Clement and the Early Church of Rome: On the Dating of Clement's First Epistle to the Corinthians

by Thomas J. Herron

Publisher:

Emmaus Road

, 2008

Overview

Clement of Rome’s First Epistle to the Corinthians is a supremely valuable historical document. One of very few noncanonical Christian texts to reach us from the first century, it’s an early example of the exercise of hierarchical—and Roman—authority in the Church. Disciplinary in nature, Clement’s epistle speaks volumes about the life of the early church. The early Christians guarded the letter fiercely, risking their own lives to preserve it for generations to come.

In Clement and the Early Church of Rome: On the Dating of Clement’s First Epistle to the Corinthians, Thomas Herron presents painstaking research in favor of an earlier dating for the epistle. Carefully examining both external and internal evidence surrounding the letter, he sketches out the historical, theological, and apologetic significance an earlier dating would have. His scholarship sheds new light on the dating questions that plague this early document and offers insight into the structural history of the post apostolic church.

In the Logos edition, Clement and the Early Church of Rome is easily searchable. Scripture passages are tagged to appear on mouse-over, and all cross-references link to the other resources in your digital library, making this collection even more powerful and even easier to access than ever before. With Logos’ advanced features, you can perform comprehensive searches by topic or Scripture reference—finding, for example, every mention of “Paul” or “temple.”

Key Features

• Provides a general background for the dating question
• Examines internal and external evidence surrounding the letter
• Includes an appendix and selected bibliography

Contents

• The Internal Evidence
• The New Testament and the Apostolic Fathers
• Theological Implications of an Earlier Dating Hypothesis
• Summary Conclusions

Top Highlights

“First Clement is likewise an important witness for the tradition that both Peter and Paul were in fact martyred at Rome” (Page 82)

“why would he not have alluded to the written Gospel testimony to Jesus’ suffering and example of humility?” (Page 50)

“antedates the emergence of a recognizable monepiscopacy” (Page 2)

“Apostles appointed presbyters and therefore the local Church is not now authorized to oust the presbyters and alter the apostolic order.” (Page 2)

“certain presbyters had been removed from office in Corinth and the author insists that they be restored” (Page 1)

Praise for the Print Edition

I am dependent . . . upon the brilliant analysis by Thomas J. Herron.

—Clayton Jefford, St. Meinrad School of Theology, The Apostolic Fathers and the New Testament

Product Details

• Title: Clement and the Early Church of Rome: On the Dating of Clement’s First Epistle to the Corinthians
• Author: Thomas Herron
• Publisher: Emmaus Road Publishing
• Publication Date: 2008
• Pages: 116

About Thomas J. Herron

Thomas Herron (1948–2004) served for many years as an official of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He was the English-language secretary for Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI.