Love and Humility as the Cure for Στάσις

Despite the clear similarities between 1 Corinthians and 1 Clement, it is often claimed that 1 Clement has an authoritarian attitude and argumentative style in contrast to Paul’s democratic spirit. Paul would never have used the category of order and authority, as found in 1 Clement, to settle the dispute in Corinth but instead appealed to humility and love (1 Cor 12:12–31). This paper, however, will demonstrate that, like Paul’s appeal to love and humility, the author of 1 Clement too appeals to th o se rebelling against the presbyters (1 Clem 47:6) to eliminate their pride and boasting, to humble themselves, and to love one another in order that they might be found in the love of God (1 Clem 15–18; 48–54). In this way the author of 1 Clement prolongs Paul’s Corinthian correspondence by insisting on the cultivation of humility and love among the Corinthian “rebels” in order to restore concord and peace within the congregation.

Appeal · Argumentative · Authoritarianism · Humility · Order (exchange) · Pride · Biblical Studies and Interpretation · European Law and Migration · Theology and Canon Law Studies