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In 1 Clement, the author calls the raising of Jesus the firstfruit of a resurrection still to come, the term Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 15, and follows that chapter so closely that Clement likely had the letter in front of him as he wrote.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
1 Corinthians 15:20
New Testament
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 24:1
First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
Early Christian
1 Let us understand, dearly beloved, how the Master continually shows to us the resurrection that shall be hereafter; of which He made the Lord Jesus Christ the firstfruit, when He raised Him from the dead. 2 Let us behold, dearly beloved, the resurrection which happens at its proper season. 3 Day and night show to us the resurrection. The night falls asleep, and day arises; the day departs, and night comes on. 4 Let us mark the fruits, how and in what manner the sowing takes place. 5 The sower goes forth and casts into the earth each of the seeds; and these falling into the earth dry and bare decay: then out of their decay the mightiness of the Master’s providence raises them up, and from being one they increase manifold and bear fruit.
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Notes and References
“... Clement’s use of ἀπαρχή to refer to the resurrection of Jesus as the first fruits of the general resurrection suggests that Clement draws on Pauline teaching about the resurrection contained in 1 Corinthians 15. Clement’s emphasis on the future resurrection of the dead ([...] cf. 1 Cor. 15. 12, 51–5) and his use of the image of the seeds of corn (1 Clem. 24. 4; cf. 1 Cor. 15. 36–7) give further support to the strong likelihood that Clement here depends on 1 Corinthians. Lindemann suggests that the parallels are so clear that one is compelled to conclude that Clement had the text of 1 Corinthians directly before him as he wrote. ...”
Gregory, Andrew F.
The Reception of the New Testament in the Apostolic Fathers
(p. 148) Oxford University Press, 2005
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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