Before the Church became an institution, it was a raw, faithful, and often persecuted movement. Hidden Foundations brings together three of the most powerful writings from the dawn of Christianity: The Didache, The First Letter of Clement. and The Shepherd of Hermas.
These ancient works, rewritten in modern English, reveal what the earliest believers actually taught about repentance, holiness, leadership, and endurance under persecution.
Hidden for centuries in dusty manuscripts or hard to read English translations, they call today’s Christians back to the courage and purity that defines the faith.
Excerpt from The First Letter of Clement of Rome
Chapter 35: How Can We Get This Great Reward
How amazing and wonderful, dear friends, are the God-given gifts of eternal life, shining righteousness, truth grounded in confidence, faith built on certainty, and self-control formed by holiness. These are things we can understand now. But what about those things prepared for those who wait for Him? Only the Creator and Father of all, the Most Holy One, fully knows their beauty and greatness. So let us give our best effort to be among those who wait for Him, so that we may share in the blessings He has promised.
But how can we do this? We do it by fixing our minds on God through faith, doing what pleases Him, following what is acceptable to His perfect will, and walking in truth. We must reject all wickedness, sin, greed, strife, deceit, slander, arrogance, pride, jealousy, and selfish ambition. These things are hated by God, and so are those who take pleasure in others who do them.
“But to the wicked God says, ‘What right do you have to declare my statutes, that you have taken my covenant on your lips, since you hate instruction, and throw my words behind you? When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have participated with adulterers. You give your mouth to evil. Your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother. You slander your own mother’s son.
You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that I was just like you. I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes. Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you into pieces, and there be no one to deliver. Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.’”
Excerpt from The Shepherd of Hermas
Commandment 7: Fear God, Not the Devil
“Fear the Lord,” he said, “and keep His commandments. If you obey God’s commandments, you will be strong in everything you do, and your actions will stand apart. When you fear the Lord, you will do everything well. This is the kind of fear you need, the fear that leads to salvation.
“But do not be afraid of the devil. If you fear the Lord, you will have authority over the devil, because he has no real power. No one should fear someone who is powerless. The One who holds all power and glory is the One you must fear. Everyone fears those who have power, but the powerless are ignored. So do not fear the devil himself. Fear his works, because they are evil. When you fear the Lord, you will turn away from those works and not take part in them.
“There are two kinds of fear. If you do not want to do what is wrong, then fear the Lord, and that fear will stop you. If you want to do what is good, then fear the Lord, and that fear will help you do it. The fear of the Lord is powerful, noble, and full of glory. Fear Him, and you will live for Him. Everyone who fears Him and obeys His commandments will live to God.”
I asked, “Sir, why did you say that those who obey God’s commandments will live to Him?”
“Because,” he replied, “everything in creation fears the Lord, but not everything obeys Him. Only those who both fear Him and keep His commandments have true life with God. Those who do not obey have no life in them.”