Chapter 14
The appeal to obedience
| 1 Δίκαιον οὖν καὶ ὅσιον, ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, ὑπηκόους ἡμᾶς μᾶλλον γενέσθαι τῷ θεῷ ἢ τοῖς ἐν ἀλαζόνειᾳ καὶ ἀκαταστασίᾳ μυσεροῦ ζήλους ἀρχηγοῖς ἐξακολουθεῖν. | Therefore, it is right and proper, brothers, that we should be obedient to God rather than follow those who, in their arrogance and disorder, have set themselves up as leaders in despicable jealousy. |
| 2 βλάβην γὰρ οὐ τὴν τυχοῦσαν, μᾶλλον δὲ κίνδυνον ὑποίσομεν μέγαν, ἐὰν ῥιψοκινδύνως ἐπιδῶμεν ἑαυτοὺς τοῖς θελήμασιν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, οἵτινες ἐξακοντίζουσιν εἰς ἔριν καὶ στάσεις, εἰς τὸ ἀπαλλοτριῶσαι ἡμᾶς τοῦ καλῶς ἔχοντος. | For we will bring upon us no insignificant harm, but rather a great danger if we recklessly yield to the purposes of men who launch us into strife and seditions with the intent of divorcing us from what is good. |
| 3 χρηστευσώμεθα ἑαυτοῖς κατὰ τὴν εὐσπλαγχνίαν καὶ γλυκύτητα τοῦ ποιήσαντος ἡμᾶς. | Let’s be kind to them according to the compassion and sweetness of Him who made us.. |
| 4 γέγραπται γάρ· Χρηστοὶ ἔσονται οἰκήτορες γῆς, ἄκακοι δὲ ὑπολειφθήσονται ἐπ' αὐτῆς· οἱ δὲ παρανομοῦντες ἐξολεθρευθήσονται ἀπ' αὐτῆς. |
For it is written, "The men of kindness will inherit the land. The innocent will be left upon it, but the transgressors will be utterly destroyed from it." {Prov. 2:21-22} |
| 5 καὶ πάλιν λέγει· Εἶδον ἀσεβῆ ὑπερυψούμενον καὶ ἐπαιρόμενον ὡς τὰς κέδρους τοῦ Λιβάνου· καὶ παρῆλθον, καὶ ἰδοὺ οὐκ ἦν, καὶ ἐξεζήτησα τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐχ εὗρον. φύλασσε ἀκακίαν καὶ ἴδε εὐθύτητα, ὅτι ἐστὶν ἐγκατάλειμμα ἀνθρώπῳ εἰρηνικῷ. |
Again it says, "I saw the ungodly person lifted up high and exalted as the cedars of Lebanon. When I passed by, and look, he wasn’t there. I searched for his place, but I didn’t find it. Guard (your) innocence and respect integrity because there is a remnant for the peaceful person. |
Summary
In Chapter 14, Clement issues a direct call for allegiance, urging the church to choose divine authority over factional human leaders. He contrasts obedience to God (ὑπηκόους... τῷ θεῷ) with following arrogant instigators (ἀρχηγοί) who spread disorder (ἀκαταστασία) and "abominable jealousy" (μυσερὸς ζῆλος).
Clement warns that submitting to these ringleaders carries "great danger" (κίνδυνον μέγαν), specifically threatening to alienate believers from the true faith. Instead of factional strife, Clement calls the community to mirror the compassionate nature of their Creator through mutual kindness (χρηστευσώμεθα). He supports this pastoral warning with Wisdom literature citations (Proverbs 2:21–22 LXX and Psalm 37:35–37 LXX / Ps 36 LXX), reminding Corinth that the arrogant wicked will vanish without a trace, whereas the innocent (ἄκακοι) and peaceable (εἰρηνικός) are granted an enduring inheritance.
Significant Greek Expressions
Δίκαιον... καὶ ὅσιον (Right and holy): A classical pair of virtues (dikaios regarding duty to humans/covenant, hosios regarding sacred duty to God). Clement establishes that submission to rightful church authority and God is both ethically right and religiously sacred.
τοῖς... μυσεροῦ ζήλους ἀρχηγοῖς (The instigators of an abominable jealousy): Uses archēgos (chief leader, instigator, or originator). Clement directly targets the ringleaders of the Corinthian coup, characterizing their envy as museros (abominable, foul, or defiling).
ῥιψοκινδύνως (Recklessly / rashly): From ripsokindynōs (literally "casting oneself into danger"). Clement accuses those who follow the rebel leaders of taking a foolish, life-threatening risk with their spiritual well-being.
εἰς ἔριν καὶ στάσεις (Into strife and schisms): Uses stasis alongside eris, reaffirming Clement’s core diagnosis of the Corinthian crisis as internal sedition and illegal factional division against ordained presbyters.
κατὰ τὴν εὐσπλαγχνίαν καὶ γλυκύτητα τοῦ ποιήσαντος ἡμᾶς (According to the compassion and sweetness of Him who made us): Pairs eusplanchnia (tenderheartedness/compassion) with glykytēs (sweetness/gentleness), setting God’s benevolent, tender character as the model for human relationships within the Christian assembly.
ἀνθρώπῳ εἰρηνικῷ (To/for the peaceable man): Quoting Psalm 37:37 LXX (Ps 36:37 LXX). Highlights eirēnikos (peaceable/peace-making), promising that divine blessing and a future remnant (egkataleimma) belong exclusively to those who pursue peace over political factionalism.