top2 Clement-8 prev next
Chapter 8
1 Ὡς οὖν ἐσμὲν ἐπὶ γῆς, μετανοήσωμεν. While we are still on earth then, let us repent:
2 πηλὸς γάρ ἐσμεν εἰς τὴν χεῖρα τοῦ τεχνίτου·
ὃν τρόπον γὰρ ὁ κεραμεύς, ἐὰν ποιῇ σκεῦος καὶ ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ διαστραφῇ ἢ συντριβῇ, πάλιν αὐτὸ ἀναπλάσσει, ἐὰν δὲ προφθάσῃ εἰς τὴν κάμινον τοῦ πυρὸς αὐτὸ βαλεῖν, οὐκέτι βοηθήσει αὐτῷ·
οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς, ἕως ἐσμὲν ἐν τούτῳ τῷ κόσμῳ, ἐν τῇ σαρκὶ ἃ ἐπράξαμεν πονηρὰ μετανοήσωμεν ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας, ἵνα σωθῶμεν ὑπὸ τοῦ κυρίου, ἕως ἔχομεν καιρὸν μετανοίας. 		for we are clay under the craftsman’s hand.
For example the potter: if he is making a vessel, and it becomes twisted or crushed in his hands, he reshapes it again; but once he puts it into the fiery oven, he will no longer be able to help it.
So also for us.
While we are in this world, let us repent with our whole heart concerning the evil things which we have done in the flesh, so that we may be saved by the Lord, while we still have time for repentance.
3 μετὰ γὰρ τὸ ἐξελθεῖν ἡμᾶς ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου οὐκέτι δυνάμεθα ἐκεῖ ἐξομολογήσασθαι ἢ μετανοεῖν ἔτι. For after that we have departed out of the world, we are no longer able to make confession there, or to repent any more.
4 ὥστε, ἀδελφοί, ποιήσαντες τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τὴν σάρκα ἁγνὴν τηρήσαντες καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ κυρίου φυλάξαντες ληψόμεθα ζωὴν αἰώνιον. So brothers, having done the will of the Father and having kept the flesh pure and having observed the commandments of the Lord, we will receive eternal life.
5 λέγει γὰρ ὁ κύριος ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ·
Εἰ τὸ μικρὸν οὐκ ἐτηρήσατε, τὸ μέγα τίς ὑμῖν δώσει; λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν, ὅτι ὁ πιστὸς ἐν ἐλαχίστῳ καὶ ἐν πολλῷ πιστός ἐστιν. 		For the Lord says in the Gospel, “If you did not guard a small thing, who will give you a great thing?
For I say to you that he who is faithful in the least, is also faithful in much” {see Luke 16:10-12}.
6 ἆρα οὖν τοῦτο λέγει·
τηρήσατε τὴν σάρκα ἁγνὴν καὶ τὴν σφραγῖδα ἄσπιλον, ἵνα τὴν αἰώνιον ζωὴν ἀπολάβωμεν. 		So then He means this, Keep the flesh pure and the seal unstained, in order that we may receive life.
Summary
This passage presents an urgent call to repentance (μετάνοια) while earthly life persists.

Using the classic Old and New Testament allegory of the potter and the clay (cf. Jeremiah 18:6; Isaiah 45:9; Romans 9:21), the author warns that divine molding and restoration are only possible before death ("the furnace").

Once a person dies and enters eternity, the opportunity to repent or confess sins ends.

Drawing on an agraphon/saying of Jesus (closely aligned with Luke 16:10–12), the text equates faithfulness in "small things" with maintaining moral and baptismal purity in mortal existence as a prerequisite for inheriting eternal life.
Significant Greek Expressions
πηλὸς... εἰς τὴν χεῖρα τοῦ τεχνίτου ("clay in the hand of the craftsman"): A vivid image of human fragility and dependence on God's sovereignty. Τεχνίτης ("craftsman/artisan") highlights God's active, intentional role in shaping human character and destiny.

διαστραφῇ ἣ συντριβῇ ("twisted or broken"):Διαστρέφω (to distort/twist) and συντρίβω (to shatter/break) describe moral failure or spiritual deformity. While the clay is still wet in the potter's hands, it can be re-molded (ἀναπλάσσει); once baked in the furnace (κάμινος τοῦ πυρὸς), its shape is permanently fixed.

ἕως ἔχομεν καιρὸν μετανοίας ("while we have time for repentance"): Emphasizes the urgency of the present moment (καιρός). Repentance is depicted not as an open-ended opportunity, but as a bounded window of time restricted to physical earthly life (ἐν τῇ σαρκί).

οὐκέτι δυνάμεθα ἐκεῖ ἐξομολογήσασθαι ("we are no longer able there to confess"): Reflects early post-apostolic eschatology: post-mortem confession (ἐξομολόγησις) or change of heart is impossible. Earthly probation fixes one's eternal trajectory.

τὴν σάρκα ἁγνὴν τηρήσαντες ("keeping the flesh pure"): A central ethical theme of Second Clement. The physical body (σάρξ) is not viewed as inherently evil, but as a vessel that must be kept holy (ἁγνός) and guarded against moral defilement.

τὴν σφραγῖδα ἄσπιλον ("the seal unspotted"): Reinforces the metaphor of baptism as a sacred mark (σφραγίς). Paired with ἄσπιλος ("unblemished" or "unspotted," cf. 1 Tim 6:14, James 1:27), it underscores that baptismal grace must be preserved without the stains of ongoing unrepentant sin.