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First Pseudo-Clement

Pseudo-Clementine writer

Chapter 3

About this work

Author: Pseudo-Clementine writer

Chapter III.—True Virgins Prove Themselves Such by Self-Denial, as Does the True Believer by Good Works.

For virgins are a beautiful pattern to believers, and

‹ Chapter 2 Chapter 4 ›

to

those

who

shall

believe

.

The

name

alone

,

indeed

,

without

works

,

does

not

introduce

into

the

kingdom

of

heaven

;

but

,

if

a

man

be

truly

a

believer

,

such

an

one

can

be

saved

.

For

,

if

a

person

be

only

called

a

believer

in

name

,

whilst

he

is

not

such

in

works

,

he

cannot

possibly

be

a

believer

.

“

Let

no

one

,

”

therefore

,

“

lead

you

astray

with

the

empty

words

of

error

.

”

For

,

merely

because

a

person

is

called

a

virgin

,

if

he

be

destitute

of

works

excellent

and

comely

,

and

suitable

to

virginity

,

he

cannot

possibly

be

saved

.

For

our

Lord

called

such

virginity

as

that

“

foolish

,

”

as

He

said

in

the

Gospel

;

and

because

it

had

neither

oil

nor

light

,

it

was

left

outside

of

the

kingdom

of

heaven

,

and

was

shut

out

from

the

joy

of

the

bridegroom

,

and

was

reckoned

with

His

enemies

.

For

such

persons

as

these

“

have

the

appearance

only

of

the

fear

of

God

,

but

the

power

of

it

they

deny

.

”

For

they

“

think

with

themselves

that

they

are

something

,

whilst

they

are

nothing

,

and

are

deceived

.

But

let

every

one

constantly

try

his

works

,

”

and

know

himself

;

for

empty

worship

does

he

offer

,

whosoever

he

be

that

makes

profession

of

virginity

and

sanctity

,

“

and

denies

its

power

.

”

For

virginity

of

such

a

kind

is

impure

,

and

disowned

by

all

good

works

.

For

“

every

tree

whatsoever

is

known

from

its

fruits

.

”

“

See

that

thou

understand

what

I

say

:

God

will

give

thee

understanding

.

”

For

whosoever

engages

before

God

to

preserve

sanctity

must

be

girded

with

all

the

holy

power

of

God

.

And

,

if

with

true

fear

he

crucify

his

body

,

he

for

the

sake

of

the

fear

of

God

excuses

himself

from

that

word

in

which

the

Scripturehas

said

:

“

Be

fruitful

,

and

multiply

,

”

and

shuns

all

the

display

,

and

care

,

and

sensuality

,

and

fascination

of

this

world

,

and

its

revelries

and

its

drunkenness

,

and

all

its

luxury

and

ease

,

and

withdraws

from

the

entire

life

of

this

world

,

and

from

its

snares

,

and

nets

,

and

hindrances

;

and

,

whilst

thou

walkest

upon

the

earth

,

be

zealous

that

thy

work

and

thy

business

be

in

heaven

.

Notes

1
Eph. v. 6.
2
Matt. xxv. 2.
3
2 Tim. iii. 5.
4
Lit. “let every one be trying.”
5
Gal. vi. 3, 4.
6
Matt. xii. 33. [More probably Luke vi. 44.—R.]
7
Or “consider.” There is no play on words in the passage quoted (2 Tim. ii. 7), nor perhaps was this intended in the Syriac.
8
2 Tim. ii. 7.
9
Lit. “true in fear of God.” The reading is probably faulty.—Beelen.
10
The ellipsis is usually to be thus filled up in these epistles. [In similar cases which follow, italics will not be used.—R.]
11
Gen. i. 28.
12
Or “the sensual pleasures.”
13
Or “from all intercourse with.”
14
Either something is here omitted by the transcriber, or Clement has varied the form of expression.—Beelen.