Works Clement of Rome (35-99) Epistula altera ad Corinthios

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The Second Epistle of Clement

Chapter VII.--We Must Strive in Order to Be Crowned.

Wherefore, then, my brethren, let us struggle with all earnestness, knowing that the contest is [in our case] close at hand, and that many undertake long voyages to strive for a corruptible reward; 1 yet all are not crowned, but those only that have laboured hard and striven gloriously. Let us therefore so strive, that we may all be crowned. Let us run the straight 2 course, even the race that is incorruptible; and let us in great numbers set out 3 for it, and strive that we may be crowned. And should we not all be able to obtain the crown, let us at least come near to it. We must remember 4 that he who strives in the corruptible contest, if he be found acting unfairly, 5 is taken away and scourged, and cast forth from the lists. What then think ye? If one does anything unseemly in the incorruptible contest, what shall he have to bear? For of those who do not preserve the seal 6 [unbroken], [the Scripture] saith, "Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be a spectacle to all flesh." 7

  1. Literally, "that many set sail for corruptible contests," referring probably to the concourse at the Isthmian games. ↩

  2. Or, "Let us place before us." ↩

  3. Or, "set sail." ↩

  4. Literally, "know." ↩

  5. Literally, "if he be found corrupting." ↩

  6. Baptism is probably meant. ↩

  7. Isa. lxvi. 24. ↩

Translation Hide
An ancient Homily, commonly styled the second epistle of Clement

Chap. vii.--we must strive in order to be crowned.

Wherefore, then, my brethren, let us struggle 1 with all earnestness, knowing that the contest is in our case close at hand, and that many undertake long voyages to strive for a corruptible reward; 2 yet all are not crowned, but those only that have laboured hard and striven gloriously. Let us therefore so strive, that we may all be crowned. Let us run the straight 3 course, even the race that is incorruptible; and let us in great numbers set out 4 for it, and strive that we may be crowned. And should we not all be able to obtain the crown, let us at least come near to it. We must remember 5 that he who strives in the corruptible contest, if he be found acting unfairly, 6 is taken away and scourged, and cast forth from the lists. What then think ye? If one does anything unseemly in the incorruptible contest, what shall he have to bear? For of those who do not preserve the seal 7 unbroken, the Scripture saith, 8 "Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be a spectacle to all flesh." 9

  1. [agonisometha, "let us strive," as in the games.--R.] ↩

  2. Literally, "that many set sail for corruptible contests," referring probably to the concourse at the Isthmian games. ↩

  3. Or, "Let us place before us." [The latter rendering is that of the reading found in A and C, and now accepted by many editors (thomen); but Lightfoot adheres to the'omen (so S), and holds the former reading to be a corruption.--R.] ↩

  4. Or, "set sail." ↩

  5. Literally, "know." ↩

  6. Literally "if he be found corrupting." ↩

  7. Baptism is probably meant. [See Eph. i. 13 and Acts xix. 6.] ↩

  8. [Or, "He saith;" "unbroken" is not necessary.--R.] ↩

  9. Isa. lxvi. 24. ↩

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Second Epistle to the Corinthians (Loeb) Compare
Translations of this Work
An ancient Homily, commonly styled the second epistle of Clement
The Second Epistle of Clement
Zweiter Brief des Klemens an die Korinther (BKV) Compare
Commentaries for this Work
Einleitung zum sogenannten zweite Brief des Klemens an die Korinther
Introductory Notice - The Epistles of Clement
Introductory Notice to the Homily Known as the Second Epistle of Clement

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