Greek · First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians · Letter of the Romans to the Corinthians
A letter from the church in Rome to the church in Corinth urging the restoration of presbyters who had been removed. The letter is anonymous; attribution to Clement is attested from c. 170.
Dating
The traditional date of c. 95-97 rests on the reference to sudden 'misfortunes' (1.1), read as persecution under Domitian, and on Eusebius. Some scholars argue for c. 70 (before the Temple's fall, since the cult is described in the present tense) and others for as late as 140; c. 95-97 remains the majority view (Holmes).Books it uses
Sayings of Jesus at 13.2 and 46.8 are close to Matthew/Luke but match neither; dependence on a written Gospel is not demonstrable (Oxford lists only 'synoptic tradition').
As for Matthew: 13.2 has Lukan elements (Luke 6:36–38) but no demonstrable literary dependence.
2.1 'more gladly giving than receiving' (Acts 20:35) and 18.1 (Acts 13:22) could come from shared tradition.
35.5–6 vice list follows Rom 1:29–32; also 32.4–33.1 echoes Rom 5–6. Oxford 1905 graded it A; Gregory is more cautious.
47.1–3 tells Corinth to 'take up the epistle of the blessed Apostle Paul', written 'under the inspiration of the Spirit' (Greek pneumatikos). Named and treated as authoritative, though not called 'scripture'.
2.7 'ready to every good work' (Titus 3:1); common paraenetic phrase.
36.2–5 reproduces Heb 1:3–13 (the same catena of Psalm texts), unattributed. Oxford 1905 graded it A. Kept at 'probable' because the modern discussion allows for a shared catena/liturgical source, though most still accept direct use.
Quotations
Take up the epistle of the blessed Apostle Paul. What did he write to you at the time when the Gospel first began to be preached? Truly, under the inspiration of the Spirit, he wrote to you concerning himself, and Cephas, and Apollos, because even then parties had been formed among you.
1 Clem. 47.1–3Names the book
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe · Source (opens in a new tab)
Earliest explicit reference to a named Pauline letter by a non-canonical author (Rome to Corinth, c. AD 95–96). Presupposes the Corinthian church still has 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 1:10–12 BSB
10I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction. 11My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
1 Corinthians 3:4–6 BSB
4For when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men? 5What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role. 6I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
being especially mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus which He spake, teaching us meekness and long-suffering. For thus He spoke: “Be ye merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; forgive, that it may be forgiven to you; as ye do, so shall it be done unto you; as ye judge, so shall ye be judged; as ye are kind, so shall kindness be shown to you; with what measure ye mete, with the same it shall be measured to you.
1 Clem. 13.1–2Allusion
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe · Source (opens in a new tab)
Sayings cluster close to Matt 5–7/Luke 6 but not matching either; Gregory & Tuckett judge dependence on a written Gospel unproven (possibly oral tradition or a catechetical collection).
Matthew 5:7 BSB
7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Matthew 6:14–15 BSB
14For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.
Matthew 7:1–2 BSB
1“Do not judge, or you will be judged. 2For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Matthew 7:12 BSB
12In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.
Luke 6:31 BSB
31Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Luke 6:36–38 BSB
36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
who, being the brightness of His majesty, is by so much greater than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” For it is thus written, “Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.” But concerning His Son the Lord spoke thus: “Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.” And again He saith to Him, “Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.
1 Clem. 36.2–5Quotation
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe · Source (opens in a new tab)
Unattributed but sustained reuse of Hebrews 1 (same sequence of Psalm citations and the 'brightness'/'more excellent name' language). Widely judged the earliest use of Hebrews.
Hebrews 1:3–5 BSB
3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4So He became as far superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs. 5For to which of the angels did God ever say: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father”? Or again: “I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”?
Hebrews 1:7 BSB
7Now about the angels He says: “He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire.”
Hebrews 1:13 BSB
13Yet to which of the angels did God ever say: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”?
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.
1 Clem. 46.7–8Allusion
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe · Source (opens in a new tab)
Conflates two synoptic sayings; wording matches none exactly, so literary dependence on a specific Gospel is uncertain.
Matthew 26:24 BSB
24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
Matthew 18:6 BSB
6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Mark 9:42 BSB
42But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea.
Luke 17:2 BSB
2It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Love unites us to God. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love beareth all things, is long-suffering in all things. There is nothing base, nothing arrogant in love. Love admits of no schisms: love gives rise to no seditions: love does all things in harmony.
1 Clem. 49.5Allusion
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe · Source (opens in a new tab)
Hymn to love modelled on 1 Cor 13 ('beareth all things'); 'love covers a multitude of sins' echoes 1 Pet 4:8 / Prov 10:12.
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 BSB
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. 6Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Peter 4:8 BSB
8Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.