Clement of Rome

Clement of Rome
A.D. 30?–100

Remember this quotation as the informa­tion concerning Clement is read: “What we know with cer­tainty is only this, that he stood at the head of the Roman congregation at the close of the first cen­tury.” [1]  Clement was a disciple of Peter and Paul and after their deaths he later became bishop of the Church in Rome.  His writing is compared to that of Paul in its style, similar to the Epistle to the He­brews.

Schaff asserts, “Clement bear clear testimony to the doctrines of the Trinity (“God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, who are the faith and the hope of the elect”)….” [2]  but he also says “Clement is the only one of the apostolic fathers, except per­haps Polycarp, who shows some conception of the Pauline doctrine of justification by faith.”  “All” (the saints of the Old Testament),  says he, ” became great and glorious, not through themselves, nor by their works, nor by their righteousness, but by the will of God.  Thus we also, who are called by the will of God in Christ Jesus, are righteous……”[3]

It is very unclear whether or not Clement taught a par­ticular doctrinal position and would be unwise (for either camp) to make any conclu­sions on the limited and sketchy evidence supplied.

It is accepted that Clement died a natural death.

[1] Schaff, Volume II, p.638.

[2] Ibid., Volume II, p. 643.

[3] Ibid., Volume II, p. 644.