# 2 Clement 2.1

- Author: Anonymous
- Work: [2 Clement](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/2-clement/) (*Clementis ad Corinthios epistula secunda*)
- Date: ca. 100–150 (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 24:130; 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/2/1/

Summary: Isaiah's barren woman is the church, once childless, now fruitful.

## Greek text

Εὐφράνθητι, στεῖρα ἡ οὐ τίκτουσα, ῥῆξον καὶ βόησον, ἡ οὐκ ὠδίνουσα, ὅτι πολλὰ τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἐρήμου μᾶλλον ἢ τῆς ἐχούσης τὸν ἄνδρα. ὃ εἶπεν· Εὐφράνθητι, στεῖρα ἡ οὐ τίκτουσα, ἡμᾶς εἶπεν· στεῖρα γὰρ ἦν ἡ ἐκκλησία ἡμῶν πρὸ τοῦ δοθῆναι αὐτῇ τέκνα.

## English translation (Claude)

“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry out, you who are not in labor; for the children of the desolate are more than of her who has the husband.” When he said, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear,” he meant us: for our church was barren before children were given to it.

## Scripture references

- Isa 54:1: quotation, high confidence
- Gal 4:27: echo, medium confidence

## Translation notes

- The sermon's first scripture text; the preacher explains it phrase by phrase (2.1–3).

## Citation (SBL)

2 Clem. 2.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/2-clement/2/1/).