Texts in Conversation
In 1 Clement, the author quotes all of Isaiah 53 in the Greek Septuagint translation and takes the suffering servant to be Jesus, but uses the chapter mainly as an example of humility for the Corinthians to copy and less to explain the death of Jesus.
Share:
2500 BCE
1000+ CE
LXX Isaiah 53:1
Septuagint
1 Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a child, like a root in a thirsty land; he has no form or glory, and we saw him, and he had no form or beauty. 3 But his form was without honor, failing beyond all men, a man being in calamity and knowing how to bear sickness; because his face is turned away, he was dishonored and not esteemed. 4 This one bears our sins and suffers pain for us, and we accounted him to be in trouble and calamity and ill-treatment.
Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 16:3
First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
Early Christian
2 The scepter of the majesty of God, even our Lord Jesus Christ, came not in the pomp of arrogance or of pride, though He might have done so, but in lowliness of mind, according as the Holy Spirit spoke concerning Him. 3 For He says “Lord, who believed our report? and to whom was the arm of the Lord revealed? We announced Him in His presence. As a child was He, as a root in a thirsty ground. There is no form in Him, neither glory. And we saw Him, and He had no form nor comeliness, but His form was mean, lacking more than the form of men. He was a man of stripes and of toil, and knowing how to bear infirmity: for His face is turned away. He was dishonored and held of no account.”
Search:
Notes and References
“... The traditional character of the christology is further demonstrated in the rather formulaic references to Jesus’ salvific death. There are references to Jesus’ blood as “poured out” (1 Clem. 7.4), “given for us” (1 Clem. 21.6; cf. 1 Clem. 49.6), through which redemption has come (1 Clem. 12.7). In 1 Clement 16.3-17 there is an extended appropriation of Isaiah 53:1–12, explicitly taking the suffering servant of the latter passage as Christ suffering for the sins of the redeemed. Characteristic of this author, however, is the emphasis placed on Christ’s sufferings as ethical example for Christian life (1 Clem 16.17). ...”
Martin, Ralph P.
Dictionary of the Later New Testament & Its Developments
(p. 313) InterVarsity Press, 1997
* 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.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.
User Comments
,