Chapter I.--The Salutation. Praise of the Corinthians Before the Breaking Forth of Schism Among Them.
The church of God which sojourns at Rome, to the church of God sojourning at Corinth, to them that are called and sanctified by the will of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from Almighty God through Jesus Christ, be multiplied.
Owing, dear brethren, to the sudden and successive calamitous events [3999] which have happened to ourselves, we feel that we have been somewhat tardy in turning our attention to the points respecting which you consulted us; and especially to that shameful and detestable sedition, utterly abhorrent to the elect of God, which a few rash and self-confident persons have kindled to such a pitch of frenzy, that your venerable and illustrious name, worthy to be universally loved, has suffered grievous injury. [4000] For who ever dwelt even for a short time among you, and did not find your faith to be as fruitful of virtue as it was firmly established? [4001] Who did not admire the sobriety and moderation of your godliness in Christ? Who did not proclaim the magnificence of your habitual hospitality? And who did not rejoice over your perfect and well-grounded knowledge? For ye did all things without respect of persons, and walked in the commandments of God, being obedient to those who had the rule over you, and giving all fitting honour to the presbyters among you. Ye enjoined young men to be of a sober and serious mind, ye instructed your wives to do all things with a blameless, becoming, and pure conscience, loving their husbands as in duty bound; and ye taught them that, living in the rule of obedience, they should manage their household affairs becomingly, and be in every respect marked by discretion.
[3998] According to I, the title is "Clement's (Epistle) to the Corinthians." A includes in a Table of Contents of the New Testament after the Apocalypse: "Clement's Epistle I." "Clement's Epistle II." The space for the title for the 1st Epistle is mutilated, and we find only "....Corinthians I.;" the 2d Epistle has no title. On the authority of Eusebius, Jerome, Georgius Syncellus, the earlier editions give the titles, "First Epistle of Saint Clement, Bishop of Rome, to the Corinthians, written in name of the Church of Rome," "Second Epistle of Saint Clement, Bishop of Rome, to the Corinthians."
[3999] I, peristaseis (critical experiences).
[4000] Literally "is greatly blasphemed."
[4001] Literally, "did not prove your all-virtuous and firm faith."
Chapter II.--Praise of the Corinthians Continued.
Moreover, ye were all distinguished by humility, and were in no respect puffed up with pride, but yielded obedience rather than extorted it, [4002] and were more willing to give than to receive. [4003] Content with the provision which God [4004] had made for you, and carefully attending to His words, ye were inwardly filled [4005] with His doctrine, and His sufferings were before your eyes. Thus a profound and abundant peace was given to you all, and ye had an insatiable desire for doing good, while a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit was upon you all. Full of holy designs, ye did, with true earnestness of mind and a godly confidence, stretch forth your hands to God Almighty, beseeching Him to be merciful unto you, if ye had been guilty of any involuntary transgression. Day and night ye were anxious for the whole brotherhood, [4006] that the number of God's elect might be saved with mercy [4007] and a good conscience. [4008] Ye were sincere and uncorrupted, and forgetful of injuries between one another. Every kind of faction and schism was abominable in your sight. Ye mourned over the transgressions of your neighbours: their deficiencies you deemed your own. Ye never grudged any act of kindness, being "ready to every good work." [4009] Adorned by a thoroughly virtuous and religious life, ye did all things in the fear of God. The commandments and ordinances of the Lord were written upon the tablets of your hearts.
[4002] Eph. v. 21; 1 Pet. v. 5.
[4003] Acts xx. 35.
[4004] I. Christou (Christ). In the monophysite controversy, the theologians of Alexandria preferred to call the Lord "God" rather than "Christ."
[4005] Literally, "ye embraced it in your bowels."
[4006] 1 Pet. ii. 17.
[4007] I. deous (fear).
[4008] So in the ms., but many have suspected that the text is here corrupt. Perhaps the best emendation is that which substitutes sunaistheseos "compassion," for suneideseos "conscience."
[4009] Tit. iii. 1.
[4010] Prov. vii. 3.