Sunday, January 21, 2024

Sigurd Grindheim on the Relationship between Hebrews and First Clement

  

First Clement

 

The earliest attested reception of Hebrews is found in a letter from the church in Rome to the church in Corinth. This letter is known as 1 Clement and traditionally dated toward the end of the first century, although some scholars are open to a date as late as 140 CE . . . First Clement echoes the Christology of Hebrews, affirming that Jesus Christ, “being the radiance of his majesty, is as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent (36.2).

 

However, the author of 1 Clement does not appear to have internalized the emphasis on the abrogation of the old covenant that is found in Hebrews. To give authority to his instructions for church order, he appears to the law of Moses (40.1-41.4). Like the author of Hebrews, he quotes from Num 12:8 (cf. Heb 3:5), but his purpose is to elevate the authority of Moses’s legislation (43.1), not to show the superiority of Jesus. Like Hebrews, 1 Clement also calls Jesus not only “the Guardian and Helper of our weakness” (cf. Heb 2:18; 4:16) but also “High Priest” (36.1). Christ’s high priesthood is not associated with his unique sacrifice, however. Rather, he is ”the High Priest of our offerings” (36.1), the one through whom believers render their praise to God (61.3; cf. 64.1). Also like Hebrews, the author of 1 Clement quotes from Prov 3:12: “for whom the Lord loves his disciplines, and he punishes every son whom he accepts” (56.4). In contrast to Hebrews, he does not apply the quotation to the experience of persecution (cf. Heb 12:6) but to the need for accepting church discipline. (Sigurd Grindheim, The Letter to the Hebrews [The Pillar New Testament Commentary; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2023], 47-48)