The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

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.

To these men with their holy lives was gathered[*](The Christian martyrs) a great multitude of the chosen, who were the: victims of jealousy and offered among us the fairest example in their endurance under many indignities and tortures.

Through jealousy women were persecuted as Danaids and Dircae,[*](No satisfactory interpretation has ever been given of this phrase: either it refers to theatrical representations by condemned Christians, or the text is hopelessly corrupt.) suffering terrible and unholy indignities; they stedfastly finished the course of faith, and received a noble reward, weak in the body though they were.

Jealousy has estranged wives from husbands, and made of no effect the saying of our father Adam, This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.

Jealousy and strife have overthrown great cities, and rooted up mighty nations.

We are not only writing these things to you,[*](Instances of repentance) beloved, for your admonition, but also to remind ourselves; for we are in the same arena, and the same struggle is before us.

Wherefore let us put aside empty and vain cares, and let us come to the glorious and venerable rule of our tradition,