Answers for a Friend – Clement
December 1, 2002
Dear Friends,
We are still working on the answer to the question about the historical evidence of Christadelphian doctrines we began last week. As we stated, the only logical and reliable method to discern what the early ecclesia believed utilizing non-Biblical evidence is from the writings of those known as the Apostolic Fathers. These men include Clement, Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp, the author of the Didache, the author of the Epistle to Barnabus, the author of the Shepherd of Hermas and Papias. Since none of these men wrote a personal statement of faith, we shall have to consult all of their writings and, for each of these writers, show where they agree or disagree with our teaching.
We will begin with Clement. It has been suggested that Clement, who quotes extensively from both Paul and the Old Testament, wrote his letter to the ecclesia at Rome between AD 81-96. As noted before, these men were not inspired. This is apparent with Clement as he makes mention of the mythical phoenix which “has a life of 500 years.”
As with the Christadelphians, Clement was a believer in the literal return of Jesus Christ to the earth and the resurrection of the dead. Clement says “Truly, His purpose will accomplish itself swiftly and suddenly; as indeed we have Scriptures own testimony, which says, ‘He will surely come quickly, he will not delay; and again with no warning, the Lord, the Holy One you are expecting, will come into his temple. Think, my Dear Friends,
how the Lord offers us proof after proof that there is going to be a resurrection, of which He has made Jesus Christ the first-fruits by raising him from the dead.” In another place he states “Go into your secret chambers for a very little while, till my rage and my fury pass away, and then I will remember a day of gladness, and raise you out of your graves.” Notice that the Christian hope at this time is the literal return of Jesus Christ to the earth and the resurrection of the dead at the last day. The Gospel of the Kingdom of God on earth, the focus of the New Testament writers, has almost entirely disappeared from latter day orthodox Christianity and has been replaced with the notion of going to heaven.
Also, Clement agrees with Christadelphian teaching that a believer must continue to demonstrate his faith in works in order to maintain that salvation which he was given by God’s grace. Clement writes “Then let us strain every nerve to be found among those who wait in patience for Him, so that we too may earn a share of His promised gifts. And how is this to be done, my friends? Why, by fixing our minds trustfully on God; by finding out what is pleasing and acceptable to Him; by doing whatever agrees with His perfect will; by following the paths of truth.” He says in another place, “There are many gates standing open, but the gate of righteousness is the gate of Christ, where blessings are in store for every incomer who pursues the path of godliness and uprightness and goes about his duties without seeking to create trouble.” In another place, Clement writes “…let us plead for those who have fallen from grace, that they may be given the unselfishness and the humility to surrender themselves, not indeed to us, but to the will of God.” On this last comment by Clement, if we are “once saved, always saved”, how can we fall from grace? Wouldn’t that be an impossibility? Finally, Clement says “We have reminded you of your duty to earn in all holiness the approval of the Almighty God by a life of rectitude, truthfulness, and patient resignation, and to live amicably and without malice together in peace and in charity and in unfailing consideration for others. This, as we have pointed out, is how our fathers won approval…”
Clement also agrees with the Christadelphian position on the Scripture that they are the wholly inspired word of God and contain no error that has not been inserted by later translators and scribes. Although many mainstream Christians would agree with this statement, others would deny it. Clement wrote “Just take a look at the sacred scriptures; they are the authentic voice of the Holy Spirit, and you know that they contain nothing that is contrary to justice, nor is anything in them falsified.”
As you would expect at this early date, Trinitarian dogma is absent from the writing of Clement. He says “Let all the nations of the earth know that thou are God alone, that Jesus Christ is thy child, and that we are thy people and the sheep of thy pasture.”
Other than the reference to the Phoenix, there is only one statement which may cause concern among Christadelphians. He makes mention of heaven not being clean because “even his angels can err.” Any modern day Christadelphian who made such a statement would be asked to first explain the statement and support it with Scripture. The idea of heaven not being clean would, like the Phoenix comment, also cause problems with orthodox Christianity.
Clement, the earliest of the Apostolic Fathers, believed in the coming Kingdom of God on earth and the resurrection of the dead, conditional salvation, the unerring inspiration of the Bible and in one God with Jesus as His son.
Lord willing, next week, we will focus on Ignatius of Antioch.
Have a great week!
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