Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp & others · a new plain-English translation from the original language
Let us, then, turn back to God with our whole heart, so that none of us is lost along the way. For if we are under orders to do even this - to pull people away from idols and instruct them - how much more must we make sure a soul that already knows God is not allowed to perish? Let us work together, then, to lift up those who are weak in the faith toward what is good, so that all of us may be saved, and let us turn one another around and set each other straight. And let us not only seem to believe and pay attention while the elders are correcting us, but also, once we have gone back home, let us keep the Lord's commands in mind and not be dragged the other way by worldly cravings. Instead, let us come together more often and try to make progress in the Lord's commandments, so that, all thinking the same way, we may be gathered together unto life. For the Lord said: I am coming to gather all the nations, tribes, and tongues. And by this he means the day of his appearing, when he comes and ransoms us, each according to what we have done. And the unbelievers will see his glory and his power, and astonishment will grip them as they behold the world's own kingdom now residing in Jesus, and they will say: Woe to us, for you were here, and we did not know it, and we did not believe, and we would not be persuaded by the elders who kept announcing our salvation to us. And their worm will not die, and their fire will not be put out, and they will be a spectacle for all flesh - this is what he calls that day of judgment, when they will see those among us who acted wickedly and twisted the commandments of Jesus Christ. But the righteous, having done well and endured torments, having hated the soul's cravings for pleasure, when they see those who lost their way and denied Jesus by word or by deed being punished with terrible torments in unquenchable fire, will give glory to their God, saying that there is hope for the one who has served God with his whole heart.
So let us also become people who give thanks, people who have served God, and not people who are condemned as godless. For I myself, sinner that I am through and through, not yet having escaped temptation but still standing in the very midst of the devil's tools, am eager to pursue righteousness, so that I may be able to at least come near it, because I fear the judgment that is coming.
So then, in the name of the God of truth, my brothers and sisters, I am reading you an appeal to pay attention to what has been written, so that you may save both yourselves and the one reading among you. For as payment I ask of you that you turn back to God with your whole heart, giving yourselves salvation and life. If we do this, we will set a goal before all the young, for those who wish to work hard at godliness and at God's kindness. And let us not be annoyed and grow angry, foolish as we are, whenever someone corrects us and turns us from wrongdoing to righteousness. For sometimes, while we are doing wicked things, we do not even realize it, because of the double-mindedness and lack of faith lodged in our hearts, and our understanding has been darkened by empty desires. Let us then practice righteousness, so that we may be saved in the end. Blessed are those who obey these commands. Even if they suffer hardship for a little while in this present world, they will harvest the undying fruit of the resurrection. So let the godly person not be grieved if he is afflicted in the present age; a blessed time awaits him. He will come alive again up above, with the fathers, and rejoice in that age which knows no grief.
But do not let this trouble your minds either - that we see the unjust growing rich while God's servants are hemmed in on every side. Let us keep believing, then, brothers and sisters: we are competing in the contest of the living God, and we are being trained in this present life so that we may be crowned in the life to come. None of the righteous received his fruit quickly - he waits for it. For if God paid out the reward of the righteous right away, we would immediately be practicing a business deal and not godliness; we would seem to be righteous while pursuing not piety but profit. And this is why divine judgment has struck a spirit that was not righteous, and weighed it down with chains. To him alone, the unseen God, Father of what is true, who dispatched to us the Savior, the pioneer of incorruption, and through whom he made known to us both truth and life everlasting - glory belongs to him unto the ages of ages. Amen. [The Letter of Clement to the Corinthians, Book Two.]
← All of Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp & others: The Apostolic Fathers