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1 Clement lists Abraham among the righteous and calls him the friend of God. Clement of Alexandria quotes this passage, keeping the title and Abraham’s humble reply that he is only dust and ashes.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
1 Clement 17:2
First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
Early Christian
1 Let us be imitators also of those which went about in goatskins and sheepskins, preaching the coming of Christ. We mean Elijah and Elisha and likewise Ezekiel, the prophets, and besides them those men also that obtained a good report. 2 Abraham obtained an exceeding good report and was called the friend of God; and looking steadfastly on the glory of God, he says in lowliness of mind, “But I am dust and ashes.” 3 Moreover concerning Job also it is thus written; “And Job was righteous and unblamable, one that was true and honored God and abstained from all evil.”
Clement of Alexandria Stromata 4.17
Early Christian
Then more clearly: "Let us fix our eyes on those who have yielded perfect service to His magnificent glory. Let us take Enoch, who, being by his obedience found righteous, was translated; and Noah, who, having believed, was saved; and Abraham, who for his faith and hospitality was called the friend of God, and was the father of Isaac." "For hospitality and piety, Lot was saved from Sodom." "For faith and hospitality, Rahab the harlot was saved." "From patience and faith they walked about in goat-skins, and sheep-skins, and folds of camels' hair, proclaiming the kingdom of Christ. We name His prophets Elias, and Eliseus, and Ezekiel, and John." "For Abraham, who for his free faith was called ' the friend of God,' was not elated by glory, but modestly said, 'I am dust and ashes.' And of Job it is thus written: ' Job was just and blameless, true and pious, abstaining from all evil.'" He it was who overcame the tempter by patience, and at once testified and was testified to by God; who keeps hold of humility, and says, "No one is pure from defilement, not even if his life were but for one day." "Moses, 'the servant who was faithful in all his house,' said to Him who uttered the oracles from the bush,' Who am I, that Thou sendest me? I am slow of speech, and of a stammering tongue,' to minister the voice of God in human speech. And again: ' I am smoke from a pot.'" "For God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." "David too, of whom the Lord, testifying, says, 'I found a man after my own heart, David the son of Jesse.
Date: 195 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
... Clement refers to the unclean spirits who now “tremble” (phrissousin) at the sight of the baptized person (see James 2:19). But other allusions, such as to the “friend of God” need not derive from James 2:23, since Clement certainly could have derived the usage from Philo, whom he uses heavily. The decision concerning Clement remains difficult. But in Stromateis IV, 17‘18, Clement quotes extensively from 1 Clement. Could the knowledge of James have reached Alexandria through this medium? ...
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