The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

Clemens Romanus (Clement of Rome)

Clement of Rome. The Apostolic Fathers, Volume 1. Lake, Kirsopp, editor. London: William Heinemann Ltd.; New York: The Macmillan Company, 1912.

For her faith and hospitality Rahab the harlot[*](Or possibly who was called a harlot,)[*](Rahab) was saved.

For when the spies were sent to Jericho by Joshua the son of Nun, the King of the land knew that they had come to spy out his country, and sent men to take them, that they might be captured and put to death.

So the hospitable Rahab took them in, and hid them in the upper room under the stalks of flax.

And when the

king’s men came and said, The spies of our land came in to thee, bring them out, for the king orders thus, she answered The men whom ye seek did indeed come to me, but they went away forthwith, and are proceeding on their journey, and pointed in the wrong direction.

And she said to the men, I know assuredly that the Lord God is delivering to you this land; for the fear and dread of you has fallen on those who dwell in it. When therefore it shall come to pass, that ye take it, save me and my father’s house.

And they said to her, It shall be as thou hast spoken to us; when therefore thou knowest that we are at hand, thou shalt gather all thy folk under thy roof, and they shall be safe; for as many as shall be found outside the house shall perish.

And they proceeded to give her a sign, that she should hang out a scarlet thread from her house, foreshowing that all who believe and hope on God shall have redemption through the blood of the Lord.

You see, beloved, that the woman is an instance not only of faith but also of prophecy.