Chapter 37
We are soldiers of Christ
| 1 Στρατευσώμεθα οὖν, ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, μετὰ πάσης ἐκτενείας ἐν τοῖς ἀμώμοις προστάγμασιν αὐτοῦ. | Therefore, let’s serve as soldiers, brothers, with all earnestness in His faultless orders. |
| 2 κατανοήσωμεν τοὺς στρατευομένους τοῖς ἡγουμένοις ἡμῶν, πῶς εὐτάκτως, πῶς εἰκτικῶς,[1] πῶς ὑποτεταγμένως ἐπιτελοῦσιν τὰ διατασσόμενα. |
Let’s consider the soldiers who serve under their commanders. They accurately, quickly, and obediently execute commands. |
[1] Alt. text: ἑκτικῶς
| 3 οὐ πάντες εἰσὶν ἔπαρχοι οὐδὲ χιλίαρχοι οὐδὲ ἑκατόνταρχαι οὐδὲ πεντηκόνταρχοι οὐδὲ τὸ καθεξῆς, ἀλλ' ἕκαστος ἐν τῷ ἰδίῳ τάγματι τὰ ἐπιτασσόμενα ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ τῶν ἡγουμένων ἐπιτελεῖ. |
Not all of them are prefects or tribunes or centurions or captains of fifty, and so on. But whatever his rank, each man executes the orders that the king and governors give. |
| 4 οἱ μεγάλοι δίχα τῶν μικρῶν οὐ δύνανται εἶναι, οὔτε οἱ μικροὶ δίχα τῶν μεγάλων· σύγκρασίς τίς ἐστιν ἐν πᾶσιν, καὶ ἐν τούτοις χρῆσις. |
The great cannot exist without the small, nor can the small exist without the great. There is a certain blending in all things and there is usefulness in these things. |
| 5 λάβωμεν τὸ σῶμα ἡμῶν· ἡ κεφαλὴ δίχα τῶν ποδῶν οὐδέν ἐστιν, οὕτως οὐδὲ οἱ πόδες δίχα τῆς κεφαλῆς· τὰ δὲ ἐλάχιστα μέλη τοῦ σώματος ἡμῶν ἀναγκαῖα καὶ εὔχρηστά εἰσιν ὅλῳ τῷ σώματι· ἀλλὰ πάντα συμπνεῖ καὶ ὑποταγῇ μιᾷ χρῆται εἰς τὸ σώζεσθαι ὅλον τὸ σῶμα. |
Let’s consider our body, for example. The head is nothing without the feet. Likewise the feet are nothing without the head. Even the smallest limbs of our body are necessary and useful for the whole body. But all the members agree and conform in obedience as one so that the whole body may be saved. |
Summary
In Chapter 37, Clement shifts from the heavenly order of angels (Chapter 34) and Christ’s high-priestly supremacy (Chapter 36) to two practical illustrations of hierarchical order, discipline, and mutual interdependence: the Roman military and the human body.
The Roman Military Analogy: Clement uses military imagery (στρατευσώμεθα) to urge the Corinthian community into disciplined obedience under God’s blameless commands. He points to Roman army ranks—prefects (ἔπαρχοι), tribunes (χιλίαρχοι), centurions (ἑκατόνταρχαι), and captains of fifty (πεντηκόνταρχαι)—emphasizing that not everyone holds top command, but every soldier executes orders within their own appointed rank (τάγμα).
The Body Analogy: Transitioning directly to a organic Pauline metaphor (cf. 1 Corinthians 12), Clement argues that society and the church function as an integrated whole (σύγκρασις). The great cannot exist without the small, nor the small without the great. Just as the head needs the feet and the smallest members are necessary (ἀναγκαῖα) for the whole body’s health, all members must "breathe together" (συνπνεῖ) in submission to preserve the entire ecclesial body.
Significant Greek Expressions
Στρατευσώμεθα... ἐν τοῖς ἀμώμοις προστάγμασιν (Let us serve as soldiers in His blameless ordinances): Uses strateuō (to serve in war, campaign, act as a soldier). Clement frames Christian obedience as active, disciplined military duty carried out under divine orders (prostagmata).
εὐτάκτως, ἑκτικῶς, ὑποτεταγμένως (In an orderly manner, yieldingly/submissively, and in subordination): A striking triad of adverbs illustrating disciplined military execution:
Eutaktōs: orderly, in proper formation.
Hektikōs: from hektikos (habitual, yielding, prompt in obedience/compliance).
Hypotetagmenōs: submissively, maintaining proper rank (hypotassō).
ἐν τῷ ἰδίῳ τάγματι (In his own rank / division): Tagma refers to a military unit, squad, or assigned post. Clement uses this term to insist that every believer has a designated status and function in the church that must be respected without usurpation or rebellion.
σύγκρασίς τίς ἐστιν ἐν πᾶσιν (There is a certain blending / blending together in all things): Synkrasis means a blending, harmonious mixture, or mutual interdependence (used in Stoic and ancient political thought to describe a well-ordered state where distinct classes temper each other).
πάντα συνπνεῖ (All work together / breathe together in harmony): Compound verb sympneō (literally to breathe together, act in unison, harmonize). Represents a vivid physiological and civic metaphor: every organ/member must act in shared unison for the preservation (σωτηρία) of the entire organism.