Chapter 59

S1end back speedily to us in peace and with joy these our messengers to you: Claudius Ephebus and Valerius Bito, with Fortunatus; that they may the sooner announce to us the peace and harmony we so earnestly desire and long for [among you], and that we may the more quickly rejoice over the good order re-established among you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, and with all everywhere that are the called of God through Him, by whom be to Him glory, honour, power, majesty, and eternal dominion, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen.

2Footnote 1:

3In the only known MS. of this epistle, the title is thus given at the close.

4Footnote 2:

5Literally, “is greatly blasphemed.”

6Footnote 3:

7Literally, “did not prove your all-virtuous and firm faith.”

8Footnote 4:

9Eph. v. 21; 1 Pet. v. 5.

10Footnote 5:

11Acts xx. 35.

12Footnote 6:

13Literally, “ye embraced it in your bowels.”

14Footnote 7:

151 Pet. ii. 17.

16Footnote 8:

17So in the MS., but many have suspected that the text is here corrupt. Perhaps the best emendation is that which substitutes συναισθήσεως, “compassion,” for συνειδήσεως, “conscience.”

18Footnote 9:

19Tit. iii. 1.

20Footnote 10:

21Prov. vii. 3.

22Footnote 11:

23Literally, “enlargement.”

24Footnote 12:

25Deut. xxxii. 15.

26Footnote 13:

27It seems necessary to refer αὐτοῦ to God, in opposition to the translation given by Abp. Wake and others.

28Footnote 14:

29Literally, “Christ;” comp. 2 Cor. i. 21, Eph. iv. 20.

30Footnote 15:

31Wisd. ii. 24.

32Footnote 16:

33Gen. iv. 3-8, The writer here, as always, follows the reading of the Septuagint, which in this passage both alters and adds to the Hebrew text. We have given the rendering approved by the best critics; but some prefer to translate, as in our English version, “unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” See, for an ancient explanation of the passage, Irenæus, Adv. Hær. iv. 18, 3.

34Footnote 17:

35Gen. xxvii. 41, etc.

36Footnote 18:

37Gen. xxxvii.

38Footnote 19:

39Ex. ii. 14.

40Footnote 20:

41Num. xii. 14, 15.

42Footnote 21:

43Num. xvi. 33.

44Footnote 22:

451 Kings xviii. 8, etc.

46Footnote 23:

47Literally, “those who have been athletes.”

48Footnote 24:

49Some fill up the lacuna here found in the MS. so as to read, “have come to a grievous death.”

50Footnote 25:

51Literally “good.”

52Footnote 26:

53Seven imprisonments of St Paul are not referred to in Scripture.

54Footnote 27:

55Archbishop Wake here reads “scourged.” We have followed the most recent critics in filling up the numerous lacunæ in this chapter.

56Footnote 28:

57Some think Rome, others Spain, and others even Britain, to be here referred to.

58Footnote 29:

59That is, under Tigellinus and Sabinus, in the last year of the Emperor Nero; but some think Helius and Polycletus referred to; and others, both here and in the preceding sentence, regard the words as denoting simply the witness borne by Peter and Paul to the truth of the gospel before the rulers of the earth.

60Footnote 30:

61Some suppose these to have been the names of two eminent female martyrs under Nero; others regard the clause as an interpolation.

62Footnote 31:

63Literally, “have reached to the stedfast course of faith.”

64Footnote 32:

65Gen. ii. 23.

66Footnote 33:

67Some insert “Father.”

68Footnote 34:

69Gen. vii.; 1 Pet. iii. 20; 2 Pet. ii. 5.

70Footnote 35:

71Jonah iii.

72Footnote 36:

73Ezek. xxxiii. 11.

74Footnote 37:

75Ezek. xviii. 30.

76Footnote 38:

77Comp. Isa. i. 18.

78Footnote 39:

79These words are not found in Scripture, though they are quoted again by Clem. Alex. (Pædag. i. 10) as from Ezekiel.

80Footnote 40:

81Isa. i. 16-20.

82Footnote 41:

83Some read ματαιολογίαν, vain talk.

84Footnote 42:

85Gen. v. 24; Heb. xi. 5. Literally, “and his death was not found.”

86Footnote 43:

87Isa. xli. 8; 2 Chron. xx. 7; Judith viii. 19; James ii. 23.

88Footnote 44:

89Gen. xii. 1-3.

90Footnote 45:

91Gen. xiii. 14-16.

92Footnote 46:

93Gen. xv. 5, 6; Rom. iv. 3.

94Footnote 47:

95Gen. xxi. 22; Heb. xi. 17.

96Footnote 48:

97Gen. xix.; comp. 2 Pet. ii. 6-9.

98Footnote 49:

99So Joseph. Antiq. i. 11, 4; Irenæus, Adv. Hær. iv. 31.

100Footnote 50:

101Literally, “become a judgment and sign.”

102Footnote 51:

103Josh. ii.; Heb. xi. 31.

104Footnote 52:

105Others of the fathers adopt the same allegorical interpretation, e.g. Justin Mar. Dial. c. Tryph. n. 111; Irenæus, Adv. Hær. iv. 20.

106Footnote 53:

107Jer. ix. 28, 24; 1 Cor. i. 31; 2 Cor. x. 17.

108Footnote 54:

109Comp. Matt. vi. 12-15, vii. 2; Luke vi. 36-38.

110Footnote 55:

111Isa. lxvi. 2.

112Footnote 56:

113Prov. ii. 21, 22.

114Footnote 57:

115Ps. xxxvii. 35-37. “Remnant” probably refers either to the memory or posterity of the righteous.

116Footnote 58:

117Isa. xxix. 13; Matt. xv. 8; Mark vii. 6.

118Footnote 59:

119Ps. lxii. 4.

120Footnote 60:

121Ps. lxxviii. 36, 37.

122Footnote 61:

123Ps. xxxi. 18.

124Footnote 62:

125These words within brackets are not found in the MS., but have been inserted from the Septuagint by most editors.

126Footnote 63:

127Ps. xii. 3-5.

128Footnote 64:

129The Latin of Cotelerius, adopted by Hefele and Dressel, translates this clause as follows: “I will set free the wicked on account of His sepulchre, and the rich on account of His death.”

130Footnote 65:

131The reading of the MS. is τῆς πληγῆς, “purify, or free Him, from stripes.” We have adopted the emendation of Junius.

132Footnote 66:

133Wotton reads, “If He make.”

134Footnote 67:

135Or, “fill Him with understanding,” if πλῆσαι should be read instead of πλάσαι, as Grabe suggests.

136Footnote 68:

137Isa. liii. The reader will observe how often the text of the Septuagint, here quoted, differs from the Hebrew as represented by our authorized English version.

138Footnote 69:

139Ps. xxii. 6-8.

140Footnote 70:

141Heb. xi. 37.

142Footnote 71:

143Gen. xviii. 27.

144Footnote 72:

145Job i. 1.

146Footnote 73:

147Job xiv. 4, 5.

148Footnote 74:

149Num. xii. 7; Heb. iii. 2.

150Footnote 75:

151Some fill up the lacuna which here occurs in the MS. by “Israel.”

152Footnote 76:

153Ex. iii. 11, iv. 10.

154Footnote 77:

155This is not found in Scripture.

156Footnote 78:

157Or, as some render, “to whom.”

158Footnote 79:

159Ps. lxxxix. 21.

160Footnote 80:

161Or, “when Thou judgest.”

162Footnote 81:

163Literally, “in my inwards.”

164Footnote 82:

165Literally, “bloods.”

166Footnote 83:

167Ps., li. 1-17.

168Footnote 84:

169Literally, “Becoming partakers of many great and glorious deeds, let us return to the aim of peace delivered to us from the beginning.” Comp. Heb. xii. 1.

170Footnote 85:

171Or, “collections.”

172Footnote 86:

173Job xxxviii. 11.

174Footnote 87:

175Or, “stations.”

176Footnote 88:

177Prov. xx. 27.

178Footnote 89:

179Comp. Heb. xiii. 17; 1 Thess. v. 12, 13.

180Footnote 90:

181Or, “the presbyters.”

182Footnote 91:

183Some read, “by their silence.”

184Footnote 92:

185Comp. 1 Tim. v. 21.

186Footnote 93:

187Some translate, “who turn to Him.”

188Footnote 94:

189Ps. xxxiv. 11-17.

190Footnote 95:

191Ps. xxxii. 10.

192Footnote 96:

193Or, as some render, “neither let us have any doubt of.”

194Footnote 97:

195Some regard these words as taken from an apocryphal book, others as derived from a fusion of James i. 8 and 2 Pet. iii. 3, 4.

196Footnote 98:

197Hab. ii. 3; Heb. x. 37.

198Footnote 99:

199Mal. iii. 1.

200Footnote 100:

201Comp. 1 Cor. xv. 20; Col. i. 18.

202Footnote 101:

203Comp. Luke viii. 5.

204Footnote 102:

205This fable respecting the phœnix is mentioned by Herodotus (ii. 73), and by Pliny (Nat. Hist. x. 2), and is used as above by Tertullian (De Resurr. § 13), and by others of the fathers.

206Footnote 103:

207Literally, “the mightiness of His promise.”

208Footnote 104:

209Ps. xxviii. 7, or from some apocryphal book.

210Footnote 105:

211Comp. Ps. iii. 6.

212Footnote 106:

213Job xix. 25, 26.

214Footnote 107:

215Comp. Tit. i. 2; Heb. vi. 18.

216Footnote 108:

217Or “majesty.”

218Footnote 109:

219Wisd. xii. 12, xi. 22.

220Footnote 110:

221Comp. Matt. xxiv. 35.

222Footnote 111:

223Literally, “If the heavens,” etc.

224Footnote 112:

225Ps. xix. 1-3.

226Footnote 113:

227Literally, “abominable lusts of evil deeds.”

228Footnote 114:

229Ps. cxxxix. 7-10.

230Footnote 115:

231Literally, “has made us to Himself a part of election.”

232Footnote 116:

233Literally, “sowed abroad.”

234Footnote 117:

235Deut. xxxii. 8, 9.

236Footnote 118:

237Formed apparently from Num. xviii. 27 and 2 Chron. xxxi. 14. Literally, the closing words are, “the holy of holies.”

238Footnote 119:

239Some translate, “youthful lusts.”

240Footnote 120:

241Prov. iii. 34; James iv. 6; 1 Pet. v. 5.

242Footnote 121:

243Job xi. 2, 3. The translation is doubtful.

244Footnote 122:

245Literally, “what are the ways of His blessing.”

246Footnote 123:

247Literally, “unroll.”

248Footnote 124:

249Comp. James ii. 21.

250Footnote 125:

251Some translate, “knowing what was to come.”

252Footnote 126:

253Gen. xxii.

254Footnote 127:

255So Jacobson: Wotton reads, “fleeing from his brother.”

256Footnote 128:

257The meaning is here very doubtful. Some translate, “the gifts which were given to Jacob by Him,” i.e. God.

258Footnote 129:

259MS. αὐτῶν, referring to the gifts: we have followed the emendation αὐτοῦ, adopted by most editors. Some refer the word to God, and not Jacob.

260Footnote 130:

261Comp. Rom. ix. 5.

262Footnote 131:

263Gen. xxii. 17, xxviii. 4.

264Footnote 132:

265Or, “commandment.”

266Footnote 133:

267Or, “in addition to all.”

268Footnote 134:

269Gen. i. 26, 27.

270Footnote 135:

271Gen. i. 28.

272Footnote 136:

273Or, “let us consider.”

274Footnote 137:

275Or, “labourer.”

276Footnote 138:

277Isa. xl. 10, lxii. 11; Rev. xxii. 12.

278Footnote 139:

279The text here seems to be corrupt. Some translate, “He warns us with all His heart to this end, that,” etc.

280Footnote 140:

281Dan. vii. 10.

282Footnote 141:

283Isa. vi. 3.

284Footnote 142:

2851 Cor. ii. 9.

286Footnote 143:

287Some translate, “in liberty.”

288Footnote 144:

289Or, “of the ages.”

290Footnote 145:

291The reading is doubtful: some have ἀφιλοξενίαν, “want of a hospitable spirit.”

292Footnote 146:

293Rom. i. 32.

294Footnote 147:

295Literally, “didst run with.”

296Footnote 148:

297Literally, “didst weave.”

298Footnote 149:

299Or, “layest a snare for.”

300Footnote 150:

301Ps. l. 16-23. The reader will observe how the Septuagint followed by Clement differs from the Hebrew.

302Footnote 151:

303Literally, “that which saves us.”

304Footnote 152:

305Or, “rejoices to behold.”

306Footnote 153:

307Or, “knowledge of immortality.”

308Footnote 154:

309Heb. i. 3, 4.

310Footnote 155:

311Ps. civ. 4; Heb. i. 7.

312Footnote 156:

313Some render, “to the Son.”

314Footnote 157:

315Ps. ii. 7, 8; Heb. i. 5.

316Footnote 158:

317Ps. cx. 1; Heb. i. 13.

318Footnote 159:

319Some read, “who oppose their own will to that of God.”

320Footnote 160:

321Literally, “in these there is use.”

322Footnote 161:

3231 Cor. xii. 12, etc.

324Footnote 162:

325Literally, “all breathe together.”

326Footnote 163:

327Literally, “use one subjection.”

328Footnote 164:

329Literally, “according as he has been placed in his charism.”

330Footnote 165:

331Comp. Prov. xxvii. 2.

332Footnote 166:

333The MS. is here slightly torn, and we are left to conjecture.

334Footnote 167:

335Comp. Ps. cxxxix. 15.

336Footnote 168:

337Literally, “and silly and uninstructed.”

338Footnote 169:

339Literally, “a breath.”

340Footnote 170:

341Or, “has perceived.”

342Footnote 171:

343Some render, “they perished at the gates.”

344Footnote 172:

345Job iv. 16-18, xv. 15, iv. 19-21, v. 1-5.

346Footnote 173:

347Some join κατὰ καιροὺς τεταγμένους, “at stated times,” to the next sentence.

348Footnote 174:

349Literally, “to His will.”

350Footnote 175:

351Or, “consider.”

352Footnote 176:

353Or, “by the command of.”

354Footnote 177:

355Or, “by the command of.”

356Footnote 178:

357Literally, “both things were done.”

358Footnote 179:

359Or, “confirmed by.”

360Footnote 180:

361Or, “having tested them in spirit.”

362Footnote 181:

363Or, “overseers.”

364Footnote 182:

365Or, “servants.”

366Footnote 183:

367Isa. lx. 17, Sept.; but the text is here altered by Clement. The LXX. have, “I will give thy rulers in peace, and thy overseers in righteousness.”

368Footnote 184:

369Num. xii. 10; Heb. iii. 5.

370Footnote 185:

371Literally, “every tribe being written according to its name.”

372Footnote 186:

373See Num. xvii.

374Footnote 187:

375Literally, “on account of the title of the oversight.” Some understand this to mean, “in regard to the dignity of the episcopate;” and others simply, “on account of the oversight.”

376Footnote 188:

377The meaning of this passage is much controverted. Some render, “left a list of other approved persons;” while others translate the unusual word ἐπινομὴ, which causes the difficulty, by “testamentary direction,” and many others deem the text corrupt. We have given what seems the simplest version of the text as it stands.

378Footnote 189:

379i.e. the apostles.

380Footnote 190:

381Or, “oversight.”

382Footnote 191:

383Literally, “presented the offerings.”

384Footnote 192:

385Or, “Ye perceive.”

386Footnote 193:

387Or, “For.”

388Footnote 194:

389Dan. vi. 16.

390Footnote 195:

391Dan. iii. 20.

392Footnote 196:

393Literally, “worshipped.”

394Footnote 197:

395Literally, “serve.”

396Footnote 198:

397Or, “lifted up.”

398Footnote 199:

399Literally, “to such examples it is right that we should cleave.”

400Footnote 200:

401Not found in Scripture.

402Footnote 201:

403Literally, “be.”

404Footnote 202:

405Or, “thou wilt overthrow.”

406Footnote 203:

407Ps. xviii. 25, 26.

408Footnote 204:

409Or, “war.” Comp. James iv. 1.

410Footnote 205:

411Comp. Eph. iv. 4-6.

412Footnote 206:

413Rom. xii. 5.

414Footnote 207:

415This clause is wanting in the text.

416Footnote 208:

417This clause is wanting in the text.

418Footnote 209:

419Comp. Matt. xviii. 6, xxvi. 24; Mark ix. 42; Luke xvii. 2.

420Footnote 210:

421Literally, “in the beginning of the gospel.”

422Footnote 211:

423Or, “spiritually.”

424Footnote 212:

4251 Cor. iii. 13, etc.

426Footnote 213:

427Or, “inclinations for one above another.”

428Footnote 214:

429Literally, “of conduct in Christ.”

430Footnote 215:

431Or, “aliens from us,” i.e. the Gentiles.

432Footnote 216:

433Literally, “remove.”

434Footnote 217:

435Literally, “becoming merciful.”

436Footnote 218:

437Ps. cxviii. 19, 20.

438Footnote 219:

439James v. 20; 1 Pet. iv. 8.

440Footnote 220:

441Comp. 1 Cor. xiii. 4, etc.

442Footnote 221:

443Literally, “visitation.”

444Footnote 222:

445Or, “good.”

446Footnote 223:

447Isa. xxvi. 20.

448Footnote 224:

449Ps. xxxii. 1, 2.

450Footnote 225:

451Or, “look to.”

452Footnote 226:

453Or, “righteously.”

454Footnote 227:

455Num. xvi.

456Footnote 228:

457Ex. xiv.

458Footnote 229:

459Ps. lxix. 31, 32.

460Footnote 230:

461Or, “sacrifice.”

462Footnote 231:

463Ps. l. 14, 15.

464Footnote 232:

465Ps. li. 17.

466Footnote 233:

467Ex. xxxii. 7, etc.; Deut. ix. 12, etc.

468Footnote 234:

469Ex. xxxii. 9, etc.

470Footnote 235:

471Ex. xxxii. 32.

472Footnote 236:

473Or, “mighty.”

474Footnote 237:

475Literally, “be wiped out.”

476Footnote 238:

477Literally, “the multitude.”

478Footnote 239:

479Or, “receive.”

480Footnote 240:

481Ps. xxiv. 1; 1 Cor. x. 26, 28.

482Footnote 241:

483Literally, “and having received their prices, fed others.”

484Footnote 242:

485Judith viii. 30.

486Footnote 243:

487Esther vii. viii.

488Footnote 244:

489Literally, “there shall be to them a fruitful and perfect remembrance, with compassions both towards God and the saints.”

490Footnote 245:

491Or, “they unite.”

492Footnote 246:

493Ps. cxviii. 18.

494Footnote 247:

495Prov. iii. 12: Heb. xii. 6.

496Footnote 248:

497Ps. cxli. 5.

498Footnote 249:

499Literally, “hand.”

500Footnote 250:

501Literally, “err” or “sin.”

502Footnote 251:

503Job v. 17-26.

504Footnote 252:

505Literally, “to be found small and esteemed.”

506Footnote 253:

507Literally, “His hope.”

508Footnote 254:

509Prov. i. 23-31.

510Footnote 255:

511Junius (Pat. Young), who examined the MS. before it was bound into its present form, stated that a whole leaf was here lost. The next letters that occur are ιπον, which have been supposed to indicate εἶπον or ἔλιπον. Doubtless some passages quoted by the ancients from the Epistle of Clement, and not now found in it, occurred in the portion which has thus been lost.

512Footnote 256:

513Comp. Tit. ii. 14.

514Footnote 257:

515Literally, “an eternal throne.”

516Footnote 258:

517Literally, “from the ages to the ages of ages.”