Texts in Conversation
In 1 Timothy, the author praises the invisible God with honor and glory forever. In 2 Clement, the preacher closes with similar praise, likely using common prayers from worship rather than directly quoting 1 Timothy.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
1 Timothy 1:17
New Testament
12 I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and our Lord’s grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus. 15 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them! 16 But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. 17 Now to the eternal King, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.
2 Clement 20:5
Early Christian
3 No righteous person has quickly reaped reward, but waits for it. 4 For if God had paid the recompense of the righteous right away, then immediately we would be training ourselves for profit, not for godliness; for we would appear righteous while pursuing not what is godly but what is beneficial to us. And for this reason Divine judgment overtakes a spirit that is not upright, and binds it with chains. 5 To the only invisible God, the Father of truth, who sent to us the Savior and Prince of immortality, through whom also He revealed to us the truth and heavenly life—to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Date: 130-160 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
“... Three possible references to 1 Timothy may be noted, and one to 2 Timothy. [...] The third parallel, a doxology (2 Clem. 20. 5 // 1 Tim. 1. 17) does contain significant verbal parallels, but a basis in common liturgical forms with a background in Hellenistic Judaism is more likely than literary dependence on 1 Timothy. ...”
Gregory, Andrew F.
The Reception of the New Testament in the Apostolic Fathers
(pp. 288-289) 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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