Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume VIII/Two Epistles Concerning Virginity/Second Pseudo-Clement/Chapter 3

by Clement of Rome

Chapter III.—Rules for the Conduct of Celibate Brethren in Places Where There are Only Married Christians.

And if again we chance to come into a place where there is no consecrated brother, but all are married, all those who are there will receive the brother who comes to them, and minister to him, and care for his wants^[1] in everything, assiduously, with good-will.  And the brother shall be ministered to by them in the way that is suitable.  And the brother will say to the married persons who are in that place:  We holy men do not eat or drink with women, nor are we waited on by women or by maidens, nor do women wash our feet for us, nor do women anoint us, nor do women prepare our bed for us, nor do we sleep where women sleep, so that we may be without reproach in everything, lest any one should be offended or stumble at us.  And, whilst we observe all these things, “we are without offence to every man.”^[2]  As persons, therefore, “who know the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, and to God we are made manifest.”^[3]

Footnotes

1. Lit. “for that which in his;” or “for what belongs to him.”
2. 2 Cor. vi. 3.
3. 2 Cor. v. 11.