1 & 2 Clement
A call to the Corinthian Church back to unity, humility, order, and faithful Christian living, alongside an early homily urging repentance.
Themes that emerged
From the margins
A quote from this book
“Wisdom shouldn’t make the intelligent proud, physical power shouldn’t cause the mighty to boast, nor should wealth give the prosperous reason for pride. Rather, whoever takes pride should glory in seeking the Lord and exercising fairness and virtue, keeping in mind Jesus the Lord’s teachings about patience and endurance.”
Date
- 1 Clement (c. 96 AD)
- 2 Clement (c. 100-150 AD)
Summary
1 Clement
Written by the Church of Rome to the Church in Corinth, 1 Clement responds to divisions that had resulted in Church leaders being removed from their positions. Clement appeals to Scripture, the apostles, and examples of humility and obedience to call the community back to peace and unity. The letter provides an important early witness to Christian authority, Church order, apostolic succession, and the responsibility Christians have toward one another.
2 Clement
2 Clement is traditionally attributed to Clement of Rome, though it is generally regarded today as an anonymous early Christian homily rather than a letter written by Clement himself. It urges Christians to respond seriously to the salvation they have received through Christ by repenting, resisting worldly desires, doing good, and persevering in faith. It is also one of the earliest surviving Christian sermons outside the New Testament.
Memorable Quotations
1 Clement
“Wisdom shouldn’t make the intelligent proud, physical power shouldn’t cause the mighty to boast, nor should wealth give the prosperous reason for pride. Rather, whoever takes pride should glory in seeking the Lord and exercising fairness and virtue, keeping in mind Jesus the Lord’s teachings about patience and endurance.”
Affection connects us to God; affection conceals numerous wrongdoings; affection tolerates everything, demonstrates patience universally. Nothing crude or presumptuous exists in affection.
2 Clement
by demonstrating mutual affection, avoiding infidelity, refraining from malicious speech against others, avoiding resentment, while demonstrating restraint, compassion, and kindness. We must demonstrate empathy toward others without covetousness.
We must revere God rather than humans.
“Even gathered together with Me intimately while neglecting My directives, I’ll expel you, declaring to you: Leave Me; I don’t recognize your origin, you practitioners of corruption.”
while existing in this existence, we should transform ourselves with complete dedication from wicked actions we’ve executed physically, enabling the Lord’s deliverance while we still possess transformation opportunity.
I request as compensation that you transform yourselves completely, providing yourselves deliverance and existence. Executing this establishes an objective for all young people desiring to labor studying reverence and God’s benevolence.
Source
The Apostolic Fathers: Complete Collection of Early Church Fathers, Including Shepherd of Hermas, Didache, Epistles of Ignatius, Martyrdom of Polycarp, Clement, Barnabas, Diognetus and Commentary.
Compiled by Robert Kingswell
Published by Eterna Verba Publishing.
Kindle edition.
Note: Quotations on this page are taken from this edition unless otherwise stated.