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First Pseudo-Clement

Pseudo-Clementine writer

Chapter 2

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Author: Pseudo-Clementine writer

Chapter II.—For True Virginity Perfect Virtue is Necessary.

Of all virgins of either sex who have truly resolved

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to

preserve

virginity

for

the

sake

of

the

kingdom

of

heaven

—

of

each

and

every

one

of

them

it

is

required

that

he

be

worthy

of

the

kingdom

of

heaven

in

every

thing

.

For

not

by

eloquence

or

renown

,

by

station

and

descent

,

or

by

beauty

or

strength

,

or

by

length

of

life

,

is

the

kingdom

of

heaven

obtained

;

but

it

is

obtained

by

the

power

of

faith

,

when

a

man

exhibits

the

works

of

faith

.

For

whosoever

is

truly

righteous

,

his

works

testify

concerning

his

faith

,

that

he

is

truly

a

believer

,

with

a

faith

which

is

great

,

a

faith

which

is

perfect

,

a

faith

which

is

in

God

,

a

faith

which

shines

in

good

works

,

that

the

Father

of

all

may

be

glorified

through

Christ

.

Now

,

those

who

are

truly

virgins

for

the

sake

of

God

give

heed

to

Him

who

hath

said

,

“

Let

not

righteousness

and

faith

fail

thee

;

bind

them

on

thy

neck

,

and

thou

shalt

find

favour

for

thyself

;

and

devise

thou

good

things

before

God

and

before

men

.

”

“

The

paths

,

”

therefore

,

“

of

the

righteous

shine

as

the

light

,

and

the

light

of

them

advances

until

the

day

is

perfect

.

”

For

the

beams

of

their

light

illumine

the

whole

creation

even

now

by

good

works

,

as

those

who

are

truly

“

the

light

of

the

world

,

”

giving

light

to

“

those

who

sit

in

darkness

,

”

that

they

may

arise

and

go

forth

from

the

darkness

by

the

light

of

the

good

works

of

the

fear

of

God

,

“

that

they

may

see

our

good

works

and

glorify

our

Father

who

is

in

heaven

.

”

For

it

is

required

of

the

man

of

God

,

that

in

all

his

words

and

works

he

be

perfect

,

and

that

in

his

life

he

be

adorned

with

all

exemplary

and

well

-

ordered

behaviour

,

and

do

all

his

deeds

in

righteousness

,

as

a

man

of

God

.

Notes

1
Zing., not so well, takes this to mean, “by the confession of the mouth” (durch das mündliche Bekenntniss), comparing Matt. vii. 21.
2
Lit. “by word or by name.”
3
The Greek word σχῆμα, here adopted in the Syriac, is sometimes thus used.—Beelen.
4
Lit. “much time.”
5
Prov. iii. 3, 4 (LXX.).
6
Lit. “fixed.” Prov. iv. 18.
7
Matt. v. 14.
8
Isa. ix. 2; Matt. iv. 16.
9
Matt. v. 16; 1 Pet. ii. 12.
10
Probably referring to 1 Cor. xiv. 40.—Beelen.