Lost scriptures: books that did not make it into the New Testament (44 page)

judge over us? Do you want to kill me,

as you killed the Egyptian yester-

6 To these men who have conducted

themselves in such a holy way

day?”12

there has been added a great multitude

11
Because of jealousy Aaron and Mirof the elect, who have set a superb exiam had to stay outside the camp.13

ample among us by the numerous tor

12
Jealousy brought Dathan and Abiments and tortures they suffered because ram down into Hades while still alive

of jealousy.

because they created a faction against the

2
Women were persecuted as Danaids

servant of God, Moses.14

and Dircaef and suffered terrifying and

13
Because of jealousy not only did

profane torments because of jealousy.

David incur envy from foreigners, but he

But they confidently completed the race

was even persecuted by Saul, the king of

of faith, and though weak in body, they

Israel.15

received a noble reward.

3
Jealousy estranged wives from their

But to stop giving ancient exam5

husbands and nullified what was spoken

ples, let us come to those who beby our father Adam, “This now is bone came athletic contenders in quite recent

from my bones and flesh from my

times. We should consider the noble exflesh.”16

amples of our own generation.

4
Jealousy and strife overturned great

2
Because of jealousy and envy the

cities and uprooted great nations.

greatest and most upright pillars were

persecuted, and they struggled in the contest even to death.

f

3
We should set before our eyes the

The author’s meaning is unclear. Some scholars have

suggested that he is referring to Christian women margood apostles.

tyred under Nero, who was known for his creatively

4
There is Peter, who because of unjust

brutal excesses [see Suetonius,
Nero
11, 12]. If so, women executed as Dircae may have been dragged to

jealousy bore up under hardships not just

death in the arena, bound to the horns of a bull, like

once or twice, but many times; and

Dirce of Greek myth. The reference to the Danaids is

more puzzling. Some scholars have seen it as an alluhaving thus borne his witness he went to sion to the legend that the daughters of Danaus were

the place of glory that he deserved.

taken by men against their will—i.e. that the Christian

5
Because of jealousy and strife Paul

women were publicly raped before being put to death.

Others have thought that it refers to the punishment of

pointed the way to the prize for en

Danaus’s daughters in the afterlife, where they were

durance.

compelled perpetually to fill leaking vessels—i.e., that

the Christian women were subject to pointless and

6
Seven times he bore chains; he was

seemingly endless torments prior to their deaths. In

sent into exile and stoned; he served as a

either event, the text is so difficult that several emendations have been suggested to eliminate the reference herald in both the East and the West; and

to “Danaids and Dircae” altogether, the most popular

he received the noble reputation for his

of which changes the text to read: “persecuted as

women, maidens, and slave-girls.”

faith.

7
He taught righteousness to the whole

11Genesis 37. 12Exod 2:14. 13Numbers 12. 14Num

world, and came to the limits of the West,

16:13. 151 Samuel 18ff. 16Gen 2:23.

THE LETTER OF 1 CLEMENT

171

We are writing these things, loved

7

return to me with your whole heart and

ones, not only to admonish you but

say, “Father,” I will listen to you as to a

also to remind ourselves. For we are in

holy people.’ ”20

the same arena and the same contest is

4
And in another place he speaks as

set before us.

follows: “Wash and become clean; re

2
For this reason we should leave bemove from yourselves the evils that are hind empty and frivolous thoughts and

before my eyes; put an end to your evil

come to the famous and venerable rule

deeds; learn to do good; pursue justice,

of our tradition.

rescue those who are treated unjustly,

3
We should realize what is good and

render a decision for the orphan and do

pleasing and acceptable before the one

what is right for the widow. And come,

who made us.

let us reason together, says the Lord.

4
We should gaze intently on the blood

Even if your sins are like crimson, I will

of Christ and realize how precious it is

make them white as snow; and if they are

to his Father; for when it was poured out

like scarlet, I will make them white as

for our salvation, it brought the gracious

wool. If you are willing and obey me,

gift of repentance to the entire world.

you will eat the good things of the earth;

5
Let us review all the generations and

but if you are not willing and do not obey

learn that from one generation to the next

me, a sword will devour you. For the

the Master has provided an opportunity

mouth of the Lord has spoken these

for repentance to those wanting to return

things.”21

to him.

5
Because he wanted all his loved ones

6
Noah proclaimed repentance, and

to have a share in repentance, he set it in

those who heeded were saved from

place by his all-powerful will.

danger.17

7
Jonah proclaimed an impending dis

For this reason we should obey his

aster to the Ninevites; and those who

9 magnificent and glorious will and,

repented of their sins appeased God

as petitioners of his mercy and kindness,

through their fervent pleas and received

fall down before him and turn to his comsalvation, even though they had been espassionate ways, leaving behind our tranged from God.18

pointless toil and strife and the jealousy

8

that leads to death.

Those who administered the gra

2
We should gaze intently on those

cious gift of God spoke through

who have perfectly served his magnifithe Holy Spirit about repentance.

cent glory.

2
And the Master of all things himself

3
We should consider Enoch, who

spoke about repentance with an oath:

was transported to another place be

“For as I live, says the Lord, I do not

cause he was found to be righteous in

want the sinner to die but to repent.”19

his obedience; and his death was never

And to this he added a good pronouncefound.22

ment:

3
“Repent from your lawlessness,

house of Israel. Say to the children of my

people, ‘If your sins extend from the

17

earth to the sky and are redder than scar

Genesis 7. 18Jonah 3. 19Cf. Ezek 33:11. 20Possibly drawn from Ezekiel 33. 21Isa 1:16–20 22Gen 5: let and blacker than sackcloth, but you

24; Heb 11:5.

172

NON-CANONICAL EPISTLES AND RELATED WRITINGS

4
Noah, who was found to be faithful

11

through his service, proclaimed a new

Because of his hospitality and

piety, Lot was saved out of

beginning to the world; and through him

Sodom when all the surrounding counthe Master saved the living creatures that tryside was judged by fire and brim-entered the ark in harmony.23

stone.29 The Master thus made it clear

that he does not abandon those who hope

10 Abraham, who was called “The in him, but hands over to punishment and Friend,”24 was found to be

torment those who turn away.

faithful when he became obedient to

2
Lot’s wife was made a sign of this:

God’s words.

for when she left with him but then

2
In obedience he left his land, his famchanged her mind and fell out of harily, and his father’s house, so that by mony, she was turned into a pillar of salt

abandoning a paltry land, an insignificant

until this day—so that everyone may

family, and a small house he might inknow that those who are of two minds herit the promises of God. For God said

and who doubt the power of God enter

to him,

into judgment and become a visible sign

3
“Depart from your land, your family,

for all generations.

and your father’s house to the land I will

show you. And I will form you into a

12

great nation and I will bless you and

Because of her faith and hospitality Rahab the prostitute make your name great; and you will be

was saved from danger.30

blessed. And I will bless those who bless

2
For when reconnaissance scouts had

you and curse those who curse you, and

been sent into Jericho by Joshua, the son

all the tribes of the earth will be blessed

of Nun, the king of the land discovered

in you.”25

that they had come to scout out their

4
And again when Abraham separated

country and sent men to arrest them, so

from Lot, God said to him, “Lift up your

that once detained they could be

eyes and look out from where you are

executed.

now to the north, south, east, and west;

3
And so, the hospitable Rahab

for I will give all the land that you see to

brought them inside and hid them in the

you and your offspring forever.

upper room under a pile of thatching

5
And I will make your offspring like

straw.g

the sand of the earth. If anyone is able to

4
When the king’s men arrived and

count the sand of the earth, your offsaid, “Those who are scouting out our spring will also be counted.”26

land came into your house; bring them

6
Again it says, “God led Abraham out

out, for so the king has ordered,” she

and said to him, ‘Look up into the sky

replied, “The men you are seeking did

and count the stars, if you are able to

come in to see me, but they left right

number them. So will your offspring be.’

And Abraham trusted God, and it was

accounted to him as righteousness.”27

gOr:
fine
linen;
or:
flax
.

7
Because of his faith and hospitality,

23Gen 6:8; Heb 11:7. 24Cf. Isa 41:8; Jas 2:23.

a son was given to him in his old age;

25Gen 12:1–3. 26Gen 13:14–16. 27Gen 15:5–6;

and in obedience he offered him up as a

Rom 4:3. 28Gen 18:21; Genesis 22; Heb 11:17.

29

sacrifice to God on one of the mountains

The following account is drawn from Genesis 19.

30The following account is drawn from Joshua 2. Cf.

that he showed him.28

Heb 11:31; Jas 2:25.

THE LETTER OF 1 CLEMENT

173

away and are going on down the road.”

kindness be shown to you; the amount

And she pointed them in the wrong

you dispense will be the amount you

direction.

receive.”32

5
And she said to the men, “I know

3
Let us strengthen one another in this

full well that the Lord God is handing

commandment and these demands, so

this land over to you, for fear and tremthat we may forge ahead, obedient to his bling has seized its inhabitants because

words (which are well-suited for holiof you. When you take the land, save me ness) and humble-minded. For the holy

and my father’s household.”

word says,

6
They said to her, “It will be just as

4
“Upon whom shall I look, but upon

you have spoken to us. So, when you

the one who is meek and mild and who

know that we are approaching, gather all

trembles at my sayings?”33

your family under your roof and they will

be saved. For whoever is found outside

And so it is right and holy for

the house will perish.”

14 us to obey God, brothers, rather

7
And they proceeded to give her a

than follow those who instigate a foul

signh, that she should hang a piece of

jealousy with arrogance and disorderscarlet from her house—making it clear liness.

that it is through the blood of the Lord

2
For we will subject ourselves not to