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Clement of Rome

1 Clement

First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

About this book
Chapter 52

1 The Master, brothers and sisters, needs nothing at all. He wants nothing from anyone, except that they confess to Him. 2 For the elect David says; “I will confess to the Lord, and it shall please Him more than a young calf that grows horns and hoofs.⁠ Let the poor see it, and rejoice.” 3 And again He says; “Sacrifice to God a sacrifice of praise, and pay your vows to the Most High: and call upon Me in the day of your affliction, and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” 4 For a sacrifice to God is a broken spirit.

Texts in conversation

Compare LXX Psalms 68:32 and Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 52:2

Septuagint · Early Christian

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Summary

In 1 Clement, the author joins three psalms from the Greek Septuagint translation, beginning with Psalm 69, to argue that God needs nothing and asks only for confession, which prepares for the appeal to the leaders of the revolt to admit their fault.

Passages

LXX Psalms 68:32

Septuagint
29 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and let them not be written with the righteous. 30 I am poor and sorrowful; but the salvation of your face, God, has helped me. 31 I will praise the name of my God with a song, I will magnify him with praise; 32 and this shall please God more than a young calf having horns and hoofs. 33 Let the poor see and rejoice; seek God diligently, and your soul shall live. 34 For the Lord hears the poor, and does not set at nothing his fettered ones. 35 Let the heavens and the earth praise him, the sea, and all things moving in them. 36 For God will save Zion, and the cities of Judea shall be built; and men shall dwell there, and inherit it.
100–1 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in LXX Psalms

Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 52:2

Early Christian · First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
1 The Master, brothers and sisters, needs nothing at all. He wants nothing from anyone, except that they confess to Him. 2 For the elect David says; “I will confess to the Lord, and it shall please Him more than a young calf that grows horns and hoofs. Let the poor see it, and rejoice.” 3 And again He says; “Sacrifice to God a sacrifice of praise, and pay your vows to the Most High: and call upon Me in the day of your affliction, and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” 4 For a sacrifice to God is a broken spirit.
90–100 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Clement of Rome, 1 Clement

References

“... 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). Scriptures on confession of sin and praying for forgiveness are brought together in 1 Clement 52–53 (Ps 68:31–33; 49:14–15; 50:19 LXX; Ex 32:7–10, 31–32; Deut 9:12–14). ...”
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 Psalms 68:32 and Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 52:2

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