of his likeness.
33:5 For thus saith God: Let us make man
in our own image, and after our own likeness. And God made man. Male and female
made he them.
33:6 When, therefore, he had finished all
things, he praised and blessed them, and said, Be fruitful, and multiply.
33:7 Let us see, therefore, how all the
just have been adorned with good works. Yea, the Lord himself rejoiced when he
had adorned himself with his works.
33:8 Having, therefore, this example, let
us come in without shrinking to his will; let us work with all our strength the
work of righteousness.
CHAPTER 34
34:1 The good workman receiveth boldly the
bread of his labour, but the slothful and remiss looketh not his employer in
the face.
34:2 It is therefore right that we should
be zealous in well-doing, for from Him are all things;
34:3 for he telleth us beforehand, Behold
the Lord cometh, and his reward is before his face, to give to every one
according to his work.
34:4 He exhorteth us, therefore, with this
reward in view, to strive with our whole heart not to be slothful or remiss
towards every good work.
34:5 Let our glorying 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 by and serve his will.
34:6 For the scripture saith, Ten thousand
times ten thousand stood beside him, and thousands of thousands served him; and
they cried, Holy, holy, holy Lord of Sabaoth! all creation is full of his
glory.
34:7 And let us, being gathered together
in harmony and a good conscience, cry earnestly, as it were with one mouth,
unto him, that we may become partakers of his great and glorious promises;
34:8 for he saith, Eye hath not seen, and
ear hath not heard, neither hath there entered into the heart of man, what
things he hath prepared for them that wait for him.
CHAPTER 35
35:1 Behold, beloved, how blessed and
wonderful are the gifts of God
35:2 -- life in immortality, cheerfulness
in righteousness, truth in liberty, faith in confidence, temperance in
sanctification; and all these things have already come within our cognizance.
35:3 What therefore are the things that
are prepared for them that abide in patience? The Maker and Father of the worlds,
the all-holy one, he knoweth how many and how beautiful they are.
35:4 Let us, therefore, strive to be found
in the number of them that await him, that we may partake of the promised
gifts.
35:5 And how will this be, beloved? If our
mind be established by faith toward God; if we seek out what is pleasant and
acceptable in his sight; if we perform such things as harmonize with his
blameless will, and follow in the way of truth, casting from us all
unrighteousness and lawlessness, covetousness, strife, malice and fraud,
whispering and evil speaking, hatred of God, pride and insolence, vainglory and
churlishness.
35:6 For they who do these things are
hateful unto God, and not only they who do them, but also they who have
pleasure in them that do them.
35:7 For the scripture saith: But unto the
sinner God hath said, Why dost thou speak of my ordinances, and takest my
covenant in thy mouth:
35:8 but thou hast hated instruction and
hast cast my words behind thee. When thou sawest a thief thou wentest with him,
and hast cast in thy portion with the adulterers; thy mouth hath abounded with
evil, and thy tongue hath contrived deceit. Thou satest and spakest against thy
brother, and hast slandered the son of thy mother.
35:9 This hast thou done, and I kept
silence. Thou thoughtest, O wicked one, that I was like unto thee;
35:10 but I will convict thee, and set
thyself before thee.
35:11 Consider this, ye who forget God,
lest he seize you as a lion, and there be none to save you.
35:12 The sacrifice of praise shall honour
me; and there is the way by which I will show him the salvation of God.
CHAPTER 36
36:1 This is the way, beloved, in which we
found our salvation; even Jesus Christ, the high priest of our oblations, the
champion and defender of our weakness.
36:2 Through him we look steadfastly to
the heights of the heavens; through him we behold, as in a glass, the
immaculate and lofty countenance of God the Father; through him the eyes of our
heart were opened; through him our foolish and darkened understanding springeth
up again to his marvellous light; through him the Lord hath willed us to taste
of immortal knowledge; who, being the brightness of his glory, is so far better
than the angels, as he hath, by inheritance, obtained a more excellent name
than they.
36:3 For it is thus written: Who maketh
his angels spirits, his ministers a flame of fire.
36:4 But of his Son the Lord hath thus
said: 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 world
for thy possession.
36:5 And, again, he saith unto him: Sit on
my right hand until I make thy enemies thy footstool.
36:6 Who then are the enemies? Even the
wicked, and they who resist the will of God.
CHAPTER 37
37:1 Let us, therefore, men and brethren,
carry on our warfare with all earnestness in his faultless ordinances.
37:2 Let us consider those who fight under
our rulers, how orderly and obediently and submissively they perform what is
commanded them.
37:3 All are not prefects, or commanders
of thousands, or commanders of hundreds, or commanders of fifties, or
such-like; but each in his own rank performeth what has been ordered by the
king or the commanders.
37:4 The great cannot exist without the
small, nor the small without the great. There is a certain mixture in all
things, and from thence ariseth their use.
37:5 Let us take, for example, our body;
the head is nothing without the feet, nor the feet without the head. The
smallest members of the body are necessary and useful to the whole body, and
all unite and work with harmonious obedience for the preservation of the whole
body.
CHAPTER 38
38:1 Let, therefore, our whole body be
saved in Christ Jesus, and let each be subject to his neighbour, according to
the gift which he hath received.
38:2 Let not the strong man despise the
weak, and let the weak pay regard to the strong. Let him that is rich minister
to him that is poor. Let him that is poor praise God that he hath given unto
him one by whom his want may be supplied. Let the wise show his wisdom, not in
words, but in good deeds; let him that is humble not bear witness to himself,
but leave another to bear witness to him. Let him that is pure in the flesh
boast not of it, knowing that it is another that giveth him the power of
continence.
38:3 Let us consider, brethren, of what
matter we are made, of what sort and who we are that have come into the world,
as it were out of the tomb and darkness. He that made and fashioned us hath
brought us into this world, having prepared beforehand his benefactions, even
before we were born.
38:4 Having, therefore, all these things
from him, we ought in all respects to give thanks unto him, to whom be glory
world without end. Amen.
CHAPTER 39
39:1 The senseless and unwise, the foolish
and unruly, make a mock of us, wishing to exalt themselves in their own
imagination.
39:2 For what can a mortal do? or what
strength hath he that is born of earth?
39:3 For it is written, There was no form
before my eyes, only I heard a breath and a voice.
39:4 For what? shall a mortal be pure
before the Lord? or is a man blameless from his works? seeing that he putteth
no trust in his servants, and beholdeth somewhat of iniquity in his angels;
39:5 yea, the heaven is not pure in his
sight. Away, ye who dwell in houses of clay, of whom are we also even of the
same clay. He hath smitten them even as it were a moth, and in a single day
they are no more. Because they could not help themselves they perished:
39:6 he blew among them, and they died,
because they had no wisdom.
39:7 Call, now, and see if there is any
one that will obey thee, if thou shalt behold any of the holy angels. For anger
destroyeth the fool, and envy putteth him to death that is gone out of the way.
39:8 I have beheld the foolish casting
forth roots, but straightway his habitation was eaten up.
39:9 Let his sons be far from safety, let
them be mocked at the gates of their inferiors, and there shall be none to
deliver them. For that which had been prepared for them the just shall eat, and
they shall not be delivered out of their troubles.
CHAPTER 40
40:1 Since, therefore, these things have
been made manifest before unto us, and since we have looked into the depths of
the divine knowledge, we ought to do everything in order, whatsoever the Lord
hath commanded us to do at the appointed seasons, and to perform the offerings
and liturgies.
40:2 These he hath not commanded to be
done at random or in disorder, but at fixed times and seasons.
40:3 But when and by whom he wisheth them
to be fulfilled he himself hath decided by his supreme will; that all things,
being done piously, according to his good pleasure, might be acceptable to his
will.
40:4 They, therefore, who at the appointed
seasons make their offerings are acceptable and blessed; for while following
the laws of the Master they do not completely sin.
40:5 For to the High Priest were assigned
special services, and to the priests a special place hath been appointed; and
on the Levites special duties are imposed. But he that is a layman is bound by
the ordinances of laymen.
CHAPTER 41
41:1 Let each of you, brethren, in his own
order, give thanks unto God, continuing in a good conscience, not transgressing
the fixed rule of his ministry, with all gravity.
41:2 Not in every place, brethren, are
sacrifices offered continually, either in answer to prayer, or concerning sin
and neglect, but in Jerusalem only; and even there the offering is not made in
every place, but before the temple in the court of the altar, after that which
is offered has been diligently examined by the high priest and the appointed
ministers.
41:3 They, therefore, who do anything
contrary to that which is according to his will have for their punishment
death.
41:4 Ye see, brethren, by as much as we
have been thought worthy of greater knowledge, by so much the more are we
exposed to danger.
CHAPTER 42
42:1 The Apostles received for us the
gospel from our Lord Jesus Christ; our Lord Jesus Christ received it from God.
42:2 Christ, therefore, was sent out from
God, and the Apostles from Christ; and both these things were done in good
order, according to the will of God.
42:3 They, therefore, having received the
promises, having been fully persuaded by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and having been confirmed by the word of God, with the full persuasion
of the Holy Spirit, went forth preaching the good tidings that the kingdom of
God was at hand.
42:4 Preaching, therefore, through the
countries and cities, they appointed their firstfruits to be bishops and
deacons over such as should believe, after they had proved them in the Spirit.
42:5 And this they did in no new way, for
in truth it had in long past time been written concerning bishops and deacons;
for the scripture, in a certain place, saith in this wise: I will establish
their bishops in righteousness, and their deacons in faith.
CHAPTER 43
43:1 And wherein is it wonderful, if they
who, in Christ, were entrusted by God with this work appointed the aforesaid
officers? since even the blessed Moses, the faithful servant in all his house,
signified in the sacred books all the things that were commanded unto him, whom
also the prophets have followed, bearing witness together to the laws which
were appointed by him.
43:2 For he, when a strife arose
concerning the priesthood, and when the tribes contended which of them should
be adorned with that glorious name, commanded the twelve chiefs of the tribes
to bring to him rods, each inscribed with the name of a tribe; and when he had
taken them, he bound them together, and sealed them with the seals of the heads
of the tribes, and laid them up on the table of God, in the tabernacle of the
testimony.
43:3 And when he had closed the
tabernacle, he sealed the keys, and likewise the rods,
43:4 and said unto them, Men and brethren,
of whatever tribe the rod shall bud, this hath God chosen to be his priest, and
to serve him.
43:5 And when morning was come, he called
together all Israel, even six hundred thousand men, and showed unto the heads
of the tribes the seals, and opened the tabernacle of the testimony and brought
forth the rods, and the rod of Aaron was found not only to have budded, but
also bearing fruit.
43:6 What think ye, beloved? did not Moses
know beforehand that this was about to happen? Most assuredly did he know it.
But, that there might be no disorder in
CHAPTER 44
44:1 Our Apostles, too, by the instruction
of our Lord Jesus Christ, knew that strife would arise concerning the dignity
of a bishop;
44:2 and on this account, having received
perfect foreknowledge, they appointed the above-mentioned as bishops and
deacons: and then gave a rule of succession, in order that, when they had
fallen asleep, other men, who had been approved, might succeed to their
ministry.
44:3 Those who were thus appointed by
them, or afterwards by other men of good repute, with the consent of the whole
Church, who have blamelessly ministered to the flock of Christ with humility,
quietly, and without illiberality, and who for a long time have obtained a good
report from all, these, we think, have been unjustly deposed from the ministry.
44:4 For it will be no small sin in us if
we depose from the office of bishop those who blamelessly and piously have made
the offerings.
44:5 Happy are the presbyters who finished
their course before, and died in mature age after they had borne fruit; for
they do not fear lest any one should remove them from the place appointed for
them.
44:6 For we see that ye have removed some
men of honest conversation from the ministry, which had been blamelessly and
honourably performed by them.
CHAPTER 45
45:1 Ye are contentious, brethren, and are
zealous concerning things that pertain not unto salvation.
45:2 Look diligently into the scriptures,
which are the true sayings of the Holy Spirit.
45:3 Ye know how that nothing unjust or
corrupt hath been written in them; for ye will not in them find the just
expelled by holy men.
45:4 The just were persecuted, but it was
by the lawless; they were thrown into prison, but it was by the unholy; they
were stoned, but it was by sinners; they were slain, but it was by wicked men,
even by those who had taken up an unjust envy against them.
45:5 They, therefore, when they suffered
all these things, suffered them with a good report.
45:6 For what shall we say, brethren? was
it by those that feared God that Daniel was cast into the den of lions?
45:7 Was it by those who practised the
magnificent and glorious worship of the Most High that Ananias, Azarias, and
Misael, were shut up in the fiery furnace? Let us not suppose that such was the
case. Who, then, were the men who did these things? Abominable men and full of
all wickedness were inflamed to such a degree of wrath that they cast into
tortures those who, with a holy and a blameless purpose, served God, not
knowing that the Most High is a champion and defender of those who with a pure
conscience serve his most excellent name, to whom be glory world without end.
Amen.
45:8 But they, abiding steadfastly in
their confidence, have inherited honour and glory, and have both been exalted
and made beautiful by God, in the memory that is made of them world without
end. Amen.
CHAPTER 46
46:1 To such examples ought we also to
cleave, brethren.
46:2 For it is written, Cleave unto them
that are holy, for they that cleave unto them shall be made holy.
46:3 And again, in another place he saith,
With the guiltless man thou shalt be guiltless, and with the excellent thou
shalt be excellent, and with him that is crooked thou shalt be perverse.
46:4 Let us, therefore, cleave to the
guiltless and the just, for they are the elect of God.
46:5 Why are there strivings, and anger,
and division, and war among you?
46:6 Have we not one God and one Christ?
Is not the Spirit of grace, which was poured out upon us, one? Is not our
calling one in Christ?
46:7 Why do we tear apart and rend asunder
the members of Christ, and make sedition against our body, and come to such a
degree of madness that we forget we are members one of another? Remember the
words of our Lord Jesus,
46:8 for he said, Woe unto that man; it
were good for him if he had never been born, rather than that he should cause
one of my elect to offend. It were better for him that a millstone were tied
about him, and that he were cast into the sea, rather than that he should cause
one of my little ones to offend.
46:9 This your schism has perverted many;
hath cast many into despondency; many into doubt; all of us into grief, and, as
yet, your sedition remaineth.
CHAPTER 47
47:1 Take into your hands the epistle of
the blessed Apostle Paul.
47:2 What did he first write unto you in
the beginning of his gospel?
47:3 Of a truth, he warned you
spiritually, in a letter, concerning himself, and concerning Cephas and
Apollos, because even then there were factions among you;
47:4 but the faction of that time brought
less sin upon you; for ye inclined unto Apostles of good repute, and unto a man
approved among them.
47:5 But now consider who they are that
have perverted you, and have diminished the glory of your famous brotherly
love.
47:6 Disgraceful, brethren, yea, very
disgraceful is it, and unworthy of the conduct which is in Christ, that it
should be reported that the most firm and ancient Church of the Corinthians
hath, on account of one or two persons, made sedition against its presbyters.
47:7 And this report came not only unto
us, but also unto the Gentiles, who go not with us. So that ye heap blasphemies
on the name of the Lord through your folly, and withal cause danger to
yourselves.
CHAPTER 48
48:1 Let us, therefore, remove this thing
as quickly as possible, and let us fall before the feet of the Master, and
beseech him with tears, that he will have mercy and be reconciled unto us, and
restore us again to the grave and pure conversation of brotherly love.
48:2 For this is a gate of righteousness opened
unto life, as it is written, Open unto me the gates of righteousness; I will go
in unto them, and give thanks unto the Lord:
48:3 this is the gate of the Lord; the
righteous shall enter thereby.
48:4 Now, since many gates have been
opened, the gate of righteousness is that which is in Christ. Happy are all
they that enter therein, and who keep their path straight in holiness and
righteousness, quietly performing all their duties.
48:5 If a man be faithful, if he be mighty
to expound knowledge, if he be wise in the interpretation of words, if he be
pure in his deeds,
48:6 by so much the more ought he to be
humble, and by as much as he seemeth to be greater, by so much the more ought
he to seek the common advantage of all, and not of himself alone.
CHAPTER 49
49:1 Let him that hath the love which is
in Christ keep the commandments of Christ.
49:2 Who can describe sufficiently the
bond of the love of God?
49:3 Who is sufficient to speak as he
ought of the excellence of its beauty?
49:4 The height to which love leads up is
unspeakable.
49:5 Love joineth us unto God; love hideth
a multitude of sins; love beareth all things; is long suffering in all things.
In love there is nothing illiberal, nothing haughty. Love hath no schism; love
maketh not sedition; love doth all things in harmony; in love all the elect of
God have been made perfect. Without love nothing is acceptable unto God.
49:6 In love, our Master hath taken us to
himself. Through the love that he hath for us, Jesus Christ our Lord hath given
his blood for us, by the will of God, his flesh for our flesh, his soul for our
soul.
CHAPTER 50
50:1 Ye see, brethren, how great and
wonderful a thing love is, and how there is no describing its perfection.
50:2 Who is sufficient to be found in it,
except those whom God shall have deemed worthy? Let us pray, therefore, and ask
from his mercy that we may live in love, without human partiality, blameless.
50:3 All the generations, from Adam even
unto this day, are gone by; but they who have been made perfect in love
according to the grace of God inhabit the abode of the pious, and shall be made
manifest in the visitation of the
50:4 For it is written, Enter into the
secret chambers but a little while, until my anger and wrath be passed, and I
will remember the good day, and will raise you up from your sepulchres.
50:5 Blessed are we, beloved, if we do the
commandments of God in the harmony of love, so that through love our sins may
be forgiven us.
50:6 For it is written, Blessed are they
whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man
to whom the Lord imputeth not sin, and in whose mouth there is no guile.
50:7 This blessedness cometh unto them who
are elect by God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory world without
end. Amen.
CHAPTER 51
51:1 Whatever errors, therefore, we have
committed through the assaults of the adversary, let us for these ask pardon;
and they who have been leaders of the sedition and division ought to consider
the common ground of our hope.
51:2 For they who have their conversation
in fear and love wish that they themselves, rather than their neighbours,
should fall into suffering; and would rather that themselves should undergo
condemnation, than that the harmony which hath been honourably and justly
handed down to us should do so.
51:3 For it is better that a man should
make confession concerning his sins, than that he should harden his heart, even
as the heart of them was hardened who made sedition against Moses the servant
of God; whose condemnation was manifest,
51:4 for they went down alive into hell,
and death swallowed them up.
51:5 Pharaoh and his army, and all the
leaders of Egypt, their chariots and their riders, through no other cause were
sunk in the Red Sea, and perished there, than through the hardening of their
foolish hearts, after that the signs and wonders happened in Egypt through the
hand of Moses the servant of God.
CHAPTER 52
52:1 The Lord of all things, brethren, is
in need of naught; neither requireth he anything of any one, except to confess
unto him.
52:2 For the elect David saith, I will
confess unto the Lord, and that shall please him more than a young calf that
putteth forth horns and hoofs. Let the poor behold and rejoice thereat.
52:3 And again he saith, Offer unto the
Lord the sacrifice of praise: pay thy vows unto the Most High. And call upon me
in the day of thy affliction, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify
me.
52:4 For the sacrifice unto God is a
broken spirit.
CHAPTER 53
53:1 Ye know, beloved, and know well, the
sacred scriptures, and have looked into the oracles of God; call, therefore,
these things to remembrance.
53:2 For, when Moses had gone up into the
mount, and had tarried there forty days and forty nights in fasting and
humiliation, the Lord said unto him, Moses, Moses, get thee down quickly hence,
for thy people, whom thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have wrought
iniquity. They have gone astray quickly out of the way that thou commandest
them, and have made unto themselves molten images.
53:3 And the Lord said unto him, I have
spoken unto thee once and twice, saying, I have beheld this people, and, lo, it
is a stiffnecked people. Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and I will wipe
out their name from under heaven, and make of thee a nation great and
wonderful, and far more numerous than they.
53:4 And Moses said, Be it far from thee,
O Lord. Forgive this people their sin, or wipe my name also out of the book of
the living.
53:5 Oh, the great love! Oh, the
unsurpassable perfection! The servant is bold towards the Lord: he asketh
remission for the people, or demands otherwise that he himself should be
destroyed together with them.
CHAPTER 54
54:1 Who among you is noble? who is
compassionate? who is filled with love?
54:2 Let him speak in this wise: If
through me sedition and strife arise, I will depart, I will go away
whithersoever ye will, and I will do that which is commanded by the majority,
only let the flock of Christ be at peace together with the appointed
presbyters.
54:3 He who doeth this shall gain for
himself great glory in the Lord, and every place shall receive him; for the
earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
54:4 These things have they done who are
citizens of the
CHAPTER 55
55:1 But, to bring forward examples from
the Gentiles, also many kings and leaders, when a time of pestilence had
arisen, being warned by oracles, gave themselves unto death, that they might
deliver their citizens by their blood. Many went out from their own cities,
that there might be no more sedition therein.
55:2 We know that many among us gave
themselves up unto bonds, that they might deliver others. Many have given
themselves up unto slavery, and, having received their own price, have
therewith fed others.
55:3 Many women, waxing strong through the
grace of God, have performed many manly deeds.
55:4 The blessed Judith, when the city was
besieged, asked of the elders that she should be permitted to go forth into the
camp of the aliens.
55:5 She therefore delivered herself unto
danger, and went out through love of her country and of her people, who were
besieged. And the Lord delivered Olophernes into the hands of a woman.
55:6 To no smaller danger did Esther,
being perfect in faith, expose herself, that she might deliver the twelve
tribes of Israel, who were about to perish. For by fasting and humiliation she
besought the Master, who overlooketh all things, the God of Ages, who, seeing
the humiliation of her soul, delivered the people for whose sake she put
herself in jeopardy.
CHAPTER 56
56:1 Let us, therefore, pray for those who
have fallen into any transgression, that moderation and humility may be given
unto them, to the end that they should submit themselves, I do not say unto us,
but unto the will of God; for so shall they obtain a fruitful and perfect
remembrance and compassion before God and his saints.
56:2 Let us accept, brethren, that
discipline at which no one needeth to be offended. The admonition which we make
one toward another is good and useful exceedingly, for it joineth us unto the
will of God.
56:3 For thus speaketh the holy word: The
Lord hath chastened me with chastisements, but he hath not given me over unto
death.
56:4 For whom the Lord loveth he
chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
56:5 The righteous shall chastise me in
pity and shall rebuke me, but let not the oil of sinners anoint mine head.
56:6 And again he saith: Blessed is the
man whom the Lord hath rebuked; refuse not thou the admonition of the Almighty,
for he maketh thee to grieve, and again he restoreth thee;
56:7 he hath smitten, and his hands have
healed thee;
56:8 six times shall he deliver thee from
calamity, and the seventh time evil shall not touch thee.
56:9 In the time of famine he shall
deliver thee from death, in war he shall redeem thee from the hand of iron.
56:10 From the scourge of the tongue shall
he hide thee, and thou shalt not be afraid when evils approach.
56:11 The unjust and the sinner shalt thou
laugh to scorn;
56:12 and of the wild beasts thou shalt
not be afraid, for the wild beasts shall be at peace with thee.
56:13 Then shalt thou know that thy house
shall be at peace; the habitation of thy tabernacle shall not fail.
56:14 Thou shalt know that thy seed is
abundant, thy children like all the herb of the field.
56:15 Thou shalt come to thy tomb like a
ripe ear of corn reaped in due season, like the heap of a threshing-floor that
is gathered at its proper time.
56:16 Ye see, beloved, that there is a
protection for them that are chastened by the Master, for God chasteneth us
because he is good, to the end that we should be admonished by his holy
discipline.
CHAPTER 57
57:1 Do ye, therefore, that have laid the
foundation of the sedition submit yourselves to the presbyters, and be
chastised to repentance, bending the knees of your hearts.
57:2 Learn to submit yourselves, laying
aside the vain and haughty self-will of your tongues; for it is better that you
should be small and approved in the flock of Christ, rather than that, seeming
to be superior to others, ye should be cast out of his hope.
57:3 For thus saith the most excellent
Wisdom, Behold, I will send upon you the language of my Spirit; I will teach
you my word.
57:4 Since I called and ye did not
hearken, and prolonged my words, and ye attended not, but made my counsels of
none effect, and were not obedient to my reproofs, therefore I will laugh at
your destruction, I will exult when desolation cometh upon you; when
perturbation hath suddenly come upon you, and ruin is at hand like a whirlwind,
when tribulation and oppression cometh upon you.
57:5 For the time shall come when ye shall
call upon me, and I shall not hearken unto you; the wicked shall seek me, and
shall not find me. They hated wisdom and chose not the fear of the Lord; they
were not willing to attend to my counsels, they mocked at my rebukes.
57:6 Wherefore they shall eat the fruits
of their own way; they shall be filled with their own unrighteousness.
57:7 For because they wronged the innocent
they shall be slain, and judgment shall destroy the unrighteous; but he who
hearkeneth unto me shall abide trusting in hope, and shall rest securely from
all evil.
CHAPTER 58
58:1 Let us, therefore, submit to his
all-holy and glorious name, and escape the threats that have been before spoken
by Wisdom against the disobedient, that we may abide trusting in the most holy
name of his greatness.
58:2 Accept this our advice, and it will
not be repented of by you. For as God liveth, and as the Lord Jesus Christ
liveth, and the Holy Spirit, the confidence and hope of the elect, he who
observeth in humility with earnest obedience, and repining not, the ordinances
and commands given by God, he shall be reckoned and counted in the number of
them that are saved by Jesus Christ, through whom is there to him glory, world
without end. Amen.
CHAPTER 59
59:1 But if some should be disobedient to
the things spoken by him through us, let them know that they will entangle
themselves in no small transgression and danger,
59:2 but that we shall be guiltless of
this sin; and we will ask, making with earnestness our prayer and supplication,
that the Maker of all things may keep uninjured in all the world the number of
those that have been numbered as his elect, through his beloved Son, Jesus
Christ, through whom he hath called us from darkness unto light, and from
ignorance to a knowledge of the glory of his name.
59:3 That we may hope in thy name, which
is the first of all things, open the eyes of our heart to know thee, who art
alone highest among the highest, holy among the holy, who puttest down the
haughtiness of the proud, who scatterest the reasonings of the Gentiles, who
exaltest the humble on high, and lowerest the lofty, who makest rich and makest
poor, who killest and makest to live, the only benefactor of spirits, and God
of all flesh, who lookest into the abysses, who beholdest the works of men, who
art the helper of those in danger, the saviour of those who have lost hope, who
art the maker and bishop of every soul, who makest the nations to multiply upon
earth, and out of all hast chosen those that love thee through Jesus Christ thy
beloved Son, through whom thou hast taught us, hast sanctified us, hast
honoured us.
59:4 We ask thee, Lord, to be our helper
and assister, save those of us who are in affliction, have compassion on the
humble, raise the fallen, appear to those who are in need, heal the sinners,
convert those of thy people who are wandering from the way, feed the hungry,
ransom our prisoners, raise up the sick, encourage the feeble-hearted, let all
the nations know that thou art God alone and Jesus Christ thy Son, and that we
are thy people and the sheep of thy pasture.
CHAPTER 60
60:1 Thou hast made manifest the
everlasting constitution of the world by the things that happen. Thou, Lord,
who art faithful in all generations, hast founded the world; thou who art just
in thy judgments, who art wonderful in strength and greatness; thou who art
wise in creating and prudent in establishing the things that are made; thou
that art good in the things that are seen and faithful among them that trust
upon thee, merciful and compassionate, forgive us our transgressions and
unrighteousnesses, our sins and our negligences.
60:2 Take not into account every sin of
thy servants and handmaids, but purify us with the purification of thy truth, and
make straight our steps in holiness and righteousness and singleness of heart,
that we may so walk and do such things as are right and well pleasing before
thee, and before our rulers.
60:3 Yea, Lord, cause thy face to appear
to us in peace to our good, that we may be sheltered by thy mighty hand, and
preserved from all sin by thy lofty arm, and deliver us from those that hate us
unjustly.
60:4 Give unity and peace both to us and
to all that dwell upon the earth, as thou gavest to our fathers when they
called upon thee with faith and truth, so that we should become obedient to thy
all-powerful and most excellent name, and to those who rule and govern us upon
the earth.
CHAPTER 61
61:1 Thou, Lord, hast given the authority
of the kingdom to them through thy almighty and unspeakable power, so that we,
knowing the estimation and honour given to them by thee, might submit ourselves
to them, in no way opposing thy will; to whom give, O Lord, health, peace,
concord, stability, so that they may discharge the rule given unto them by thee
without offence;
61:2 for thou, heavenly Lord, everlasting
King, givest to the sons of men glory and honour and authority over the things
that are upon the earth. Do thou, Lord, direct their counsel according to what
is good and pleasing before thee, that, fulfilling with peace and meekness and
piety the authority given unto them by thee, they may obtain mercy from thee.
61:3 Thou who alone art able to do these
and greater good things among us, to thee do we give thanks through the high
priest and protector of our souls, Jesus Christ, through whom to thee be the
glory and majesty, now and to all generations, world without end. Amen.
CHAPTER 62
62:1 Concerning the things that pertain to
our religion, and the things that are most useful to a virtuous life, for those
who are willing to live piously and righteously, we have sufficiently charged
you, men and brethren.
62:2 For we have handled every argument
concerning faith and repentance, and genuine love and temperance, and moderation
and patience, reminding you that ye must by righteousness and truth and
long-suffering approve yourselves with piety to almighty God, being of one
mind, without malice, in love and peace with earnest obedience, even as our
fathers, who were beforementioned, approved themselves with humility both with
regard to God the Father and Creator and to all men.
62:3 And these things have we so much the
more gladly put you in mind of, inasmuch as we knew plainly that we wrote unto
men who are faithful and of high repute, and who have looked into the oracles
of the instruction of God.
CHAPTER 63
63:1 It is right, therefore, that those
who have attended to so great and so many examples should submit their necks,
and fill the place of obedience, so that being at peace from the vain sedition
we may attain, without any blame, to the end set before us in truth.
63:2 For joy and rejoicing will ye afford
us if, becoming obedient to the things that have been written by us, ye put an
end, by the suggestion of the Holy Spirit, to the unlawful wrath of your
discord, according to the supplication which we have made concerning peace and
unity in this epistle.
63:3 But we have also sent unto you men
who are faithful and prudent, who from youth up to old age have behaved
blamelessly among us, who also will be witnesses between yourselves and us;
63:4 and this we have done that ye may
know that our whole thought has been and is this, that ye may speedily be at
peace among yourselves.
CHAPTER 64
64:1 Finally, my God, who overlooketh all
things, who is the Master of spirits and Lord of all flesh, who hath chosen our
Lord Jesus Christ, and us through him to be a peculiar people, give unto every
soul that is called after his glorious and holy name, faith, fear, peace, patience,
long-suffering, continence, purity, sobriety, to the well-pleasing of his name,
through our high priest and protector, Jesus Christ, through whom be ascribed
unto him glory and greatness, strength and honour, both now and world without
end. Amen.
CHAPTER 65
65:1 See that ye send back quickly unto us
in peace and with joy Claudius Ephebus and Valerius Bito, together also with
Fortunatus, who were sent unto you from us, that they may the more quickly
bring us news of your peace and order, which we pray for and desire, so that we
may the sooner have joy concerning your good order.
65:2 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be
with you, and with all who everywhere are called of God through him, to whom
through him be glory, honour, might, majesty, and eternal dominion, world
without end. Amen.