Texts in conversation

Compare Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 21:6 and Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians 4:2

Early Christian

Summary

1 Clement and Polycarp share a Greco-Roman household code addressing the conduct of women and the training of children. Each calls for purity and gentleness in women, and for raising children in the fear of God.

Passages

Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 21:6

Early Christian · First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

5 Let us offend foolish and senseless men who exalt themselves and boast in the arrogance of their words, rather than God. 6 Let us fear the Lord Jesus, whose blood was given for us. Let us respect our rulers; let us honor our elders; let us instruct our young men in the lesson of the fear of God. Let us guide our women toward what is good. 7 let them display their lovely disposition of purity; let them prove their sincere affection of gentleness; let them make the moderation of their tongue evident through their silence; let them show their love, not in partisan preferences but without partiality toward all who fear God, in holiness. Let our children share in the instruction that is in Christ. 8 let them learn how humility prevails with God, what power chaste love has with God, how the fear of Him is good and great and saves all who walk in it with a pure mind in holiness.

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

Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians 4:2

Early Christian

1 But the love of money is the beginning of all troubles. Knowing, then, that we brought nothing into the world and can carry nothing out, let us arm ourselves with the armor of righteousness, and let us teach ourselves first to walk in the commandment of the Lord; 2 and then our wives also, to walk in the faith that has been given to them and in love and purity, cherishing their own husbands in all truth and loving everyone equally in all chastity, and to raise their children in the discipline of the fear of God. 3 Our widows must be self-controlled in the faith of the Lord, praying constantly for everyone, and avoiding all slander, malicious talk, false testimony, love of money, and every evil thing, knowing that they are God's altar, and that all sacrifices are carefully inspected, and nothing escapes Him, whether their thoughts or intentions or any of the secrets of the heart.

135–155 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians

References

... There are similarities with other New Testament household codes (e.g. Ephesians 5“22-6“9; 1 Peter 2“18-3“7), early Christian writings (Didache 4“9-11; Barnabas 19“5-7; 1 Clement 21“6-9; Ignatius, To Polycarp 4“1-5“2; Polycarp, To the Philippians 4“2-3) and other examples from contemporary Greek, Roman and Jewish writing (Aristotle, Politics 1.1253b.1-14; Philo, On the Decalogue 165-167; Philo, On the Special Laws 2“224-241; Josephus, Against Apion 2“199-208). The household code addresses six different groups of persons, who form three reciprocal relationships (wives-husbands in 3.18-19; children-parents in 3.20-21; slaves-masters in 3.22-4.1) ...

Ian K. Smith, Heavenly Perspective: A Study of the Apostle Paul’s Response to a Jewish Mystical Movement at Colossae (London: T&T Clark International, 2006), 201.

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

Instructions for Wives and Widows

Epistle to the Philippians14 chapters

Compare Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 21:6 and Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians 4:2

Summary

Passages

Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 21:6

Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians 4:2

References

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