Guide · Medium · 8 min
What is First Clement?
Meet 1 Clement, one of the earliest Christian works outside the New Testament and an important witness from the church of Rome.
# What is First Clement?
Quick summary
First Clement is an early Christian letter traditionally associated with the church of Rome and addressed to the church in Corinth. It is one of the most important writings among the Apostolic Fathers.
Historical setting
The letter responds to conflict in Corinth, especially disputes over leadership. It encourages order, humility, repentance, and peace. Many scholars date it near the end of the first century, though exact dating is debated.
Why it is important
1 Clement shows how early Christians used Israel’s Scriptures, remembered apostolic examples, and thought about church order before later institutional structures were fully developed.
Is it part of the Bible?
1 Clement was highly valued in some early Christian communities and even appears with biblical books in some ancient manuscripts. Still, it did not become part of the New Testament canon in the major Christian traditions.
How to read it
Read it as a pastoral and communal letter, not as a detached theological treatise. Its main concern is restoring peace and proper conduct in a divided community.
Read also
- Who are the Apostolic Fathers?
- What is the Didache?
- o-que-e-a-carta-de-policarpo-aos-filipenses
- What are the letters of Ignatius of Antioch?
Sources and recommended reading
Editorial note: this article is written in an informational, non-confessional tone. Where traditions disagree, the page should describe differences of reception, use, and canon without presenting one tradition as the universal default.