Texts in Conversation
In 1 Clement, the author sets the praise of Job as blameless beside the admission in Job 14 that no one is clean, part of a pattern repeated for Abraham, Moses and David in which a hero approved by God is then quoted speaking humbly of himself.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
LXX Job 14:4
Septuagint
1 For a mortal, born of a woman, is short-lived and full of anger. 2 Or, like a flower blooming, he falls off, and he flees like a shadow and does not stand. 3 And have you not made an account of such a one and caused such a one to enter into judgment before you? 4 For who is spotless of filth? No one! 5 And if his life is one day upon the earth, and his months are numbered with him, you have made him for a time, and he shall not go beyond it. 6 Draw away from him, so that he may be at rest and find pleasure in life like a hired servant.
Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 17:4
First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
Early Christian
1 Let us be imitators also of those who 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 exceedingly 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.” 4 Yet he himself accuses himself saying, “No man from filth; no, not though his life be but for a day.”
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Notes and References
“... Humility is taught in 1 Clement 13–15 by a combination of OT texts [...] with sayings of Jesus (1 Clem. 13.2) and in 1 Clement 16–18 by the examples of Christ (Is 53 quoted in entirety as an indication of Christ’s humility), three prophets (Elijah, Elisha and Ezekiel) and four others (Abraham, Job, Moses and David). The pattern followed is to state why the hero may be regarded as approved by God and then to cite passages that give evidence of his humility: Abraham (Is 41:8 contrasted with Gen 18:27), Job (Job 1:1 contrasted with Job 14:4– 5), Moses (Num 12:7 contrasted with Ex 3:11; 4:10 and an unknown source); David (1 Sam 13:14; Ps 88:21 contrasted with Ps 50:3–19 LXX). ...”
Martin, Ralph P.
Dictionary of the Later New Testament & Its Developments
(p. 1196) 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.
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