Second Epistle of Clement

The Second Epistle of Clement (Ancient Greek: Κλήμεντος πρὸς Κορινθίους, romanized: Klēmentos pros Korinthious, lit.

Similarly, whereas an epistle would typically begin by introducing the sender and recipient, 2 Clement starts with by addressing "Brethren", and then proceeding directly to the sermon.

[10] Like many early Christian texts, 2 Clement was written in Greek, the common language of the Hellenized Mediterranean area.

2 Clement seems to reference a history of idolatry: "[Previously] we were maimed in our understanding – we were worshipping stones and pieces of wood, and gold and silver and copper – all of them made by humans".

In addition to the canonical literature, the author of 2 Clement appears to have had access to Christian writings or oral tradition aside from those found in the New Testament.

Some quotes attributed to Jesus are found only here, e.g. 4:5: δια τουτο ταυτα υμων πρασσοντων, ειπεν ο κυριος· "Εαν ητε μετ' εμου συνηγμενοι εν τω κολπω μου και μη ποιητε τας εντολας μου, αποβαλω υμας και ερω υμιν· Υπαγετε απ΄εμου, ουκ οιδα υμας, ποθεν εστε, εργαται ανομιας".

αποκριθεις δε ο Πετρος αυτω λεγει· "Εαν ουν διασπαραξωσιν οι λυκοι τα αρωια;" ειπεν ο Ιησους τω Πετρω· "Μη φοβεισθωσαν τα αρνια τους λυκους μετα το αποθανειν αυτα· και υμεις μη φοβεισθε τους αποκτενοντας υμας και μηδεν υμιν δυναμενους ποιειν, αλλα φοβεισθε τον μετα το αποθανειν υμας εχοντα εξουσιαν ψυχης και σωματος του βαλειν εις γεενναν πυρος".

[citation needed] A version of the saying is found in the Coptic Gospel of Thomas, which was lost until the mid-20th century: Jesus saw children that were being suckled.