II. The Testimony of the Epistles of Clement

Clement of Rome ^{6The Apostolic Fathers are generally collected in one volume. Numerous English translations are acceptable. Reference will be made to several collections entitled The Apostolic Fathers, translated by Lightfoot; Kirsopp Lake in the Loeb Classical Library; that in The Ante Nicene Fathers (ANF); and most recent, that of Glimm, Marique, and Walsh in The Fathers of the Church series (1947), a new Roman Catholic translation.} is shrouded in ambiguity, but apparently he was the bishop, or “overseer,” of the church at Rome. And in this transitional period that church held an important but not an overshadowing place. Two epistles are extant under Clement’s name, though only the first is generally accounted genuine. ^{7Westcott, op. cit., pp. 23, 24.} The Epistle of Clement was believed to have been penned in the Domitianic period, and so probably about A.D. 95, says Westcott. It was highly esteemed by the early church, ^{8See Eusebius, Church History, book 3, chap 16 in NPNF 2nd series, vol. 1, p 147.} and was evidently written from Rome to the church at Corinth ^{9Ibid., cf. Francis X. Glimm, translator’s introduction to The Letter of St. Clement of Rome to the Corinthians, in The Apostolic Fathers (trans. by Glimm, Marique, and Walsh), pp. 3, 4.}PFF1 208.1

A brief excerpt will reveal the advent expectancy marking this treatise. The advent hope is central.PFF1 208.2

“Of a truth, soon and suddenly shall His will be accomplished, as the Scripture also bears witness, saying, `Speedily will He come, and will not tarry;’ and, `The Lord shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Holy One, for whom ye look.’” ^{10The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, chap. 23, in ANF, vol. 1, p. 11; cf. Kirsopp Lake’s translation in the Loeb Classical Library, The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 1, p. 51; also Glimm’s translation; chap. 23, p. 29.}PFF1 208.3

In the dubious Second Epistle the advent note echoes:PFF1 208.4

“Let us then wait for the kingdom of God, from hour to hour, in love and righteousness, seeing that we know not the day of the appearing of God.” ^{11The Second Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, chap. 12 (Lake’s translation), vol. 1, p. 147; cf. Glimm’s translation, p. 72.}PFF1 208.5