Imagine what it would have been like to be taught in the faith by two of the original apostles, Peter and Paul. Clement of Rome (35-99) was a first century Christian who had the wonderful privilege of being a student of these first-generation Christians. He may be the same person mentioned by Paul as one of his faithful workers in Philippi (Phil. 4.13). Clement went on to become bishop of the church in Rome. Catholics contend he was the fourth pope after Peter. Clement wrote a letter to the church in Corinth (yes, it’s the same church to which Paul directs two letters that are contained in the New Testament). Paul wrote two letters to this troubled church torn apart by rancor and division. A generation later, malice and ill-will again erupted in the church. Clement’s letter, much like Paul’s epistles, urged the church to lay aside its petty arguments and partisan loyalties to pursue Christlike love.
Clement’s letter (First Clement) is one of the oldest Christian documents outside the New Testament. He writes, “Love admits no schism, love gives rise to no seditions; love does all things in harmony.” What a needed word for our time!
I smile when I hear Christians complain about divisions in the church and then make the comment, “We’ve got to get back to the what the early church was like.” Well, we are! Dealing with divisions and pettiness in the church has always been with us. As I reflect on Clement’s prayer, I’ll wager we’re all in there somewhere: