Texts in Conversation
In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul quotes Isaiah's language of unseen and unheard gifts. The author of 1 Clement repeats the promise, and in 2 Clement, the preacher alludes to it but rearranges it, perhaps using a traditional form of the text.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
1 Corinthians 2:9
New Testament
6 Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing. 7 Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.” 10 God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 34:8
First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
Early Christian
5 Let our boast and our confidence be in Him: let us submit ourselves to His will; let us mark the whole host of His angels, how they stand by and minister to His will. 6 For the scripture says, “Ten thousands of ten thousands stood by Him, and thousands of thousands ministered to Him: and they cried aloud, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Sabaoth; all creation is full of His glory.’” 7 Yes, and let us ourselves then, being gathered together in concord with intentness of heart, cry to Him as from one mouth earnestly that we may be made partakers of His great and glorious promises. 8 For He says, “Eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and it has not entered into the heart of man what great things He has prepared for those that patiently await Him.”
2 Clement 11:7
Early Christian
3 You fools! Compare yourselves to a tree; take a vine. First it sheds its leaves, then a shoot appears, after this a sour berry, then a fully ripe grape. 4 So likewise My people had turmoil and afflictions, but afterward they shall receive good things. 5 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, let us not be double-minded but patiently endure in hope, so that we may also obtain our reward. 6 For He who promised is faithful to pay each person the due reward of their works. 7 If therefore we have done what is right in the sight of God, we shall enter His kingdom and shall receive the promises that no ear has heard nor eye seen, nor has it entered into any person’s heart.
Date: 130-160 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
“... Paul and the author of 1 Clement both use citation formulae, which imply that they are quoting from Scripture, but the words that they use do not correspond exactly with any otherwise known version of a scriptural text. It is possible that they quote Isa. 64. 3, but in a different form than that in the LXX. However, there is no citation formula in 2 Clement, and the parallels to Isa. 64 are less clear than those found in 1 Corinthians and in 1 Clement. 2 Clem. 11. 7 has ear before eye [...]. Thus it is possible that the author of 2 Clement does not use Isa. 64 at all, or that he uses it in a different form from that used by Paul and by the author of 1 Clement. [...] It is quite likely a commonplace, and the attestation in Ps.-Philo 26. 13 of the first part of the ‘saying’ (i.e., as found in 2 Clem. 11. 7, but not 14. 5) suggests that at least part of this commonplace was known independently of the Christian tradition. ...”
Gregory, Andrew F.
The Reception of the New Testament in the Apostolic Fathers
(pp. 284-285) Oxford University Press, 2005
* 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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