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Lectio Studies

The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

Chapter 47

7 sections

Clement of Rome

Transcribed from a dated scan; artifacts may remain. Edition notes

Take up the epistle of the blessed Paul the Apostle.

What did he first write to you at the beginning of his preaching?

With true inspiration he charged you concerning himself and Cephas and Apollos, because even then you had made yourselves partisans.

But that partisanship entailed less guilt on you ; for you were partisans of Apostles of high reputation, and of a man approved by them.

But now consider who they are who have perverted you, and have lessened the respect due to your famous love for the brethren.

It is a shameful report, beloved, extremely shameful, and unworthy of your training in Christ, that on account of one or two persons the steadfast and ancient church of the Corinthians is being disloyal to the presbyters.

And this report has not only reached us, but also those who dissent from us, so that you bring blasphemy on the name of the Lord through your folly, and are moreover creating danger for yourselves.

Trans. Kirsopp Lake, The Apostolic Fathers, Volume I (Loeb Classical Library), 1912. Public domain.

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