Texts in Conversation
In 1 Clement, the author backs a warning against pride with the proverb that God resists the proud, the same saying from Proverbs 3 that James quotes for the same purpose, which suggests it was a standard text in Christian teaching on humility.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
LXX Proverbs 3:34
Septuagint
29 Do not devise evil things against your friend as he dwells alongside and trusts you. 30 Do not behave with enmity toward a person pointlessly, lest he perpetrate any evil against you. 31 Do not get evil men’s reproach nor be jealous of their ways, 32 for every lawbreaker is impure before the Lord, and he does not sit in the council with the upright ones. 33 A curse of God rests on the houses of the ungodly, and the dwellings of the righteous are blessed. 34 The Lord opposes the arrogant, but he gives the humble grace. 35 The wise will inherit glory, but the ungodly have exalted dishonor.
James 4:6
New Testament
4 Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy. 5 Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, “The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning”? 6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.” 7 So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded.
Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 30:2
First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
Early Christian
1 Seeing then that we are the special portion of a Holy God, let us do all things that pertain to holiness, forsaking evil speakings, abominable and impure embraces, drunkennesses and tumults and hateful lusts, abominable adultery, hateful pride. 2 For God, He says, resists the proud, but gives grace to those who are lowly. 3 Let us therefore be loyal to those to whom grace is given from God. Let us clothe ourselves in concord, being lowly-minded and temperate, holding ourselves aloof from all back biting and evil speaking, being justified by works and not by words. 4 For He says, “He that says much shall hear also again. Does the ready talker think to be righteous?”
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Notes and References
“... Another strong accusation is aimed at the offenders in Corinth in 1 Clem 21:5, when they are said to be: [...] (foolish and senseless people, who exalt themselves and boast in the arrogance of their words, rather than God.) In 1 Clem 30:1 a powerful list of character traits to be strongly avoided is given, listing also: [...] (detestable pride.) Then a Scripture citation (linking Prov 3:34, Jas 4:6 and 1 Pet 5:5) is called upon in support in 1 Clem 30:2: [...] (“For God,” it says, “resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”) ...”
Jacobs, Lambert D.
"The 'Ethics' of Badmouthing the Other: Vilification as Persuasive Speech Act in First Clement" in Zimmermann, Ruben, and Jan G. van der Watt, editors, Moral Language in the New Testament: The Interrelatedness of Language and Ethics in Early Christian Writings
(p. 370) Mohr Siebeck, 2010
* 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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