Texts in conversation

Compare Hebrews 11:5 and Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 9:3

New Testament · Early Christian

Summary

In 1 Clement, the author holds up Enoch, Noah and then Abraham as examples in the same order as the list of heroes in Hebrews, likely because Clement knew Hebrews, though here they are models of obedience to God for a divided church.

Passages

Hebrews 11:5

New Testament

5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God. 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

80–90 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Hebrews

Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 9:3

Early Christian · First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

1 Therefore, let us be obedient to His excellent and glorious will, and as supplicants of His mercy and goodness, let us fall before Him and seek His compassion, abandoning the vain toil, strife, and jealousy that lead to death. 2 Let us fix our eyes on those who ministered perfectly to His excellent glory. 3 Let us set before us Enoch, who, being found righteous in obedience, was taken up, and his death was not found. 4 Noah, being found faithful, through his service preached renewal to the world, and through him, the Master saved the living creatures that entered the ark in harmony.

90–100 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Clement of Rome, 1 Clement

References

“... The author of 1 Clement first evokes Abraham when he is encouraging readers to “fix our eyes on those who perfectly served [God’s] magnificent glory” ([...] 9.2). Following brief references to Enoch (9.3) and Noah (9.4), the author introduces Abraham in an extended discussion of his works and deeds (10.1–7). In addition to the Genesis narrative, this sequence follows Hebrews (11:5, 7, 8-12, 17-19, etc.) and is probably dependent upon it. ...”

Seth M. Ehorn, “Abraham in the Apostolic Fathers,” in Abraham in Jewish and Early Christian Literature, ed. Sean A. Adams and Zanne Domoney-Lyttle, LSTS 93 (London: T&T Clark, 2019), 150.

“... Hospitality (φιλοξενία) is an important virtue, especially for those who 'sojourn' and 'wander in faith', and our author associates it particularly with the hospitality of Abraham who (in Gen. 18) 'entertained angels unawares' (13:2); so does Clement who, in a passage (chs. 9-12) which apparently draws on Hebrews 11 or a parallel tradition, in praise of Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Lot and Rahab, commends Lot and Rahab in particular for their hospitality (Lot having protected, in Gen. 19, two of the same angels who had visited Abraham) ...”

John Dunnill, Covenant and Sacrifice in the Letter to the Hebrews, SNTSMS 75 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992), 154.

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

People Who Obeyed God

1 Clement65 chapters

Compare Hebrews 11:5 and Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 9:3

Summary

Passages

Hebrews 11:5

Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 9:3

References

Your feedback

Leave a comment

Glossary

Search the Library