Clement of Rome

Preliminary musings having read this years back.

 

Clement of Rome. Approximately 95 A.D. Very rough analysis on first view. Disturbances at Corinth. A revolt against the Elders. Submit to the Elders or Presbyters (1.1; 14.1-2; 46; 47.3-6). This was a prominent document amongst the writings of the Elders or Presbyters. Clement refers to their excellent past: love, penitence, and humility (4-38). There is a parenthetical section from the OT (24-26) and a reference and illustration of the future resurrection. Direct attention to the argument is seen at 42-44. Elders and Deacons democratically appointed? (44.3). Exhortation to unity (62-65). A long prayer (59.3-61). Exhortation to unity (62-65).

Value: (1) Leadership, (2) Unity, (3) 150 OT quotations from the Septugint, (4) Paul’s career and 2 imprisonments (5.5-7).

J.B. Lightfoot’s...

English and Greek text. http://books.google.com/books?id=Y1QrAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=clement+of+rome&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2-PhUaMJ7OTgA_KqgJgJ&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAg

Provenance issues and some theological issues noteworthy at: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc2.v.xv.iv.html

And we quote: 

 "Clement is the only one of the apostolic fathers, except perhaps Polycarp, who shows some conception of the Pauline doctrine of justification by faith. "All (the saints of the Old Testament)," says he, "became great and glorious, not through themselves, nor by their works, nor by their righteousness, but by the will of God. Thus we also, who are called by the will of God in Christ Jesus, are righteous not of ourselves, neither through our wisdom, nor through our understanding, nor through our piety, nor through our works, which we have wrought in purity of heart, but by faith, by which the almighty God justified all these from the beginning; to whom be glory to all eternity." And then Clement, precisely like Paul in Romans 6, derives sanctification from justification, and continues: "What, then, should we do, beloved brethren? Should we be slothful in good works and neglect love? By no means! But with zeal and courage we will hasten to fulfil every good work. For the Creator and Lord of all things himself rejoices in his works."

Clement knows nothing of an episcopate above the presbyterate; and his epistle itself is written, not in his own name, but in that of the church at Rome. But he represents the Levitical priesthood as a type of the Christian teaching office, and insists with the greatest decision on outward unity, fixed order, and obedience to church rulers. He speaks in a tone of authority to a sister church of apostolic foundation, and thus reveals the easy and as yet innocent beginning of the papacy. A hundred years after his death his successors ventured, in their own name, not only to exhort, but to excommunicate whole churches for trifling differences."

More to follow.