Day 1095 · Year 3 · The Great Tradition
Clement of Rome on the divided church
The earliest non-canonical Christian letter pleads for peace.
Today's passage
1 Corinthians 1:10-13
10I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction.
11My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
12What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
Berean Standard Bible · public domain
Reflection
Around AD 96, the church in Rome heard that the Corinthian church was tearing itself apart again — a generation after Paul wrote them this same warning. Clement of Rome wrote them a long, patient letter pleading for unity, humility, and orderly love. The point is not that conflict can be wished away. It is that conflict in the body of Christ has always required humility from somebody first. If you are in a strained relationship in the church right now, the question is rarely 'who started this?' It is 'who will be humble first?'
From the great tradition · paraphrased
Clement of Rome · Apostolic Fathers · 1st c. · Rome
Clement of Rome urged a divided church to remember that pride splits congregations and humility heals them — and that any believer can be the one who starts the healing by going low first.
Paraphrase only. Scripture, not any teacher, is the authority.
Think it through
- What is Paul's plea in verse 10, and what is the problem in verses 11–13?
- Why does unity in the church matter so much?
- What relationship in your church (or family) needs you to go humble first?
A prayer to pray
Ask God to show you where pride is fueling a division you are part of. Ask him for the grace to be humble first.