The Instructor 3.12.89
Summary: The Decalogue, signified by the letter iota (ten), and Isaiah's call to wash and do justice sum up the commandments; good works themselves are prayer acceptable to God.
Textual problem in this passage: the printed text is uncertain or disputed here. See the notes.
Greek text · Stählin 1:285
Ἔστιν ἡμῖν ἡ δεκάλογος ἡ διὰ Μωυσέως, ἁπλῷ καὶ μονογενεῖ αἰνιττομένη στοιχείῳ, † προσηγορίαν σωτήριον ἁμαρτιῶν περιγράφουσα »οὐ μοιχεύσεις, οὐκ εἰδωλολατρήσεις«, οὐ παιδοφθορήσεις, »οὐ κλέψεις, οὐ ψευδομαρτυρήσεις· τίμα τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα«, καὶ τὰ ἀκόλουθα τούτοις. ταῦτα ἡμῖν παραφυλακτέον καὶ ὅσα ἄλλα κατὰ τὰς ἀναγνώσεις τῶν βιβλίων παραγγέλλεται. παραγγέλλει δὲ καὶ διὰ Ἡσαΐου· »λούσασθε, καθαροὶ γένεσθε, ἀφέλετε τὰς πονηρίας ἀπὸ τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν ἀπέναντι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν μου· μάθετε καλὸν ποιεῖν, ἐκζητήσατε κρίσιν, ῥύσασθε ἀδικούμενον, κρίνατε ὀρφανῷ, δικαιώσατε χήραν· καὶ δεῦτε καὶ διαλεχθῶμεν, λέγει κύριος.« πολλὰς δʼ ἂν καὶ παρὰ τοῖς ἄλλοις εὕροιμεν ὑποθήκας, οἷον φέρε, εὐχῆς μὲν πέρι· »τὰ ἔργα τὰ ἀγαθά«, φησίν, »εὐχὴ κυρίῳ δεκτή«, λέγει ἡ γραφή. καὶ ὁ τρόπος τῆς εὐχῆς ὑπαγορεύεται· »ἐὰν ἴδῃς«, φησί, »γυμνόν, περίβαλε, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν οἰκείων τοῦ σπέρματός σου οὐχ ὑπερόψει. τότε φανήσεται πρώιμον τὸ φῶς σου, καὶ τὰ ἱμάτιά σου ταχὺ ἀνατελεῖ, καὶ προπορεύσεται ἔμπροσθεν ἡ δικαιοσύνη σου, καὶ ἡ δόξα τοῦ θεοῦ περιστελεῖ σε.« τίς οὖν ὁ καρπὸς τῆς εὐχῆς ταύτης;
English · Claude translation
We have the Decalogue given through Moses, signified by a single and unique letter, … outlining the saving designation of sins: “You shall not commit adultery, you shall not worship idols,” you shall not corrupt boys, “you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and mother,” and what follows these. These must be observed by us, and whatever else is commanded in the readings of the books. He commands also through Isaiah: “Wash, become clean; put away the evil from your souls before my eyes; learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the wronged, judge for the orphan, vindicate the widow; and come, let us reason together, says the Lord.” We would find many counsels among the other writers too; for example, concerning prayer: “Good works,” it says, “are a prayer acceptable to the Lord,” says Scripture. And the manner of prayer is prescribed: “If you see one naked,” it says, “clothe him, and do not overlook those of your own offspring. Then your light will break forth early, and your garments will spring up quickly, and your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of God will surround you.” What, then, is the fruit of this prayer?
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- “A single and unique letter”: the Greek iota, which stands for ten and is the first letter of the name Jesus. The next phrase is corrupt in the manuscripts; the edition marks it with a dagger. “You shall not corrupt boys” is Clement's addition to the commandments (as in Did. 2.2 and Barn. 19.4). The quotations are Exod 20:12–16 (Deut 5:16–20), Isa 1:16–18, an unidentified saying on good works as prayer, and Isa 58:7–8.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 3.12.89 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-paedagogus/3/12/89/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 3.12.89 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-paedagogus/3/12/89/).
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