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Clement of Rome

1 Clement

First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

About this book

God Sees Everything

Chapter 28

1 Since, then, all things are seen and heard, let us fear Him and abandon the abominable lusts of evil works, so that we may be shielded by His mercy from the coming judgments. 2 For where can any of us escape from His strong hand? And what world will receive any of those who desert His service? 3 For the holy writing says somewhere “Where shall I go, and where shall I hide from Your face?⁠ If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I go away to the farthest parts of the earth, there is Your right hand; if I make my bed in the depths, there is Your Spirit.” 4 Where then can anyone go, or where can anyone flee, from Him who embraces the universe?

Texts in conversation

Compare LXX Psalms 138:7 and Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 28:3

Septuagint · Early Christian

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Summary

In 1 Clement, the author quotes Psalm 139 in the Greek Septuagint translation and says it comes from the holy writing, which may be a Christian reference to the Writings, the third part of the Jewish scriptures alongside the Law and the Prophets.

Passages

LXX Psalms 138:7

Septuagint
5 Look, Lord, you have known all things, the last and the first: you have fashioned me, and laid your hand upon me. 6 The knowledge of you is too wonderful for me; it is very difficult, I can’t attain to it. 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? and where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I should go up to heaven, you are there: if I should go down to hell, you are present. 9 If I should spread my wings at dawn, and stay at the extremity of the sea, 10 for even there your hand would guide me, and your right hand would hold me. 11 When I said, Surely the darkness will trample on me; even the night was light in my luxury.
100–1 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in LXX Psalms

Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 28:3

Early Christian · First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
1 Since, then, all things are seen and heard, let us fear Him and abandon the abominable lusts of evil works, so that we may be shielded by His mercy from the coming judgments. 2 For where can any of us escape from His strong hand? And what world will receive any of those who desert His service? 3 For the holy writing says somewhere “Where shall I go, and where shall I hide from Your face? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I go away to the farthest parts of the earth, there is Your right hand; if I make my bed in the depths, there is Your Spirit.” 4 Where then can anyone go, or where can anyone flee, from Him who embraces the universe?
90–100 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Clement of Rome, 1 Clement

References

“... Clement makes a twofold summary of the OT when he refers to what “Moses signified in the sacred books, whom the other prophets followed, testifying to the laws laid down by him” (1 Clem. 43.1). He seems to refer to the third division of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Writings) when he identifies Psalm 138:7–10 (LXX) as found in the “Writing” (1 Clem. 28.2-3). Clement’s references include some of the Apocrypha: Judith (the person, given as an example along with Esther, 1 Clem. 55.4-6) and Wisdom of Solomon ...”
Ralph P. Martin and Peter H. Davids, eds., Dictionary of the Later New Testament & Its Developments (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1997), 1197.

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 Psalms 138:7 and Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 28:3

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