Clement of Rome, The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, Kirsopp Lake (Translator), 44

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[1] Our Apostles also knew through our Lord¹ Jesus Christ that there would be strife for the title of bishop.

[2] For this cause, therefore, since they had received perfect foreknowledge, they appointed those who have been already mentioned, and afterwards added the codicil that if they should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed to their ministry.

[3] We consider therefore that it is not just to remove from their ministry those who were appointed by them, or later on by other eminent men, with the consent of the whole Church, and have ministered to the flock of Christ without blame, humbly, peaceably, and disinterestedly, and for many years have received a universally favourable testimony.

[4] For our sin is not small, if we eject from the episcopate those who have blamelessly and liolily offered its sacrifices.

[5] Blessed are those Presbyters who finished their course before now, and have obtained a fruitful and perfect release in the ripeness of completed work, for they have now no fear that any shall move them from the place appointed \o them.

[6] For we see that in spite of their good service you have removed some from the ministry which they fulfilled blamelessly.²

The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians. Clement of Rome. Kirsopp Lake (Translator). London. 1912.

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Current edition Perseus

The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians (English) (Clement of Rome. The Apostolic Fathers, Volume 1. Lake, Kirsopp, editor. London: William Heinemann Ltd.; New York: The Macmillan Company, 1912.)

Editions (1)

Epistula I ad Corinthios First1KGreek (Clement of Rome. The Apostolic Fathers, Volume 1. Lake, Kirsopp, editor. London: William Heinemann Ltd.; New York: The Macmillan Company, 1912.) — 44 focus

[1] Καὶ οἱ ἀπόστολοι ἡμῶν ἔγνωσαν διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅτι ἔρις ἔσται ἐπὶ τοῦ ὀνόματος τῆς ἐπισκοπῆς.

[2] διὰ ταύτην οὖν τὴν αἰτίαν πρόγνωσιν εἰληφότες τελείαν κατέστησαν τοὺς προειρημένους, καὶ μπταξὺ ἐπινομὴν ¹ δεδωκασιν, ὅπως, ἐὰν κοιμηθῶσιν, διαδέξωνται ἕτεροι δεδοκιμασμὲνοι ἅνδρες τὴν λειτουργίαν αὐτῶν.

[3] τοὺς οὖν κατασταθέντας ὑπ̓ ἐκείνων ἢ μεταξὺ ὑφ̓ ἑτέρων ἐλλογίμων ἀνδρῶν συνενδοκησάσης τῆς ἐκκλησίας πάσης, καὶ λειτουργήσαντας ἀμέμπτως τῷ ποιμνίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ ταπεινοφροσύνης, ἡσύχως καὶ ἀβαναύσως, μεμαρτυρημένους τε πολλοῖς χρόνοις ὑπὸ πάντων, τούτους οὐ δικαίως νομίζομεν ἀποβάλλεσθαι τῆς λειτουργίας.

[4] ἁμαρτία γὰρ οὐ μικρὰ ἡμῖν ἔσται, ἐὰν τοὺς ἀμέμπτως καὶ ὁσίως προσενεγκόντας τὰ δῶρα τῆς ἐπισκοπῆς ἀποβάλωμεν.

[5] μακάριοι οἱ προοδοιπορήσαντες πρεσβύτεροι, οἵτινες ἔγκαρπον καὶ τελείαν ἔσχον τὴν ἀνάλυσιν: οὐ γὰρ εὐλαβοῦνται μή τις αὐτοὺς μεταστήσῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱδρυμένου αὐτοῖς τόπου.

[6] ὁρῶμεν γάρ, ὅτι ἐνίους ὑμεῖς μετηγάγετε καλῶς πολιτευομένους ἐκ τῆς ἀμέμπτως αὐτοῖς τετιμημένης λειτουργίας.

Notes on the current edition

The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

1. The application of these facts to the situation at Corinth

2. It is doubtful if this translation is right, and the Greek is perhaps corrupt. Lightfoot emends τετιμημένης to τετηρημένης which they preserved. The translation given is supported by L facto (probably a corruption of functo).

Clement of Rome The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians 44

Kirsopp Lake (Translator)

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