Summary
Summary of The Second Epistle of Clement
Key ideas
Key idea 1
A sermon about living before judgment
Imagine a preacher speaking to a second-century church about how its people should live. The Second Epistle of Clement preserves such a sermon, rather than a letter, despite its name. Its author is unknown, although old manuscripts attach it to Clement of Rome.
The preacher asks his hearers to live as people who expect to be judged. Repentance, gratitude to Christ, and the struggle between this world and the next all serve that central concern: belief must shape a person's life.
Key idea 2
Gratitude to Christ must become action
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Key idea 3
The two ages require a choice
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Key idea 4
Repent while life can still change
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Key idea 5
Care for bodies and the poor
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Key idea 6
Expected judgment shapes everyday conduct
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The rest of the summary, written and spoken, and the whole book: free to start.
Read the rest freeWho it’s for
For readers who love early Christian history, anyone curious how a sermon sounded about 1,900 years ago, and believers who enjoy plain moral teaching on repentance, deeds, and care for the poor.
What this book is
Imagine sitting in a second-century church as a preacher stands to speak. The Second Epistle of Clement is that sermon, the oldest complete Christian sermon to survive outside the New Testament. Despite its name, it is not a letter. Its author is unknown, though old manuscripts attach it to Clement of Rome. The preacher has one aim. He wants his hearers to live as people who expect to be judged. He speaks of repentance, of the debt owed to Christ, and of the struggle between this world and the next.
In this summary
- 1An anonymous sermon wearing Clement's nameFree
- 2Honor Christ by what you do
- 3This world and the next are enemies
- 4Run the race and repent while there is time
- 5Keep the flesh pure and give to the poor
Key point 1 of 5
An anonymous sermon wearing Clement's name
Most scholars hold that the author is not Clement, whose genuine letter to Corinth is written in a different style. Nobody knows who spoke these words or where. Near the end, the preacher says he is reading an exhortation after the reading of Scripture. That is why scholars call it a homily.
That’s 1 of 5 key points.
The rest of the summary, written and spoken, and the whole book: free to start.
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Check yourself
What does the preacher say it means to confess Christ?
Right. “To confess Christ means to keep his commandments and to love one another.”Not quite. “To confess Christ means to keep his commandments and to love one another.”
What does the image of the potter teach about repentance?
Right. “So we must repent with all our hearts while we live.”Not quite. “So we must repent with all our hearts while we live.”
Which practice does the preacher place above fasting and prayer?
Right. “Fasting is better than prayer, and giving to the poor is better than either.”Not quite. “Fasting is better than prayer, and giving to the poor is better than either.”
Questions about The Second Epistle of Clement
What is the Second Epistle of Clement about?
It is an early Christian sermon urging listeners to repent, to confess Christ by their actions, to reject the pull of the present world, to keep the body pure, and to endure for the promised reward.
Did Clement of Rome write 2 Clement?
Most scholars say no. The manuscripts carry his name, but the style differs from his genuine First Epistle, and the sermon is usually dated later, in the middle of the second century. Its true author is unknown.
Is 2 Clement a letter or a sermon?
It is a sermon. Near the end the speaker refers to reading an exhortation to the congregation after the Scripture reading. Scholars often call it the oldest complete Christian sermon outside the New Testament.
Why is 2 Clement not in the Bible?
It was not linked to an apostle and was written by a later, unknown author. Churches did read it, but it was never counted among the accepted books.
When was 2 Clement written and where does the text survive?
Scholars usually date it to the middle of the second century.
