Theological Term of the Week: Clement of Rome

Clement of Rome
“[A] presbyter (elder) or bishop of the church of Rome,”1 author of the Letter of Clement, and an apostolic father. He was active from 90-100 AD. 

• From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. H. Needham, page 58-59: 

He wrote the [Letter of Clement] to try to settle a dispute in the Corinthian church. In a conflict between the older and younger generations, the Corinthian Christians has dismissed all their presbyters and replaced them by new youthful leaders. Clement’s response was to emphasise the need for good order in the Church. He argued that God’s purpose of salvation revealed a sort of “chain of command”: God the Father sent the Lord Jesus Christ, Christ sent the apostles, the apostles appointed bishops (or presbyters) and deacons in the churches, and they in turn appoint their successors. A church must not disturb this chain of command by dismissing its officers without just cause, which did not exist in the case of the Corinthian presbyters. Clement therefore entreated the Corinthians to restore their deposed leaders back into office.

• From The First Epistle of Clement, chapter 32: 

WE ARE JUSTIFIED NOT BY OUR OWN WORKS, BUT BY FAITH

All [the Old Testament saints], therefore, were highly honoured, and made great, not for their own sake, or for their own works, or for the righteousness which they wrought, but through the operation of His will. 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.

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: Who was Clement of Rome?
2. Theopedia: Clement of Rome
3. EarlyChurch.org: Clement of Rome
4. Chrisitan Classics Ethereal Library: Philip Schaff’s Introductory Note to the First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians 
5. 5 Minutes in Church History: Clement

Related terms:

• apostolic fathers
• Justin Martyr

Filed under Christian History

1From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. R. Needham.

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Sunday's Hymn: We Gather Together To Ask the Lord's Blessing

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing:
Sing praises to his Name; he forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning:
Thou, Lord, wast at our side: all glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that thou still our Defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation:
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

—Ad­ri­a­nus Va­ler­i­us

Other hymns of worship songs for this Sunday:

• Come Thou Almighty King at The Happy Wonderer 

Sunday's Hymn: We Praise Thee, O God, Our Redeemer, Creator

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

We praise thee, O God, our Redeemer, Creator,
In grateful devotion our tribute we bring.
We lay it before thee, we kneel and adore thee,
We bless thy holy name, glad praises we sing.

We worship thee, God of our fathers, we bless thee;
Through life’s storm and tempest our guide hast thou been.
When perils o’ertake us, escape thou wilt make us,
And with thy help, O Lord, our battles we win.

With voices united our praises we offer,
To thee, great Jehovah, glad anthems we raise.
Thy strong arm will guide us, our God is beside us,
To thee, our great Redeemer, for ever be praise.

—Julia B. Cory

Other hymns of worship songs for this Sunday:

• Day by Day at The Happy Wonderer