# 1 Clement 8.3

- Author: [Clement of Rome](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/authors/clement-of-rome/)
- Work: [1 Clement](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/1-clement/) (*Epistula I ad Corinthios*)
- Date: ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100) (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 24:20; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 1, LCL 24 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1912), 8–121 (Greek text: K. Lake, The Apostolic Fathers (LCL, 1912-1913), digitized by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/1-clement/8/3/

Summary: God promises to hear all who turn to him, however great their sins.

## Greek text

Μετανοήσατε, οἶκος Ἰσραήλ, ἀπὸ τῆς ἀνομίας ὑμῶν· εἶπον τοῖς υἱοῖς τοῦ λαοῦ μου. Ἐὰν ὦσιν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι ὑμῶν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἕως τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἐὰν ὦσιν πυρρότεραι κόκκου καὶ μελανώτεραι σάκκου, καὶ ἐπιστραφῆτε πρός με ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας καὶ εἴπητε· Πάτερ· ἐπακούσομαι ὑμῶν ὡς λαοῦ ἁγίου.

## English translation (Claude)

“Repent, house of Israel, from your lawlessness. Say to the children of my people: Though your sins reach from the earth to heaven, and though they be redder than scarlet and blacker than sackcloth, and you turn to me with all your heart and say, ‘Father,’ I will listen to you as to a holy people.”

## Scripture references

- Ezek 18:30: echo, medium confidence
- Isa 1:18: echo, medium confidence

## Translation notes

- The source of this quotation is unknown; perhaps an apocryphal writing of Ezekiel. Compare Ezek 18:30; Isa 1:18.

## Citation (SBL)

1 Clem. 8.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/1-clement/8/3/).