“Clement was probably a Gentile and a Roman. He seems to have been with Paul at Philippi
in A.D. 57” (Philippians 4:3). Many
years later after the death of Paul and as the persecution in Rome commenced
with vigor, Clement penned a letter to the church at Corinth that was
experiencing quite a few problems due to a schism in the fellowship. However, in the opening of the letter,
Clement commends the incredible fellowship they once had before addressing the
challenges they faced.
This commendation is incredible in its detailed affirmation of
what a successful Christ-honoring church looks like. I wanted to share this with you that you
might be encouraged and convicted like I was when reading it the first time.
“The
church of God which sojourns at Rome, to the Church of God sojourning at
Corinth, to them that are called and sanctified by the will of God, through our
Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from Almighty God through Jesus
Christ, be multiplied.
“Owing
dear brethren, to the sudden and successive calamitous events which have
happened to ourselves, we feel that we have been somewhat tardy in turning our
attention to the points respecting which you consulted us; and especially to
that shameful and detestable sedition, utterly abhorrent to the elect of God,
which a few rash and self-confident persons have kindled to such a pitch of
frenzy, that your venerable and illustrious name, worthy to be universally
loved, has suffered grievous injury. For
who ever dwelt 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 ye did all things without respect of
persons, and walked in the commandments of God, being obedient to those who had
the rule over you, and giving all fitting honour to the presbyters among
you. Ye enjoined [commanded, instructed]
young men to be of a sober and serious mind; ye instructed your wives to do all
things with a blameless, becoming, and pure conscience, loving their husbands
as in duty bound; and ye taught them that, living in the rule of obedience,
they should manage their household affairs becomingly, and be in every respect
marked by discretion.
“Moreover,
ye were all distinguished by humility, and were in no respect puffed up with
pride, but yielded obedience rather than extorted it (Ephesians 5:21 & 1
Peter 5:5), and were more willing to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Content with the provision which God had made
for you, and carefully attending to His words, ye were inwardly filled with His
doctrine, and His sufferings were before your eyes. Thus a profound and abundant peace was given
to you all, and ye had an insatiable desire for doing good, while a full
outpouring of the Holy Spirit was upon you all.
Full of holy designs [plans, intentions, actions], ye did, with true
earnestness of mind and a godly confidence, stretch forth your hands to God
Almighty, beseeching Him to be merciful unto you, if ye had been guilty of any
involuntary transgression. Day and night
ye were anxious for the whole brotherhood (1 Peter 2:17), that the number of
God’s elect might be saved with mercy and a good conscience. Ye were sincere and uncorrupted, and
forgetful of injuries between one another.
Every kind of faction and schism was abominable in your sight. Ye mourned over the transgressions of your
neighbors: their deficiencies you deemed your own. Ye never grudged any act of kindness, being “ready
to every good work (Titus 3:1).” Adorned
by a thoroughly virtuous and religious life, ye did all things in the fear of
God. The commandments and ordinances of
the Lord were written upon the tablets of your hearts (Proverbs 7:3).”
What an incredible description of a church family! I pray that we will so represent Christ to
other believers and to our community!
This excerpt
was taken from Volume 1 of “The Church Fathers Ante-Nicene Fathers” Edited by
Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, Published by Hendrickson Publishers Marketing,
LLC., Peabody, MA Fifth Printing, 2012. ISBN 978-1-56563-082-6
