[Footnote 26:  See St. Paul to the Philippians, iv. 3.  “And I entreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life.”]

Of the many works which have been attributed to Clement, it is now generally agreed, that one, and only one, can be safely received as genuine, whilst some maintain that even that one is not altogether free from interpolations, if not itself spurious[27].  But though we must believe the other works to have been assigned improperly to Clement; yet I have not thought it safe to pass them by unexamined, both because some of them are held in high estimation by writers of the Church of Rome, and especially because whatever pen first composed them, of their very great antiquity there can be entertained no reasonable doubt.  Indeed, the Apostolical Canons, and the Apostolical Constitutions, both ascribed to Clement as their author, acting under the direction of the Apostolic Council, stand first among the records of the Councils received by the Church of Rome.

    [Footnote 27:  Archbishop Wake concludes that this first Epistle
    was written shortly after the end of Nero’s persecution, and
    before A.D. 70.]

To Clement’s first Epistle to the Corinthians, now regarded by many as the only genuine work of that primitive writer, the date of which is considered by many to be about A.D. 90, Jerome bears this very interesting testimony in his book on illustrious men: 

“He, Clement, wrote in the person of the Church of Rome, to the Church in Corinth, a very useful epistle, which is publicly read in some places; in its character agreeing with St. Paul’s Epistle to the Hebrews, not only in the sense, but even in the words:  and indeed the resemblance is very striking in each.” [Catalogus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum, Jeron., vol. iv, part ii. p. 107, edit.  Benedict.  Paris, 1706.] {81}

It is impossible to read this Epistle of one of the earliest bishops of Christ’s flock in the proper frame of mind, without spiritual edification.  A tone of primitive simplicity pervades it, which is quite delightful.  His witness to the redemption by the atoning sacrifice of Christ’s death, and to the life-giving influences of the Spirit of grace, is clear, repeated, and direct.  His familiar acquaintance with the ancient Scriptures is very remarkable; though we might not always acquiesce in the critical accuracy of his application.  His reference to the Epistles written by St. Paul to the same Church at Corinth that he was then addressing, affords one of those unobtrusive and undesigned collateral evidences to the Holy Scriptures, which are as abundant in the primitive writings, as they are invaluable.  No one can read this Epistle of Clement, without acquiescing in the expression of Jerome, that it is “very admirable.”