Clement of Rome: source notes

Works: 1 Clement (c. 96). Edition/translation: ANF vol. 1 (Roberts–Donaldson), as on New Advent. Greek: Lightfoot/Holmes, Apostolic Fathers (key words to verify against a printed Greek text).

Back to justification · reasoning · conventions

S1: 1 Clem 32.3–4

Source: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1010.htm
Text: “And we, too, being called by His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or understanding, or godliness, or works which we have wrought in holiness of heart; but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has justified all men; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Greek (Loeb, ed. Lake, via BKV): καὶ ἡμεῖς οὖν, διὰ θελήματος αὐτοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ κληθέντες, οὐ δι᾽ ἑαυτῶν δικαιούμεθα, οὐδὲ διὰ τῆς ἡμετέρας σοφίας ἢ συνέσεως ἢ εὐσεβείας ἢ ἔργων ὧν κατειργασάμεθα ἐν ὁσιότητι καρδίας, ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς πίστεως, δι᾽ ἧς πάντας τοὺς ἀπ᾽ αἰῶνος ὁ παντοκράτωρ θεὸς ἐδικαίωσεν. Source: https://bkv.unifr.ch/en/works/cpg-1001/versions/clem-1clem-loeb/divisions/33. Note: the BKV snippet as retrieved reads οὐδὲ διὰ τῆς ἔργων, which is truncated. I filled in the middle phrase (σοφίας … εὐσεβείας) from the ANF English plus the standard text, so that middle phrase is still to verify. The key words δικαιούμεθα, ἔργων ὧν κατειργασάμεθα ἐν ὁσιότητι καρδίας and διὰ τῆς πίστεως are confirmed.
Context: Ch. 31–32: the patriarchs were honoured “not … for their own works … but through the operation of His will”. No Judaizing controversy is in view (the letter is about schism at Corinth), so “works” here means works in general, including works “in holiness of heart”, not just Mosaic ceremonies.
Bears on: Q2, Q1
Status: verified (English; key Greek)

S2: 1 Clem 33.1

Source: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1010.htm
Text: “What shall we do, then, brethren? Shall we become slothful in well-doing, and cease from the practice of love? God forbid that any such course should be followed by us! But rather let us hasten with all energy and readiness of mind to perform every good work.”
Context: Comes straight after 32.4 and follows the Rom 6:1 pattern: an objection to grace is raised and then refuted. Works follow justification and do not ground it.
Bears on: Q2, Q5
Status: verified (English)

S3: 1 Clem 10.6–7; 12.1

Source: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1010.htm
Text: 10: quotes Gen 15:6 (“Abram believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness”), then “On account of his faith and hospitality, a son was given him in his old age”. 12: “On account of her faith and hospitality, Rahab the harlot was saved.”
Context: Same pairing of exemplars as James 2:21–25 (Abraham, Rahab). Faith together with hospitality is said to bring a reward or deliverance. This is not a statement about the ground of justification before God.
Bears on: Q5, Q2
Status: verified (English)

Topic: atonement

See atonement reasoning.

ATN S1: 1 Clement 49.6

Source: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1010.htm
Text: “On account of the love He bore us, Jesus Christ our Lord gave His blood for us by the will of God; His flesh for our flesh, and His soul for our souls.”
Context: An exhortation to love. The language is substitutionary.
Bears on: A3
Status: verified (English)

Topic: church-authority

See church-authority reasoning.

PAP S1: 1 Clement 63.2

Source: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1010.htm (public-domain English translation)
Text: “Joy and gladness will you afford us, if you become obedient to the words written by us and through the Holy Spirit root out the lawless wrath of your jealousy according to the intercession which we have made for peace and unity in this letter.”
Context: Rome’s letter urges Corinth to obey; no bishop of Rome named.
Bears on: P1
Status: verified (English)