Monday, September 16, 2024

Excerpts from Michael W. Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers (3d ed.)

 Whenever I read the Apostolic Fathers, I try to read a different translation each time and make some notes about interesting passages. The following comes from:

 

Michael W. Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers: Greek and English Translations (3d ed.; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2007)

 

1 Clement 7:4-8:

 

Let us fix our eyes on the blood of Christ and understand how precious it is to his Father, because, being poured out for our salvation, it won for the whole world the grace of repentance. Let us review all the generations in turn, and learn that from generation to generation the Master has given an opportunity for repentance to those who desire to turn to him. Noah preached repentance, and those who obeyed were saved. Jonah preached destruction to the people of Nineveh; but those who repented of their sins made atonement to God by their prayers and received salvation, even though they had been alienated from God. (p. 55)

 

1 Clement 9:3-10:2:

 

Let us consider Enoch, for example, who was found righteous in obedience and so was taken up and did not experience death. Noah, being found faithful, proclaimed a second birth to the world by his ministry, and through him the Master saved the living creatures that entered into the ark in harmony.

 

Abraham, who was called “the friend,” was found faithful when he became obedient to the words of God. He obediently went forth from his country, from his people, and from his father’s house, leaving a small country, a weak people, and an insignificant house in order that he might inherit the promises of God. . ..  (p.57)

 

1 Clement 12:1:

 

Because of her faith and hospitality Rahab the harlot was saved. (p. 59)

 

1 Clement 34:4-5:

 

For he exhorts us, therefore, who believe in him with our hold heart, not to be idle or careless about any good works. Let our boasting and our confidence be in him; let us submit ourselves to his will; let us consider the whole host of his angels, how they stand by and serve his will. (p. 89)

 

1 Clement 50:3-7:

 

All the generations from Adam to his day have passed away, but those who by God’s grace were perfected in love have a place among the godly, who will be revealed when the kingdom of Christ visits us. For it is written: “Enter into the innermost rooms for a very little while, until my anger and wrath shall pass away, and I will remember a good day and will raise you from your graves.” Blessed are we, dear friends, if we continue to keep God’s commandments in the harmony of love, so that our sins may be forgiven us through love. For it is written: “Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one to whom the Lord will reckon no sin, and in whose mouth there is no deceit.” This declaration of blessedness was pronounced upon those who have been chosen by God through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. (p. 113)

 

1 Clement 52:1-4 (incongruous if Eucharist understood as propitiatory sacrifice)

 

The Master, brothers, has no need of anything at all. He requires nothing of anyone except to make a confession to him. For David, the chosen one, says: “I will confess to the Lord, and it will please him more than a young calf with horns and hoofs. Let he poor see this and rejoice.” And again he says: “Sacrifice to God a sacrifice of praise, and pay your vows to the Most High; call upon me in the day of your affliction, and I will deliver you, and you will glorify me. For the sacrifice of God is a broken heart. (P. 115)

 

1 Clement 59:4:

 

. . . Let all the nations know that you are the only God, that Jesus Christ is your servant, and that we are your people and the sheep of your pasture. (p. 125)

 

1 Clement 61:3:

 

You, who alone are able to do these and even greater good things for us, we praise through the high priest and benefactor of our souls, Jesus Christ, through whom be the glory and the majesty to you both now and for all generations and for ever and ever. Amen. (pp. 127, 129)

 

2 Clement 14:2-3:

 

Now I do not suppose that you are ignorant of the fact that the living church is the body of Christ, for the scripture says, “God created humankind male and female.” The male is Christ; the female is the church. Moreover, the books and the apostles declare that the church not only exists now but has been in existence from the beginning. For she was spiritual, as was also our Jesus, but was revealed in the last days in order that she might save us. Now the church, being spiritual, was revealed in the flesh of Christ, thereby showing us that any of us who guard her in the flesh and do not corrupt her will receive her back again in the Holy Spirit. For this flesh is a copy of the Spirit, No one, therefore, who corrupts the copy will share in the original. This, therefore, is what he means, brothers and sisters; guard the flesh, in order that you may receive the Spirit. (p. 157)

 

2 Clement 19:3:

 

Let us, therefore practice righteousness, so that we may be saved in the end. . . . (p. 163)

 

2 Clement 20:5:

 

To the only God, invisible, the Father of truth, who sent to us the Savior and Founder of immortality, through whom he also revealed to us the truth and the heavenly life, to him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (p. 165)

 

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans 3:3:

 

And after his resurrection, he ate and drank with them like one who is composed of flesh, although spiritually (πνευματικῶς) he was united with the Father. (p. 251)

 

The Letter of Polycarp to the Philippians, 4:3:

 

The widows must think soberly about the faith of the Lord and pray unceasingly for everyone and stay far away from all malicious talk, slander, false testimony, love of money, and any kind of evil, knowing that they are God’s altar (γινωσκουσας οτι εισι θυσιαστηριον θεου), and that all sacrifices are carefully inspected and nothing escapes him, whether thoughts or intentions or secrets of the heart. (p. 285)

 

Epistle of Barnabas 2:4-10 (incongruous again if Eucharist = propitiatory sacrifice):

 

For he has made it clear to us through all the prophets that he needs neither sacrifices nor whole burnt offerings nor general offerings, saying on one occasion: “’What is the multitude of your sacrifices to me?’ says the Lord. I am full of whole burnt offerings, and I do not want the fat of lambs and the blood of bulls and goats, not even if you come to appear before me. For who demanded these things from your hands? Do not continue to trample my court. If you bring fine flour, it is in vain; increase it detestable to me; your new moons and sabbaths I cannot stand.” Therefore he has abolished these things, in order that the new law of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is free from the yoke of compulsion, might have its offering, one not made by humans. And again he says to them: “I did not command your fathers, when they were coming out of the land of Egypt, to bring whole burnt offerings and sacrifices, did I? On the contrary, this is what I commanded them: ‘Let none of you bear a grudge in his heart against his neighbor, and do not love a false oath.’” We ought to perceive therefore (since we are not without understanding), the gracious intention of our Father, because he is speaking to us; he wants us to seek how we may approach him, rather than go astray as they did. To us, therefore, he says this: “A sacrifice to God is a broken heart; an aroma pleasing to the Lord is a heart that glorifies its Maker.” So, brothers and sisters, we ought to give very careful attention to our salvation, lest the evil one should cause some error to slip into our midst and thereby hurl us away from our life. (pp. 383, 385)

 

The Epistle to Diogentus 6:3, 8:

 

The soul dwells in the body, but is not of the body; likewise Christians dwell in the world, but are not of the world. . . . The soul, which is immortal (αθανατος η ψυχη), lives in a mortal dwelling; similarly Christians live as strangers amid perishable things, while waiting for the imperishable in heaven. (p. 705)

 

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