Texts in Conversation
The epistle of 1 Clement appeals to God’s mercy using the language of Sirach, highlighting how early Christian authors used Jewish wisdom texts such as Sirach when teaching and making theological arguments.
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Sirach 2:11
Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticus
Deuterocanon
9 You who fear the Lord, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy. 10 Consider the generations of old and see: has anyone trusted in the Lord and been disappointed? Or has anyone persevered in the fear of the Lord and been forsaken? Or has anyone called upon him and been neglected? 11 For the Lord is compassionate and merciful; he forgives sins and saves in time of distress. 12 Woe to timid hearts and to slack hands, and to the sinner who walks a double path! 13 Woe to the fainthearted who have no trust! Therefore they will have no shelter.
Date: 195-175 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
1 Clement 60:1
First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
Early Christian
1 “You through Your operations did make manifest the everlasting fabric of the world. You, Lord, did create the earth. You that are faithful throughout all generations, righteous in Your judgments, marvelous in strength and excellence, You that are wise in creating and prudent in establishing that which You have made, that are good in the things which are seen and faithful with those that trust in You, pitiful and compassionate, forgive us our iniquities and our unrighteousnesses and our transgressions and shortcomings.” 2 “Lay not to our account every sin of Your servants and Your handmaids, but cleanse us with the cleansing of Your truth, and guide our steps to walk in holiness and righteousness and singleness of heart, and to do such things as are good and well pleasing in Your sight and in the sight of our rulers.”
Date: 90-100 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... The earliest Apostolic Fathers (90-150 CE), those writings closest in chronology to the New Testament writings, have a number of even more striking parallels, quotations, and allusions to noncanonical literature. Notice, for example, that Clement of Rome (90-95 CE) cites Sirach 2:11 in 1 Clement 60:1, Wisdom of Solomon 12:10 in 1 Clement 7:5, and Wisdom of Solomon 12:12 in 1 Clement 27:5 (perhaps also alluded to in 3:4 and 7:5). In 1 Clement 55:4-6 both Judith (8) and Esther (7 and 4:16) are cited authoritatively or scripturally. The author of 2 Clement (150 CE) has a number of quotations, allusions, and references from unknown and non-biblical sources (see 11:2-7, and 13:2) as well as a quote from Tobit 16:4. Barnabas (90-130) employs quotations from Wisdom of Solomon (20:2), 1 Enoch (16:5), 4 Ezra (12:1), and from unknown 'scripture' as in 7:3, 8, and 10:7. The Didache (70-90 CE) makes use of Wisdom of Solomon in 5:2 and 10:3 as well as an unknown quote in 1:6. Polycarp cites Tobit 4:10 (see also 12:9) in Martyrdom 10.2 ..."
McDonald, Lee Martin
Forgotten Scriptures: The Selection and Rejection of Early Religious Writings
(p. 136) Westminster John Knox Press, 2009
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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