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1 Clement

First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

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Other Examples of Humility

Chapter 17

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 who were well spoken of. 2 Abraham was very well spoken of and was called the friend of God;⁠ and gazing at the glory of God, he says in humility, “But I am dust and ashes.” 3 And about Job it is also written: “And Job was righteous and blameless, one who was true and honored God and kept away from all evil.” 4 Yet he accuses himself, saying, “No one is free from filth, not even if his life lasts only a day.”⁠ 5 Moses was called faithful in all His house, and through his service God judged Egypt with the plagues and the torments that came upon them. Yet he too, though greatly glorified, spoke no proud words, but said, when an oracle was given to him at the bush, “Who am I, that You send me?” 6 “No, I am weak in speech and slow of tongue.” And again he says, “But I am smoke from the pot.”

Texts in conversation

Compare LXX Job 14:4 and Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 17:4

Septuagint · Early Christian

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Summary

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.

Passages

LXX Job 14:4

Septuagint
1 For a mortal born of a woman is short lived, and full of fierce anger. 2 Or he falls like a flower that has bloomed; and he departs like a shadow, and can’t continue. 3 Have you not taken account even of him, and caused him to enter into judgment before you? 4 For who shall be pure from uncleanness? not even one; 5 if even his life should be but one day upon the earth: and his months are numbered by you: you have appointed him for a time, and he shall by no means exceed it. 6 Depart from him, that he may be quiet, and take pleasure in his life, though as a hireling.
100–1 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in LXX Job

Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 17:4

Early Christian · First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
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 who were well spoken of. 2 Abraham was very well spoken of and was called the friend of God; and gazing at the glory of God, he says in humility, “But I am dust and ashes.” 3 And about Job it is also written: “And Job was righteous and blameless, one who was true and honored God and kept away from all evil.” 4 Yet he accuses himself, saying, “No one is free from filth, not even if his life lasts only a day.”
90–100 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Clement of Rome, 1 Clement

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). ...”
Ralph P. Martin and Peter H. Davids, eds., Dictionary of the Later New Testament & Its Developments (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1997), 1196.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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LXX Job 14:4 and Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 17:4

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