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| Martyrdom of Pope Clement |
A man named Nerva was proclaimed by the senate soon after the death of Domitian as the new Emperor. His reign was short, about 2 years or so--from 96-98 AD. Emperor Nerva returned to the policy of toleration of Christains.
It was probably at this time pope Clement the first, who became pope about two years earlier in 92 AD, wrote his famous epistle to Corintians.
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1010.htm
Clement's letter is one of the oldest ancient Christian documents we have, aside from the writings of Paul and the Gospels. It was so important to early Christians that it was debated whether to include it in the New Testament. It was often read at Divine Liturgy, i.e. the Mass.
The first letter was composed at some time around 96 AD. It is part of the Apostolic Fathers collection--also included as Sacred Tradition, though not considered the inspired word of God. Sacred Tradition is taken as a whole; not like Holy Scripture the explicit inspired word of God.
St. Clement was also thought to have gathered and put together the Apostolic Constitutions. A collection of instructions on moral conduct, liturgy and Church organization thought to be from the Apostles whether given by them as individuals or as a body, and many believed it had been compiled by St. Clement of Rome. It has been controversial that Pope Clement had actually done this, but nevertheless the Apostolic Constitutions are considered very important historical documents. https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0715.htm
The First Letter of Clement to the Corinthians is indirect proof that from the Apostolic age of the seat of Rome and successor to St. Peter was the head of the whole Church on earth, awaiting Jesus' return.
The letter was about a dispute in Corinth, which saw the removal from office of several presbyters.The author uses the terms ”bishops” (overseers, episkopos) and ”elders” (presbyters) interchangeably. Technical Church language becomes more precise as time goes on, as the need arose.
Since none of the presbyters were charged with any moral offenses, Clement stepped in after they appealed to him, to correct the situation. Reporting the removals were high-handed and unjustifiable.
From what seems to be implied in the letter is that Corinth was used to Apostles ruling them (e.g. St. Paul) and making appointments. But now the Apostles were gone, they challenged the bishop's authority to appoint priests and deacons. Thus calling into question the authority of both the bishop and the priest and even deacons. This is reminiscent of the rebellion of Korah with Moses.(cf.Numbers 16:1)
The language is authoritative, which received no opposition, and it was assumed he had this power over the Church, being in the chair of Peter. And probably because he was known to be friends of both St. Paul and St. Peter.
He had never founded the church of Corinth, and there was no appeal to the last Apostle St. John, who still lived. St. John, who was already back in Ephesus, returning after the martyrdom of St. Timothy was not called into this dispute. The system of the Church started to take clearer form.
Clement claims the authority of St. Peter, as head of the Church on earth, again with no opposition, and the Corinthians, who were a rowdy group, known for opposing things, even St. Paul. But also St. Clement seems to have been possibly one of the 70 sent by Christ himself. Eusebius identified him as such (History of the Church 3. 15, 1), many think this was mistaken. But it might explain why they accepted his letter so well, in addition to sitting on the Chair of Peter.
Near the end of the letter he states his authority, in these words:
1 Clem. 59:1 "But if certain persons should be disobedient unto the words spoken by Him [Jesus] through us, let them understand that they will entangle themselves in no slight transgression and danger"Not only does he establish his own authority, which was common knowledge. He reinforces, the understanding of the Episcopate, the office of bishop; are of Apostolic origin and have authority:
1 Clem. 44:1 "And our Apostles knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife over the name of the bishop's office."
1 Clem. 44:2 "For this reason therefore, having received complete foreknowledge, they appointed the aforesaid persons, and afterwards they provided a continuance, that if these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed to their ministry.
"Those therefore who were appointed by them, or afterward by other men of repute with the consent of the whole Church, and have ministered unblamably to the flock of Christ in lowliness of mind, peacefully and with all modesty, and for long time have borne a good report with all these men we consider to be unjustly thrust out from their ministration."
1 Clem. 44:3 "For it will be no light sin for us, if we thrust out those who have offered the gifts of the bishop's office unblamable and holy." http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/1clement-lightfoot.html
We know very little of Pope Clement. We know he was friends of both St. Peter and St. Paul. He was believed to be a Jew, and as said above possibly one of the 70. He was a travel companion of St. Paul.
Tradition has identified him as the Clement that Paul mentions in Philippians 4:3:
“Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.”St. Peter consecrated him a bishop in Rome. He was thought to have had an apostolate (ministry) to the Jewish Christians in Rome. This would explain why he was so well versed in Scripture both Old and New Testament making at least 150 quotes in his Epistle.
Tradition holds that he converted Theodora, wife of Sisinnius--a high ranking Roman prefect. When Sisinnius discovers his wife was a secret Christian, and he tried to take her forcibly from a Mass; he was struck deaf and blind.
His wife, Theodora, interceded for her husband, asking Clement to cure Sisinnius, which he did with a number of other miracles, leading to converting 400 other persons of rank.
This put Clement in the eyes of Rome as a danger, remember Christianity is still illegal, though only sporadically enforced.
Clement was arrested in 99AD, he was banished from Rome to the Chersonesus (Crimea-Southern Ukraine) during the reign of the Emperor Trajan and was set to work in a stone quarry on the coast of the Black Sea.
One day while working in the quarry, he knelt down in prayer. Looking up, he saw a lamb on a hill, he went to where the lamb had stood and struck the ground with his pick-axe, releasing a gushing stream of clear water. Most likely to Baptize new converts as St. Peter had done in prison before his martyrdom.
His miracles resulted in the conversion of large numbers of the local pagans and his fellow prisoners to Christianity.
As punishment, Saint Clement was martyred by being tied to an anchor and thrown from a boat into the Black Sea. He died around the year 101 AD.
You will often see an anchor on a cross and this is the cross of St. Clement of Rome.
St. John the Apostle outlived Pope Clement. St. John was about 90 years old living in Ephesus. He was not the Bishop of Ephesus though. The job fell to another man from the New Testament--Onesimus.
Onesimus was the runaway slave in St. Paul's Epistle of Philemon. Onesimus sought help from St. Paul for his situation. He ended up bishop of Ephesus.
continue to next chapter
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