As I see it, holiness means complete pureness of mind, deeds, thoughts, and words. In its final degree, it means sinlessness even in dreams. ClementWe do not object to pagans building temples suited to the images and altars of their gods. But we do refuse to build lifeless temples to the Giver of all life For our bodies are the temple of God. Therefore, if anyone defiles the temple of God by lust or sin, he will himself be destroyed for acting irreverently towards the true temple. Origen
In general, an unworthy view of God maintains no holiness--whether in hymns, lectures, writings, or teachings. Instead, it produces ideas and notions tht are base and grovelling. Therefore, to receive the praises of the crowds is really to receive condemnation. For the crowds are ignorant of the truth. Clement
Concerning chastity, the holy Logos not only teaches us not to sin in deed, but not even to sin in our thoughts. We should not even thinkof any evil in our hearts, nor should we look on another man's wife with our eyes to lust after her. Theophilus
The Church of the Lord, the spiritual and holy choir, is referred to as a body. So those who are merely called Christians, but do not live in accordance with the Word, are the fleshly parts. Now, this spiritual body, the holy Church, "is not for fornication." (1 Cor. 6:13) Likewise, we are not to apostatize from the Gospel by adopting those things that belong to pagan life. And the one who acts like a pagan in the church, whether in actions, words, or thoughts, commits fornication--both as to the Church and as to his own body. If his conduct is contrary to the covenant, he "is joined to the harlot." (1 Cor.6:15) He thereby becomes another "body"--one that is not holy. He becomes "one flesh" with somehting else, living a pagan life and having a different hope. "But he who is joined to the Lord in spirit" becomes a spiritual body by a different kind of union. The one joined to the Lord is fully a son. He is a holy man--one who knows God. Clement
The word "holy" sums up all duties toward God and the entire course of life we are to follow. We must not cling too much to our earthly things, even if they are good. For they are of the flesh. On the other hand, we shouldn't hate them either, even if they are bad. Rather, we must be above both good and bad. We trample the bad things underfoot. And we give the things that are good to those who need them. Clement
As you can see, their commitment to holiness was quite a bit more than today's average Christian. They were not content to have just a "positional" type holiness. They were desirous of a holiness that totaly engulfed their life. May we leave such a legacy to those who come behind us.
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