Clement’s 1st Letter to Corinth, Part 1
Clement, an early Roman bishop and the disciple of Peter and Paul, gave urgently needed counsel to the church at Corinth.
Clement’s First Letter to Corinth, Part 1
Sections: Frenzy among the Faithful | Young Against the Old | Extreme Evil of Envy | Peter and Paul Betrayed by Envy | We Struggle in the Same Arena | Repentance is the Key | Examples of Abraham, Rahab | Admonition to Humility and Obedience | Christ Our Example | Others to Emulate | Back to the Basics | God’s Kindness Toward Creation | Whom to Resist and to Honor | The Resurrection Assured | Footnotes
The church of God which resides at Rome, to the church of God residing at Corinth, to them that are called and sanctified by the will of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace from Almighty God through Jesus Christ be multiplied unto you.
Frenzy Among the Faithful
Dear brothers, because of the sudden and repeated disasters which have happened to us, we’ve been somewhat slow in giving our attention to the points you asked us about. Your honorable and illustrious name, worthy to be loved everywhere, has been greatly injured by that shameful and detestable unrest, totally despised by God’s elect. A few rash and self-confident persons stirred up this unrest to a pitch of frenzy. For whoever lived even for a short time among you and did not find your faith to be as fruitful of virtue as it was firmly established? Who did not admire the sobriety and moderation of your godliness in Christ? Who did not proclaim the magnificence of your habitual hospitality? And who did not rejoice over your perfect and well-grounded knowledge? For you did all things without showing partiality and you walked in the commandments of God. You were obedient to those who had the rule over you and gave all fitting honor to the presbyters among you. You challenged young men to be of a sober and serious mind. You instructed your wives to do all things with a blameless, fitting, and pure conscience, dutifully loving their husbands. You taught them that, living in the rule of obedience, they should manage their household affairs properly and be in every respect distinguished by discretion.
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Moreover, you were all notable for humility and were in no way puffed up with pride. You yielded obedience rather than extorted it and were more willing to give than to receive. Content with the provision which God had made for you and carefully attending to His words, you were inwardly filled with His doctrine, and His sufferings were before your eyes. So a profound and abundant peace was given to you all. You had an insatiable desire for doing good while a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit was upon you all. Full of holy intentions, with true earnestness of mind and a godly confidence, you stretched out your hands to God Almighty, asking Him to be merciful to you if you had been guilty of any involuntary wrongdoing. Day and night you were anxious for the whole brotherhood, that the number of God’s elect might be saved with mercy and a good conscience. You were sincere and uncorrupted and forgetful of injuries between one another. Every kind of faction and schism was abominable in your sight. You mourned over the wrongdoings of your neighbors: their deficiencies you considered your own. You never grudged any act of kindness, being “ready to every good work”(1) Adorned by a thoroughly virtuous and religious life, you did all things in the fear of God. The commandments and ordinances of the Lord were written upon the tablets of your hearts.
Young Against the Old
Every kind of honor and happiness was bestowed upon you. Then was fulfilled that which was written, “My beloved did eat and drink, and was enlarged and became fat, and kicked.”(2) From this flowed ambitious rivalry and envy, strife and sedition, persecution and disorder, war and captivity. So the worthless rose up against the honored, those of no reputation against such as were renowned, the foolish against the wise, the young against those advanced in years. For this reason righteousness and peace are now far departed from you. Everyone abandons the fear of God and is become blind in His faith. No one walks in His appointed ordinances or acts a part fitting for a Christian. Everyone walks after his own wicked lusts, resuming the practice of an unrighteous and ungodly envy, by which death itself entered into the world.
The Extreme Evil of Envy
. . .You see, brothers, how [in the story of Cain and Abel] envy and jealousy led to the murder of a brother.(3) Through envy, also, our father Jacob fled from the face of Esau his brother. Envy made Joseph be persecuted unto death and to come into bondage. Envy forced Moses to flee from the face of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, when he heard these words from his fellow-countryman, “Who made thee a judge or a ruler over us? Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst kill the Egyptian yesterday?”(4) Because of envy, Aaron and Miriam had to live outside the camp. Envy brought down Dathan and Abiram alive to Hades, through the sedition which they stirred up against God’s servant Moses. Through envy David endured the hatred not only of foreigners, but was also persecuted by King Saul of Israel.
Peter and Paul Were Betrayed by Envy
But let us not dwell only upon ancient examples. Let us come to the most recent spiritual heroes. Let us take the noble examples furnished in our own generation. Through envy and jealousy the greatest and most righteous pillars [of the Church] have been persecuted and put to death. Let us set before our eyes the illustrious apostles. Peter, through unrighteous envy, endured not one or two, but numerous labors. When he had at length suffered martyrdom, he departed to the place of glory due to him. Because of envy, Paul also obtained the reward of patient endurance, after being seven times thrown into captivity, compelled to flee and stoned. After preaching both in the East and West, he gained the illustrious reputation due to his faith, having taught righteousness to the whole world. When he came to the extreme limit of the West, he suffered martyrdom under the prefects. Thus was he removed from the world and went into the holy place, having proved himself a striking example of patience. To these men who spent their lives in the practice of holiness, there is to be added a great multitude of the elect, who, having endured many indignities and tortures because of envy, furnished us with a most excellent example. . .
Envy has alienated wives from their husbands and changed that saying of our father Adam, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh.”(5) Envy and strife have overthrown great cities and rooted up mighty nations.
We Struggle in the Same Arena
These things, beloved, we write unto you, not only to admonish you of your duty, but also to remind ourselves for we are both struggling in the same arena and the same conflict is given to both of us. Let us observe what is good, pleasing, and acceptable in the sight of Him who formed us. Let us look steadfastly to the blood of Christ and see how precious that blood is to God. This blood shed for our salvation has set the grace of repentance before the whole world. Let us turn to every age that has passed and learn that, from generation to generation, the Lord has granted a place of repentance to all who would be converted unto Him. Noah preached repentance and as many listened to him were saved. Jonah proclaimed destruction of the Ninevites; but they, repenting of their sins, propitiated God by prayer and obtained salvation, although they were aliens [to the covenant] of God.
Repentance is the Key
The ministers of the grace of God have, by the Holy Spirit, spoken of repentance. The Lord of all things has himself declared with an oath regarding it, “As I live, saith the Lord, I desire not the death of the sinner, but rather his repentance;”(6) adding, moreover, this gracious declaration, “Repent, O house of Israel, of your iniquity. Say to the children of My people. Though your sins reach from earth to heaven, and though they be redder than scarlet, and blacker than sackcloth, yet if ye turn to Me with your whole heart, and say, Father! I will listen to you, as to a holy people.” [Clement then quotes Isaiah 1:16-20]. . .
So, let us yield obedience to His excellent and glorious will. Let us implore His mercy and loving-kindness, while we forsake all fruitless labors, strife, and envy, which leads to death. Let us turn and take refuge in His compassion. Let us continually reflect on those who have perfectly ministered to His excellent glory. Let us take (for instance) Enoch, who being found righteous in obedience, was translated and death was never known to happen to him. Noah, being found faithful, preached regeneration to the world through his ministry; and through him the Lord saved the animals which, with one accord, entered into the ark.
Examples of Abraham, Rahab
Abraham, described as “the friend,” was found faithful since he was obedient to the words of God. He obediently went out from his own country, and from his kindred, and from his father’s house. By forsaking a small territory, a weak family, and an insignificant house, he might inherit the promises of God. [Here Clement quotes God’s words to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3; 13:14-16; 15:5-6; Romans 4:3]. . .
Because of his faith and hospitality, a son was given him in his old age. In obedience he offered him as a sacrifice to God on one of the mountains which He showed him. Because of Abraham’s hospitality and godliness, Lot was saved out of Sodom when all the surrounding country was punished by means of fire and brimstone. So the Lord made it clear that He does not forsake those that hope in Him, but gives up such as depart from Him to punishment and torture. For Lot’s wife, who went out with him, was of a different mind from himself and not in agreement with him [as to the command which had been given them]. An example was made of her, and she is a pillar of salt unto this day. This was done that all might know that those who are of a double mind and who distrust the power of God bring down judgment on themselves. They become a sign to all generations which follow. Because of her faith and hospitality, Rahab the harlot was saved. For when spies were sent by Joshua, the son of Nun to Jericho, the king of the country found out that they were come to spy out their land. He sent men to seize the spies so that they might be put to death. But the hospitable Rahab received them and concealed them on the roof of her house under some stalks of flax. . .
[She protected them from the king’s soldiers, recognizing that the Lord God had given Jericho to Israel. The spies promised to protect her family, and] they gave her a sign, a scarlet thread she should hang out of her house. In this way they made clear that redemption should flow through the blood of the Lord to all them that believe and hope in God. You see, beloved, that there was not only faith, but prophecy, in this woman.
Admonition to Humility, Obedience
Let us therefore, brothers, be of humble mind, laying aside all haughtiness, pride, foolishness, and angry feelings. Let us act according to that which is written (for the Holy Spirit says, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, neither let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in the Lord, in diligently seeking Him, and doing judgment and righteousness”)(7), being especially mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus which He spake, teaching us meekness and long-suffering. For so He spoke: “Be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; forgive, that it may be forgiven to you; as ye do, so shall it be done unto you; as ye judge, so shall ye be judged; as ye are kind, so shall kindness be shown to you; with what measure ye mete, with the same it shall be measured to you.”(8) By this precept and by these rules let us establish ourselves, that we walk with all humility in obedience to HIs holy words. For the holy word says, “On whom shall I look, but on him that is meek and peaceable, and that trembleth at My words.”(9) It is right and holy therefore, men and brothers, to obey God rather than to follow those who, through pride and sedition, have become the leaders of a detestable, ambitious rivalry. For we will not be open to just a slight injury but to a great danger if we rashly yield ourselves to the impulses of men whose goal is to excite strife and tumults and draw us away from what is good. Let us be kind one to another after the pattern of the tender mercy and kindness of our Creator. . .
Let us cling, therefore, to those who cultivate peace with godliness and not to those who hypocritically profess to desire it. For [the Scripture] says in a certain place, “This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.”(10) And again: “They bless with their mouth, but curse with their heart.”(11) And again it says: “They loved Him with their mouth, and lied to Him with their tongue; but their heart was not right with Him, neither were they faithful in His covenant.”(12). . .
Christ, Our Example
For Christ is of those who are humble-minded and not of those who exalt themselves over His flock. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Scepter of the majesty of God, did not come in the pomp of pride or arrogance, although He might have done so. But He came in a lowly condition, as the Holy Spirit had declared regarding Him. . .[Clement here quotes Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22:6-8] You see, beloved, the example which has been given us. If the Lord so humbled Himself, what shall we do who have through Him come under the yoke of His grace?
Others to Emulate
Let us be imitators of those who in goat-skins and sheepskins went about proclaiming the coming of Christ-I mean Elijah, Elisha, and Ezekiel among the prophets, and others with a similar testimony [in Scripture]. Abraham was especially honored and was called the friend of God. Yet he earnestly reflected on the glory of God and humbly declared, “I am but dust and ashes.”(13) Moreover, it is written of Job, “Job was a righteous man, and blameless, truthful, God-fearing, and one that kept himself from all evil.”(14) But he accused himself saying, “No man is free from defilement, even if his life be but one day.”(15) Moses was called faithful in all God’s house, and through him, God punished Egypt with plagues and tortures. Yet he, though greatly honored, did not adopt a lofty language, but said, when the divine oracle came to him out of the bush, “Who am I, that Thou sendest me? I am a man of a feeble voice and a slow tongue.”(16) And again he said, “I am but as the smoke of a pot.” But what shall we say concerning David of whom God said, “I have found a man after Mine own heart, David the son of Jesse; and in everlasting mercy have I anointed him?”(17) Yet this very man said to God, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassion, blot out my transgression. Wash me still more from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from sin. For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. . .[Clement continues to quote Psalm 51:1-17 here].
Back to the Basics
Thus the humility and godly submission of so great and illustrious men have made not only us, but also the generations before us, better, even as many as have received His oracles in fear and truth. Wherefore, having so many great and glorious examples set before us, let us turn again to the practice of that peace which from the beginning was the mark set before us. Let us look steadfastly to the Father and Creator of the universe and cling to His mighty and surpassingly great gifts and presents of peace. Let us contemplate Him with our understanding and look with the eyes of our soul to His long-suffering will. Let us reflect how free from wrath He is towards all His creation.
God’s Kindness Toward Creation
The heavens, revolving under His government, are subject to Him in peace. Day and night run the course appointed by Him, in no way interfering with each other. The sun and moon, with the companies of the stars, roll on in harmony according to HIs command, within their prescribed limits, and without any deviation. The fruitful earth, according to His will, produces food in abundance, at the proper seasons, for man and beast and all the living beings upon it, never hesitating, nor changing any of the ordinances which He has fixed. . .The ocean, impassable to man, and the worlds beyond it, are regulated by the same enactments of the Lord. The seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, peacefully give place to one another. The winds in their several quarters fulfill, at the proper time, their service without hindrance. . .
Whom to Resist and to Honor
Watch out, beloved, so His many kindnesses do not lead to the condemnation of us all. [For thus it must be] unless we walk worthy of Him and with one mind do those things which are good and well-pleasing in His sight. For [the Scripture] says in a certain place, “The Spirit of the Lord is a candle searching the secret parts of the belly.”(18) Let us reflect how near He is and that none of our thoughts or reasonings are hid from Him. It is right, therefore, that we should not leave the position which His will has assigned us. Let us instead of offending God rather offend those men who are foolish, inconsiderate, and lifted up, and who glory in the pride of their speech. Let us reverence the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was given for us. Let us honor those who have the rule over us. Let us respect the elderly among us. Let us train up the young men in the fear of God. Let us direct our wives to that which is good. . .
Let our children be partakers of true Christian training. Let them learn what an advantage God places on humility-how much the spirit of pure affection can prevail with Him-how excellent and great awe of Him is, and how it saves all those who walk in it with a pure mind. For He is a Searcher of the thoughts and desires [of the heart]: His breath is in us; and when He pleases, He will take it away. Now the faith which is in Christ confirms all these [warnings]. For He Himself by the Holy Spirit tells us: “Come, ye children hearken unto Me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth to see good days? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. . .(19) The all-merciful and kind Father has compassion on those that fear Him. Kindly and lovingly He gives His favors to those who come to Him with a simple mind. Wherefore let us not be double-minded. Let our soul not become proud because of His exceedingly great and glorious gifts. Far from us be that which is written, “Wretched are they who are of a double mind, and of a doubting heart; who say, These things we have heard even in the times of our fathers; but, behold, we have grown old, and none of them has happened to us.” (20) You foolish people! Compare yourselves to a tree: take for instance the vine. First of all, it sheds its leaves, then it buds and then follows the ripened fruit. You understand how in a short time the fruit of a tree comes to maturity. Truly, soon and suddenly shall His will be accomplished, as the Scripture also bears witness, saying, “Speedily will He come, and will not tarry.” (21) and, “The Lord shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Holy One, for whom ye look.” (22)
The Resurrection is Assured
Let us consider, beloved, how the Lord continually proves to us that there shall be a future resurrection. He has made the Lord Jesus Christ the first-fruits by raising Him from the dead. Let us think about, beloved, the resurrection which is at all times taking place. Day and night declare to us a resurrection. The night sinks to sleep, and the day arises; the day [again] departs, and the night comes on. Let us look at the fruits [of the earth], how the sowing of grain takes place. The sower goes out and casts it into the ground. The seed scattered in this way, though dry and bare when it fell upon the earth, is gradually dissolved. Then out of its dissolution the mighty power of the providence of the Lord raises it up again, and from one seed many arise and bring forth fruit. . .
Having then this hope, let our souls be bound to him who is faithful in His promises and just in His judgments. He who has commanded us not to lie shall much more Himself not lie. For nothing is impossible with God, except to lie. Let His faith therefore be stirred up again within us, and let us consider that all things are near Him. By the word of His might He established all things, and by His Word He can overthrow them. “Who shall say unto Him, What have you done? or, Who shall resist the power of His strength?” When and as He pleases He will do all things, and none of the things determined by Him shall pass away. All things are open before Him, and nothing can be hidden from His counsel. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handy-work. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. And there are no words or speeches of which the voices are not heard.” (23)
Footnotes:
1 Titus 3:1 2 Deut. 32: 15 3 Genesis 4:3-8 4 Exodus 2:14 5 Genesis 2:23 6 Ezek. 33:11 7 Jeremiah 9:23-24; I Cor. 1:31; II Cor. 10:17 8 Matt. 6:12-15; 7:2; Luke 6:36-38 9 Isaiah 66:2 10 Isaiah 29:13 11 Psalm 62:4 12 Psalm 78:36, 37 13 Genesis 18:27 14 Job 1:1 15 Job 14:4-5 (LXX) 16 Exodus 3:11; 4:10 17 Psalm 89:21 18 Proverbs 20:27 19 Psalms 34:11-17; 32:10 20 James 1:8; II Peter 3:3,4 21 Hebrews 10:37 22 Malachi 3:1 23 Psalm 19:1-3
