Chapter 23
The appeal from the Father
| 1 Ὁ οἰκτίρμων κατὰ πάντα καὶ εὐεργετικὸς πατὴρ ἔχει σπλάγχνα ἐπὶ τοὺς φοβουμένους αὐτόν, ἠπίως τε καὶ προσηνῶς τὰς χάριτας αὐτοῦ ἀποδιδοῖ τοῖς προσερχομένοις αὐτῷ ἁπλῇ διανοίᾳ. |
The Father, who is merciful in all things and ready to do good, has compassion on those who fear Him. And He gently and lovingly grants His favors on those who approach Him with a singleness of mind. |
| 2 διὸ μὴ διψυχῶμεν, μηδὲ ἰνδαλλέσθω ἡ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν ἐπί ταῖς ὑπερβαλλούσαις καὶ ἐνδόξοις δωρεαῖς αὐτοῦ. | Therefore, let’s not be double-minded, nor let our souls indulge in idle speculations about His superb and glorious gifts. |
| 3 πόρρω γενέσθω ἀφ' ἡμῶν ἡ γραφὴ αὕτη, ὅπου λέγει· Ταλαίπωροί εἰσιν οἱ δίψυχοι, οἱ διστάζοντες τῇ ψυχῇ, οἱ λέγοντες· Ταῦτα ἠκούσαμεν καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν, καὶ ἰδού, γεγηράκαμεν, καὶ οὐδὲν ἡμῖν τούτων συμβέβηκεν. |
Let this scripture be far from us which says,
"Wretched are the double-minded who doubt in their souls and say,
‘We also heard these things in the days of our fathers. Now we have grown old, and none of these things has happened to us.’ |
| 4 ὦ ἀνόητοι, συμβάλετε ἑαυτοὺς ξύλῳ· λάβετε ἄμπελον· πρῶτον μὲν φυλλοροεῖ, εἶτα βλαστὸς γίνεται, εἶτα φύλλον, εἶτα ἄνθος, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ὄμφαξ, εἶτα σταφυλὴ παρεστηκυῖα. ὁρᾶτε, ὅτι ἐν καιρῷ ὀλίγῳ εἰς πέπειρον καταντᾷ ὁ καρπὸς τοῦ ξύλου. |
You fools! Compare yourself with a tree. Consider a vine. First it sheds it leaves, then a shoot comes, then the leaf, then the flower. After that there is the unripe grape and then the ripe grape" {unknown source}. Notice that there is a very short time for the fruit of the tree to reach maturity. |
| 5 ἐπ' ἀληθείας ταχὺ καὶ ἐξαίφνης τελειωθήσεται τὸ βούλημα αὐτοῦ, συνεπιμαρτυρούσης καὶ τῆς γραφῆς, ὅτι ταχὺ ἥξει καὶ οὐ χρονιεῖ, καὶ ἐξαίφνης ἥξει ὁ κύριος εἰς τὸν ναὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὁ ἅγιος, ὃν ὑμεῖς προσδοκᾶτε. |
By truth, His purpose will be fulfilled quickly and suddenly. The scripture corroborates it saying, "He will come quickly and won’t delay. The Lord will suddenly come into His temple, even the Holy One whom you expect" {Isa. 13:22; Mal. 3:1}. |
Summary
In Chapter 23, Clement addresses the underlying theological crisis fueling the Corinthian instability: doubt regarding God’s imminent action and future fulfillment. He opens by emphasizing the paternal, compassionate nature of God (ὁ οἰκτίρμων... πατήρ), who kindly rewards those who draw near with undivided sincerity (ἁπλῇ διανοίᾳ).
To combat the spiritual vacillation of the Corinthians, Clement issues a strong warning against being double-minded (δίψυχοι). He quotes an unknown/apocryphal prophetic text (also quoted in 2 Clement 11.2–4) that refutes eschatological skepticism—the cynical objection that because time has passed without fulfillment, God’s promises have failed. Using an agricultural parable of a vine (ἄμπελον) progressing rapidly from bare branch to ripe grapes (σταφυλὴ παρεστηκυῖα), Clement illustrates that divine fulfillment matures quickly and according to its proper season. He concludes by synthesizing Old Testament prophetic expectations (Habakkuk 2:3 LXX and Malachi 3:1 LXX) to assure the assembly that the Lord will arrive suddenly (ἐξαίφνης) to execute His sovereign will.
Significant Greek Expressions
ἔχει σπλάγχνα (Has compassion / bowel-affections): Uses splanchna (literally inward parts, visceral organs; figuratively deep compassion or affection). Highlights God’s intense, personal tenderheartedness toward those who fear Him.
ἁπλῇ διανοίᾳ (With a sincere / single mind): Combines haploos (single, uncompounded, sincere) with dianoia (mind, disposition). Contrasted directly with dipsychia (double-mindedness); God responds to those whose spiritual posture is wholehearted rather than divided.
οἱ δίψυχοι, οἱ διστάζοντες (The double-minded, those who hesitate): Reappears from 1 Clement 11.2. Clement targets dipsychia (split-souled doubt) as a primary root of ecclesial rebellion. Those who doubt God’s sovereign timeline lose their grounding in covenant obedience.
ταῦτα ἠκούσαμεν καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν (We heard these things even in the days of our fathers): Reflects early Christian confrontation with delay-of-parousia skepticism (closely paralleling 2 Peter 3:4: "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were").
σταφυλὴ παρεστηκυῖα (A fully ripened cluster): From paristēmi in the perfect tense (literally "standing ready" or mature). Clement uses the organic growth cycle of the grapevine as an object lesson: divine promises may appear dormant during cold seasons, but their ultimate fruition accelerates rapidly toward harvest.
ἐξαίφνης ἥξει ὁ κύριος εἰς τὸν ναὸν αὐτοῦ (Suddenly the Lord shall come to His temple): Cites Malachi 3:1 LXX. Uses exaiphnēs (unexpectedly, suddenly). Reminds the Corinthians that divine intervention is swift, calling for constant readiness and order within the church.