Texts in Conversation
In 1 Clement, the author points to Daniel in the lions' den and his three friends in the furnace as righteous people persecuted only by the wicked. Hebrews 11 pairs the same two stories, which earlier Jewish writers had also used as standard examples.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Daniel 6:22
Hebrew Bible
19 In the morning, at the earliest sign of daylight, the king got up and rushed to the lions’ den. 20 As he approached the den, he called out to Daniel in a worried voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, was your God whom you continually serve able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel spoke to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and closed the lions’ mouths so that they have not harmed me because I was found to be innocent before him. Nor have I done any harm to you, O king.” 23 Then the king was delighted and gave an order to haul Daniel up from the den. So Daniel was hauled up out of the den. He had no injury of any kind because he had trusted in his God.
Hebrews 11:33
New Testament
32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets. 33 Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight, 35 and women received back their dead raised to life. But others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain resurrection to a better life. 36 And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, sawed apart, murdered with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated
Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 45:6
First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
Early Christian
6 For what must we say, brothers and sisters? Was Daniel cast into the lions’ den by those that feared God. 7 Or were Ananias and Azarias and Misael shut up in the furnace of fire by those that professed the excellent and glorious worship of the Most High? Far be this from our thoughts. Who then were they that did these things? Abominable men and full of all wickedness were stirred up to such a pitch of wrath, as to bring cruel suffering upon those that served God in a holy and blameless purpose, not knowing that the Most High is the champion and protector of those that in a pure conscience serve His excellent Name: to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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Notes and References
“... The importance of Daniel’s experience to the exemplary tradition is richly attested (1 Macc 2:60; 3 Macc 16:3, 21; 18:13; 1 Clem. 45:6; Apost. Const. 7.37.2; cf. Jos., Ant. 10.262). The allusion to Daniel brought to the writer’s mind the remarkable experience of Daniel’s three friends, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, who through faith ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός, “extinguished the fury of the flames” (Dan 3:19–28, 49–50 LXX, Theod.). ...”
* 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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