Chapter 15
The necessity of true humility
| 1 Τοίνυν κολληθῶμεν τοῖς μετ' εὐσεβείας εἰρηνεύουσιν, καὶ μὴ τοῖς μεθ' ὑποκρίσεως βουλομένοις εἰρήνην | Therefore, let’s unite with those who devoutly practice peace, and not with those who pretend to desire peace. |
| 2 λέγει γάρ που· Οὗτος ὁ λαὸς τοῖς χείλεσίν με τιμᾷ, ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῶν πόρρω ἄπεστιν ἀπ' ἐμοῦ. | For it says somewhere, "This people honour Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." {Isa. 29:13} |
| 3 καὶ πάλιν· Τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν εὐλογοῦσιν, τῇ δὲ καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν κατηρῶντο. | And again, "They bless with their mouth, but they curse with their heart." {Ps. 62:4} |
| 4 καὶ πάλιν λέγει· Ἠγάπησαν αὐτὸν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν καὶ τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτῶν ἐψεύσαντο αὐτόν, ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῶν οὐκ εὐθεῖα μετ' αὐτοῦ, οὐδὲ ἐπιστώθησαν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ αὐτοῦ. |
And again it says, "They loved Him with their mouth; but with their tongue, they lied to Him. Their heart wasn’t right with Him, nor were they faithful to His covenant." {Ps. 78:36-37} |
| 5 διὰ τοῦτο ἄλαλα γενηθήτω τὰ χείλη τὰ δόλια τὰ λαλοῦντα κατὰ τοῦ δικαίου ἀνομίαν. καὶ πάλιν· Ἐξολεθρεύσαι κύριος πάντα τὰ χείλη τὰ δόλια, γλῶσσαν μεγαλορήμονα, τοὺς εἰπόντας· Τὴν γλῶσσαν ἡμῶν μεγαλυνοῦμεν, τὰ χείλη ἡμῶν παρ' ἡμῖν ἐστιν· τίς ἡμῶν κύριός ἐστιν; |
For this reason, “Let the deceitful lips that speak iniquity against the righteous be made speechless.” {Ps. 31:18}
And again, “May the Lord utterly destroy all the deceitful lips, the boasting tongue, and those who say, ‘Let’s magnify our tongue. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?’ |
| 6 ἀπὸ τῆς ταλαιπωρίας τῶν πτωχῶν καὶ τοῦ στεναγμοῦ τῶν πενήτων νῦν ἀναστήσομαι, λέγει κύριος· θήσομαι ἐν σωτηρίῳ, |
‘Because of the misery of the beggar and because of the groaning of the poor, I will now arise,’ says the Lord. ‘I will put him in safety. |
| 7 παρρησιάσομαι ἐν αὐτῷ. | I will deal boldly with him.’” {Ps. 12:3-5} |
Summary
In Chapter 15, Clement continues his pastoral warning against the hypocritical rhetoric of the rebel leaders in Corinth. He exhorts believers to form close spiritual attachments—to "cleave" (κολληθῶμεν)—only to those who pursue genuine, pious peace (μετ̓ εὐσεβείας εἰρηνεύουσιν), rather than those who offer insincere professions of reconciliation while harboring division in their hearts.
To expose this deceitful posture, Clement marshals a rapid succession of Old Testament texts from Isaiah and the Psalms (Isaiah 29:13 LXX; Psalm 62:4 LXX; Psalm 78:36–37 LXX; Psalm 31:18 LXX; Psalm 12:3–5 LXX):
Lips vs. Heart: He uses Isaiah 29:13 and Psalm 78 to contrast outer verbal devotion with inner covenantal infidelity (οὐδὲ ἐπιστώθησαν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ).
Arrogant Autonomy: He quotes Psalm 12 to expose the spirit of rebellious self-sufficiency ("Who is lord over us?").
Divine Vindication: He closes with God’s promise to arise and vindicate the oppressed and humble (πτωχοί and πένητες) who have been targeted by deceitful tongues.
Significant Greek Expressions
κολληθῶμεν (Let us cleave / bind ourselves): From kollaō (literally to glue or join closely together; cf. 1 Corinthians 6:17). Clement commands the Corinthians to align themselves exclusively with the peaceful, righteous leaders of the assembly rather than associating with factional agitators.
μεθ̓ ὑποκρίσεως βουλομένοις εἰρήνην (Those who desire peace with hypocrisy): Combines hypokrisis (pretense, insincerity, acting) with peace. Clement warns that the rebel faction uses superficial calls for peace as a cover while continuing their illegal overthrow of the presbyters.
οὐδὲ ἐπιστώθησαν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ (Neither were they faithful to His covenant): Quoting Psalm 78:37 LXX (Ps 77 LXX). Uses pistoō in the passive/middle sense of showing oneself faithful or remaining steadfast in covenant trust (diathēkē).
γλῶσσαν μεγαλορήμονα (A boastful / arrogant tongue): From megalorēmōn (speaking big words or arrogant boasts). Clement identifies arrogant speech as a signature mark of schismatics who reject legitimate ecclesiastical oversight.
τίς ἡμῶν κύριός ἐστιν; (Who is lord over us?): Citing Psalm 12:4 LXX (Ps 11 LXX). Captures the ultimate spiritual attitude behind the Corinthian rebellion: an refusal to submit to assigned authority, claiming absolute self-sovereignty.
παρρησιάσομαι ἐν αὐτῷ (I will speak boldly / act openly concerning them): Uses parrhēsiazomai (to act or speak with open boldness/confidence). Affirms that God will actively step forward to deliver the humble who suffer under arrogant and divisive rule.