Welcome to this series of posts giving a survey of what the early church fathers have written about justification and works of law with reference to Paul. Click this link to go to the first post with the contents of the whole.
In today’s post we look at Clement of Rome. Clement died in c.e. 101. He is believed to be a co-worker with Paul the apostle. He wrote three statements concerning justification. One of which is fairly well known.
Clement of Rome is known by scholars as a friend and coworker of Paul. The general opinion is that Paul refers to him in Phil 4.3;
2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. (Php 4:2–3)
Justified by our works
In his first letter to the Corinthians Clement writes:
CHAP. XXX.—LET US DO THOSE THINGS THAT PLEASE GOD, AND FLEE FROM THOSE HE HATES, THAT WE MAY BE BLESSED.
Seeing, therefore, that we are the portion of the Holy One, let us do all those things which pertain to holiness, avoiding all evil-speaking, all abominable and impure embraces, together with all drunkenness, seeking after change, all abominable lusts, detestable adultery, and execrable pride.
“For God,” saith [the Scripture], “resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.” (Jas 4.6; cf. Prov 3.34)
Let us cleave, then, to those to whom grace has been given by God. Let us clothe ourselves with concord and humility, ever exercising self-control, standing far off from all whispering and evil-speaking, being JUSTIFIED by our works, and not our words.
For [the Scripture] saith, “He that speaketh much, shall also hear much in answer. And does he that is ready in speech deem himself RIGHTEOUS? Blessed is he that is born of woman, who liveth but a short time: be not given to much speaking.”
Let our praise be in God, and not of ourselves; for God hateth those that commend themselves. Let testimony to our good deeds be borne by others, as it was in the case of our RIGHTEOUS forefathers. Boldness, and arrogance, and audacity belong to those that are accursed of God; but moderation, humility, and meekness to such as are blessed by Him.
(Clement of Rome. (1885). The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians. (A. Roberts, J. Donaldson, & A. C. Coxe, Eds.) The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume I: The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (p. 13f). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company.)
‘Justified by works’. These statements are very much like James’ statements when he says ‘justified by works and not by faith alone’ (Jas 2.24). Like James and in some instances in Paul, Clement understands justification to mean the means by which someone who is righteous is identified. In this case the way a person lives, the things they do, identify them as one of the righteous.
When Paul in like manner says, ‘a person is justified by faith apart from works of law’ (e.g. Rom 3.28) he means to say a persons faith in Christ is what identifies them before God as one of the righteous, not the performance of the works in the law of Moses. He is including Gentile believers under the umbrella of the righteous.
Clement encourages his audiences to show they are righteous by their works, not by their own bragging.
Abraham blessed through faith
CHAP. XXXI.—LET US SEE BY WHAT MEANS WE MAY OBTAIN THE DIVINE BLESSING.
Let us cleave then to His blessing, and consider what are the means of possessing it. Let us think over the things which have taken place from the beginning.
For what reason was our father Abraham blessed? was it not because he wrought RIGHTEOUSNESS and truth through faith?
Isaac, with perfect confidence, as if knowing what was to happen, cheerfully yielded himself as a sacrifice.
Jacob, through reason of his brother, went forth with humility from his own land, and came to Laban and served him; and there was given to him the sceptre of the twelve tribes of Israel. (ibid)
‘Blessed’. Clement says Abraham was blessed because he did the righteous and honest thing before God as a result of his faith – ‘righteousness and truth through faith’. Hebrews 11 is very similar saying, ‘By faith Abraham, when he was called obeyed by going out to a place he was to receive as an inheritance’ (Heb 11.8) and ‘By faith Abraham when he was tested offered up Isaac’ (Heb 11.17). Likewise Isaac yielding himself as a sacrifice and Jacob going forth in humility.
In each case he is speaking about a persons outworking of their faith.
Justified by that faith by which God has justified all men
CHAP. XXXII.—WE ARE JUSTIFIED NOT BY OUR OWN WORKS, BUT BY FAITH.
Whosoever will candidly consider each particular, will recognise the greatness of the gifts which were given by him.
For from him have sprung the priests and all the Levites who minister at the altar of God. From him also [was descended] our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh. From him [arose] kings, princes, and rulers of the race of Judah.
Nor are his other tribes in small glory, inasmuch as God had promised, “Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven.” (ibid)
‘From him’. Note the repetition of ‘from him’.
- From him sprung priests and levites.
- From him our Lord Jesus Christ.
- From him kings, princes and rulers.
The ‘Him’ is God. Clement says God is the origin, the source, the reason why these men lived and behaved as they did. These statements set the context of what follows.
All these, therefore, were highly honoured, and made great,
not for their own sake, or for their own works, or for the RIGHTEOUSNESS which they wrought, but through the operation of His will. (ibid)
‘The operation of His will’. The men became priests, kings, princes and rulers were highly honoured and made great in the world. Clement is talking about the status, power and role of these men in the world. They became like this not for their sake or for what they had done. Rather they were highly honoured and made great because of God’s sovereign will. Note; Clement is not downplaying they had works. He is simply saying it was not these that resulting in their honoured positions.
And we, too, being called by His will in Christ Jesus, are not JUSTIFIED by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or understanding, or godliness, or works which we have wrought in holiness of heart;
but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has JUSTIFIED all men; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (ibid, p 13)
Might be helpful to show a table comparing what Clement has said.
| Priests, kings, princes and rulers | We too, being called by his will |
| Highly honoured and made great | Justified (made, identified) |
| Not for their sake, their works or righteousness they wrought | Not by ourselves, our wisdom, understanding, godliness, or works |
| But through the operation of his will | But by that faith, through which, Almighty God … |
‘Called by His will’. They were called and made great through the operation of God’s will. God’s sovereign will. Even though they performed many commendable works and were recognised for their righteousness. Clement says the ultimate reason they were honoured is because of God’s will.
‘Justified’. In the same vain he then says, we were ‘not justified by ourselves’. Listing a series of qualities which only the righteous possess as ‘gifts given from God’. Justification here alludes to the means by which these men became righteous.
‘That faith’. He says, ‘but by that faith through which … Almighty God has justified all men’. He is not clear what he means by ‘faith’ in this important statement. Is it God’s own faith (faithfulness)? Or the faith of these people? Or perhaps a combination of the two?
Clement seems to be using faith in the sense that God uses it to work in the lives of the righteous – justifying them. i.e. God is making them highly honoured, great and righteous in the sight of others. There doesn’t seem to be the idea they were sinners and are being made righteous. Rather it seems to involve the process during their spiritual lives.
The immediate context has Abraham doing righteousness and truth through faith. His own faith in God. So I establish a basic order of God is working in and through the faith of these men to build them up and make them righteous (justified) and great.
Rendering according to works
CHAP. XXXIII.—BUT LET US NOT GIVE UP THE PRACTICE OF GOOD WORKS AND LOVE. GOD HIMSELF IS AN EXAMPLE TO US OF GOOD WORKS.
What shall we do, then, brethren? Shall we become slothful in well-doing, and cease from the practice of love? God forbid that any such course should be followed by us! But rather let us hasten with all energy and readiness of mind to perform every good work. For the Creator and Lord of all Himself rejoices in His works.
For by His infinitely great power He established the heavens, and by His incomprehensible wisdom He adorned them. He also divided the earth from the water which surrounds it, and fixed it upon the immoveable foundation of His own will. The animals also which are upon it He commanded by His own word into existence. So likewise, when He had formed the sea, and the living creatures which are in it, He enclosed them [within their proper bounds] by His own power.
Above all, with His holy and undefiled hands He formed man, the most excellent [of His creatures], and truly great through the understanding given him—the express likeness of His own image. For thus says God:
“Let us make man in Our image, and after Our likeness. So God made man; male and female He created them.”
Having thus finished all these things, He approved them, and blessed them, and said, “Increase and multiply.”
We see, then, how all RIGHTEOUS men have been adorned with good works, and how the Lord Himself, adorning Himself with His works, rejoiced. Having therefore such an example, let us without delay accede to His will, and let us work the work of RIGHTEOUSNESS with our whole strength.
CHAP. XXXIV.—GREAT IS THE REWARD OF GOOD WORKS WITH GOD. JOINED TOGETHER IN HARMONY, LET US IMPLORE THAT REWARD FROM HIM.
The good servant receives the bread of his labour with confidence; the lazy and slothful cannot look his employer in the face.
It is requisite, therefore, that we be prompt in the practice of well-doing; for of Him are all things. And thus He forewarns us:
“Behold, the Lord [cometh], and His reward is before His face, to render to every man according to his work.” (Ps 62.10; Rom 2.6)
He exhorts us, therefore, with our whole heart to attend to this, that we be not lazy or slothful in any good work. Let our boasting and our confidence be in Him. Let us submit ourselves to His will. Let us consider the whole multitude of His angels, how they stand ever ready to minister to His will.
For the Scripture saith,
“Ten thousand times ten thousand stood around Him, and thousands of thousands ministered unto Him, and cried, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the Lord of Sabbath; the whole creation is full of His glory.”
And let us therefore, conscientiously gathering together in harmony, cry to Him earnestly, as with one mouth, that we may be made partakers of His great and glorious promises. For [the Scripture] saith,
“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which He hath prepared for them that wait for Him.” (ibid, pp. 13–14)
Clement is encouraging his audience to do good works. To adorn themselves with good works. His exhortation to do good works is in light of the future judgment and ‘rendering according to works’. His use is consistent with Paul in Romans 2.6-11 quoting from Ps 62.12.
In the next post we look at Justin Martyr (c.e. 103-165). He is quite well known as an early church father and is famous for defending the Christian faith to Caesar during times of great persecution. He wrote important statements concerning justification.
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