Clement of Alexandria · Excerpts of Theodotus

Chapter I — The Salutation.

To all those who love and cherish their life which is in Christ through God the Father, and obey the truth of God in hope of eternal life; to those who bear affection towards their brethren and towards their neighbours in the love of God; to the blessed brother virgins, who devote themselves to preserve virginity "for the sake of the kingdom of heaven;" and to the holy sister virgins: the peace which is in God.

Notes

  1. 292. In later Greek parthenos was used of both sexes (comp. Rev. xiv. 4). The Syriac original employs both a masculine and a feminine form. This will not always be indicated in the following translation.
  2. 293. Matt. xix. 12.
  3. 294. Or "to the holy virgins who are in God: peace." So Zingerle, and probably Wetstein.