First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

Chapter 1: The Study of Scripture

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I mportance of the S tudy of S cripture

The Discipline of Scriptural Study F irst C lement 40: Since we look into the depths of the divine knowledge, the following things therefore are revealed to us. It is appropriate to do all things in order, which the Lord has commanded us to perform at stated times. He has instructed offerings and service to be performed, and those not to be done thoughtlessly or irregularly, but at the appointed times and hours. Where and by whom He desires these things to be done, He Himself has fixed by His own supreme will in order that all things being sincerely done according to His good pleasure, may be pleasing to Him. Those, therefore, who present their offerings at the appointed times, are accepted and blessed. For inasmuch as they follow the laws of the Lord, they do not sin. For his own peculiar services are assigned to the high priest, and their own proper place is prescribed to the priests, and their own special services transfer to the Levites. The layman is bound by the laws that pertain to laymen. F irst C lement 45: You are fond of contention, friends, and full of zeal about things which do not pertain to salvation. Look carefully into the Scriptures which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit. See that nothing of an unjust or counterfeit character is written in them. There you will not find that the righteous were cast off by men who themselves were holy. The righteous were indeed persecuted, but only by the malicious. They were cast into prison, but only by the unholy. They were stoned, but only by transgressors. They were slain, but