What Scripture says
Paul wrote two letters to Corinth about division in the church: “each one of you says, ‘I follow Paul,’ or ‘I follow Apollos’” (1 Corinthians 1:12, ESV). 1 Clement addresses the same church about a later division, and refers back to Paul’s letter. Paul mentions a co-worker named Clement in Philippians 4:3, though it’s uncertain whether this is the same man.
What the evidence says
History
What it is
1 Clement is a letter from the church in Rome to the church in Corinth. It doesn’t name its author, but early tradition attributes it to Clement, a leader of the Roman church (later listed as its third or fourth bishop). It is usually dated around AD 96, though some scholars date it earlier, in the 70s.
What happened in Corinth
Some younger members of the Corinthian church had removed the elders (presbyters) from office. Rome writes, at length (65 chapters), urging them to restore order, humility and peace. The letter appeals to examples from the Old Testament, to Christ’s humility, and to nature’s orderly harmony.
Its historical value
1 Clement is precious historical evidence:
- Peter and Paul’s martyrdom. It refers to Peter and Paul as recent examples of those who suffered “through jealousy and envy”, and says Paul reached “the limit of the west”, possibly Spain. It is one of the earliest references to their deaths.
- Paul’s letters. It tells the Corinthians, “Take up the epistle of the blessed Paul the apostle”, referring to 1 Corinthians.
- Early church order. It describes elders and deacons, and a principle of orderly succession of leaders.
- Use of Scripture. It quotes the Old Testament extensively, and echoes Hebrews and Jesus’ sayings.
Its reputation
1 Clement was highly respected. Around AD 170, Dionysius, bishop of Corinth, wrote that the letter was still read in their church on Sundays. It was included in Codex Alexandrinus, a 5th-century Bible, after the New Testament books.
Why it wasn’t Scripture
The letter never claims apostolic authority. It writes as one church appealing to another, and it looks back to the apostles as a past generation: “The apostles received the gospel for us from the Lord Jesus Christ… they appointed their first converts.” The early church read it as honoured instruction, not apostolic Scripture.
| Feature | 1 Clement |
|---|---|
| Date | c. AD 96 (possibly earlier) |
| From | The church in Rome |
| Claims apostolic authority? | No; looks back to the apostles |
| Status | Respected and read, not Scripture |
Where they meet
1 Clement shows the early church carefully honouring the apostles while knowing its own writings were of a different kind. It is also valuable evidence for how early Paul’s letters were treated with authority.
What’s still open
Its exact date, and whether Clement was its sole author.
Bottom line
1 Clement is a letter from the Roman church to Corinth (c. AD 96). It was respected, but its author never claims apostolic authority, so leaving it out is rated Settled.