Introduction – The Didache – Saint Clement of Rome – Saint Ignatius of Antioch – Saint Polycarp of Smyrna – The Epistle of Barnabas – Fragments of Papias – The Shepherd of Hermas – The Epistle to Diognetus – Saint Justin Martyr – Saint Irenaeus of Lyon – Tertullian – Saint Cyprian of Carthage

Saint Clement of Rome was the third successor of Saint Peter and bishop of Rome, as Saint Irenaeus of Lyons states in his treatise Against Heresies [1] and Eusebius of Caesarea in his Church History [2]. Both also identify him with Saint Paul’s fellow worker mentioned in the New Testament (Philippians 4:3). It is thought that he personally knew Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Eusebius dates his pontificate from 92 to 101. Some unreliable traditions claim that he died a martyr [3].

Letter to the Corinthians

Although several writings are attributed to him, the letter to the community at Corinth is regarded as authentic. It was written to discipline a community that was undergoing a crisis after it had removed legitimately appointed presbyters from office. Some prominent Christians considered this letter canonical; it even appears in the New Testament manuscript presented by Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria, to King Charles I, which is kept in the British Museum.

It contains a rich apologetic contribution on several subjects, including Petrine primacy, justification, apostolic succession, and the unity of the Church.

Petrine Primacy

With respect to Saint Peter’s primacy, this is a most important document, because it contains strong implicit evidence that as early as the first century Saint Clement, as bishop of Rome and successor of Saint Peter, had a clear awareness of his primacy as the visible head of the Church and, consequently, of his mission to preserve unity and orthodoxy. Thus, when writing to the community at Corinth, he begins by apologizing for having been late in addressing the problem and subsequently employs a tone of authority that would be wholly inappropriate if he lacked jurisdiction over a church so far away.

“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.” (Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians 1:1)

“If, however, any shall disobey the words spoken by Him through us, let them know that they will involve themselves in transgression and serious danger; but we shall be innocent of this sin and, instant in prayer and supplication, shall desire that the Creator of all preserve unbroken the computed number of His elect in the whole world through His beloved Son Jesus Christ.” (Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians 59:1)

Throughout history, the various churches of the world would repeatedly appeal to the authority of the Apostolic See amid their many and diverse conflicts.

Justification and Salvation

On justification by faith, Saint Clement makes another rich contribution. While making clear that man is justified by faith and not by works, he also explains that good works and the keeping of the commandments are necessary for salvation; therefore, one must persevere in doing good in order to be numbered among the saved.

“Take heed, beloved, lest His many kindnesses lead to the condemnation of us all, unless we walk worthy of Him, and with one mind do those things which are good and well-pleasing in His sight.” (Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians 21:1)

“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. For the Creator and Lord of all Himself rejoices in His works … We see how all righteous men have been adorned with good works, and how the Lord Himself, adorning Himself with His works, rejoiced. Having therefore such an example, let us without delay accede to His will, and let us work the work of righteousness with our whole strength.” (Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians 33:1–2, 7)

“How blessed and wonderful, beloved, are the gifts of God! … Let us therefore earnestly strive to be found in the number of those that wait for Him, in order that we may share in His promised gifts. But how, beloved, shall this be done? If our understanding be fixed by faith towards God; if we earnestly seek the things which are pleasing and acceptable to Him; if we do the things which are in harmony with His blameless will; and if we follow the way of truth, casting away from us all unrighteousness and iniquity, along with all covetousness, strife, evil practices, deceit, whispering, and evil-speaking, all hatred of God, pride and haughtiness, vain glory and ambition. For they that do such things are hateful to God; and not only they that do them, but also those that take pleasure in them.” (Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians 35:4–6)

From the author

The Church Fathers speak for themselves

This article is part of Early Christianity: In Search of the Origins of the Catholic Church, a documented journey through the faith of the first centuries and its answers to the questions that still divide Catholics and Protestants.

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“As God lives, and as the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost live—both the faith and hope of the elect—he who in lowliness of mind, with instant gentleness, and without repentance has observed the ordinances and appointments given by God, shall obtain a place and name in the number of those who are being saved through Jesus Christ, through whom is glory to Him for ever and ever. Amen.” (Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians 58:2)

Apostolic Succession

In this letter we also have another most important witness from an apologetic point of view, for it provides an explicit definition of the Catholic doctrine of apostolic succession: Jesus Christ Himself institutes the apostles, who, in obedience to His will, appoint bishops as their successors in the apostolic ministry.

“The apostles have preached the gospel to us from the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ has done so from God. Christ therefore was sent forth by God, and the apostles by Christ. Both these appointments, then, were made in an orderly way, according to the will of God. Having therefore received their orders, and being fully assured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and established in the word of God, with full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went forth proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand. And thus, preaching through countries and cities, they appointed the first fruits of their labours, having first proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons of those who should afterwards believe. Nor was this any new thing, since many ages before it was written concerning bishops and deacons. For thus says the Scripture in a certain place: I will appoint their bishops in righteousness, and their deacons in faith …

Our apostles also knew, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that there would be strife on account of the office of the episcopate. For this reason, therefore, inasmuch as they had obtained a perfect foreknowledge of this, they appointed those ministers already mentioned, and afterwards gave instructions that when these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry. We are of opinion, therefore, that those appointed by them, or afterwards by other eminent men, with the consent of the whole Church, and who have blamelessly served the flock of Christ in a humble, peaceable, and disinterested spirit, and have for a long time possessed the good opinion of all, cannot be justly dismissed from the ministry. For our sin will not be small if we eject from the episcopate those who have blamelessly and holily fulfilled its duties.” (Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians 42:1–5; 44:1–4)

Divisions among Christians

Another important element is Saint Clement’s condemnation of divisions in the Church, which today find their greatest expression in Protestantism, fragmented into thousands of denominations. He insists that when schismatics create divisions, they cause scandal and lead souls astray:

“Why are there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars among you? Have we not all 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 in 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, than 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 continues.” (Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians 46:7–9)

Author: José Miguel Arráiz

NOTES

[1] Saint Irenaeus, in his Against Heresies, states: “The blessed apostles, then, having founded and built up the Church, committed into the hands of Linus the office of the episcopate. Of this Linus, Paul makes mention in the Epistles to Timothy. To him succeeded Anacletus. After him, in the third place from the apostles, Clement was allotted the bishopric. This man, as he had seen the blessed apostles and had been conversant with them, might be said to have the preaching of the apostles still echoing in his ears, and their traditions before his eyes. Nor was he alone in this, for there were many still remaining who had received instructions from the apostles. In the time of this Clement, no small dissension having occurred among the brethren at Corinth, the Church in Rome dispatched a most powerful letter to the Corinthians, exhorting them to peace, renewing their faith, and declaring the tradition which it had lately received from the apostles.” (Saint Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies, 3:3)

[2] Eusebius relates that “Clement also, who was appointed third bishop of the church at Rome, was, as Paul testifies, his co-laborer and fellow-soldier.” (Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History, III, 4, 9)

[3] Johannes Quasten writes in his Patrology I, published by the Biblioteca de Autores Cristianos: “The Pseudo-Clementines, which make Clement a member of the imperial family of the Flavians, are by no means trustworthy. Still less credence deserves the opinion of Dio Cassius (Hist. Rom. 67,14), according to which Clement would be none other than the consul Titus Flavius Clement, of the imperial family, executed in the year 95 or 96 for professing the Christian faith. Nor is the martyrdom of the fourth bishop of Rome historically established. The Martyrium S. Clementis, written in Greek, dates from the fourth century and moreover has a purely legendary character.”