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.

But, to cease from the examples of old time, let[*](Peter and Paul) us come to those who contended in the days nearest to us; let us take the noble examples of our own generation.

Through jealousy and envy the greatest and most righteous pillars of the Church were persecuted and contended unto death.

Let us set before our eyes the good apostles:

Peter, who because of unrighteous jealousy suffered not one or two but many trials, and having thus given his testimony went to the glorious place which was his due.

Through jealousy and strife Paul showred the way to the prize of endurance;

seven times he was in bonds, he was exiled, he was stoned, he was a herald both in the East and in the West, he gained the noble fame of his faith,

he taught righteousness to all the world, and when he had reached the limits of the West he gave his testimony before the rulers, and thus passed from the world and was taken up into the Holy Place,—the greatest example of endurance.