Let the rich and the poor love one another

Clement 100ish AD

Therefore let our whole body be saved in Christ Jesus, and let each of us be subject to his neighbor, according to the gift given to him.  Let the strong care for the weak and let the weak respect the strong. Let the rich provide for the poor and let the poor give thanks to God, that he gave to him one through whom he might supply his need. Let the wise one demonstrate his wisdom not with words but with good works. Do not let the humble person testify about himself, but allow him to be testified about by another. Do not let the pure in the flesh boast, knowing that another is the one who provides for his self control.  Therefore, let us consider, brothers, from what kind of matter we were made, who and what we came into the world as, from what kind of grave and darkness the one who made and one who created us brought us into his world, having prepared his benefits before we were born.  Therefore having all these things from him, we ought to give thanks to him for everything, to whom be the glory forever, amen.

Brannan, Rick, trans. 2012. The Apostolic Fathers in English. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

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