# 2 Clement 17.1

- Author: Anonymous
- Work: [2 Clement](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/2-clement/) (*Clementis ad Corinthios epistula secunda*)
- Date: ca. 100–150 (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 24:156; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 1, LCL 24 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1912), 128–161 (Greek text: K. Lake, The Apostolic Fathers (LCL, 1912-1913), digitized by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/2-clement/17/1/

Summary: If we must win pagans, how much more must we not lose believers.

## Greek text

Μετανοήσωμεν οὖν ἐξ ὅλης καρδίας, ἵνα μή τις ἡμῶν παραπόληται. εἰ γὰρ ἐντολὰς ἔχομεν ἵνα καὶ τοῦτο πράσσωμεν, ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδώλων ἀποσπᾶν καὶ κατηχεῖν, πόσῳ μᾶλλον ψυχὴν ἤδη γινώσκουσαν τὸν θεὸν οὐ δεῖ ἀπόλλυσθαι;

## English translation (Claude)

Let us, then, repent with our whole heart, so that none of us may perish needlessly. For if we have commandments to do this also, to draw people away from idols and instruct them, how much more ought a soul that already knows God not to perish?

## Translation notes

- “Perish needlessly” (παραπόληται): perish through neglect, when it could have been prevented.
- “Instruct” (κατηχεῖν): teach new converts, the root of “catechize.”

## Citation (SBL)

2 Clem. 17.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/2-clement/17/1/).