The first writing within volume one is The First Epistle
of Clement to the Corinthians.
Clement is listed as either the second or third bishop of Rome after Peter and his
letter to the Corinthians is among the oldest Christian writings outside of the
cannon of scripture. Tradition since the
third or forth century has identified him as the Clement mentioned in
Philippians 4: 3. Clement is said to
have died a martyr’s death – having an anchor tied around his neck and thrown
from a boat into the Black Sea .
His letter to the Corinthian congregation was sent in
response to reports about the scandals and infighting occurring within the
Christian community. Apparently the factions and divisions within the church
addressed by Paul in his letter (1 Corinthians) had not
diminished. Several of the presbyters
had been removed from office – without any charge of moral offense, but out of
envy and spite.
“Blessed are those presbyters who, having finished their
course before now, have obtained a fruitful and perfect departure [from
this world]; for they have no fear lest any one deprive them of the place
now appointed them. But we see that ye
have removed some men of excellent behavior from the ministry, which they
fulfilled blamelessly and with honor.” [i]
This has brought the Church (and not just the Christians in Corinth ) into disrepute
and danger. Clement refers to “sudden
and successive calamitous events”[ii]
(probably the persecutions of Christians initiated by the Emperor Domitian)
that the Church in Rome
had recently endured. And now these bad
reports from Corinth
were making things worse.
“It is disgraceful, beloved, yea, highly disgraceful, and
unworthy of your Christian profession, that such a thing should be heard of as
that the most steadfast and ancient Church of the Corinthians should, on
account of one or two persons, engage in sedition against its presbyters. And this rumor has reached not only us, but
those also who are unconnected with us; so that, through your infatuation, the
name of the Lord is blasphemed, while danger is brought upon yourselves.”[iii]
Clement, though writing in love, pulls no punches in his
condemnation of this divisive “sedition” within the Corinthian church.
“Why are there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars among you? Have we not one God and one Christ? Is there not one Spirit of grace poured out upon us? And have we not one calling in Christ? Why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that ‘we are members one of another?’ Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how He said, ‘ Woe to that man [by whom offences come]! It were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my elect. Yea, it were better for him that a millstone should be hung about [his neck], and he should be sunk in the depths of the sea, thank that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my little ones. Your schism has subverted [the faith of] many, has discouraged many, has given rise to doubt in many, and has caused grief to us all. And still your sedition continueth.[iv]
“Why are there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars among you? Have we not one God and one Christ? Is there not one Spirit of grace poured out upon us? And have we not one calling in Christ? Why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that ‘we are members one of another?’ Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how He said, ‘ Woe to that man [by whom offences come]! It were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my elect. Yea, it were better for him that a millstone should be hung about [his neck], and he should be sunk in the depths of the sea, thank that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my little ones. Your schism has subverted [the faith of] many, has discouraged many, has given rise to doubt in many, and has caused grief to us all. And still your sedition continueth.[iv]
Clement encourages the members of the church at Corinth to repent, to live
in love and humility and in mutual submission to each other. How can there be a pride of place or schisms
among those who love greatly and who submit to each other? He calls upon them to be so filled with this
kind of love and submission that they would say “If on my account sedition
and disagreement and schisms have arisen, I will depart, I will go away
whithersoever ye desire, and I will do whatever the majority commands; only let
the flock of Christ live on terms of peace with the presbyters set over it.”[v]
Wow. I don’t think
I’ve ever met anyone – Christian or otherwise – who would voluntarily submit in
this way. But what would the church be like if we who profess to be followers
of the Christ could say in any argument, “I’ll leave if I’ve caused division,
only let there be peace,”? Could we so
value the peace and health of the body of Christ as to voluntarily remove ourselves? That would be something to see.
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