1st Clement 1 - Greetings from a Brother

Owing, dear brethren, to the sudden and successive calamitous events which have happened to ourselves, we feel that we have been somewhat tardy in turning our attention to the points respecting which you consulted us; and especially to that shameful and detestable sedition, utterly abhorrent to the elect of God, which a few rash and self-confident persons have kindled to such a pitch of frenzy, that your venerable and illustrious  name, worthy to be universally loved, has suffered grievous injury. (1 Clement 1)

When the Corinthian church was in crisis, they reached out for help, not based on ecclesiastical structure or authority, but based on relationship. They did not look to Rome as the center of authority bur rather as the center of their relationships with those who could help. Paul was gone but his friend and disciple, Clement, was still alive and a presbyter in Rome. It was natural, based on their relationship with Paul and Clement, to reach out to Rome for help.

Unfortunately, much of what happens in the western churches today is based on programs, structure, and authority rather than on relationship. For sure, these things are easier to establish and maintain; they are not as messy as relationships; but they tend to be more sterile and hierarchical than personal. Clement was their friend and someone they knew they could count on for godly counsel. In Clement's response, he responds in kind, not as one in authority, but as a brother giving kindly and godly advice.

The Church of God which sojourns at Rome, to the Church of God sojourning at Corinth, to them that are called and sanctified by the will of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from Almighty God through Jesus Christ, be multiplied. (1 Clement 1)

Its interesting that Clement never uses his name in this letter, nor does he assert his authority or position over the Corinthian church. He comes in the exact opposite spirit as that of Diotrephes.

"I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church." (3 John 9-10)

Clement doesn't use his name but writes as "the Church of God which sojourns at Rome", not as from a church that is superior or over "the Church of God sojourning at Corinth" but as a sister church. He saw himself, not as being over those in Corinth, but as brothers with them in their journey with Christ.

It seems to me that much is made in the western church about being leaders. Everywhere there are "leadership" conferences and books on unleashing your "inner leader. In many churches much of the effort and energy is spent of identifying and raising up "leaders" rather than "brothers". With such an emphasis, we send a signal to God's people that nothing is more important than being or becoming a "leader". However, Jesus did not see it this way. He taught us,

"But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ." (Matt 23:8-10)

Jesus taught us to neither give appellations of "leader" nor to accept it as being spoken of ourselves. Our desire should not to be Rabbi, Teacher, Father, or Leader but simply Brothers. Jesus said we, "are all brothers." Clement understood this and wrote to the Corinthians as a brother in Christ and in doing so left behind a lesson for us all. Let us cease striving to be something great, let us stop trying to climbing the "ecclesiastical ladder" of leadership, and let us learn to simply delight in being a brother. There is no greater title that can be given to each and everyone of us than that of a brother or sister.

David Robison

1st Clement - Introduction

It was about 97 AD and the church in Corinth was in crisis. Once again they were suffering through sedition and schisms. This was not the first time the church at Corinth was plagued with schisms. Years earlier, Paul wrote to the Corinthians to warn them about the dangers of schisms and to call them back to unity.

"Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (1 Corinthians 1:10-13)

Once again, the peace and harmony in Corinthian was being shattered by the divisiveness of seditious men. A group of young men had risen up to challenge the authority and wisdom of the aged presbyters of the church. This new sedition was tearing the church apart and damaging its good name among the other christian churches. In their time of need they turned to Clement of Rome for counsel.

After the deaths of Peter and Paul, Clement served as a presbyter in the church at Rome with Linus and Cletus. Clement was a disciple of Paul's and wast attested to by Paul in his letter to the Philippians.

"Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life." (Philippians 4:3)

It was natural for the Corinthians church to turn to Clement, since he was a disciple of the apostle who brought the Gospel to Corinth. Also it is very likely that Clement actually visited Corinth either with Paul or in his official capacity as an officer of the Roman government. In his response to the Corinthians, you can hear the influence of Paul on Clement's life and you can feel the love, compassion, and pastoral heart of Clement towards his brethren in Corinth.

The fist epistle of Clement was read widely by the early churches along with the apostolic writings. Eusebius writes of this letter,

"There is one acknowledged Epistle of this Clement (whom he has just identified with the friend of St. Paul), great and admirable, which he wrote in the name of the Church of Rome to the Church at Corinth, sedition having then arisen in the latter Church. We are aware that this Epistle has been publicly read in very many churches both in old times, and also in our own day. "(Ecclesiastical History, iii. 16)

In fact, one of the earliest bound versions of the scriptures actually includes Clement's letter along with the other inspired writings. Over the next several posts I will be commenting on this precious little book and hope that it inspires and enlightens you.

David Robison.

The Message of the Cross: Audio

I recently preached on the Message of the Cross at my church. You can listen here:

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Spiritual Gifts and the Church (part 16): 1 Cor 12:31

"But earnestly desire the greater gifts.And I show you a still more excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31)

To understand what Paul means by the "greater gifts" we must look at how he has ordered the ministries that Christ has placed in His Body.

"And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues." (1 Corinthians 12:28)

It is important to note that God places apostles, prophets, and teachers ahead of miracles and healings. What makes apostles, prophets, and teachers of "greater gifts" than miracles and healings is not their superior power but rather the superior benefit they bring to the Body in terms of its edification, nourishment, and equipping. What makes a "gift" a "greater gift" is the greater benefit it brings to the Body.

Paul encourages us to earnestly desire the favor of God as express in the manifestation of the Spirit, and especially those favors that directly benefit the Body of Christ. This is why, in relation to tongues and prophesy, Paul says, "Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying." (1 Corinthians 14:5) While there is nothing wrong with tongues, in fact Paul says he spoke in tongues more than all of those in the Corinthian church, however, prophesy brings a greater benefit to the church than does tongues. Therefore, prophesy if considered a "greater gift" than tongues; because of its greater benefit to the church.

Today, there is much emphasis on the manifestation of "supernatural power" in the church, and many people have been blessed by the miracles and healings that have resulted from the release of God's supernatural power, but we must not, in our pursuit of power, neglect the greater gifts within our midst; we must pursue the one without letting go of the other.

When we understand what is meant by the "greater gifts" then we can also understand what Paul meant by a "more excellent way." In the following chapter, Paul speaks about the centrality of love as it relates to how we relate and minister to one another. If we pursue the favor and gifts of God for our own selfish purposes, rather than for love's sake, then we become as nothing.

"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

If we pursue spiritual manifestations for the power, prestige, and honor that will accrue to our own account, then we have missed the point of these manifestations entirely. They are not for us or for our own benefit or enrichment, but for the benefit of others. However, if we pursue them out of love, out of a desire to use them to benefit others rather than ourselves, then we have found the "more excellent way". In our pursuit of spiritual gifts, we must never pursue them our our own ends but for the benefit of others; out of love for Christ and His Body.

David Robison

Spiritual Gifts and the Church (part 15): 1 Cor 12:27-30

"Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?" (1 Corinthians 12:27-30)

Someone once asked me if I filled the "Office of a Prophet". Now they obviously asked me this because (1) I do occasionally prophesy and (2) because they did not know me real well; I am not a prophet. While their honest question was a bit flattering, it did reveal a prevailing notion in the church, that of offices; such as the offices of a prophet, pastor, teacher, elder, exorcist, etc. (during early catholic history there was an office of an exorcist).

Our English translations of the scripture does refer to an "office" in various places. For example, in relating as to what should be done after Judas betrayed Jesus and killed himself, Peter remembers what was prophesied about Judas in the scriptures: "'Let his homestead be made desolate, and let no one dwell in it' and 'Let another man take his office.'" (Acts 1:20) However, the office mentioned here refers to the role of superintending the message given to the twelve by Jesus. One was to replace Judas among the twelve and be numbered among them as they delivered the Gospel given to them by Jesus.

It is my belief that there is no such things as ecclesiastical offices, such as, in this case, an office of "One of the Twelve". When Jesus established the church I do not believe that He vested it with certain ecclesiastical offices which are to be held by various Christians in succession. I do not believe that there is the office of a prophet nor an office of a pastor, or elder, or even deacon. This does not mean that there are not people who fulfill the function of a prophet, pastor, elder, or deacon, but rather that the church does not have any hierarchical or structural office that such people would hold of fill.

This verse says that God has appointed certain men and women within the Body to perform certain functions. The Greek word used here for "appointed" simply means to "set in" or "place". God did not give the church an office, He gave them men and woman with unique giftings, graces, and favor to support and equip the Body. The truth is that we are the church, not because we have people fulfilling all the right offices, but because we are all members of the Body and in right relationship with each other. In this relational setting, God has placed different people with differing roles and functions to minister to the health, stature, and growth of the Body. This is in essence what Paul was saying in the letter to the Ephesians:

"But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, 'When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.' And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:7-13)

Notice what were the gifts that He gave to men. The gifts were not offices, the gifts were men. The gifts that God gave to men were other men; men (and women) with special favor and grace on their lives to effect the equipping of the body; to provide for the furnishing and the perfecting of the saints that the Body might increase.

Our love an honor for others within the Body of Christ should not be based on the office they fulfill but rather based upon an understanding of the gift they are to us and to the Body; a gift given to us by God, and we must see our selves in the same light; not striving for an office or title, but as a gift given to others in Christ.

More to come, David Robison

Spiritual Gifts and the Church (part 14): 1 Cor 12:24-26

"But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it." (1 Corinthians 12:24-26)

Previously we spoke of how God has arranged the Body giving greater honor to those who lack it in the natural; blessing them with Spiritual favor and graces so that their honor in the Body would in no way be lacking behind those who have honor in the things of this life. Here Paul further clarifies the reason for why God has so constructed the Body, the reason is so that there might be no divisions and that each member would have the same care one for another.

Paul first speaks of divisions. The Greek word is the word for "schisms". Schisms and schismatics were a real problem in the early church. Even to day, schisms and schismatics pose real threats to our modern day churches. When we fail to appreciate the diversity within the Body of Christ and fail to grant to each other the honor due them, we also fail to see the Body as one united Body. We begin to see divisions and distinctions among the members and, where pride is present, we can seek to divide the Body along our own lines of distinction. We rent and split the body and become the authors of modern day schisms.

Paul's remedy was to think of others rather than ourselves. To be more focused on granting the honor due to other members of the Body than insisting on receiving the honor that is due us; that honor that is in proportion to own estimation not God's. Paul says that we should have the same "care" for one another. This word has the force of being anxious about the interests, needs, and concerns of others. It can even mean to be distracted by the needs and conditions of others. God wants us to more concerned with other than ourselves; to let the needs and conditions of others to distract us from our own self absorption. When we allow ourselves to be distracted by the needs and interests of others, then the Body grows in unity and schisms are shutout. Paul also calls this "love".

More to come... David R Robison

Spiritual Gifts and the Church (part 13): 1 Cor 12:21-24

"And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you'; or again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked." (1 Corinthians 12:21-24)

One of the other mistakes we make in reference to the diversity of favor and gifting within the Body is when we minimize, not only ourselves, but also others. We tend to value people who are similar to us but devalue those who are different. We are like the eye that says to the hand, "I have no need of you!" simply because they are a hand and we are an eye.

This is common among those who are gifted. They see their gifting as the most important thing and look down on those who are not likewise gifted. For example, those with a prophetic gifting do not understand or value those gifted with a pastoral gifting. Those called with an evangelistic calling don't understand or value those with a teaching calling. Often, this inflated valuation of our gifting causes us to limit our fellowship with those of similar gifting, leaving little room for those who might be different. When we do this we fail to see that we not only need "eyes" but also "hands". When we only fellowship with people who are the same as us, we exclude ourselves from the fullness of who God is and His administration in our midst. We become malnourished spiritually just as we would in the natural if we only eat one type of food to the exclusion of others. We need not just a part of the Body, we need the full Body.

The other way we minimize others is when we hold them in low esteem because of their station in this life. It is easy to look down upon the simple, poor, and the weak. However, Paul challenges us that those who seem weaker are all the more necessary. They may be of lowly state in this life, but in the Spirit they have great value, purpose, and honor.

God has so composed the Body, giving greater honor in the things of the Spirit to those who lack honor in the natural. Those, who because of their station in this life would lack in honor, God has given greater favor, grace, and gifting that, in the Body, they might have greater honor; those having honor in the flesh not needing extra honor in the Spirit. In light of this Paul reminds us to,

"Consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God." (1 Cor 1:26-29)

James also concurs with Paul, teaching us that, "Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" (James 2:5)

When we minimize others based upon outward appearances and status in this life, we often miss the hidden treasure that God has placed in them, treasure that would enrich ourselves and contribute to the growth and health of God's body.

More to come... David Robison

Spiritual Gifts and the Church (part 12): 1 Cor 12:17-20

"If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body." (1 Corinthians 12:17-20)

Paul returns to the central theme of this second part of the chapter: The Body is not one member but many. When we deny the many members that we were created to be then we deny the body. Where there is only one member, then the Body is absent. The Body was designed by Christ to be composed of many differing members, each contributing to the growth and health of the Body.

Unfortunately, in many of our churches today, there is room for only one, or in some cases, a few, members to participate in Body life. The clergy/laity model has relegated the work of the Body to the professional religious class; minimizing the role of the rest of the Body. Also, our pulpit centered services where the congregants come to be taught while the pastor fulfills the job of teaching further leads us astray from the true meaning of the Body.

It is my personal belief that we must rethink church. We must return to that form of community that Paul taught us, a Body in which everyone has a role, a gifting, and a contribution to perform. Only then will we truly experience the Body in its fullness and learn what it means to corporately become the bride of Christ.

More to come... David Robison

Spiritual Gifts and the Church (part 11): 1 Cor 12:14-16

"For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, 'Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,' it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, 'Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,' it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body." (1 Corinthians 12:14-16)

Paul acknowledges that the Corinthians were no strangers to the manifestations of the Spirit. He congratulates them that "in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge... so that you are not lacking in any gift." (1 Corinthians 1:5-7) Yet he also writes them to correct some errors and problems there were experiencing with those manifestations. One of the problems that can limit us in manifesting the Spirit is when we minimize ourselves in comparison to others. Sometimes, because of our insecurities or as the result of bad teaching, we discount ourselves because we are not "a hand" or "an eye". We believe that others are appointed for the Body of Christ, but, in contrast, our lack disqualifies us as useful members.

I grew up in the church and, when I was young, there was the unspoken impression that, if you were really spiritual, you became a pastor. Later, when I was in college, those who were really spiritual became missionaries. Now, it seems that we perceive those who have visions of angels and work great miracles are the truly spiritual ones. The problem is that we are not all pastors, missionaries, and workers of miracles, yet we are all still parts of the Body; we may not be like others but we still have a place and a role within the Body of Christ.

When we minimize who we are in Christ, we hold back and rob the Body of the special favor and giftings we have in Christ. When we fail to play our part the Body is weaken. The Body needs us and what we have from God to grow in stature and strength. "The whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:16) The Body needs each one of us. Let us stop mimizing who we are and what we have and learn to play our part in contributing to the growth and health of the Body.

More to come... David Robison

Spiritual Gifts and the Church (part 10): 1 Cor 12:12-13

"For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

In the past, when I've read this verse, I understood it to say that there are many people who make up the members of the Body of Christ, and this is true. However, when Paul refers to "members" he is not talking about individual people, such as the members of a church, but rather he is speaking of parts of the Body, such as a hand, a foot, an eye, etc. This verse could just as easily be translated, "For even as the body is one and yet has many organs." Its not that we are just one of many people who make up the Body of Christ, but we are each a distinct organ that contributes to the wholeness and health of the Body. We are each distinct with a unique gifting, favor, and function, and when all of the individual parts (organs) come together, then there is the Body of Christ.

"We are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:15-16)

It is the proper working and contribution of each individual part (organ) that causes the growth of the body in both stature and unity. Unfortunately, many of our churches have lost sight of the Body. In many churches, only a few members get to contribute and the others sit passively to receive. People are spectators and not active participants as parts (organs) of the Body. If we want to see the Body of Christ fully manifested in the Earth today then we need to move from our present clergy/laity model to one where each individual member has a place and a part to play within the Body.

More to come... David Robison