The writings of the Apostolic FathersClement I, Pope
General
The writings of the Apostolic Fathers
Clement I, Pope
Apostolic Fathers; Christian literature, Early
In reply I said to her, “This is magnificent and marvellous. But who are
the six young men who are engaged in building?” And she said, “These are
the holy angels of God, who were first created, and to whom the Lord
handed over His whole creation, that they might increase and build up
and rule over the whole creation. By these will the building of the
tower be finished.” “But who are the other persons who are engaged in
carrying the stones?” “These also are holy angels of the Lord, but the
former six are more excellent than these. The building of the tower will
be finished,[1594] and all will rejoice together around the tower, and
they will glorify God, because the tower is finished.” I asked her,
saying, “Lady, I should like to know what became of the stones, and what
was meant by the various kinds of stones?” In reply she said to me, “Not
because you are[1595] more deserving than all others that this
revelation should be made to you—for there are others before you, and
better than you, to whom these visions should have been revealed—but
that the name of God may be glorified, has the revelation been made to
you, and it will be made on account of the doubtful who ponder in their
hearts whether these things will be or not. Tell them that all these
things are true, and that none of them is beyond the truth. All of them
are firm and sure, and established on a strong foundation.”
CHAP. V.
“Hear now with regard to the stones which are in the building. Those
square white stones which fitted exactly into each other, are apostles,
bishops, teachers, and deacons, who have lived in godly purity, and have
acted as bishops and teachers and deacons chastely and reverently to the
elect of God. Some of them have fallen asleep, and some still remain
alive. And they have always agreed with each other, and been at peace
among themselves, and listened to each other. On account of this, they
join exactly into the building of the tower.” “But who are the stones
that were dragged from the depths, and which were laid into the building
and fitted in with the rest of the stones previously placed in the
tower?” “They are those[1596] who suffered for the Lord’s sake.” “But I
wish to know, O Lady, who are the other stones which were carried from
the land.” “Those,” she said, “which go into the building without being
polished, are those whom God has approved of, for they walked in the
straight ways of the Lord and practised His commandments.” “But who are
those who are in the act of being brought and placed in the building?”
“They are those who are young in faith and are faithful. But they are
admonished by the angels to do good, for no iniquity has been found in
them.” “Who then are those whom they rejected and cast away?”[1597]
“These are they who have sinned, and wish to repent. On this account
they have not been thrown far from the tower, because they will yet be
useful in the building, if they repent.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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