# 2 Clement 13.4

- Author: Anonymous
- Work: [2 Clement](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/2-clement/) (*Clementis ad Corinthios epistula secunda*)
- Date: ca. 100–150 (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 24:148–150; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 1, LCL 24 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1912), 128–161 (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/2-clement/13/4/

Summary: Outsiders laugh when Christians fail to love even their friends.

## Greek text

ὅταν γὰρ ἀκούσωσιν παρʼ ἡμῶν, ὅτι λέγει ὁ θεός· Οὐ χάρις ὑμῖν, εἰ ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας ὑμᾶς, ἀλλὰ χάρις ὑμῖν, εἰ ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς καὶ τοὺς μισοῦντας ὑμᾶς· ταῦτα ὅταν ἀκούσωσιν, θαυμάζουσιν τὴν ὑπερβολὴν τῆς ἀγαθότητος· ὅταν δὲ ἴδωσιν, ὅτι οὐ μόνον τοὺς μισοῦντας οὐκ ἀγαπῶμεν, ἀλλʼ ὅτι οὐδὲ τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας, καταγελῶσιν ἡμῶν, καὶ βλασφημεῖται τὸ ὄνομα.

## English translation (Claude)

For when they hear from us that God says, “It is no credit to you if you love those who love you, but it is a credit to you if you love your enemies and those who hate you,” when they hear these things, they marvel at the surpassing goodness; but when they see that we not only do not love those who hate us, but not even those who love us, they laugh us to scorn, and the name is blasphemed.

## Scripture references

- Luke 6:32: allusion, high confidence
- Luke 6:35: allusion, high confidence
- Matt 5:44: echo, medium confidence
- Matt 5:46: echo, medium confidence

## Translation notes

- The saying of Jesus is introduced as “God says.”
- “Credit” (χάρις): favor, thanks; compare Luke 6:32.

## Citation (SBL)

2 Clem. 13.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/2-clement/13/4/).