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First Pseudo-Clement

Pseudo-Clementine writer

Chapter 10

About this work

Author: Pseudo-Clementine writer

Chapter X.—Denunciation of Dangerous and Scandalous Association with Maidens.

Now, we are persuaded of you, my brethren,

‹ Chapter 9 Chapter 11 ›

that

your

thoughts

are

occupied

about

those

things

which

are

requisite

for

your

salvation

.

But

we

speak

thus

in

consequence

of

the

evil

rumours

and

reports

concerning

shameless

men

,

who

,

under

pretext

of

the

fear

of

God

,

have

their

dwelling

with

maidens

,

and

so

,

expose

themselves

to

danger

,

and

walk

with

them

along

the

road

and

in

solitary

places

alone

—

a

course

which

is

full

of

dangers

,

and

full

of

stumbling

-

blocks

and

snares

and

pitfalls

;

nor

is

it

in

any

respect

right

for

Christians

and

those

who

fear

God

so

to

conduct

themselves

.

Others

,

too

,

eat

and

drink

with

them

at

entertainments

allowing

themselves

in

loose

behaviour

and

much

uncleanness

—

such

as

ought

not

to

be

among

believers

,

and

especially

among

those

who

have

chosen

for

themselves

a

life

of

holiness

.

Others

,

again

,

meet

together

for

vain

and

trifling

conversation

and

merriment

,

and

that

they

may

speak

evil

of

one

another

;

and

they

hunt

up

tales

against

one

another

,

and

are

idle

:

persons

with

whom

we

do

not

allow

you

even

to

eat

bread

.

Then

,

others

gad

about

among

the

houses

of

virgin

brethren

or

sisters

,

on

pretence

of

visiting

them

,

or

reading

the

Scriptures

to

them

,

or

exorcising

them

.

Forasmuch

as

they

are

idle

and

do

no

work

,

they

pry

into

those

things

which

ought

not

to

be

inquired

into

,

and

by

means

of

plausible

words

make

merchandise

of

the

name

of

Christ

.

These

are

men

from

whom

the

divine

apostle

kept

aloof

,

because

of

the

multitude

of

their

evil

deeds

;

as

it

is

written

:

“

Thorns

sprout

in

the

hands

of

the

idle

;

”

and

,

“

The

ways

of

the

idle

are

full

of

thorns

.

”

Notes

1
Or “life.”
2
The words which follow, “concerning those things which we speak,” appear not to be genuine.—Beelen.
3
Beelen supposes a ἓν διὰ δυοῖν: “along the lonely road.”
4
i.e., virginity.
5
Prov. xxvi. 9.
6
Prov. xv. 19 (LXX.).