10 Must-Read Quotes from St. Clement of Rome
Exploring the Wisdom of St. Clement of Rome and His Call to Unity, Humility, and Faith
Those who aspire to read the Church Fathers often ask me where to begin. The Patristic library is vast, filled with tome after tome, making it difficult to know where to start. While many works are essential for any aspiring theologian, I always recommend St. Clement’s Epistle to the Corinthians as the best entry point.
Following Paul’s several letters to Corinth, Clement of Rome—not to be confused with Clement of Alexandria—wrote his epistle to rebuke the Corinthians again for their divisive attitudes and actions. In Corinth, younger members had begun to disobey Church leadership and, longing to take power for themselves, had rebelled against the Church elders.
Origen would subscribe (maybe?)…
Ancient Christian answers for our culture’s deepest questions. Subscribe for a new article in your inbox every Monday.
Clement wrote to the Corinthians to encourage repentance and restoration, urging the insubordinate members to submit to their elders and seek unity. Often, Clement rebukes their sin in strong terms, but he always returns to the grace that can be grasped through the sacrifice of Christ.
This epistle is one of the earliest Christian writings. Scholars propose two possible dates: a later one around A.D. 95 and an earlier one before the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70. The case for the earlier date hinges on 1 Clement 41:2, where Clement describes the Jewish sacrificial system as if it were still ongoing. Clement’s letter predates several New Testament books if this reading is correct.
It’s no surprise, then, that Clement’s tone is thoroughly Scriptural. The first time I read his epistle, I felt as if I were reading a missing book of the Bible. While I recognize it is not divinely inspired in the same way as Holy Scripture, it undeniably shares the same ethos. For those who have diligently studied Scripture, reading Clement feels like meeting an old friend you never met before.
Here are ten of my favorite quotes. Perhaps they will inspire you to start exploring the Church Fathers for yourself:
(A free version of Clement’s Epistle can be found here)
1. Christ’s Blood Enables Repentance
Let us look intently at the blood of Christ, and let us know that it is precious to his Father, because, being poured out for our salvation it brought the grace of repentance to all the world. (I Clement 7:4)
2. Humble as Christ is Humble
You see, beloved people, what is the example which is given to us; for if the Lord was thus humble-minded, what shall we do, who through him have come under the yoke of his grace? (I Clement 16:17)
3. God, Our Sovereign
For he is a searcher of thoughts and desires; his breath is in us and when he wills, he will take it away. (I Clement 21:9)
4. Gentleness, not Roughness, is Characteristic of Christians
Arrogance and stubbornness and audacity [belong] to those who are cursed by God; gentleness and humility and meekness with those who are blessed by God. (I Clement 30:8)
5. Justified by Faith
And we, therefore, having been called through his will in Christ Jesus, we are not justified through ourselves, or through our wisdom or understanding or piety or deeds which we accomplished in holiness of heart, but through the faith by which all those since the beginning the Almighty God has justified to him be the glory forever, amen. (I Clement 32:4)
6. Every Member of the Church is Important
The great cannot exist without the small, nor the small without the great. There is a certain combination among all, and usefulness lies in this. (I Clement 37:4)
7. Christ's Life for Our Lives
The Master received us in love. Because of the love that he had for us, he gave his blood for us, Jesus Christ our Lord, by the will of God, and his flesh for our flesh, and his life for our lives. (I Clement 49:6)
8. Preferring Our Neighbors
For those who lead their lives with fear and love, they themselves prefer to experience mistreatments rather than their neighbors... (I Clement 51:2)
9. The Aseity of God
Brothers, the Master has no need of anything at all. He requires nothing except confession to him. (I Clement 52:1)
10. Unknown and Honest > Prominent and Dishonest
Learn to be submissive, putting away the boastful and arrogant stubbornness of your tongue, for it is better for you to be found small and reputable among the flock of Christ than seeming prominent and being deprived of his hope. (I Clement 57:2)