( PART 5 ) DID THE EARLIEST POST-BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN WRITERS TEACH CHRISTENDOM'S OFFICIAL DOCTRINE OF THE TRI{3}NITY? = CLEMENT OF ROME – LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS – CHAPTER 1(B)
ΚΛΗΜΕΝΤΟΣ
ΠΡΟΣ ΚΟΡΙΝΘΙΟΥΣ Α
1ST
CLEMENT TOWARD [THE] CORINTHIANS
GREEK
TEXT:
“...ἣν ὀλίγα πρόσωπα προπετῆ καὶ αὐθάδη
ὑπάρχοντα εἰς τοσοῦτον ἀπονοίας
ἐξέκαυσαν, ὥστε τὸ σεμνὸν καὶ περιβόητον
καὶ πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις ἀξιαγά - πητον
ὄνομα
ὑμῶν μεγάλως βλασφημηθῆναι...”
-
(Chapter 1:1; MPG)
CLEMENT
OF ROME (circa. 30-100 C.E.):
“...which a few headstrong and
self-willed persons have kindled to such a pitch of madness that
your name, once revered and
renowned and lovely in the sight of all men, hath
been greatly reviled...” - (Chapter 1:1; THE FIRST
EPISTLE OF CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS Translated by J.B. Lightfoot.)
CLEMENT
OF ROME (circa. 30-100 C.E.):
“...that [1.] your venerable and famous name,
worthy to be loved of all men, is greatly
blasphemed...” - (CHAPTER 1:1; THE FIRST EPISTLE OF
CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS translated by Charles H. Hoole, 1885.)
CLEMENT
OF ROME (circa. 30-100 C.E.):
“...that [1.] your venerable
and illustrious name, worthy to be
universally loved, has suffered grievous
injury...” - (CHAPTER 1 -- SALUTATION, AND PRAISE FOR THE
CORINTHIANS BEFORE SCHISM BROKE FORTH AMONG THEM. CLEMENT OF ROME,
First Epistle/Letter of Clement to the Corinthians .)
This
passage reminds me of similar thoughts in Romans 2:24 and 1st Timothy 6:1:
ΠΡΟΣ
ΡΩΜΑΙΟΥΣ 2:24 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
“...τὸ γὰρ ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ δι’ ὑμᾶς βλασφημεῖται ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν καθὼς γέγραπται...”
“...τὸ γὰρ ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ δι’ ὑμᾶς βλασφημεῖται ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν καθὼς γέγραπται...”
Gk.,
( τὸ [...] ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ )
“...THE
NAME OF GOD...”
New
American Standard Bible (©1995)
“...For "THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU," just as it is written...”
“...For "THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU," just as it is written...”
Darby
Bible Translation
“...For the name of God is blasphemed on your account among the nations, according as it is written...”
“...For the name of God is blasphemed on your account among the nations, according as it is written...”
Which
is a quote from Isaiah 52:5:
Isaiah
52:5 Greek OT: Septuagint with Diacritics
“...καὶ νῦν τί ὧδέ ἐστε τάδε λέγει [Heb., ( יְהוָ֔ה )] ΚΎΡΙΟΣ ὅτι ἐλήμφθη ὁ λαός μου δωρεάν θαυμάζετε καὶ ὀλολύζετε τάδε λέγει [Heb., ( יְהוָ֔ה )] ΚΎΡΙΟΣ δι' ὑμᾶς διὰ παντὸς τὸ ὄνομά μου βλασφημεῖται ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν...”
“...καὶ νῦν τί ὧδέ ἐστε τάδε λέγει [Heb., ( יְהוָ֔ה )] ΚΎΡΙΟΣ ὅτι ἐλήμφθη ὁ λαός μου δωρεάν θαυμάζετε καὶ ὀλολύζετε τάδε λέγει [Heb., ( יְהוָ֔ה )] ΚΎΡΙΟΣ δι' ὑμᾶς διὰ παντὸς τὸ ὄνομά μου βλασφημεῖται ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν...”
American
Standard Version
“...Now therefore, what do I here, saith JEHOVAH, seeing that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them do howl, saith JEHOVAH, and my name continually all the day is blasphemed...”
“...Now therefore, what do I here, saith JEHOVAH, seeing that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them do howl, saith JEHOVAH, and my name continually all the day is blasphemed...”
Darby
Bible Translation
“...and now, what have I here, saith JEHOVAH, that my people hath been taken away for nought? They that rule over them make them to howl, saith JEHOVAH; and continually all the day is my name scorned...”
“...and now, what have I here, saith JEHOVAH, that my people hath been taken away for nought? They that rule over them make them to howl, saith JEHOVAH; and continually all the day is my name scorned...”
Young's
Literal Translation
“...And now, what -- to Me here, An affirmation of JEHOVAH, That taken is My people for nought? Its rulers cause howling, -- an affirmation of JEHOVAH, And continually all the day My name is despised..."
And 1st Timothy 6:1:
“...And now, what -- to Me here, An affirmation of JEHOVAH, That taken is My people for nought? Its rulers cause howling, -- an affirmation of JEHOVAH, And continually all the day My name is despised..."
And 1st Timothy 6:1:
ΠΡΟΣ
ΤΙΜΟΘΕΟΝ Α΄ 6:1 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with
Diacritics
Ὅσοι εἰσὶν ὑπὸ ζυγὸν δοῦλοι, τοὺς ἰδίους δεσπότας πάσης τιμῆς ἀξίους ἠγείσθωσαν, ἵνα μὴ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ ἡ διδασκαλία βλασφημῆται.
Ὅσοι εἰσὶν ὑπὸ ζυγὸν δοῦλοι, τοὺς ἰδίους δεσπότας πάσης τιμῆς ἀξίους ἠγείσθωσαν, ἵνα μὴ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ ἡ διδασκαλία βλασφημῆται.
The
Lamsa New Testament
LET
all of those who are under the yoke of slavery honor and respect
their masters in every way, so that the name of God and his doctrines
may not be blasphemed.
Keneth
Wuest's Expanded New Testament
Let
as many as are under the yoke as slaves consider their own absolute
masters worthy of every respect in order that the Name of God and the
teaching be not evil spoken of.
New
International Version (©1984)
All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered.
All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered.
In the passage in Clement the reference is most likely to the name of "...Christ..." or perhaps “...Christians...” in general as followers of "Christ" (Acts
11:26(B)):
ΠΡΑΞΕΙΣ
11:26 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
“...καὶ εὑρὼν ἤγαγεν εἰς Αντιόχειαν. ἐγένετο δὲ αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐνιαυτὸν ὅλον συναχθῆναι ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ διδάξαι ὄχλον ἱκανόν, χρηματίσαι τε πρώτως ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ τοὺς μαθητὰς Χριστιανούς...”
“...καὶ εὑρὼν ἤγαγεν εἰς Αντιόχειαν. ἐγένετο δὲ αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐνιαυτὸν ὅλον συναχθῆναι ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ διδάξαι ὄχλον ἱκανόν, χρηματίσαι τε πρώτως ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ τοὺς μαθητὰς Χριστιανούς...”
YOUNG'S
LITERAL TRANSLATION
“...and having found him, he brought him to Antioch, and it came to pass that they a whole year did assemble together in the assembly, and taught a great multitude, the disciples also were divinely called first in Antioch Christians...”
“...and having found him, he brought him to Antioch, and it came to pass that they a whole year did assemble together in the assembly, and taught a great multitude, the disciples also were divinely called first in Antioch Christians...”
“...The
word χρηματίσαι in our common text, which we translate were
called, signifies in the New Testament, to appoint, warn, or
nominate, by Divine direction. In this sense, the word is used,
Matthew 2:12; Luke
2:26; and in the preceding chapter of this book, Acts
10:22. If, therefore, the name was given by Divine appointment,
it as most likely that Saul and Barnabas were directed to give it;
and that, therefore, the name Christian is from God, as well as that
grace and holiness which are so essentially required and implied in
the character. […] this name occurs in only three places in the New
Testament: here, and in Acts
26:28, and in 1 Peter
4:16...”
Compare Polycarp refering to Christ's name:
GREEK
TEXT: “...Ἀδιαλείπτως [1.] οὖν
προσκαρτερῶμεν τῇ ἐλπίδι ἡμῶν καὶ
τῷ ἀρραβῶνι τῆς δικαιοσύνης ἡμῶν,
ὅς ἐστι Χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς, ὃς ἀνήγκεν
ἡμῶν τὰς ἁμαρτίας τῷ ἰδίῳ σώματι
ἐπὶ τὸ ξύλον, ὃς ἁμαρτίαν οὐκ
ἐποίησεν, οὐδὲ εὑρέθη δόλος ἐν τῷ
στόματι αὐτοῦ· ἀλλὰ δι’ ἡμᾶς, ἵνα
ζήσωμεν ἐν αὐτῷ, πάντα ὑπέμεινεν.
[2.] μιμηταὶ οὖν γενώμεθα τῆς
ὑπομονῆς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐὰν πάσχωμεν
διὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ,
δοξάζωμεν αὐτόν. τοῦτον γὰρ ἡμῖν
τὸν ὐπογραμμὸν ἔθηκε δι’ ἑαυτοῦ,
καὶ ήμεῖς τοῦτο ἐπιστεύσαμεν....” -
(Chapter 8, “The Apostolic Fathers” by Kirsopp Lake, 1912, Loeb
Classical Library.)
POLYCARP OF
SMYRNA (circa. 65-155 C.E.): “...Let [1.] us then continually
persevere in our hope, and the earnest of our righteousness, which is
Jesus Christ, “who bore our sins in His own body on the tree,”[384]
“who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth,”[385]
but endured all things for us, that we might live in Him.[386]
[2.] Let us then be imitators of His patience; and if we suffer[387]
for His name’s sake, let us glorify Him.[388] For He has
set us this example[389] in Himself, and we have believed that
such is the case....” - (Chapter VIII.—Persevere in hope and
patience. Roberts & Donaldson ANF.)
[FOOTNOTE
388]: Some read, “we glorify Him.”
POLYCARP
OF SMYRNA (circa. 65-155 C.E.): “...Let [1.] us then persevere
unceasingly in our hope, and in the pledge of our righteousness, that
is in Christ Jesus, "who bare our sins in his own body on the
tree, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth," but
for our sakes, that we might live in him, he endured all things. [2.]
Let us then be imitators of his endurance, and if we suffer for his
name's sake let us glorify him. For this is the example which he gave
us in himself, and this is what we have believed...” - (CHAPTER
8, Perseverance POLYCARP to the Philippians, “The Apostolic
Fathers” by Kirsopp Lake, 1912, Loeb Classical Library.)
POLYCARP
OF SMYRNA (circa. 65-155 C.E.): “...Let [8:1] us therefore without
ceasing hold fast by our hope and by the earnest of our
righteousness, which is Jesus Christ who took up our sins in His own
body upon the tree, who did no sin, neither was guile found in His
mouth, but for our sakes He endured all things, that we might live in
Him. [8:2] Let us therefore become imitators of His endurance; and if
we should suffer for His name's sake, let us glorify Him. For He gave
this example to us in His own person, and we believed this....” -
(8:1 THE EPISTLE OF POLYCARP Translated by J.B. Lightfoot.)
However, in saying that, "Christian" conduct, as followers of the "Christ" still reflected, not only on Christ, but also on the God whom they and Jesus himself worshipped.{*}
It was God's personal name whom Christians represented - at all times, and whatever
they did, good or bad, reflected on “...THE GOD - ( OF ) - our Lord Jesus Christ...” (Eph. 1:17), that is his Father, - JEHOVAH.
The personal importance of God's holy and sacred name to Clement
of Rome will really come to the fore in the later chapters of this letter - as we shall indeed see.
[FOOTNOTE *]: John 4:22: Gk., ( ἡμεῖς προσκυνοῦμεν ) present, active, indicative 1st person plural = Jesus speaking of and including himself “...( WE ) worship...”
[FOOTNOTE *]: John 4:22: Gk., ( ἡμεῖς προσκυνοῦμεν ) present, active, indicative 1st person plural = Jesus speaking of and including himself “...( WE ) worship...”
