Send Close Add comments: (status displays here)
Got it!  This site "creationpie.org" uses cookies. You consent to this by clicking on "Got it!" or by continuing to use this website.  Note: This appears on each machine/browser from which this site is accessed.
Early Church Father: Clement
by RS  admin@creationpie.org : 1024 x 640


1. Early Church Father: Clement
Clement of Alexandria was an early church father. Some of his works have been preserved.

2. Clement: On works and not words
Book: The Apostolic FathersIn the letters of the early church father Clement (35-99 AD) to the churches, Michal W. Holmes in his book "The Apostolic Fathers" (3rd Edition, 2007) provides the following remarks about "slanderers" and "backbiters". The "justified" in the Greek is a verb for what might be called "righteous-fied" in English. The modern Greek word "δίκαιος" (THEE-keh-os) ≈ "observant of custom, righteous, balanced".

How about being righteous from thoughts alone, as in "study"?

3. First Clement
In the first paragraph of First Clement, the word "ὑπάρχω""begin, take the initiative, act first" appears to have been translated as "persons".

English: ... especially the detestable and unholy schism, so alien and strange to those chosen by God, which a few reckless and arrogant persons have kindled to such a pitch of insanity that your good name, once so renowned and loved by all, has been greatly reviled. (Holmes, 2007, p. 14)
Greek: … τῆς τε ἀλλοτρίας καὶ ξένης τοῖς ἐκλεκτοῖς τοῦ θεοῦ, μιαρᾶς καὶ ἀνοσίου στάσεως ἣν ὀλίγα πρόσωπα προπετῆ καὶ αὐθάδη ὑπάρχοντα εἰς τοσοῦτον ἀπονοίας ἐξέκαυσαν, ὥστε τὸ σεμνὸν καὶ περιβόητον καὶ πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις ἀξιαγάπητον ὄνομα ὑμῶν μεγάλως βλασφημηθῆναι. First Clement [1]


Information sign More: Matthew 19:18-21 Existence of essential attributes

4. Delay in events happening
Clement, an early church father, in Clement 1, part 23.5 has the following (underline added) in a section explaining why the things described have not yet happened. Here is the translation by Holmes (underline added).
English: Truly his purpose will be accomplished quickly and suddenly, just as the scripture also testifies. "He will come quickly and not delay; and the Lord will come suddenly into his temple, even the Holy One whom you expect."
Greek: επ αληθειας ταχυ και εξαιφνης τελειωθησεται το βουλημα αυτου, συνεπιμαρτυρουσης και της γραφης οτι ταχυ ηξει και ου χρονιει, και εξαιφνης ηξει ο κυριος εις τον ναον αυτου, και ο αγιος ον υμεις προσδοκατε.
Holmes, M. (2007). The Apostolic Fathers. 3rd Ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, p. 79.

Information sign More: Come quickly: sooner or later
Information sign More: Book: Apostolic Fathers

5. False teaching as poison
Book: The Apostolic Fathers
Talking about false teachers, early church father Ignatius writes the following to the Trallians (part 6.2, underlining added).

The Greek for "unsuspecting" is "ignorant". One needs to study the truth to not be "ignorant".
English: ... these people, while pretending to be trustworthy, mix Jesus Christ with themselves - like those who administer a deadly drug with honeyed wine, which the unsuspecting victim accepts without fear and so with final pleasure drinks down death. Holmes, M. (2007). The Apostolic Fathers. 3rd Ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, p. 219.

What is the functional difference between the following?

6. Clement
Late in the first century, church father Clement wrote from Rome to Corinth in what is known as the First Epistle of Clement . In the second section, Clement says the following.

English: You mourned for the transgressions of your neighbors: you considered their shortcomings to be your own. (Holmes, 2007, p. 47)
Greek: ἐπὶ τοῖς παραπτώματα αὐτῶν ἴδια πλησίον ἐπενθεῖτε· τὰ ὑστερήματα αὐτῶν ἴδια ἐκρίνετε. [1 Clement 2.6]
Paraphrase (using the above definition analogy to unify both thoughts): You grieved for the stupid things done by your neighbors. You considered their shortcomings to be your own.

7. 2 Clement
English: for when we desire to acquire these things, we fall away from the path of righteousness. [5.7]
Greek: ἐν γὰρ τῷ ἐπιθυμεῖν ἡμᾶς κτήσασθαι ταῦτα ἀποπίπτομεν τῆς ὁδοῦ τῆς δικαίας. [5.7]
Clement uses the word for "acquire" in 2 Clement 5.7.

Note: 2 Clement is not accepted as authentic by many.

Information sign More: Matthew 10:5-10 Possessing acquired purchases

8. Clement
Clement, in his first letter, gives many examples where he uses the Greek words for "zeal" (as eager rivalry) and "covet".

Future topic Details are left as a future topic.



Information sign More: Seeking damages from zealous jealousy

9. First Clement
Clement was an early church father of the second century.

English: For it says somewhere The Spirit of the Lord is a lamp searching the depths of the heart. Let us realize how near he is, and that nothing escapes him, either of our thoughts or of the plans that we make. (Holmes, 2007, p. 65)
Greek: λέγει γάρ που· Πνεῦμα κυρίου λύχνος ἐρευνῶν τὰ ταμιεῖα τῆς γαστρός· ἴδωμεν, πῶς ἐγγύς ἐστιν, καὶ ὅτι οὐδὲν λέληθεν αὐτὸν τῶν ἐννοιῶν ἡμῶν οὐδὲ τῶν διαλογισμῶν ὧν ποιούμεθα· First Clement [2.2, 2.3]
Holmes translates as "depths" of the "heart" what in the Greek is, literally, "chambers" of the "stomach" which, from Proverbs 20:27 in the LXX (Septuagint) is "inward parts" of the "belly".

The ancient Greek word "γαστήρ""belly, womb" and is the source, through Latin, of the English word "gastric".

Information sign More: Expanding on the belly and the womb
The ancient Greek word "ἐγγύς""near" and is, literally, "in the hand".

Information sign More: Matthew 6:6 A storehouse of secret chambers: praying in the closet

10. Clement: Phoenix bird
English: Let us observe the remarkable sign that is seen in the regions of the east, that is, in the vicinity of Arabia. (Holmes 2007, p. 79,81)
Greek: Ἴδωμεν τὸ παράδοξον σημεῖον τὸ γινόμενον ἐν τοῖς ἀνατολικοῖς τόποις, τουτέστιν τοῖς περὶ τὴν Ἀραβίαν. [25.1]

The mythical Phoenix bird symbolizes immortality, resurrection and renewal. Early Church Father Clement mentions this bird.

11. Clement: Phoenix bird
English: There is a bird that is named the phoenix. This bird, the only one of its species, lives for five hundred years. When the time of its dissolution and death arrives, it makes for itself a coffin-like nest of frankincense and myrrh and the other spices, into which, its time being completed, it enters and dies. (Holmes 2007, p. 79,81)
Greek: ὄρνεον γάρ ἐστιν, ὃ προσονομάζεται φοῖνιξ· τοῦτο μονογενὲς ὑπάρχον ζῇ ἔτη πεντακόσια, γενόμενόν τε ἤδη πρὸς ἀπόλυσιν τοῦ ἀποθανεῖν αὐτό, σηκὸν ἑαυτῷ ποιεῖ ἐκ λιβάνου καὶ σμύρνης καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν ἀρωμάτων, εἰς ὃν πληρωθέντος τοῦ χρόνου εἰσέρχεται καὶ τελευτᾷ. [25.2]

12. Clement: Phoenix bird
English: But as the flesh decays, a certain worm is born, which is nourished by the juices of the dead bird and eventually grows wings. Then, when it has grown strong, it takes up that coffin-like nest containing the bones of its parent, and carrying them away, it makes its way from the country of Arabia to Egypt, to the city called Heliopolis. (Holmes 2007, p. 79,81)
Greek: σηπομένης δὲ τῆς σαρκὸς σκώληξ τις γεννᾶται, ὃς ἐκ τῆς ἰκμάδος τοῦ τετελευτηκότος ζώου ἀνατρεφόμενος πτεροφυεῖ· εἶτα γενναῖος γενόμενος αἴρει τὸν σηκὸν ἐκεῖνον, ὅπου τὰ ὀστᾶ τοῦ προγεγονότος ἐστίν, καὶ ταῦτα βαστάζων διανύει ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀραβικῆς χώρας ἕως τῆς Αἰγύπτου εἰς τὴν λεγομένην Ἡλιούπολιν, [25.3]

13. Clement: Phoenix bird
English: There, in broad daylight, in the sight of all, it flies to the alter of the sun and deposits them there, and then it sets out on its return. (Holmes 2007, p. 79,81)
Greek: καὶ ἡμέρας, βλεπόντων πάντων, ἐπιπτὰς ἐπί τὸν τοῦ ἡλίου βωμὸν τίθησιν αὐτὰ καὶ οὕτως εἰς τοὐπίσω ἀφορμᾷ. [25.4]

English: The priests then examine the public records of the times, and they find that it has come at the end of the five hundredth year. (Holmes 2007, p. 79,81)
Greek: οἱ οὖν ἱερεῖς ἐπισκέπτονται τὰς ἀναγραφὰς τῶν χρόνων καὶ εὑρίσκουσιν αὐτὸν πεντακοσιοστοῦ ἔτους πεπληρωμένου ἐληλυθέναι. [25.5]

14. Psalms 92:12
Verse routePsalms 92:12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. [kjv]
Verse routeδικαιος ως φοινιξ ανθησει ωσει κεδρος η εν τω λιβανω πληθυνθησεται [lxx]

The Greek word used for the "phoenix" bird is the Greek word for "palm tree".

15. Psalms 92:12
   Psalms 92:12 
 All 
KJV: The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Hebrew: צדיק כתמר יפרח כארז בלבנון ישגה׃
Greek: δικαιος ως φοινιξ ανθησει ωσει κεδρος η εν τω λιβανω πληθυνθησεται

16. Matthew 22:14 First Clement 6.1: Few and many
Verse routeMatthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen. [kjv]
Verse routeπολλοι γαρ εισιν κλητοι ολιγοι δε εκλεκτοι [gnt]

Groups
Whatever Jesus meant by "few" being "chosen" it appears that it did not take long for this idea to take on a life of its own.

The early church father Clement, when talking about Old Testament figures, appears to add "many" "elect" from his time.
English: To these men who lived holy lives there was joined a vast multitude of the elect who, having suffered many torments and tortures because of jealousy, set an illustrious example among us. (Holmes, 2007, p. 53)
Greek: Τούτοις τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ὁσίως πολιτευσαμένοις συνηθροίσθη πολὺ πλῆθος ἐκλεκτῶν, οἵτινες πολλαῖς αἰκίαις καὶ βασάνοις διὰ ζῆλος παθόντες ὑπόδειγμα κάλλιστον ἐγένοντο ἐν ἡμῖν. First Clement [6.1]
What exactly is Clement trying to say?

Andy Rooney quote (as remembered): Who wants to join an exclusive club if anyone can join?

Information sign More: Election callings us used by others and not Jesus

17. First Clement 46: Elect
1. Therefore we too, brothers, must follow examples such as these.
2. For it is written: "Follow the saints, for those who follow them will be sanctified."
3. And again it says in another place: "With the innocent one you will be innocent, and with the elect you will be elect, and with the perverse you will deal perversely."
4. Let us, therefore, join with the innocent and righteous, for these are the elect of God.
5. Why is there strife and angry outbursts and dissension and schisms and conflict among you?
6. Do we not have one God and one Christ and one Spirit of grace that was poured out upon us? And is there not one calling in Christ?
1. Τοιούτοις οὖν ὑποδείγμασιν κολληθῆναι καὶ ἡμᾶς δεῖ, ἀδελφοί.
2. γέγραπται γάρ· Κολλᾶσθε τοῖς ἁγίοις, ὅτι οἱ κολλώμενοι αὐτοῖς ἁγιασθήσονται.
3. καὶ πάλιν ἐν ἑτέρῳ τύπῳ λέγει· Μετὰ ἀνδρὸς ἀθῴμου ἀθῷος ἔσῃ καὶ μετὰ ἐκλεκτοῦ ἐκλεκτὸς ἔσῃ, καὶ μετὰ στρεβλοῦ διαστρέψεις.
4. κολληθῶμεν οὖν τοῖς ἀθῷοις καὶ δικαίοις· εἰσὶν δὲ οὗτοι ἐκλεκτοὶ τοῦ θεοῦ.
5. ἱναντί ἔρεις καὶ θυμοὶ καὶ διχοσατσίαι καὶ σχίσματα πόλεμός τε ἐν ὑμῖν;
6. ἢ οὐχὶ ἕνα θεὸν ἔχομεν καὶ ἕνα Χριστὸν καὶ ἓν πνεῦμα τῆς χάριτος τὸ ἐχυθὲν ἐφ’ ἡμᾶς; καὶ μία κλῆσις ἐν Χριστῷ;

(Holmes, 2007, p. 107-109)

Information sign More: Election callings us used by others and not Jesus

18. First Clement 46: Elect
7. Why do we tear and rip apart the members of Christ and rebel against our own body, and reach such a level of insanity that we forget that we are members of one another? Remember the words of Jesus our Lord,
8.for he said: "Woe to that person" Rather than cause one of my elect to sin, it would have been good for that one not to have been born. It would hove been better for that person to have been tied to a millstone and cast into the sea, rather than pervert one of my elect.
9. Your schism has perverted many; it has brought many to despair, plunged many into doubt, and caused all of us to sorrow. And yet your rebellion still continues.
7. ἱναντί διέλκομεν καὶ διασπῶμεν τὰ μέλη τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ στασιάζομεν πρὸς τὸ σῶμα τὸ ἴδιον, καὶ εἰς τοσαύτην ἀπόνοιαν ἐρχόμεθα, ὥστε ἐπιλαθέσθαι ἡμᾶς, ὅτι μέλη ἐσμὲν ἀλλήλων; μνήσθητε τῶν λόγων τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ.
8. εἶπεν γάρ· Οὐαὶ τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐκείνῳ· καλὸν ἧν αὐτῷ, εἰ οὐκ ἐγεννήθη, ἢ ἕνα τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν μου σκανδαλίσαι· κρεῖττον ἦν αὐτῷ περιτεθῆναι μύλον καὶ καταποντισθῆναι εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, ἢ ἕνα τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν μου διαστρέψαι.
9. τὸ σχίσμα ὑμῶν πολλοὺς διέστρεψεν, πολλούς εἰς ἀθυμίαν ἔβαλεν, πολλοὺς εἰς δισταγμόν, τοὺς πάντας ἡμᾶς εἰς λύπην· καὶ ἐπίμονς, ὑμῶν ἐστιν ἡ στάσις.

(Holmes, 2007, p. 107-109)

Information sign More: Election callings us used by others and not Jesus

19. End of page

by RS  admin@creationpie.org : 1024 x 640