The suppressed Gospels and Epistles of the original New Testament of Jesus the Christ, Volume 6, Clement

In Short

This volume presents the First and Second Epistles of Clement, ancient texts once venerated by early churches but later excluded from the established New Testament canon. The primary narrative concerns a severe internal schism within the church at Corinth, which prompted Clement to write a stern, restorative appeal for order, humility, and hierarchy. The writing has endured as a foundational example of early ecclesiastical diplomacy and moral exhortation, offering a rare glimpse into the preoccupations of the sub-apostolic age and the intense struggle to define religious identity amidst internal dissent.

The Story

The arc of the text begins with a crisis of unity. Clement, writing from Rome to the believers in Corinth, opens with high praise for their previous reputation for hospitality and faith. However, this preamble quickly gives way to a sharp rebuke: a "wicked and detestable sedition" has taken root. A small group of headstrong, self-willed individuals has challenged the established leadership, casting the congregation into chaos. Clement frames this not merely as a local administrative dispute, but as a dangerous spiritual infection—a manifestation of the same envy and pride that led to the biblical tragedy of Cain and Abel.

To counter this, Clement systematically dismantles the legitimacy of the rebellion by invoking historical and scriptural archetypes. He traces the destructive path of envy through the lives of figures like Joseph, Moses, and David, showing how those who fomented strife against God’s anointed ultimately faced ruin. He then shifts to the "worthies" of his own generation, recounting the martyrdoms of Peter and Paul as the ultimate models of patience and endurance. These apostles are presented as pillars who accepted suffering rather than engaging in the prideful, disorderly behavior currently plaguing the Corinthians.

The narrative moves from historical example to direct theological instruction. Clement argues that the universe is governed by a divine order—a celestial clockwork where every part, from the angels to the natural elements, fulfills its assigned role without question. He compares the church to a human body, where every member must submit to the whole to survive. This leads to his central argument: the authority of those currently leading the church is not a matter of human choice, but of apostolic succession. Those who have been "duly placed in the ministry" by the apostles or their successors cannot be removed without committing a profound sin.

As the text nears its conclusion, the focus narrows to the necessity of repentance. Clement warns that the time for correction is fleeting; he likens the process of living to a potter molding clay, noting that once the vessel is hardened in the kiln, it cannot be reshaped. He urges the dissenters to set aside their ego and reconcile with their leaders. He concludes by calling for the return of his messengers, who have been sent to confirm that the church has returned to peace. The hope is that through a renewed commitment to charity and a rejection of "double-minded" doubt, the Corinthians will return to the fold, ensuring that their struggle remains a path to salvation rather than a descent into condemnation.

How It Unfolds

The commendation of order. Clement begins by establishing a baseline of ideal Christian conduct, praising the Corinthians' past history of hospitality and modesty before the schism shattered their reputation.

The anatomy of envy. He transitions to a moral history, using the strife between biblical brothers and the persecution of the apostles to illustrate that dissent is the product of pride rather than divine inspiration.

The argument from nature. The text shifts to a cosmological defense of hierarchy, asserting that the regularity of the stars and the seasons proves that God demands an orderly, structured community.

The defense of ministry. Clement explicitly addresses the crisis of leadership, claiming that the ministers in Corinth were appointed by legitimate authority and that removing them is a direct affront to the apostolic tradition.

The call to repentance. He concludes by framing the present moment as a final, urgent opportunity for the congregation to repent, warning that the "gate of righteousness" is narrow and requires complete submission to the divine plan.

The People

Clement acts as the central voice of authority. He is the mediator who wants to re-establish the traditional hierarchy of the church, viewing the Corinthian dissenters as a direct threat to the salvation of the entire body. His primary weapon is the weight of precedent; he stands against the chaos of the present by anchoring his arguments in the lives of the prophets and apostles.

The "headstrong men" of Corinth are the antagonists, driven by what Clement identifies as envy and ambition. They desire to govern rather than be subject, and they stand in the way of the church’s stability. By challenging the existing leadership, they force the community into a position of "detestable emulation."

The "ministers" who have been removed from their positions are the silent, aggrieved party. They represent the established order that Clement seeks to defend. Throughout the text, they are held up as models of blameless behavior, their reputations being the standard against which the rebellion is judged.

Finally, the "brethren" represent the general congregation, caught between the established leadership and the new, rebellious faction. Clement addresses them as individuals who must choose between the "straight road" of tradition and the "corruptible reward" of their own pride.

In Its Own Voice

"For who that has ever been among you has not experienced the firmness of your faith, and its fruitfulness in all good works; and admired the temper and moderation of your religion in Christ?"

Clement begins his letter by reminding the Corinthians of the reputation they formerly held before the current schism took hold.

"Ye are contentious, brethren, and zealous for things that pertain not unto salvation."

Addressing the dissenters directly, Clement chastises them for prioritizing power struggles over the fundamental requirements of their faith.

"Let us choose to offend a few foolish and inconsiderate men, lifted up and glorying in their own pride, rather than God."

Clement encourages the congregation to favor obedience to divine authority over the influence of the local rebels.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is a manual on the necessity of institutional continuity. It argues that the health of a religious body is inextricably linked to its obedience to established hierarchy. The underlying question is how a movement based on the radical, decentralized teachings of Jesus can survive the pressures of growth and internal human conflict. Clement proposes that the answer lies in strict adherence to tradition and the rejection of individualistic ambition. It is an argument for stability, asserting that salvation is found not in the pursuit of new knowledge or the challenging of leaders, but in the performance of duty within the structure of the community.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy historical theology or the study of institutional power will find this work fascinating. It provides a raw, unfiltered look at the challenges faced by the early church, far removed from the polished, finalized texts of the later New Testament. However, it is not an easy read; the language is dense, reflective of an earlier style of theological argumentation, and the tone is relentlessly hortatory. You will encounter a worldview that prioritizes the collective over the individual and demands a degree of submission that may feel jarring to a modern sensibility.

The value in reading this lies in the realization that the struggles of the early church—the debates over leadership, the dangers of internal schism, and the attempt to codify a legacy—are fundamentally human. The text remains relevant for those who want to understand the origins of ecclesiastical authority. While the archaic phrasing and the specific, local nature of the grievances might pose a barrier, the persistence of the themes—pride, the value of order, and the human search for a secure, divine foundation—will stay with the reader long after the final chapter is closed. It is a vital, challenging, and historically profound document of a church in the process of defining itself.