Friday, April 3, 2009

FATHERS: Clement the Presbyter


QUOTE:
Let us attend to what is good, pleasing, and acceptable in the sight of him who formed us. Let us look, steadfastly upon the blood of Christ… which having been shed for our salvation has set the grace of repentance before the whole world. Let us turn back to every age that has passed, and learn this from generation to generation.
“The 1st Epistle of Clement”

COMMENTARY:
Clement was actually a co-worker in the gospel ministry with St Paul. In Phi 4: 3 Paul writes: Indeed, true comrade, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

This very Clement reveals to us that right from Christianity’s inception, it was Christ centered, atonement based, and repentance focused. No surprise there at all, yet, to many in our day the next emphasis is a bit strange. Clement tells us that it was also traditionally dependant. He writes “Let us turn back to every age that has passed, and learn this from generation to generation.” In an age when only the newest is valuable, this statement cuts to the heart.

Catholic Evangelicalism is always looking back to ages past, it is always standing on the shoulders of giants as it jumps off into the future.

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