๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐.๐: ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ญ
Clementโs description of the Christian community is strikingly expansive. In this passage, he speaks of all being humble-minded, Godโs commandments being written upon their hearts, the Holy Spirit being poured out upon all, and the Churchโs concern extending to the whole brotherhood and the salvation of Godโs people. At first glance, the passage carries an almost universal scope. Yet Clement concludes this movement inwardly with a distinctly scriptural qualification: โthe number of His elect might be saved.โ This tension is precisely what makes the passage significant. Clementโs language of salvation seems broad and communal but when read in its context itโs clear that Clement is saying โwithin the brethren,โ so, it goes that his exact message remains the language of Israelโs Scriptures where we also can look at his reference concerning election. Therefore, is not whether Clement sounds universal in his concern; he plainly does but the context which we shall examine will prove otherwise.
Ye were all humble-mindedโฆ attending diligently unto His words, and receiving them into your hearts, and His commandments were written upon the breadth of your hearts. Thus a profound and rich peace was given to allโฆ and a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit fell upon allโฆ Day and night ye were anxious for the whole brotherhood, that the number of His elect might be saved with mercy and a good conscienceโฆ
โ Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians 2.6โ9, trans. J. B. Lightfoot
Clement does not merely say that the Corinthians possess Christian doctrine or put them outside of the genealogical scope. He describes them using covenantal imagery: words received into the heart, commandments written upon the heart, a brotherhood, and an elect people. This is the same language in series IV.3 we explored when exploring the Didache and the new covenant language regarded within it.
The phrase โwritten upon the breadth of your heartsโ immediately recalls the language of the New Covenant. Clement is therefore is standing within an already-established scriptural vocabulary. The commandments written upon the heart are covenant language, and the covenant passage Clementโs wording most naturally recalls is Jeremiahโs promise concerning the house of Israel which is later affirmed in the letter written to the Hebrews.
The phrase โHis electโ is equally important; as Clementโs language is broad: โall,โ โthe whole brotherhood,โ and the Holy Spirit falling โupon all.โ Yet when he speaks specifically of salvation, he says that they prayed that โthe number of His elect might be saved.โ This prevents us from simply reading Clement as though he were teaching universal salvation. His language is expansive in scope and universal in concern, but his stated object of salvation remains the elect who is the reason which Christ came.
Ad fontes.
V
