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The Ecclesiology of 2 Clement 14

Ephesians, Pauline Reception, and the Church’s Preexistence
  • James A. Kelhoffer
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Receptions of Paul in Early Christianity
This chapter is in the book Receptions of Paul in Early Christianity

Abstract

This study concurs with Andrew Gregory, Paul Foster, and other scholars on the unlikelihood that a positive case for a direct literary relationship between Ephesians and Second Clement can be made. It is also affirmed that John Muddiman makes a valuable methodological suggestion that,when weighing the relative probability of a literary relationship, similarities between two writings in addition to exact verbal agreement can, and arguably should, be taken into consideration. Concerning the preexistent church in 2 Clement 14, there are numerous reasons to infer that either Ephesians or a very similar apostolically ascribed writing informed Clement’s ecclesiology. In interpreting Ephesians, Second Clement may also be correcting its soteriology: instead of positing a predestined elect who have already been raised and seated with Christ (Eph 1:3-5; 2:6), Clement warns about the dangers of corrupting the flesh (14:3-5), hoping that his flock will be prepared for the final judgment (cf. 17:3-7). According to Clement, only those who keep the flesh pure will have hope of belonging to “the first, spiritual church” (14:1) and, as part of that church, of being reunited with Christ, with whom the church existed in the beginning (14:2).

Abstract

This study concurs with Andrew Gregory, Paul Foster, and other scholars on the unlikelihood that a positive case for a direct literary relationship between Ephesians and Second Clement can be made. It is also affirmed that John Muddiman makes a valuable methodological suggestion that,when weighing the relative probability of a literary relationship, similarities between two writings in addition to exact verbal agreement can, and arguably should, be taken into consideration. Concerning the preexistent church in 2 Clement 14, there are numerous reasons to infer that either Ephesians or a very similar apostolically ascribed writing informed Clement’s ecclesiology. In interpreting Ephesians, Second Clement may also be correcting its soteriology: instead of positing a predestined elect who have already been raised and seated with Christ (Eph 1:3-5; 2:6), Clement warns about the dangers of corrupting the flesh (14:3-5), hoping that his flock will be prepared for the final judgment (cf. 17:3-7). According to Clement, only those who keep the flesh pure will have hope of belonging to “the first, spiritual church” (14:1) and, as part of that church, of being reunited with Christ, with whom the church existed in the beginning (14:2).

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Contents V
  3. Preface IX
  4. I Prolegomena
  5. Introduction 3
  6. Paulus im ältesten Christentum 23
  7. II The Reception of the Pauline “Gospel” in EarlyChristianity
  8. Proclaimed Message or Proclamation of the Message? 61
  9. Lorsque Paul parle d’Evangile dans lapremière lettre aux Corinthiens 89
  10. III (Auto-)Biographical Receptions of Paul
  11. Das Selbstverständnis des Paulus als Apostel 115
  12. Biographie und Rhetorik 143
  13. Die Akten des Paulus und der Thekla als biographische Paulusrezeption 175
  14. The Conversion of Paul: A New Perspective (Epistula Apostolorum 31–33) 195
  15. IV Paul and his Work: Sociological and EconomicEffects
  16. Pauline Assemblies and Graeco-Roman Associations 215
  17. Zwischen Elend und Elite 249
  18. V Theological Receptions of Paul
  19. Der Kolosserbrief als ethischer Text –zugleich ein Beitrag zur Frühgeschichte derPaulusrezeption 289
  20. Paulus als Ökumeniker 317
  21. „Dies ist die geistige Auferstehung“ 355
  22. The Ecclesiology of 2 Clement 14 377
  23. VI Literary (Epistolary and Narrative) Receptionsof Paul
  24. Paul et la mémoire lucanienne des Origines 411
  25. Der 2. Thessalonicherbrief im Verhältnis zum 1. Thessalonicherbrief 443
  26. Hébreux et la tradition paulinienne 461
  27. VII Pauline Reception as Pauline Tradition
  28. Paulustradition und Paulusrezeption in den Pastoralbriefen 487
  29. La tradition paulinienne dans les lettres d’Ignace 519
  30. VIII Paul as an Authoritative Figure in EarlyChristianity
  31. Paul, Clement and the Corinthians 555
  32. Apocalipsis Pauli/Visio Pauli – Warum eigentlich Paulus? 579
  33. Apostolic Authority and Women in Second-Century Christianity 607
  34. Pauline Reception in Valentinian and Basilidian Gnosis 623
  35. IX Anti-Paulinism and Conflicts about Paul in EarlyChristianity
  36. Kreuzfeuer 647
  37. Antipauliner oder Zeugen eines nichtpaulinischen Christentums? 675
  38. La construction de l’homme ennemi ou l’anti-paulinisme dans le corpus pseudo-clément 729
  39. X Constructing the “Canonical” Paul
  40. Ungetrennt und Unvermischt? 751
  41. Marcion and the Canonical Paul 779
  42. Sammlungen der Paulusbriefe und die Entstehung des neutestamentlichen Kanons 799
  43. XI Pauline Reception: Archeological and EpigraphicEvidence
  44. Epigraphic Evidence for the Impact of Paul in Central Asia Minor 825
  45. List of Contributors 839
  46. Index of Ancient Sources 841
  47. Index of Modern Authors 896
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110533781-015

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Contents V
  3. Preface IX
  4. I Prolegomena
  5. Introduction 3
  6. Paulus im ältesten Christentum 23
  7. II The Reception of the Pauline “Gospel” in EarlyChristianity
  8. Proclaimed Message or Proclamation of the Message? 61
  9. Lorsque Paul parle d’Evangile dans lapremière lettre aux Corinthiens 89
  10. III (Auto-)Biographical Receptions of Paul
  11. Das Selbstverständnis des Paulus als Apostel 115
  12. Biographie und Rhetorik 143
  13. Die Akten des Paulus und der Thekla als biographische Paulusrezeption 175
  14. The Conversion of Paul: A New Perspective (Epistula Apostolorum 31–33) 195
  15. IV Paul and his Work: Sociological and EconomicEffects
  16. Pauline Assemblies and Graeco-Roman Associations 215
  17. Zwischen Elend und Elite 249
  18. V Theological Receptions of Paul
  19. Der Kolosserbrief als ethischer Text –zugleich ein Beitrag zur Frühgeschichte derPaulusrezeption 289
  20. Paulus als Ökumeniker 317
  21. „Dies ist die geistige Auferstehung“ 355
  22. The Ecclesiology of 2 Clement 14 377
  23. VI Literary (Epistolary and Narrative) Receptionsof Paul
  24. Paul et la mémoire lucanienne des Origines 411
  25. Der 2. Thessalonicherbrief im Verhältnis zum 1. Thessalonicherbrief 443
  26. Hébreux et la tradition paulinienne 461
  27. VII Pauline Reception as Pauline Tradition
  28. Paulustradition und Paulusrezeption in den Pastoralbriefen 487
  29. La tradition paulinienne dans les lettres d’Ignace 519
  30. VIII Paul as an Authoritative Figure in EarlyChristianity
  31. Paul, Clement and the Corinthians 555
  32. Apocalipsis Pauli/Visio Pauli – Warum eigentlich Paulus? 579
  33. Apostolic Authority and Women in Second-Century Christianity 607
  34. Pauline Reception in Valentinian and Basilidian Gnosis 623
  35. IX Anti-Paulinism and Conflicts about Paul in EarlyChristianity
  36. Kreuzfeuer 647
  37. Antipauliner oder Zeugen eines nichtpaulinischen Christentums? 675
  38. La construction de l’homme ennemi ou l’anti-paulinisme dans le corpus pseudo-clément 729
  39. X Constructing the “Canonical” Paul
  40. Ungetrennt und Unvermischt? 751
  41. Marcion and the Canonical Paul 779
  42. Sammlungen der Paulusbriefe und die Entstehung des neutestamentlichen Kanons 799
  43. XI Pauline Reception: Archeological and EpigraphicEvidence
  44. Epigraphic Evidence for the Impact of Paul in Central Asia Minor 825
  45. List of Contributors 839
  46. Index of Ancient Sources 841
  47. Index of Modern Authors 896
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