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The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians · Chapter LIV

He Who Is Full of Love Will Incur Every Loss, That Peace May Be Restored to the Church

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Who then among you is noble-minded? who compassionate? who full of love? Let him declare, "If on my account sedition and disagreement and schisms have arisen, I will depart, I will go away whithersoever ye desire, and I will do whatever the majority241 commands; only let the flock of Christ live on terms of peace with the presbyters set over it." He that acts thus shall procure to himself great glory in the Lord; and every place will welcome242 him. For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof."243 These things they who live a godly life, that is never to be repented of, both have done and always will do.

Notes

  1. 241

    Literally, "the multitude." [Clement here puts words into the mouth of the Corinthian presbyters. It has been strangely quoted to strengthen a conjecture that he had humbly preferred Linus and Cletus when first called to preside.]

  2. 242

    Or, "receive."

  3. 243

    ; , .

Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1, ed. Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson and A. Cleveland Coxe (1885–96). Public domain. Text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.