Clement of Alexandria · a new plain-English translation from the original language
Concerning martyrdom the Lord has spoken explicitly, and let us set in order the passages that are written in various forms: "I tell you plainly, whoever acknowledges union with me in front of others, that man the Son of man will likewise acknowledge before God's angels; but whoever disowns me in front of others, that man I will disown before the angels. For if anyone is ashamed of me and what I have taught among this faithless and corrupt generation, of him the Son of man will likewise be ashamed, once he arrives amid his Father's splendor together with his angels. So everyone who acknowledges union with me in front of others, that person I too will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. And whenever they haul you before the synagogue leaders, the magistrates, and those in power, do not fret ahead of time about how you will answer or what words to use, for the Holy Spirit will instruct you at that very moment what needs to be said."
In expounding this passage Heracleon, the most highly esteemed member of the school of Valentinus, says word for word that confession is of two kinds, one in faith and manner of life, the other in the voice. The confession made by the voice, he says, is also made before the authorities, and this alone the many think, wrongly, to be confession; but even hypocrites are able to make this confession. Yet this teaching will not be found to have been stated as a universal rule: for not all those who are saved confessed by the vocal confession and were led out to death — among them Matthew, Philip, Thomas, and Levi, to name just a few. And the confession by the voice is not universal but partial. The universal confession, which the passage now speaks of, is the confession in works and in deeds corresponding to faith in him. And upon this confession there follows also the partial one before the authorities, whenever necessity requires and the occasion demands it; for such a person will also confess with the voice, having rightly made prior confession beforehand in disposition.
And rightly, in speaking of those who confess, he said "in me," while in speaking of those who deny, he added "me." For these, even if they confess him with the voice, deny him, since they do not confess him in deed. Only those confess in him who live their lives in the confession and practice that accord with him, and in these he himself also makes confession, being bound up with them and held fast by them. For this reason such people can never deny him; but those who are not in him do deny him. For he did not say "whoever denies within me," but simply "me" — since not a single person truly abiding in him could ever deny him. And "before men" applies likewise both to those who are being saved and to the gentiles, in some cases by manner of life, in others also by voice. For this reason such people can never deny him; but those who are not in him do deny him.
This is what Heracleon says; and in most other respects he appears to hold the same opinion as we do concerning this passage, but he failed to observe this: that even if some have not confessed Christ before men in deed and in life, yet by confessing him with the voice in the courts and enduring torture even unto death without denying him, they show plainly that they have believed out of a settled disposition. And a disposition that is thus confessed, especially one that does not turn aside even at death, effects the cutting away, all at once, of all the passions that were bred through bodily desire; for it is, so to speak, a sudden repentance in act at the very end of life, and a true confession unto Christ, the voice bearing further witness to it. But given that the Father's Spirit bears witness within us, how can they still be called hypocrites, those he said give testimony only by voice? And to some it will be granted, if it is expedient, to make their defense, so that all may be benefited both through the testimony and through the defense — those of the church being strengthened, while those from the nations who have been earnestly inquiring after salvation marvel and are led to faith, and the rest are held fast by amazement.
Hence to confess is required absolutely, for it lies in our power; but to make a defense is not required absolutely, for this does not lie in our power. "But he who endures to the end, this one will be saved"; for who among the right-minded would not choose to reign in God rather than to be a slave? Some, then, according to the apostle, confess that they know God, but deny him by their deeds, being detestable and disobedient and unfit for any good work; while others, even if they confess this alone, have accomplished at the last one good work. Martyrdom, then, seems to be a cleansing away of sins accompanied by glory. So too the Shepherd says: "You will escape the working of the wild beast, if your heart becomes pure and blameless." But the Lord himself also says: "Satan has asked for you, to sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for you."
First, then, the Lord himself drank the cup because of the men who were plotting against him and for the cleansing of the unbelieving; and imitating him, the apostles, inasmuch as they were truly gnostics and perfect, suffered on behalf of the churches which they had founded. So too those who walk in the apostolic footsteps, being gnostics, are bound to live free of sin, and for love of the Lord to cherish their neighbor as well, so that, should circumstance call for it, they may drink the cup, enduring afflictions without stumbling for the sake of the church. Now as many as bear witness in deed throughout their life, but also with word in the courtroom, whether receiving hope or apprehending fear, these are better than those who confess salvation with the mouth alone. But if one should go further still, unto love, this one is truly blessed and a genuine martyr, having confessed perfectly both by the commandments and to God through the Lord, whom, having loved, he came to know as brother, giving up his whole self out of love toward God, rendering back the man that was demanded of him, as it were a deposit held in trust, with gratitude and with love.
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