Chapter XII.—We are Constantly to Look for the Kingdom of God.

Let us expect, therefore, hour by hour, the kingdom of God in love and righteousness, since we know not the day of the appearing of God.  For the Lord Himself, being asked by one when His kingdom would come, replied, “When two shall be one, that which is without as that which is within, and the male with the female, neither male nor female.” 4389   Now, two are one when we speak the truth one to another, and there is unfeignedly one soul in two bodies.  And “that which is without as” that which is within meaneth this:  He calls the soul “that which is within,” and the body “that which is without.”  As, then, thy body is visible to sight, so also let thy soul be manifest by good works.  And “the male, with the female, neither male nor female,” this 4390 He saith, that brother seeing sister may have no thought concerning her as female, and that she may have no thought concerning him as male.  “If ye do these things,” saith He, “the kingdom of my Father shall come.” 4391

Footnotes

These words are quoted (Clem. Alex., Strom., iii. 9, 1.) from the Gospel according to the Egyptians, no longer extant.

Here the piece formerly broke off.  From this point to the end the text of Gebhardt, Harnack, Zahn has been followed.

Comp. 1 Cor. vii. 29.