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Of Saint Clement, Bishop of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians. Written in the person of the Church of the Romans. Chapter 1. The Church of God sojourning in Rome to the Church of God sojourning in Corinth, to those called and sanctified by the will of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. May grace and peace from Almighty God be multiplied to you through Jesus Christ. Because of the sudden and successive misfortunes and reverses which have befallen us, we consider that we have been somewhat slow in turning our attention to the matters disputed among you, beloved, and to the abominable and unholy sedition, so alien and foreign to the elect of God, which a few rash and headstrong persons have kindled to such a pitch of madness that your honorable, renowned, and universally beloved name has been greatly blasphemed. For who that has sojourned among you has not approved your most virtuous and steadfast faith? Who has not admired your temperate and gracious piety in Christ? Who has not proclaimed the magnificent character of your hospitality? Who has not blessed your perfect and secure knowledge? For you did everything without partiality, and you walked in the laws of God, being subject to your rulers and rendering the fitting honor to the presbyters among you. You instructed the young to think moderate and seemly thoughts. You charged the women to do everything with a blameless, seemly, and pure conscience, loving their husbands as is fitting; and you taught those who were under the rule of obedience to manage the affairs of the household with seemliness, being altogether temperate.

Chapter 2. All of you were humble, boasting of nothing, submitting rather than subduing, giving more gladly than receiving. Content with the provisions of Christ and attending diligently to his words, you had them enshrined in your hearts, and his sufferings were before your eyes. Thus deep and abundant peace was granted to all, and an insatiable desire for well-doing, and a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit came upon everyone. Full of holy counsel in good zeal with pious confidence, you stretched out your hands to the almighty God, beseeching him to be merciful if you had sinned involuntarily. You had a struggle day and night for the whole brotherhood, that the number of his elect might be saved with mercy and conscience. You were sincere, guileless, and forgetful of injuries toward one another. Every faction and every schism was abominable to you. You mourned over the transgressions of your neighbors; you considered their deficiencies your own. You were unrepentant in every good work, "ready for every good deed.

Adorned with that all-virtuous and venerable citizenship, you accomplished everything in the fear of him; the commandments and ordinances of the Lord were inscribed upon the breadth of your hearts. Chapter 3. All glory and expansion were given to you, and what was written was fulfilled: "He ate and drank, and he grew fat and sleek, and the beloved kicked." From this came jealousy and envy, strife and sedition, persecution and disorder, war and captivity. Thus "the dishonorable rose up against the honorable," the inglorious against the glorious, the foolish against the wise, the young against the elders. For this reason justice and peace are far away, because each one has abandoned the fear of God and has grown dim in his faith, neither walking in the lawful ordinances of his commandments nor living as is fitting for Christ, but each one proceeds according to the desires of his own wicked heart, having taken up unjust and impious jealousy, through which "death entered into the world." Chapter 4.

For it is written thus: "And it came to pass after some days that Cain brought an offering to God from the fruits of the earth, and Abel also brought an offering from the firstborn of his sheep and from their fat. And God looked upon Abel and upon his gifts, but upon Cain and upon his offerings he did not regard. And Cain was greatly grieved, and his face fell. And God said to Cain, 'Why have you become so sorrowful, and why has your face fallen? Is it not that if you offer correctly, but do not divide correctly, you have sinned? Be still; his turning is toward you, and you will rule over him.' And Cain said to Abel his brother, 'Let us go into the plain.' And it happened that while they were in the plain, Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him." You see, brothers, that jealousy and envy brought about fratricide. Because of jealousy, our father Jacob fled from the face of Esau his brother. Jealousy caused Joseph to be pursued to the death and to enter into slavery. Jealousy forced Moses to flee from the face of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, when he heard from his fellow tribesman: "Who appointed you judge or arbiter over us? Do you not wish to kill me, in the same way you killed the Egyptian yesterday?" Because of jealousy, Aaron and Miriam were lodged outside the camp. Jealousy brought Dathan and Abiram down alive into Hades because they rebelled against the servant of God, Moses.

Because of jealousy, David incurred envy not only from the foreigners, but was also persecuted by Saul, the king of Israel. CHAPTER 5. But in order to cease from the examples of old, let us come to the athletes who have lived nearest to us; let us take the noble examples of our own generation. Because of jealousy and envy, the greatest and most righteous pillars were persecuted and contended unto death. Let us set before our eyes the good apostles: Peter, who because of unjust jealousy endured not one nor two, but many labors, and thus having borne witness, he went to the appointed place of glory. Because of jealousy and strife, Paul showed the prize of endurance: having borne chains seven times, having been exiled, stoned, having become a herald both in the East and in the West, he received the noble glory of his faith; having taught righteousness to the whole world, and having come to the limit of the West, and having borne witness before the rulers, he thus departed from the world and went to the holy place, having become the greatest example of endurance.

CHAPTER 6. To these men who lived piously was gathered a great multitude of the elect, who, having suffered many tortures and torments because of jealousy, became a most excellent example among us. Because of jealousy, women—Danaids and Dircae—having suffered terrible and unholy torments, reached the sure course of faith and received a noble prize, though weak in body. Jealousy estranged wives from husbands and altered what was spoken by our father Adam: “This now is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” Jealousy and strife have destroyed great cities and uprooted great nations. CHAPTER 7. These things, beloved, we write not only to admonish you, but also to remind ourselves; for we are in the same arena, and the same contest lies before us. Therefore, let us abandon empty and vain concerns and come to the glorious and honorable rule of our tradition, and let us see what is good and what is pleasing and what is acceptable before our Maker. Let us gaze upon the blood of Christ and know how precious it is to his Father, because, shed for our salvation, it brought the grace of repentance to the whole world. Let us go through all the generations and learn that in every generation the Lord has given a place of repentance to those who wish to turn to him. Noah proclaimed repentance, and those who heeded were saved. Jonah proclaimed destruction to the Ninevites; but they, repenting of their sins, appeased God by supplication and received salvation, though they were strangers to God. CHAPTER 8.

the ministers of the grace of God through the Holy Spirit spoke concerning repentance, and the Lord of all himself spoke concerning repentance with an oath: "For I live," says the Lord, "I do not desire the death of the sinner as much as his repentance," adding also a good intention: "Repent, O house of Israel, from your lawlessness; I said to the sons of my people: Even if your sins are from the earth to the heaven and if they are redder than scarlet and blacker than sackcloth, and you turn to me with your whole heart and say, 'Father,' I will listen to you as to a holy people." And in another place he speaks thus: "Wash yourselves and become clean, remove the wickedness from your souls before my eyes; cease from your wickedness, learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the wronged, judge for the orphan and do justice for the widow, and come and let us be examined," says the Lord; "and if your sins are like crimson, I will whiten them like snow; if they are like scarlet, I will whiten them like wool; and if you wish and listen to me, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you do not wish nor listen to me, a sword will devour you; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken these things.

Therefore, wishing all his beloved to partake of repentance, he established it by his all-powerful will. CHAPTER IX. Therefore let us obey his magnificent and glorious will, and becoming suppliants of his mercy and kindness, let us fall down and turn to his compassions, abandoning vain labor, strife, and the jealousy that leads to death. Let us gaze upon those who have perfectly ministered to his magnificent glory. Let us take Enoch, who, being found righteous in obedience, was translated, and his death was not found. Noah, being found faithful, through his ministry proclaimed a regeneration to the world, and through him the Lord saved the animals that entered the ark in concord. CHAPTER X. Abraham, who was called the friend, was found faithful in being obedient to the words of God. Through obedience he departed from his land, from his kindred, and from his father's house, so that, leaving a small land, a weak kindred, and a little house, he might inherit the promises of God. For it is said to him:

Depart from your land and from your kindred and from your father's house into the land which I shall show you; and I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you and magnify your name, and you shall be blessed; and I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you, and all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed in you." And again, when he was separated from Lot, God said to him: "Lift up your eyes and see from the place where you now are toward the north and south and east and west; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your seed forever. And I will make your seed as the sand of the earth; if anyone can number the sand of the earth, then your seed shall be numbered." And again he says: "God brought out Abraham and said to him: Look up to the heaven and count the stars, if you are able to number them; so shall your seed be. And Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." On account of his faith and hospitality, a son was given to him in his old age, and through obedience he offered him as a sacrifice to God on one of the mountains which he showed him.

Chapter 11 Through hospitality and piety, Lot was saved from Sodom, when the entire surrounding region was judged by fire and brimstone, the Lord making it evident that he does not abandon those who hope in him, but places those who are of a different inclination into punishment and torment. For when his wife, who was of a different mind and not in harmony, went out with him, she was set as a sign, so that she became a pillar of salt until this day, in order that it might be known to all that the double-minded and those who doubt concerning the power of God become a judgment and a sign for all generations. Chapter 12 Through faith and hospitality, Rahab the harlot was saved. For when spies were sent out by Joshua the son of Nun into Jericho, the king of the land learned that they had come to spy out their country, and he sent men to seize them, so that once captured they might be put to death. But the hospitable Rahab received them and hid them in the upper room under the flax.

When those sent by the king stood by and said, ‘The spies of our land entered your house; bring them out, for the king so commands,’ she answered, ‘The men you seek did come to me, but they immediately departed and are traveling the road,’ showing them the opposite direction. And she said to the men, ‘I know full well that the Lord God is delivering this land to you; for fear and trembling have fallen upon its inhabitants. Therefore, if you should take it, save me and my father’s house.’ And they said to her, ‘It shall be as you have spoken to us. Therefore, when you learn that we are approaching, you shall gather all your people under your roof, and they will be saved; for whoever is found outside the house will perish.’ And they gave her a sign to hang from her house, a scarlet cord, making it clear that through the blood of the Lord redemption will come to all who believe and hope in God.

See, beloved, that not only faith but also prophecy came to be in the woman. Chapter 13. Let us therefore be humble-minded, brothers, putting aside all boastfulness and pride and folly and anger, and let us do what is written; for the Holy Spirit says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the rich man in his wealth, but let him who boasts boast in the Lord, to seek him out and to do judgment and righteousness”; especially remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, which he spoke teaching gentleness and patience. For thus he said: “Have mercy, that you may be shown mercy; forgive, that you may be forgiven; as you do, so shall it be done to you; as you give, so shall it be given to you; as you judge, so shall you be judged; as you are kind, so shall kindness be shown to you; by the measure with which you measure, by that measure shall it be measured to you.” By this commandment and these precepts let us support ourselves to walk, being obedient to his holy words, being humble-minded; for the holy word says:

Upon whom shall I look, if not upon the gentle, the quiet, and the one who trembles at my words?" Chapter 14. It is therefore just and holy, brothers, that we become obedient to God rather than follow those who, in boastfulness and instability, are leaders of abominable jealousy. For we will suffer not ordinary harm, but rather great danger, if we rashly surrender ourselves to the wills of men who hurl us into strife and factions, to alienate us from what is right. Let us be kind to ourselves, according to the compassion and gentleness of Him who made us. For it is written: "The inhabitants of the earth will be good, and the innocent will be left upon it; but those who transgress will be destroyed from it." And again it says: "I saw the impious man exalted and raised up like the cedars of Lebanon; and I passed by, and behold, he was not; and I sought his place, and did not find it. Preserve innocence and behold righteousness, for there is a remnant for a peaceful man.

Chapter 15. Let us therefore cleave to those who are peaceable with piety, and not to those who wish for peace with hypocrisy. For somewhere it says: "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." And again: "With their mouth they blessed, but in their heart they cursed." And again it says: "They loved him with their mouth and with their tongue they lied to him, but their heart was not straight with him, nor were they faithful in his covenant." Because of this, "let the deceitful lips that speak lawlessness against the righteous be struck speechless." And again: "May the Lord destroy all deceitful lips, the boastful tongue, those who said: 'We will magnify our tongue, our lips are our own; who is our lord?'" "From the misery of the poor and the groaning of the needy I will now arise," says the Lord; "I will place in safety, I will speak boldly in it." Chapter 16. For Christ belongs to the humble-minded, not to those who exalt themselves over his flock. The scepter of the majesty of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, did not come

and not in boastful arrogance or pride, though he was able, but being humble, as the Holy Spirit spoke about him; for it says: "Lord, who believed our report? And to whom was the arm of the Lord revealed? We announced before him, as a child, as a root in a thirsty land. He has no form nor glory, and we saw him, and he had no form nor beauty, but his form was dishonored, falling short of the form of men; a man being in affliction and pain and knowing how to bear weakness, because his face was turned away, he was dishonored and not counted. This one bears our sins and grieves for us, and we thought him to be in pain and in affliction and in distress. But he was wounded for our sins and weakened for our lawlessness; the discipline of our peace is upon him, by his wound we were healed. We all wandered like sheep, each man wandered in his own way. And the Lord gave himself up for our sins, and he, because of being ill-treated, does not open his mouth. He was led like a sheep to slaughter, and like a lamb before the shearer, speechless, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away.

Who will recount his generation? For his life is taken from the earth. From the lawlessness of my people he comes to death. And I will give the wicked in exchange for his burial and the rich in exchange for his death; for he committed no lawlessness, nor was deceit found in his mouth. And the Lord wishes to cleanse him from the plague. If you give concerning sin, your soul will see long-lived seed. And the Lord wishes to remove from the pain of his soul, to show him light and to form him with understanding, to justify a righteous man who serves many well; and he himself will bear their sins. For this reason he himself will inherit many and will distribute spoils of the strong, in return for which his soul was given over to death, and he was counted among the lawless; and he himself bore the sins of many and was given over because of their sins." And again he says: "But I am a worm and not a man, a reproach of men and an object of contempt of the people. All who see me have mocked me, they spoke with their lips, they shook their head; he hoped in the Lord, let him rescue him; let him save him, because he wants him." You see, beloved men, what the pattern given to us is; for if the Lord humbled himself thus, what shall we do who have come under the yoke of his grace through him? Chapter 17.

Let us become imitators of those who walked about in goatskins and sheepskins, proclaiming the coming of Christ. We speak of Elijah and Elisha, and also of Ezekiel, the prophets, and in addition those who have borne witness. Abraham was greatly witnessed to and was called a friend of God, and he says, gazing at the glory of God with humility: "I am but earth and ashes." And also concerning Job it is written thus: "Job was righteous and blameless, truthful, god-fearing, abstaining from every evil." But he accuses himself, saying: "No one is clean of stain, not even if his life be of a single day." Moses was called "faithful in his whole house," and through his service God judged Egypt by means of their plagues and torments. But even he, though greatly glorified, did not boast, but said, when an oracle was given to him from the bush: "Who am I, that you send me? I am weak-voiced and slow-tongued." And again he says: "I am but steam from a pot." Chapter 18.

What should we say concerning the well-attested David? To him God said, "I have found a man after my heart, David son of Jesse; with eternal mercy I anointed him." But he himself says to God, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy, and according to the abundance of your compassions blot out my lawlessness. Wash me yet more from my lawlessness, and cleanse me from my sin; for I know my lawlessness, and my sin is before me continually. I have sinned against you alone, and I have done evil before you; so that you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged. For behold, I was conceived in lawlessness, and my mother bore me in sins. For behold, you have loved truth; you have revealed to me the hidden and secret things of your wisdom. You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; you will wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. You will make me hear joy and gladness; my humbled bones will rejoice. Turn your face away from my sins, and blot out all my lawlessness. Create a pure heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. Do not cast me away from your face, and do not take your Holy Spirit away from me.

Grant me the exultation of your salvation, and strengthen me with a governing spirit. I will teach the lawless your ways, and the impious will turn to you. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation; my tongue will exult in your righteousness. Lord, you will open my mouth, and my lips will proclaim your praise. For if you had desired a sacrifice, I would have given it; you will not take pleasure in whole burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit; a contrite and humbled heart God will not despise. CHAPTER 19. Therefore, since so many and such great ones have been thus testified, their humility and submissiveness through obedience not only made us better, but also the generations before us, and those who received his oracles in fear and truth. Having partaken of many great and glorious deeds, let us run back to the goal of peace handed down to us from the beginning, and let us gaze upon the father and creator of the whole universe, and let us cleave to his magnificent and surpassing gifts of peace and benefactions.

Let us see him according to his mind and look with the eyes of the soul upon his long-suffering purpose; let us understand how he is without anger toward all his creation. Chapter 20. The heavens, moved by his governance, are subjected to him in peace. Day and night complete the course appointed by him, hindering each other not at all. The sun and moon, and the choruses of stars, according to his ordinance, revolve in concord without any deviation through the limits assigned to them. The earth, teeming according to his will, at its proper seasons brings forth the abundant nourishment for men and beasts and for all living things upon it, neither dissenting nor altering any of the decrees established by him. The unfathomable depths of the abyss and the ineffable judgments of the underworld are held together by the same ordinances. The vast expanse of the boundless sea, constituted according to his creation, does not overstep the barriers placed around it, but acts as he ordained for it. For he said:

You will go as far as this, and your waves will be broken within you.” The ocean, boundless to men, and the worlds beyond it are governed by the same ordinances of the master. The seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter peacefully give way to one another. The stations of the winds, at their proper time, perform their service without hindrance. The ever-flowing springs, created for enjoyment and health, unfailingly provide their breasts for the life of men. Even the smallest of animals hold their assemblies in concord and peace. All these things the great creator and master of all has ordained to exist in peace and concord, benefiting all things, and especially us who have fled to his mercies through our Lord Jesus Christ. To him be glory and majesty for ever and ever. Amen. Chapter 21. See to it, beloved, that his many benefactions do not become a judgment against us, if we do not live worthily of him, doing what is good and pleasing before him in concord. For it says somewhere: “The spirit of the Lord is a lamp searching the chambers of the belly.

Let us see how near he is, and that nothing of our thoughts or of the deliberations we make has escaped him. It is right, therefore, that we should not desert from his will. Rather, let us clash with men who are foolish, senseless, puffed up, and boastful in the arrogance of their speech, than with God. Let us respect the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was given for us; let us be ashamed before those who have gone before us; let us honor the presbyters; let us discipline the young with the discipline of the fear of God; let us correct our wives for the good: let them display the lovable character of chastity, let them show the pure intention of their meekness, let them make manifest the gentleness of their tongue through silence, let them offer their love not according to partiality, but equally to all who fear God piously. Let our children partake of the discipline that is in Christ; let them learn what humility avails before God, what pure love can do before God, how his fear is good and great and saves all who dwell in it piously with a pure mind.

He is an investigator of thoughts and intentions; his breath is in us, and when he wishes, he will take it away. CHAPTER 22. All these things are confirmed by faith in Christ; for he himself through the Holy Spirit thus summons us: "Come, children, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is there who desires life, who loves to see good days? Restrain your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their supplication; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to destroy their memory from the earth. The righteous man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and delivered him from all his afflictions." "Many are the scourges of the sinner, but mercy will surround those who hope in the Lord." CHAPTER 23. The compassionate and beneficent father in all things has pity on those who fear him, gently and

He gently bestows his gifts upon those who approach him with a simple mind. Therefore, let us not be double-minded, nor let our soul be troubled by his surpassing and glorious gifts. Let this scripture be far from us, where it says: "Wretched are the double-minded, those who waver in their soul, those who say: 'We heard these things also in the time of our fathers, and behold, we have grown old, and none of these things have happened to us.' O foolish ones, compare yourselves to a tree: take a vine; first it sheds its leaves, then a shoot appears, then a leaf, then a flower, and after these a sour grape, then a ripe cluster." Do you see that in a short time the fruit of the tree reaches ripeness? In truth, his purpose will be fulfilled quickly and suddenly, as the scripture also bears witness, that: "He will come quickly and will not delay," and: "Suddenly the Lord will come to his temple, and the holy one whom you await." CHAPTER 24. Let us consider, beloved, how the master continually shows us that the future resurrection will take place, of which he made the beginning by raising the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead.

Let us observe, beloved, the resurrection that takes place in due season. Day and night reveal resurrection to us: night falls asleep, day arises; day departs, night comes on. Let us take the fruits: how and in what manner does the sowing occur? The sower went out and cast each of the seeds into the earth; when they fall into the earth, dry and bare, they dissolve. Then, from the dissolution, the majesty of the providence of the Lord raises them up, and from the one, it increases many and brings forth fruit. Chapter 25. Let us observe the extraordinary sign that occurs in the eastern regions, that is, around Arabia. For there is a bird, which is called the phoenix. This, being unique, lives for five hundred years, and when it is already near its dissolution from death, it makes for itself a nest of frankincense and myrrh and the other spices, into which, when the time is fulfilled, it enters and dies. As the flesh decays, a certain worm is generated, which from the moisture of the deceased

after it has died, the one that is being nourished grows wings. Then, when it has become mature, it lifts up that chamber where the bones of its predecessor are, and carrying these, it journeys from the Arabian country to Egypt, to the place called Heliopolis. And by day, in the sight of all, flying to the altar of the sun, it deposits them there, and thus sets off back again. Then the priests examine the records of the times and find that it has come when the five-hundredth year is completed. Chapter 26. Do we then consider it great and wonderful, if the creator of all things will effect a resurrection of those who have served him piously in the confidence of a good faith, when even through a bird he shows us the greatness of his promise? For somewhere he says: "And you will raise me up, and I will confess to you," and: "I slept and slumbered, I was awakened, because you are with me." And again Job says: "And you will raise up this flesh of mine which has endured all these things." Chapter 27.

Therefore let our souls be bound by this hope to the one who is faithful in his promises and just in his judgments. He who commanded us not to lie will himself much more not lie; for nothing is impossible for God except to lie. Let his faith be rekindled in us, and let us understand that all things are near to him. By the word of his majesty he established all things, and by the word he can overturn them. "Who will say to him: What have you done? Or who will oppose the might of his power?" Whenever he wishes and however he wishes, he will do all things, and nothing that he has decreed will fail to come to pass. All things are before him, and nothing has escaped his counsel, for "the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands; day by day utters speech, and night by night announces knowledge; and there are no words or utterances whose voices are not heard." CHAPTER 28. Therefore, since all things are seen and heard, fear

let us set him and abandon the foul desires of base deeds, so that we may be sheltered by his mercy from the coming judgments. For where can any of us flee from his mighty hand? And what world will receive any who desert him? For somewhere the scripture says: "Where shall I go and where shall I hide from your face? If I ascend into heaven, you are there; if I go to the ends of the earth, your right hand is there; if I sink into the abysses, your spirit is there." So where can one go or where can one flee from him who encompasses all things? Chapter 29. Let us therefore approach him with holiness of soul, raising pure and undefiled hands to him, loving our gentle and compassionate father, who made us a portion of his own election. For thus it is written: "When the Most High divided the nations, as he scattered the sons of Adam, he set the boundaries of the nations according to the number of the angels of God. The portion of the Lord became his people Jacob, the allotment of his inheritance Israel.

And in another place he says: “Behold, the Lord takes for himself a nation from the midst of nations, as a man takes the first portion of his threshing floor; and out of that nation shall come the holy of holies.” Chapter 30. Therefore, being a portion of the holy, let us do all things that pertain to sanctification, fleeing from slanders, foul and impure entanglements, drunkenness, innovations, and abominable desires, as well as abominable adultery and detestable pride. “For God,” he says, “opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Let us then cleave to those to whom grace has been given by God; let us clothe ourselves in concord, being humble-minded, practicing self-control, removing ourselves far from all whispering and slander, being justified by works and not by words. For he says: “He who speaks much will also be heard in return; or does the eloquent man think himself to be just? Blessed is the short-lived offspring of woman. Do not be verbose in your words.” Let our praise be in God and not from ourselves; for God hates those who praise themselves. The testimony of the good

Let the offering of our action be made by others, just as it was made to our righteous fathers. Boldness and self-will and audacity belong to those cursed by God; gentleness and humility and meekness belong to those blessed by God. Chapter 31. Let us therefore cleave to his blessing and see what are the paths of blessing. Let us unfold the events from the beginning. For what reason was our father Abraham blessed, was it not because he performed righteousness and truth through faith? Isaac, with confidence, knowing the future, gladly offered himself for sacrifice. Jacob, with humility, withdrew from his land because of his brother and went to Laban and served, and the twelve-scepter of Israel was given to him. Chapter 32. If someone sincerely considers each one individually, he will recognize the greatness of the gifts given by him. For from him come all the priests and Levites who serve at the altar of God; from him comes the Lord Jesus according to the flesh; from him come kings and rulers and leaders according to Judah; and the remaining scepters of his are not in small glory, as God promised, saying: “Your seed shall be as the stars of the sky.” All therefore were glorified and magnified not through themselves or their works or the righteousness they accomplished, but through his will. And we therefore, called through his will in Christ Jesus, are not justified through ourselves nor through our own wisdom or understanding or piety or works that we have accomplished in holiness of heart, but through the faith by which the almighty God has justified all from eternity.

to whom is the glory for ever and ever. Amen. CHAPTER 33. What then shall we do, brothers? Shall we cease from doing good and abandon love? By no means has the master allowed this to happen among us, but let us hasten with earnestness and eagerness to accomplish every good work. For the creator and master of all things rejoices in his own works. For by his most immense power he established the heavens and by his incomprehensible wisdom he ordered them; and he separated the earth from the water that surrounds it and fixed it upon the secure foundation of his own will, and commanded the animals that roam upon it to exist according to his own arrangement; and having prepared the sea and the animals in it, he enclosed them by his own power. Above all, the most excellent and greatest, man, he fashioned with his sacred and blameless hands as the image of himself. For thus God says: "Let us make man in our image and likeness. And God made man, male and female he made them." So having completed all these things, he praised them and blessed them and said: "Increase and multiply.

Let us see that all the righteous were adorned with good works, and the Lord himself, having adorned himself with good works, rejoiced. Having therefore this pattern, let us approach his will without hesitation; let us work a work of righteousness with all our strength. CHAPTER 34. The good worker receives the bread of his work with confidence; the sluggish and negligent one does not look his employer in the face. It is therefore necessary for us to be eager in well-doing; for everything is from him. For he tells us in advance: "Behold the Lord, and his reward before his face, to give to each according to his work." Therefore he exhorts us, who believe in him with all our heart, not to be idle nor negligent in any good work. Let our boast and our confidence be in him; let us submit to his will; let us consider the whole multitude of his angels, how they stand by serving his will. For the scripture says: "Ten thousand times ten thousand stood by him, and a thousand times a thousand served him, and they cried out: Holy, holy, holy, Lord Sabaoth, the whole creation is full of his glory." And we therefore, in concord, gathered together in the same consciousness, as with one mouth let us cry out to him earnestly, that we may become partakers of his great and glorious promises. For it says: "Eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and it has not entered into the heart of man, how much he has prepared.

work with him, for he is the one who endures. Chapter 35 How blessed and wonderful are the gifts of God, beloved. Life in immortality, splendor in righteousness, truth in frankness, faith in confidence, self-control in sanctification; and all these things were subject to our understanding. What then are the things prepared for those who endure? The creator and father of the ages, the all-holy one himself, knows their quantity and beauty. Let us therefore strive to be found among the number of those who endure, so that we may partake of the promised gifts. How will this be, beloved? If our mind is firmly and faithfully set toward God, if we seek what is pleasing and acceptable to him, if we accomplish what is fitting to his blameless will and follow the path of truth, casting off from ourselves all injustice and wickedness, greed, quarrels, malice and deceit, slanders and backbitings, godlessness, pride and arrogance, vainglory and inhospitality. For those who do these things are hateful to God, "and not only those who do them, but also those who consent to them." For the scripture says: "But to the sinner God said: Why do you recite my ordinances and take up my covenant on your lips?

But you hated discipline and cast my words behind you. You would see a thief and run with him, and you placed your portion with adulterers. Your mouth overflowed with evil, and your tongue wove deceit. Sitting, you slandered your brother, and you laid a snare against the son of your mother. These things you did, and I was silent; you supposed, lawless one, that I would be like you. I will convict you and set you face to face. Understand these things, you who forget God, lest he seize you like a lion and there be no one to deliver you. A sacrifice of praise will glorify me, and there is the way which I will show him, the salvation of God. Chapter 36 This is the way, beloved, in which we found our salvation, Jesus Christ, the high priest of our offerings, the protector and helper of our weakness. Through him we gaze into the heights of the heavens, through him we behold his immaculate and supreme countenance, through him the eyes of our heart were opened, through him our senseless and darkened mind blossoms into the light, through him the master of immortal knowledge wished us to taste, "who, being the radiance of his greatness, is as much greater than angels as he has inherited a more distinguished name.

For it is written thus: "He who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire." And concerning his son, the master spoke thus: "You are my son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will give you nations as your inheritance and the ends of the earth as your possession." And again he says to him: "Sit at my right hand, until I place your enemies as a footstool under your feet." Who then are the enemies? The wicked and those who oppose his will. Chapter 37. Let us then serve as soldiers, brother men, with all earnestness in his blameless commands. Let us observe those who serve under our commanders, how orderly, how obediently, how submissively they carry out what is commanded. Not all are prefects, nor tribunes, nor centurions, nor commanders of fifty, nor the like, but each in his own rank carries out what is commanded by the king and the commanders. The great cannot exist without the small, nor the small without the great; there is a certain mixture in all things, and in these, utility.

Let us take our body: the head without the feet is nothing, just as the feet without the head are nothing; the smallest members of our body are necessary and useful to the whole body; but all breathe together and are subject to one command for the preservation of the whole body. Chapter 38. Let our whole body, therefore, be preserved in Christ Jesus, and let each one be subject to his neighbor, according to the gift assigned to him. Let the strong one care for the weak, and let the weak one respect the strong; let the rich one supply the poor, and let the poor one give thanks to God, because he has given him through whom his deficiency may be filled; let the wise one show his wisdom not in words, but in good deeds; let the humble one not bear witness to himself, but allow himself to be witnessed by another; let the one pure in flesh not boast, knowing that another is the one who supplies him with self-control. Let us therefore consider, brothers, from what material we were made, what sort and who we were when we entered the world, from what tomb and darkness the one who formed and created us brought us into his world, having prepared his benefits before we were born.

All these things, therefore, we have from Him, and we ought to give thanks to Him in all things; to whom is the glory for ever and ever. Amen. CHAPTER 39. Foolish and senseless and stupid and uneducated men mock and sneer at us, wishing to exalt themselves in their own minds. For what can a mortal do? Or what strength has an earth-born man? For it is written: "There was no form before my eyes, but I heard a breeze and a voice: 'What then? Will a mortal be pure before the Lord, or a man blameless in his works, if he does not trust in His children, but has devised something crooked against His angels? But heaven is not pure before Him. Behold, those who dwell in houses of clay, from which we ourselves are made of the same clay. A moth destroyed them like a worm, and from morning until evening they are no more; because they were unable to help themselves, they perished. He breathed upon them, and they died because they had no wisdom. But call, if anyone will obey you, or if you will see any of the holy angels; for anger destroys a fool, and jealousy kills a wanderer. And I have seen fools putting down roots, but their way of life was immediately consumed.

May their sons be far from salvation; may they be crushed at the doors of their inferiors, and there will be no one to deliver them. For what has been prepared for those others, the righteous will eat; but they themselves will not be exempt from evils. CHAPTER 40. Since these things are evident to us and we have delved into the depths of divine knowledge, we ought to do everything in order, all that the master has commanded to be performed at appointed times. He commanded that the offerings and liturgies be performed, and not idly or disorderly, but at fixed times and hours. Where and through whom he wishes them to be performed, he himself determined by his supreme will, so that all things done piously may be acceptable and pleasing to his will. Therefore, those who make their offerings at the prescribed times are acceptable and blessed; for following the lawful commands of the master, they do not err. For to the high priest are given specific liturgies, and to the priests a specific place is assigned, and to the Levites specific services are appointed; the lay person is bound by lay ordinances.

Chapter 41. Let each of us, brothers, in his own rank be pleasing to God, being of good conscience, not overstepping the defined rule of his own service, with seemliness. Now sacrifices, brothers, are not offered everywhere, whether of continual offering, or of vows, or for sin and transgression, but only in Jerusalem; and there too they are not offered in every place, but before the temple at the altar, the offering having been inspected by the high priest and the aforementioned ministers. Those, therefore, who do anything contrary to the propriety of his will have death as the penalty. You see, brothers: the more knowledge we have been deemed worthy of, the more we are subject to danger. Chapter 42. The apostles were evangelized to us from the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ was sent from God. Christ, therefore, is from God, and the apostles from Christ; both, then, came about in an orderly way by the will of God. Having received instructions, then, and having been fully assured through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and confirmed in the word of God with the full assurance of the Holy Spirit, they went out evangelizing that the kingdom of God was about to come.

Therefore, in each region and city, as they preached, they appointed their first converts, having tested them in spirit, as bishops and deacons of those who were to believe. And this is not new; for from many years past it had been written concerning bishops and deacons. For thus somewhere the scripture says: "I will appoint their bishops in righteousness and their deacons in faith." Chapter 43. And what wonder is it, if those entrusted by God with such a work in Christ appointed the aforementioned men? For even the blessed "faithful servant in the whole house" Moses recorded all that was commanded him in the sacred books, and the other prophets followed him, bearing joint witness to the laws he had enacted. For when a dispute arose concerning the priesthood and the tribes were in conflict over which of them should be adorned with the glorious name, he ordered the twelve tribal leaders to bring him rods inscribed with the name of each tribe. And taking them, he bound them together and sealed them with the rings of the tribal leaders, and placed them in the tabernacle of witness on the table of God. And having closed the tabernacle, he sealed the keys likewise and the rods, and said to them: "Brothers, whichever tribe's rod shall sprout, that tribe God has chosen to serve as priests and to minister to him." When morning came, he summoned all Israel, the six hundred thousand men, and showed the seals to the tribal leaders, and opened the tabernacle of witness, and brought out the rods.

and the rod of Aaron was found not only to have budded, but also to bear fruit. What do you think, beloved? Did not Moses know that this was going to happen? He certainly knew; but in order that disorder might not arise in Israel, he acted thus, so that the name of the true and only God might be glorified; to whom is glory for ever and ever. Amen. CHAPTER 44. And our apostles knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife over the name of the episcopate. For this reason, therefore, having received full foreknowledge, they appointed the aforementioned men and gave a subsequent provision, so that, if they should fall asleep, other tested men might succeed to their ministry. Therefore, those who were appointed by them or subsequently by other reputable men with the consent of the whole church and who have served the flock of Christ blamelessly with humility, quietly and without vulgarity, and have been attested by all for many years, these we consider it not right to remove from their ministry. For it will be no small sin for us if we remove those who have offered the gifts of the episcopate blamelessly and holily. Blessed are the presbyters who have gone before, who had a fruitful and perfect departure; for they do not fear that someone might remove them from the place established for them. For we see that you have transferred some who were living well from the ministry that had been blamelessly honored by them. CHAPTER 45.

You are contentious, brothers, and zealous concerning matters that pertain to salvation. You have examined the holy scriptures, the true ones, those given through the Holy Spirit. You know that nothing unjust nor falsified is written in them. You will not find righteous men cast out by holy men. Righteous men were persecuted, but by lawless men; they were imprisoned, but by unholy men; they were stoned by men who transgress the law; they were killed by men who had taken up a foul and unjust zeal. Suffering these things, they bore them gloriously. For what shall we say, brothers? Was Daniel thrown into the lions' den by men who feared God? Or were Ananias, Azarias, and Misael confined in the fiery furnace by men who practiced the magnificent and glorious worship of the Most High? May this never be. Who then were those who did these things? Hateful men, full of every wickedness, were so roused to fury that they subjected to torture those who served God with a holy and blameless purpose, not knowing that the Most High is the champion and protector of those who worship his all-virtuous name with a clear conscience; to whom is glory for ever and ever. Amen. And those who endured in confidence inherited glory and honor, and were exalted and enrolled by God in his memorial for ever and ever. Amen.

Chapter 46 Therefore, brothers, we too must cleave to such examples. For it is written: "Cleave to the holy ones, for those who cleave to them will be sanctified." And again in another place it says: "With a blameless man you will be blameless, and with a chosen man you will be chosen, and with a crooked man you will become crooked." Let us therefore cleave to the blameless and righteous; for these are the chosen of God. Why are there strifes and passions and dissensions and schisms and war among you? Do we not have one God and one Christ and one Spirit of grace that has been poured out upon us, and one calling in Christ? Why do we tear apart and rend the members of Christ, and rebel against our own body, and come to such a pitch of madness that we forget that we are members of one another? Remember the words of Jesus our Lord. For he said: "Woe to that man; it would have been better for him if he had not been born, than to scandalize one of my chosen; it would have been better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and be cast into the sea, than to pervert one of my chosen." Your schism has perverted many, has cast many into despondency, many into doubt, and all of us into grief; and your sedition is persistent. Chapter 47

Take up the epistle of the blessed Paul the apostle. What did he write to you first at the beginning of the gospel? Truly, he wrote to you spiritually concerning himself and Cephas and Apollos, because even then you had formed factions. But that faction brought you a lesser sin; for you attached yourselves to apostles who were testified to and to a man approved by them. But now consider who have perverted you and diminished the dignity of your renowned brotherly love. It is disgraceful, beloved, and exceedingly shameful and unworthy of the conduct in Christ, to hear that the most steadfast and ancient church of the Corinthians is in a state of faction against the presbyters because of one or two persons. And this report has not only reached us, but also those who are of different inclinations from us, so that blasphemies are brought upon the name of the Lord because of your folly, and you are working danger for yourselves. Chapter 48. Let us therefore quickly remove this and fall before the Master and weep, beseeching him, that he may become merciful and be reconciled to us and restore us to the dignified and pure conduct of our brotherly love. For this is a gate of righteousness opened to life, as it is written: "Open to me the gates of righteousness; entering through them I will confess to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous will enter through it." Therefore, of the many gates that are opened, this one in righteousness is the one in Christ, in which all are blessed who enter and direct their course in holiness and righteousness, accomplishing everything without disturbance.

Let one be faithful, let one be able to expound knowledge, let one be wise in the discernment of words, let one be pure in works; for the more one seems to be greater, the more one ought to be humble-minded, and to seek what is beneficial to all, and not what is one's own. CHAPTER 49. He who has love in Christ shall perform the commandments of Christ. Who can describe the bond of the love of God? Who is sufficient to tell the greatness of its beauty? The height to which love leads is ineffable. Love unites us with God; "love covers a multitude of sins"; love endures all things, is long-suffering in all things; there is nothing vulgar in love, nothing arrogant; love has no schism, love does not cause faction; love does everything in concord; in love were all the elect of God perfected; without love nothing is pleasing to God. In love the Lord received us; because of the love which he had for us, Jesus Christ our Lord gave his blood for us by the will of God.

and the flesh for our flesh, and the soul for our souls. CHAPTER 50. See, beloved, how great and wonderful love is, and there is no explanation of its perfection. Who is able to be found in it, except those whom God deems worthy? Let us therefore pray and ask from his mercy, that we may be found in love without human partiality, blameless. All generations from Adam to this day have passed away; but those perfected in love according to the grace of God have a place among the pious; they will be made manifest at the visitation of the kingdom of Christ. For it is written: "Enter into your chambers for a little while, until my anger and wrath pass away; and I will remember a good day and raise you from your tombs." We are blessed, beloved, if we were to do the commandments of God in the concord of love, so that our sins might be forgiven through love. For it is written: "Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not reckon, and in whose mouth there is no guile.

This blessing came upon those chosen by God through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom is the glory for the ages of ages. Amen. Chapter 51. Therefore, as many things as we have transgressed and done because of certain interpositions of the adversary, let us deem it worthy that they be forgiven us; and also those who became leaders of sedition and dissension ought to consider the common hope. For those who conduct themselves with fear and love prefer to fall into afflictions themselves rather than their neighbors; rather, they bear self-condemnation than the harmony handed down to us well and justly. For it is good for a person to confess concerning his transgressions than to harden his heart, as the heart of those who rebelled against the servant of God, Moses, was hardened, whose judgment became manifest. "For they went down alive into Hades," and "death will shepherd them." Pharaoh and his army and all the leaders of Egypt, both the chariots and their riders, were sunk into the Red Sea and perished for no other reason than that their senseless hearts were hardened after the signs and wonders in Egypt through the servant of God, Moses.

Chapter 52 The master of all things, brothers, is in need of nothing; he requires nothing from anyone except that he be confessed. For the chosen David says: "I will confess to the Lord, and it will please him more than a young calf bringing forth horns and hooves; let the poor see and rejoice." And again he says: "Sacrifice to God a sacrifice of praise and pay your vows to the Most High; and call upon me in the day of your distress, and I will deliver you, and you will glorify me." "For a sacrifice to God is a broken spirit." Chapter 53 For you know, and know well, the holy scriptures, beloved, and you have pondered the oracles of God. Therefore we write these things for remembrance. For when Moses went up the mountain and spent forty days and forty nights in fasting and humility, God said to him: "Come down quickly from here, because your people, whom you led out of the land of Egypt, have transgressed; they quickly departed from the way which I commanded them, they made molten images for themselves." And the Lord said to him: "I have spoken to you once and twice saying: I have seen this people, and behold they are stiff-necked; let me destroy them, and I will wipe out their name from under heaven, and I will make you into a great and wonderful nation, much more than this one.

And Moses said: "By no means, Lord; forgive this people their sin, or else blot me out of the book of the living." O great love, O unsurpassable perfection; a servant speaks boldly to his lord, asks forgiveness for the multitude, or deems it worthy that he himself be blotted out along with them. Chapter 54. Who among you, then, is noble, who compassionate, who filled with love? Let him say: "If through me there is faction, strife, and schisms, I withdraw, I depart, wherever you wish, and I do what is commanded by the multitude; only let the flock of Christ be at peace with the appointed presbyters." He who does this will win for himself great glory in Christ, and every place will receive him. "For the Lord's is the earth and its fullness." Those who live the irreproachable citizenship of God have done and will do these things. Chapter 55. But let us also bring examples from the nations; many kings and rulers, when a time of plague arose, after receiving oracles, gave themselves over to death, so that through their own blood they might save the citizens; many withdrew from their own cities, so that they might no longer cause faction. We know of many among us who have given themselves over to chains, in order to ransom others; many have given themselves into slavery and, taking their price, have fed others. Many women, strengthened by the grace of God, have accomplished many brave deeds. The blessed Judith, when the city was under siege, asked the elders to be allowed to go out to the camp of the foreigners.

She therefore gave herself over to danger and went out for love of her fatherland and the people who were under siege, and the Lord delivered Holofernes into the hand of a woman. No less did the perfect in faith, Esther, expose herself to danger, in order to rescue the twelve tribes of Israel when they were about to perish; for through her fasting and humility she besought the all-seeing master, the God of the ages; and he, seeing the humility of her soul, rescued the people for whose sake she risked herself. Chapter 56. Let us also, then, intercede for those who are in some transgression, that clemency and humility may be granted to them, so that they may yield not to us, but to the will of God; for thus their remembrance of God and the saints with compassion will be fruitful and perfect. Let us take up discipline, at which no one ought to be vexed, beloved. The admonition which we give to one another is good and exceedingly beneficial; for it unites us to the will of God.

Thus says the holy word: "The Lord disciplined me, and did not deliver me over to death." "For the Lord whom he loves, he disciplines; and he scourges every son whom he receives." "He will discipline me, he says, the righteous one in mercy, and he will reprove me; but let the oil of sinners not anoint my head." And again it says: "Blessed is the man whom the Lord has reproved; do not reject the admonition of the Almighty; for he causes pain, and again he restores; he has struck, and his hands have healed. Six times he will deliver you from necessities, and in the seventh evil will not touch you. In famine he will save you from death, and in war he will release you from the hand of the sword; and from the scourge of the tongue he will hide you, and you will not fear approaching evils. You will laugh at the unjust and lawless, and you will not fear wild beasts; for wild beasts will be at peace with you. Then you will know that your house will be at peace; and the regimen of your tent will not err. You will know that your offspring is abundant, and your children like the all-grazing plant of the field.

You will come to the tomb like ripe grain harvested in due season, or like a heap on the threshing floor gathered in at the proper time. See, beloved, how great a protection there is for those who are disciplined by the master; for being a good father, he disciplines us so that we may be pitied through his holy discipline. Chapter 57. You, therefore, who have begun the sedition, submit to the presbyters and be disciplined, bending the knees of your hearts in repentance. Learn to submit, laying aside the arrogant and proud willfulness of your tongue; for it is better for you to be found small and esteemed in the flock of Christ than to be cast out of his hope while seeming to be preeminent. For thus says all-virtuous wisdom: "Behold, I will set before you my breath, and I will teach you my word. Since I called and you did not obey, and I extended words and you did not heed, but you made my counsels of no effect, and you disobeyed my reproofs; therefore I too will laugh at your destruction, and I will rejoice when ruin comes upon you and when confusion suddenly overtakes you, and when destruction passes by like a whirlwind, or when affliction and siege come upon you.

For it will be that when you call upon me, I will not hear you; evil men will seek me and will not find me. For they hated wisdom, and did not choose the fear of the Lord, nor did they wish to attend to my counsels, but they mocked my reproofs. Therefore they will eat the fruits of their own way and be filled with their own impiety. For in return for the wrongs they did to infants, they will be slain, and examination will destroy the impious; but he who hears me will dwell in hope, trusting, and will rest fearlessly from every evil. Let us therefore obey his most holy and glorious name, fleeing the threats foretold through wisdom to the disobedient, so that we may dwell trusting in the most holy name of his greatness. Accept our counsel, and it will be without regret for you. For God lives, and the Lord Jesus Christ lives, and the Holy Spirit, and the faith and hope of the elect, that he who acts in humility with earnest gentleness, without regret, according to the ordinances and commandments given by God, will be enrolled and counted among the number of those being saved through Jesus Christ, through whom glory is his unto the ages of ages. Amen.

If, however, some are disobedient to what has been said by him through us, let them know that they will involve themselves in no small transgression and danger. But we will be innocent of this sin and will earnestly make prayer and supplication, that the Creator of all things may preserve unbroken the numbered count of his elect throughout the whole world, through his beloved child Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom he called us from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledge of the glory of his name, to hope in the primordial name of all creation, having opened the eyes of our heart to know you, the only most high among the highest, holy, resting among the holy; the one who humbles the insolence of the proud, who dissolves the designs of nations, who raises the lowly to height and humbles the lofty; the one who enriches and impoverishes, who kills and makes alive, the sole benefactor of spirits and god of all flesh; the one who gazes into the abysses, the overseer of human works, the helper of those in danger.

the savior of the despairing, the creator and overseer of every spirit; the one who multiplies nations on earth and from all has chosen those who love you through Jesus Christ, your beloved child, through whom you instructed us, sanctified us, honored us. We beseech you, master, to become our helper and protector; save those of us in distress, raise up those who have fallen, appear to those in need, heal the sick, turn back those of your people who are wandering; feed the hungry, ransom our prisoners, raise up the weak, comfort the faint-hearted; let all nations know that you alone are God and Jesus Christ is your child, and "we are your people and the sheep of your pasture." For you have made manifest the eternal constitution of the world through the things that are wrought; you, lord, built the inhabited world, you who are faithful in all generations, just in judgments, wondrous in strength and majesty, wise in creating and intelligent in establishing what has come to be, good in what is seen and kind to those who trust in you, merciful and compassionate; forgive us our lawless deeds and our injustices and our transgressions and offenses. Do not count every sin of your male and female servants, but cleanse us with the cleansing of your truth, and direct our steps to walk in holiness of heart and to do what is good and pleasing before you and before our rulers.

Yes, master, show your face upon us for good in peace, that we may be sheltered by your mighty hand and saved from all sin by your high arm, and deliver us from those who unjustly hate us. Give concord and peace to us and to all who inhabit the earth, as you gave to our fathers when they called upon you piously in faith and truth, becoming obedient to your almighty and all-virtuous name, and to our rulers and leaders on earth. You, master, gave them the authority of kingship through your magnificent and indescribable power, so that we, knowing the glory and honor given by you to them, may submit to them, opposing nothing to your will. To them give, lord, health, peace, concord, stability, that they may administer the leadership given by you to them without hindrance. For you, heavenly master, king of the ages, give to the sons of men glory and honor and authority over the things that exist on earth.

You, Lord, direct their counsel toward what is good and pleasing before you, so that governing in peace and gentleness the authority given them by you, they may obtain your mercy. We, who alone are able to do these things and more good things with us, confess to you through the high priest and protector of our souls, Jesus Christ, through whom glory and majesty are yours both now and for generation after generation and for the ages of ages. Amen. Concerning matters pertaining to our religion and those most beneficial for a virtuous life for those wishing to direct themselves piously and justly, we have written to you sufficiently, brother men. For we have examined every place concerning faith and repentance and genuine love and self-control and temperance and patience, reminding you that you must in righteousness and truth and forbearance please the almighty God holily, being of one mind without malice in love and peace with earnest gentleness, just as our previously mentioned fathers pleased, being humble-minded toward the father and God and creator and all people. And we have recalled these things all the more gladly, since we clearly knew we were writing to faithful and most learned men who have delved into the teachings of God’s instruction. It is therefore fitting for those approaching such and so many examples to bow the neck and fill the place of obedience, so that, having ceased from vain strife, we may reach the goal set before us in truth without any blemish.

For you will give us joy and gladness if, becoming obedient to what has been written by us through the holy Spirit, you cut off the unlawful anger of your jealousy according to the entreaty which we have made concerning peace and concord in this letter. And we have sent faithful and prudent men who have lived blamelessly among us from youth to old age, who will also be witnesses between you and us. And we have done this that you may know that all our concern has been and is for you to be at peace quickly. Chapter 58. Therefore the all-seeing God and master of spirits and lord of all flesh, who chose the Lord Jesus Christ and us through him as a chosen people, grants to every soul that invokes his magnificent and holy name faith, fear, peace, patience and forbearance, self-control, purity and prudence for the satisfaction of his name through our high priest and protector Jesus Christ, through whom to him are glory and majesty, power and honor, both now and for all the ages of ages. Amen.

Chapter 59. Send back to us quickly those sent by us, Claudius Ephebus and Valerius Bito, together with Fortunatus, in peace and with joy, so that they may more speedily announce to us the peace and concord which we so earnestly desire and long for, and that we may more quickly rejoice over your stability. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and with all those everywhere who are called by God through him, through whom to him are glory, honor, power, and majesty, an eternal throne from the ages to the ages of ages. Amen.