Chapter XXI.—Conclusion.

Chapter XXI.—Conclusion.

It is well, therefore, ¹⁷¹⁷ that he who has learned the judgments of the Lord, as many as have been written, should walk in them. For he who keepeth these shall be glorified in the kingdom of God; but he who chooseth other things ¹⁷¹⁸ shall be destroyed with his works. On this account there will be a resurrection, ¹⁷¹⁹ on this account a retribution. I beseech you who are superiors, if you will receive any counsel of my good-will, have among yourselves those to whom you may show kindness: do not forsake them. For the day is at hand on which all things shall perish with the evil [one]. The Lord is near, and His reward. Again, and yet again, I beseech you: be good lawgivers ¹⁷²⁰ to one another; continue faithful counsellors of one another; take away from among you all hypocrisy. And may God, who ruleth over all the world, give to you wisdom, intelligence, understanding, knowledge of His judgments, ¹⁷²¹ with patience. And be ye ¹⁷²² taught of God, inquiring diligently what the Lord asks from you; and do it that ye maybe safe in the day of judgment. ¹⁷²³ And if you have any remembrance of what is good, be mindful of me, meditating on these things, in order that both my desire and watchfulness may result in some good. I beseech you, entreating this as a favour. While yet you are in this fair vessel, ¹⁷²⁴ do not fail in any one of those things, ¹⁷²⁵ but unceasingly seek after them, and fulfil every commandment; for these things are worthy. ¹⁷²⁶ Wherefore I have been the more earnest to write to you, as my ability served, ¹⁷²⁷ that I might cheer you. Farewell, ye children of love and peace. The Lord of glory and of all grace be with your spirit. Amen. ¹⁷²⁸

Footnotes

149:1717

Cod. Sin. omits “therefore.”

149:1718

The things condemned in the previous chapter.

149:1719

Cod. Sin. has “resurrections,” but is corrected as above.

149:1720

Cod. Sin. has, “lawgivers of good things.”

149:1721

Cod. Sin. omits the preposition.

149:1722

Cod. Sin. omits this.

149:1723

Cod. Sin. reads, “that ye may be found in the day of judgment,” which Hilgenfeld adopts.

149:1724

Literally, “While yet the good vessel is with you,” i.e., as long as you are in the body.

149:1725

Cod. Sin. reads, “fail not in any one of yourselves,” which is adopted by Hilgenfeld.

149:1726

Corrected in Cod. Sin. to, “it is worthy.”

149:1727

Cod. Sin. omits this clause, but it is inserted by the corrector.

149:1728

Cod. Sin. omits “Amen,” and adds at the close, “Epistle of Barnabas.”