By 
MEET CLEMENT OF ROME (30-101)
While committed Christians are familiar with the names Peter, Paul, John, and James, they draw a blank on Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp, and Justin. The reason for this is that their knowledge of Christian history does not go beyond Scripture. This is a shame because there is quite a bit recorded and a lot to learn from studying the early church fathers and their writings.
Clement of Rome was one of the earliest Christian leaders outside of Scripture that church historians are familiar with. Born in the 30s, he lived until the early part of the second century and served in Rome. Christian Historian Eusebius says that Clement was the third pastor of the church in Rome.
The first epistle of Clement to the Corinthians is one of the earliest letters in existence outside of Scripture. Clement wrote the letter around the same time John wrote the book of Revelation. From this letter, one learns that there were issues in Corinth similar to what Paul faced when he wrote 1 Corinthians. There were problems between the younger and the older men in the church. The younger were usurping the authority of the older and even removing senior leaders from their positions of authority.
Clement writes to the believers in the church at Corinth to rebuke them for their behavior, and to remind them of the humility of Christ and the commands of God, in the hope of correcting his Christian brothers in love for the sake of Christ’s church. Clement tells them, “It is disgraceful, dear friends, yet, utterly disgraceful and unworthy of your conduct in Christ that it should be reported that the well-established and ancient church of the Corinthians, because of one or two persons, is rebelling against its presbyters” (1 Clement 47:6). Clement urges them to “root this out quickly, and . . . fall down before the Master and pray to him with tears, so that he may be merciful” and reconcile with them and restore them (48:1).
Clement’s letter is not simply important because it is one of the earliest outside of Scripture, but also because it is saturated with Scripture demonstrating that Clement was a student of the Word of God. He reveals his high view of Scripture in chapter 45:2 saying, “The Holy Scriptures . . . are true . . . given by the Holy Spirit.” He also reveals that he has a good handle on the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. In 1 Clement 7:4, Clement shows he understands the doctrine of Christ’s substitutionary atonement saying, “The blood of Christ . . . [was] poured out for our salvation.” According to Clement, salvation is by grace through faith in Christ. He says, “Through him the eyes of our hearts have been opened; through him our foolish darkened mind springs up into the light” (36:2).
The existence of this book is important because many falsely believe that the church, after the close of Scripture, was in the dark doctrinally until the time of the Protestant reformers. A careful study of the Apostolic Fathers reveals that there were many in the early church who were sound in their faith. The teachings of these Christian leaders were credited, by the Protestant reformers, as having influenced their theology during the time of the Protestant Reformation.
In addition to being a sound theologian with the heart of a pastor, desiring to see unity in the body of Christ, with brothers and sisters in Christ loving one another in the church, Clement is also remembered as an uncompromising Christ follower who was persecuted for his faith in Jesus. He was believed by many to be banished to the Crimean Peninsula during the reign of the Roman Emperor Trajan and was forced to work in the mines there for being a Christian. After much hard labor, he was reportedly bound to an anchor and thrown into the Black Sea in 101.
One of the main lessons learned from Clement’s life and ministry is the importance of being a student of the Word of God. Clement was confident in his council to the Christians in Corinth, and also bold in his rebuke of them, because his response was based on what God had clearly said in His Word. Because God’s people are sinners who live in a fallen world, there are times when they need guidance, instruction, and correction. To lead, counsel, and correct God’s people in a way that brings glory to Him, one must first know God’s Word and how to apply it. To know God’s Word, one must become a student of God’s Word. It is through the study of God’s Word that the Spirit of God instructs the hearts and minds of believers, which influences what they say and do.
Graham Hale
Graham Hale is the Pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Jacksonville, TX. and is a Womenary Professor. He earned a B.A. (Political Science) from the University of Arkansas in 2001 and a M.Div. (Missiology) from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in 2006. Graham is currently pursuing a D.Min. (Pastoral Leadership) at Southwestern Theological Seminary.
