( PART 4 ) DID THE EARLIEST POST-BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN WRITERS TEACH CHRISTENDOM'S OFFICIAL DOCTRINE OF THE TRI{3}NITY? = CLEMENT OF ROME – LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS – CHAPTER 1(A)


There is nothing really significant doctrinally in the first half of Chapter one. So we will pass over briefly what is there:

GREEK TEXT: “... τῆς τε ἀλλοτρίας καὶ ξένης τοῖς ἐκλεκτοῖς τοῦ Θεοῦ μιαρᾶς καὶ ἀνοσίου στάσεως...” - (Chapter 1:1, “1st Epistle to the Corinthians, by Clement of Rome,” THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS, I CLEMENT, II CLEMENT Based on the Krissop Lake text of the Loeb Classical Library First published 1913.)
LATIN TEXT: “... et de aliena et extera electorum Dei inmunda et nefanda seditione...” - (Chapter 1:1, Page 1, Latin translation circa 2nd-3rd Century C.E., preserved in 11th Century C.E., MSS G. Morin Sancti Clementis Romani ad Corinthios Epistulae version latina antiquissima (Anecdota Maredsolana 2 ; Maredsosus, Belgium, 1894.)

LATIN TEXT: “... et ad alienam peregrinamque Dei electis seditionem...” - (Chapter 1:1, Page 37, AD CORINTHIOS EPISTOLA PRIMA. SANCTI CLEMENTIS EPISCOPI ROMANI, ( EX VERSIONE RUFINI ) Tomus Primus [Book I], Patres Apostolici, COLLECTIO SELECTA SS. ECCLESIAE PATRUM, Complectens Exquisitissima Opera. By D. M. N. S. Guuillon. M. DCCC. XXIX.)

CLEMENT OF ROME (circa. 30-100 C.E.): “...[1:1] […] and to the detestable and unholy sedition, so alien and strange to the elect of God...” - (Chapter 1:1; THE FIRST EPISTLE OF CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS Translated by J.B. Lightfoot.)

CLEMENT OF ROME (circa. 30-100 C.E.): “...[1:1] […] and to the foul and unholy sedition, alien and foreign to the elect of God...” - (CHAPTER 1:1; THE FIRST EPISTLE OF CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS translated by Charles H. Hoole, 1885.)

CLEMENT OF ROME (circa. 30-100 C.E.): “...[1:1] […] and especially to that shameful and detestable sedition, utterly abhorrent to the elect of God...” - (CHAPTER 1:1 -- SALUTATION, AND PRAISE FOR THE CORINTHIANS BEFORE SCHISM BROKE FORTH AMONG THEM. CLEMENT OF ROME, First Epistle/Letter of Clement to the Corinthians .)

Original Word: ἐκλεκτός, ή, όν
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: eklektos
Phonetic Spelling: (ek-lek-tos')
Short Definition: chosen, elect, choice, select
Definition: chosen out, elect, choice, select, sometimes as subst: of those chosen out by God for the rendering of special service to Him (of the Hebrew race, particular Hebrews, the Messiah, and the Christians).

ΠΡΟΣ ΚΟΛΟΣΣΑΕΙΣ [COLOSSIANS] 3:12 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
“...Ἐνδύσασθε οὖν, ὡς ἐκλεκτοὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἅγιοι καὶ ἠγαπημένοι, σπλάγχνα οἰκτιρμοῦ χρηστότητα ταπεινοφροσύνην πραΰτητα μακροθυμίαν...”

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
“...Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering...”

New International Version (©1984)
“...Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience...”

International Standard Version (©2008)
“...Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience...”

Young's Literal Translation
“...Put on, therefore, as choice ones of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humble-mindedness, meekness, long-suffering...”

GREEK TEXT: “...τοὺς [1(B).] ἐνειλημένους τοῖς ἁγιοπρεπέσιν δεσμοῖς, ἅτινά ἐστιν διαδήματα τῶν ἀληθῶς ὑπὸ Θεοῦ καὶ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν ἐκλελεγμένων...” - (Chapter: 1,
“The Apostolic Fathers” by Kirsopp Lake, 1912, Loeb Classical Library.)

POLYCARP OF SMYRNA (circa. 65-155 C.E.): “...those who were bound in chains, the fitting ornaments of saints, and which are indeed the diadems of the true elect of God and our Lord...” - (Chapter I.—Praise of the Philippians. Roberts & Donaldson ANF.)

POLYCARP OF SMYRNA (circa. 65-155 C.E.): “...those who were bound in chains, which become the saints, and are the diadems of those who have been truly chosen by God and our Lord...” - (CHAPTER 1, The hospitality of the Philippians -- Their faith POLYCARP to the Philippians, “The Apostolic Fathers” by Kirsopp Lake, 1912, Loeb Classical Library.)

POLYCARP OF SMYRNA (circa. 65-155 C.E.): “...those men encircled in saintly bonds which are the diadems of them that be truly chosen of God and our Lord...” - (1 THE EPISTLE OF POLYCARP Translated by J.B. Lightfoot.)
[PERSONAL FOOTNOTE]: Polycarp habitually throughout this entire letter makes a clear distinction between “...our Lord Jesus Christ...” and “...God...” as does Clement of Rome, with the exception of one corrupted passage which will be discussed in detail when we come to Polycarps writings.