Eclemonds Romanus, Bishop of Rome
Introduction and the Rank of Clement the Roman
The saint speaks about Clement the Roman, clarifying that he is one of the fathers of the first century with disagreement about the timing of his life, and pointing to his letters attributed to the Corinthians and his standing among the fathers of the Church.
Contents of the Message and Its Style
He describes his speech as full of biblical verses and historical examples without strict topical order, but its essence is rich in spiritual and educational teaching that benefits the reader when extracting the main ideas.
The Issue of Envy and Schisms
He explains that envy was the cause of divisions in the churches and gives examples from the Holy Scripture (Abel and Jacob, Esau, Joseph, Aaron and Miriam, David), clarifying how death and evil enter as a result of envy.
A Call to Repentance and Obedience
The speaker repeated that the letter contains a strong call to repentance, with examples from Abraham and Lot and how they obeyed God, and a deep discussion of the meanings of repentance and obedience and their spiritual effect.
Humility and Holiness
He speaks about humility as a trait of the saved and as a key to the requirements of spiritual life, with references to the lives of the prophets, asceticism and their simple clothing and signs of true humility.
God’s Power and the Order of Creation
He explains how the heavens and nature praise in a divine order that shows God’s power and wisdom, and uses examples from the movement of the heavens and seeds and the resurrection to affirm God’s work in the world.
Order in the Church and Priestly Dignity
He warns of the importance of order in worship, offerings and priestly honors, and mentions that God established an order for the priesthood, apostles, bishops and servants, and that confusion and challenge lead to chaos and schism.
The Value of the Fathers’ Teachings
He concludes by affirming that the sayings of the fathers like Clement are full of useful spiritual information, and although their style is not topically ordered, we must take from them the spiritual essence and organize it in our thought and church for benefit.
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