top 1 Clement ch 48

Chapter 48

Reverse this division with reconciliation

1 Ἐξάρωμεν οὖν τοῦτο ἐν τάχει καὶ προσπέσωμεν τῷ δεσπότῃ καὶ κλαύσωμεν ἱκετεύοντες αὐτόν, ὅπως ἵλεως γενόμενος ἐπικαταλλαγῇ ἡμῖν καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν σεμνὴν τῆς φιλαδελφίας ἡμῶν ἁγνὴν ἀγωγὴν ἀποκαταστήσῃ ἡμᾶς. Therefore, let's remove this quickly and let's fall down before the Master and pray to Him with tears, so that He may be merciful and be reconciled to us, and may restore us to the honorable and pure conduct of love for our brothers.
2 πύλη γὰρ δικαιοσύνης ἀνεῳγυῖα εἰς ζωὴν αὕτη, καθὼς γέγραπται· Ἀνοίξατέ μοι πύλας δικαιοσύνης, ἵνα εἰσελθὼν ἐν αὐταῖς ἐξομολογήσωμαι τῷ κυρίῳ. For this the gate of righteousness opening to life just as it is written, “Open to me the gates of righteousness, so that I may enter through them and praise the Lord.
3 αὕτη ἡ πύλη τοῦ κυρίου· δίκαιοι εἰσελεύσονται ἐν αὐτῇ. This is the gate of the Lord. The righteous will enter through it" (Ps. 118:19-20).
4 πολλῶν οὖν πυλῶν ἀνεῳγυιῶν ἡ ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἐν Χριστῷ, ἐν ᾗ μακάριοι πάντες οἱ εἰσελθόντες καὶ κατευθύνοντες τὴν πορείαν αὐτῶν ἐν ὁσιότητι καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ, ἀταράχως πάντα ἐπιτελοῦντες. While there are many open gates, this righteous gate is the Christian gate. Blessed are all those who enter and direct their path in godliness and righteousness, doing everything without confusion.
5 ἤτω τις πιστός, ἤτω δυνατὸς γνῶσιν ἐξειπεῖν, ἤτω σοφὸς ἐν διακρίσει λόγων, ἤτω γοργὸς ἐν ἔργοις, ἤτω ἁγνὸς. Let a man be faithful, let him be able to expound knowledge, let him be wise in the distinction of words, let him be strenuous in deeds, let him be pure.
6 τοσούτῳ γὰρ μᾶλλον ταπεινοφρονεῖν ὀφείλει, ὅσῳ δοκεῖ μᾶλλον μείζων εἶναι, καὶ ζητεῖν τὸ κοινωφελὲς πᾶσιν, καὶ μὴ τὸ ἑαυτοῦ. The greater the person is, so much more should he be humble, and he should seek the common good of all and not his own thing.