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1 Clement

First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

About this book

Accepting Correction

Chapter 56

1 Therefore let us also intercede for those who are in any transgression, that forbearance and humility may be given them, so that they may yield not to us, but to the will of God. For in this way the compassionate remembrance of them before God and the saints will be fruitful for them, and perfect. 2 Let us accept discipline, which no one should resent, dear friends. The correction we give one another is good and extremely useful; for it joins us to the will of God. 3 For thus says the holy word; “The Lord has indeed disciplined me, and has not handed me over to death.” 4 “For the Lord corrects the one He loves, and disciplines every son He receives.”⁠ 5 For the righteous, it is said, shall discipline me in mercy and shall correct me, but let the mercy of sinners not anoint my head. 6 And again He says; “Blessed is the man whom the Lord has corrected,⁠ and do not refuse the warning of the Almighty. For He causes pain, and He restores.” 7 “He has struck, and His hands have healed.” 8 “Six times He shall rescue you from afflictions and at the seventh no evil shall touch you.” 9 “In famine He shall deliver you from death, and in war He shall release you from the arm of the sword.” 10 “And He shall hide you from cruel words, and you shall not be afraid when evils approach.” 11 “You shall laugh at the unrighteous and wicked, and you shall not be afraid of the wild beasts.” 12 “For wild beasts shall be at peace with you.” 13 “Then you shall know that your house shall be at peace: and the dwelling of your tent shall not fail.” 14 “and you shall know that your descendants are many, and your children like the abundant grass of the field.” 15 “And you shall come to the grave as ripe grain reaped in due season, or as the heap of the threshing floor gathered together at the right time.” 16 You see, dear friends, how great a protection there is for those who are disciplined by the Master: for, being a kind father, He disciplines us so that we may obtain mercy through His holy discipline.

Texts in conversation

Compare Hebrews 12:6 and Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 56:4

New Testament · Early Christian

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Summary

In 1 Clement, the author quotes the proverb that God disciplines those he loves, which Hebrews also quotes, and applies it to the correction the Corinthians should accept from one another, one more place where Clement repeats material from Hebrews.

Passages

Hebrews 12:6

New Testament
4 You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed in your struggle against sin. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.” 7 Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. 9 Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life?
80–90 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Hebrews

Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 56:4

Early Christian · First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
1 Therefore let us also intercede for those who are in any transgression, that forbearance and humility may be given them, so that they may yield not to us, but to the will of God. For in this way the compassionate remembrance of them before God and the saints will be fruitful for them, and perfect. 2 Let us accept discipline, which no one should resent, dear friends. The correction we give one another is good and extremely useful; for it joins us to the will of God. 3 For thus says the holy word; “The Lord has indeed disciplined me, and has not handed me over to death.” 4 “For the Lord corrects the one He loves, and disciplines every son He receives.”
90–100 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Clement of Rome, 1 Clement

References

“... The most important similarities are as follows: Jesus is one “who, being the reflection of [God’s] majesty is greater than angels to the extent that he has inherited a more excellent name” (1 Clem. 36:2 / Heb 1:2–4). [...] Both authors list examples of Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Rahab, and those who went about “in the skins of sheep and goats” (1 Clem. 9:3–10:1; 12:1–3; 17:1 / Heb 11). Both exhort listeners to hasten toward their goal with eyes fixed upon God (1 Clem. 19:2 / Heb 12:1), caution that God searches people (1 Clem. 21:9 / Heb 4:12), say that it is impossible for God to lie (1 Clem. 27:2 / Heb 6:18), recall that Moses was faithful in God’s house (1 Clem. 43:1 / Heb 3:5), quote Prov 3:12 (1 Clem. 56:4 / Heb 12:6), and identify God as the master or father of spirits (1 Clem. 64:1 / Heb 12:9). ...”
Craig R. Koester, Hebrews: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (New York: Doubleday, 2001), 22.

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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Hebrews 12:6 and Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 56:4

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