Chapter 15
| 1 Οὐκ οἴομαι δέ, ὅτι μικρὰν συμβουλίαν ἐποιησάμην περὶ ἐγκρατείας, ἣν ποιήσας τις οὐ μετανοήσει, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἑαυτὸν σώσει κἀμὲ τὸν συμβουλεύσαντα. μισθὸς γὰρ οὔκ ἐστιν μικρὸς πλανωμένην ψυχὴν καὶ ἀπολλυμένην ἀποστρέψαι εἰς τὸ σωθῆναι. |
Now I don’t think that the advice I have given concerning self-control is minor, the ones who follow it don’t regret it, but will save both himself and me the adviser.
For it is no minor reward to redirect a wandering and perishing soul, that it may be saved. |
| 2 ταύτην γὰρ ἔχομεν τὴν ἀντιμισθίαν ἀποδοῦναι τῷ θεῷ τῷ κτίσαντι ἡμᾶς, ἐὰν ὁ λέγων καὶ ἀκούων μετὰ πίστεως καὶ ἀγάπης καὶ λέγῃ καὶ ἀκούῃ. | For this is the repayment which we are able to pay to God who created us, if he who speaks and hears both speaks and hears with faith and love. |
|
3 ἐμμείνωμεν
οὖν
ἐφ'
οἷς
ἐπιστεύσαμεν
δίκαιοι
καὶ
ὅσιοι,
ἵνα
μετὰ
παρρησίας
αἰτῶμεν
τὸν
θεὸν
τὸν
λέγοντα·
Ἔτι λαλοῦντός σου ἐρῶ· ἰδοὺ πάρειμι. |
Let us therefore remain in what we believed, in righteousness and holiness, so that with boldness we may ask of God who says,
“While you are still speaking I will say, ‘Behold, I am here' ” {Isa. 58:9}. |
|
4 τοῦτο
γὰρ
τὸ
ῥῆμα
μεγάλης
ἐστιν
ἐπαγγελίας
σημεῖον·
ἑτοιμότερον γὰρ ἑαυτὸν λέγει ὁ κύριος εἰς τὸ διδόναι τοῦ αἰτοῦντος. | For this word is the sign of a great promise: for the Lord says that He is more ready to give than the one asking is to ask. |
| 5 τοσαύτης οὖν χρηστότητος μεταλαμβάνοντες μὴ φθονήσωμεν ἑαυτοῖς τυχεῖν τοσούτων ἀγαθῶν. ὅσην γὰρ ἡδονὴν ἔχει τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα τοῖς ποιήσασιν αὐτά, τοσαύτην κατάκρισιν ἔχει τοῖς παρακούσασιν. |
Then, while sharing in such great kindness, let us not begrudge each other with the gaining of such great good things.
For these words have as much pleasure to those who do them as they have condemnation to those who disobey. |
Summary
In this passage, the speaker reflects on his role as a preacher/exhorter delivering a homily on self-control (ἐγκράτεια).He emphasizes the mutual benefit of pastoral instruction: converting and guiding a wandering soul yields salvation both for the listener and the teacher.
Drawing on an Old Testament promise of divine responsiveness (Isaiah 58:9), he reassures the congregation that God eagerly responds to those who pray with holy confidence (παρρησία).
Finally, he reminds them that God's rich kindness (χρηστότης) brings immense joy to the obedient, but severe condemnation (κατάκρισις) to those who disregard the message.
Significant Greek Expressions
συμβουλίαν... περὶ ἐγκρατείας ("advice concerning self-control"):Συμβουλία means counsel or exhortation. The sermon's primary focus is summarized here as ἐγκράτεια (self-control, temperance, moral restraint), which the speaker frames as essential for salvation.
κἀμὲ τὸν συμβουλεύσαντα ("and me who advised"): Reflects the teacher’s shared accountability and reward. In early Christian pastoral theology (cf. James 5:19–20; 1 Tim 4:16), turning a sinner back saves both the hearer and the preacher.
ἀντιμισθίαν ("recompense / return payment"): A recurring keyword in Second Clement. Human beings cannot pay God back for creation and salvation except through reciprocal faith, mutual love (μετὰ πίστεως καὶ ἀγάπης), and active obedience.
μετὰ παρρησίας ("with boldness / confidence"):Παρρησία refers to free speech, unreserved confidence, or boldness before a sovereign. Holy living grants believers the spiritual freedom to approach God in prayer without shame or fear.
Ἔτι λαλοῦντός σου ἐρῶ: ἰδοὺ πάρειμι ("While you are still speaking, I will say: 'Behold, I am here'"): A direct citation of Isaiah 58:9. It highlights God's immediate readiness (ἑτοιμότερος) to answer the requests of the righteous, underscoring divine accessibility.
χρηστότης ("kindness / goodness"): Refers to God's benevolent, generous nature. The author exhorts believers not to "grudge" or deprive themselves (μὴ φθονήσωμεν ἑαυτοῖς) of the vast blessings flowing from divine grace.
ἡδονή vs. κατάκρισις ("pleasure" vs. "condemnation"): A deliberate contrast: God's words bring deep spiritual joy and delight (ἡδονή) to those who put them into practice, but result in heavy judicial condemnation (κατάκρισις) for those who hear and deliberately disobey (παρακούσασιν).