Chapter 41
Follow the proper order of services
| 1 Ἕκαστος ἡμῶν, ἀδελφοί, ἐν τῷ ἰδίῳ τάγματι εὐαριστείτω τῷ θεῷ ἐν ἀγαθῇ συνειδήσει ὑπάρχων, μὴ παρεκβαίνων τὸν ὡρισμένον τῆς λειτουργίας αὐτοῦ κανόνα, ἐν σεμνότητι. | Brothers, let each of you give thanks to God in his own rank, maintaining a good conscience, and not transgressing the designated rule of his ministry, but acting with all reverence. |
|
2 οὐ
πανταχοῦ,
ἀδελφοί,
προσφέρονται
θυσίαι
ἐνδελεχισμοῦ
ἢ
εὐχῶν
ἢ
περὶ
ἁμαρτίας
καὶ
πλημμελείας,
ἀλλ'
ἢ
ἐν
Ἱερουσαλὴμ
μόνῃ·
κἀκεῖ δὲ οὐκ ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ προσφέρεται, ἀλλ' ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ ναοῦ πρὸς τὸ θυσιαστήριον, μωμοσκοπηθὲν τὸ προσφερόμενον διὰ τοῦ ἀρχιερέως καὶ τῶν προειρημένων λειτουργῶν. |
Brothers, the continual daily sacrifices, freewill offerings, sin offerings, and trespass offerings are not offered in every place but only in Jerusalem.
And even there, the offering isn’t made in any place, but in front of the temple by the altar. And it is done by the high priest and previously mentioned ministers have inspected the offering for blemishes. |
| 3 οἱ οὖν παρὰ τὸ καθῆκον τῆς βουλήσεως αὐτοῦ ποιοῦντές τι θάνατον τὸ πρόστιμον ἔχουσιν. | Therefore, should they do anything contrary to the duties prescribed by His will, they will receive the death penalty. |
| 4 ὁρᾶτε, ἀδελφοί· ὅσῳ πλείονος κατηξιώθημεν γνώσεως, τοσούτῳ μᾶλλον ὑποκείμεθα κινδύνῳ. | You see, brothers, to the degree that we have been considered worthy of greater knowledge, so much greater is the danger we face. |
Summary
In Chapter 41, Clement applies the cultic and structural principles established in Chapter 40 directly to the Corinthian community. He exhorts each believer to remain steadfast within their own appointed rank (ἐν τῷ ἰδίῳ τάγματι), offering thanks to God in good conscience without exceeding or straying from the prescribed rule (κανών) of their designated ministry.
To demonstrate the gravity of respecting boundaries, Clement turns to the strict geographical and ceremonial limits of the Old Testament sacrificial cult:
Localization of Sacrifices: Perpetual sacrifices, vow offerings, and sin offerings were not permitted everywhere at human whim, but strictly in Jerusalem.
Specific Sacred Space: Even within Jerusalem, offerings could only be presented in front of the sanctuary at the altar, after being carefully inspected for defects (μωμοσκοπηθέν) by the high priest and designated ministers.
The Penalty of Presumption: Anyone acting contrary to God’s explicit will faced capital punishment (θάνατον τὸ πρόστιμον).
Clement concludes with an a minori ad maius (from the lesser to the greater) argument: because Christians have been granted far greater spiritual knowledge (πλειόνων κατηξιώθημεν γνώσεως) than those under the Old Covenant, their accountability is heightened. Consequently, violating ecclesial order carries even greater eschatological danger (τοσούτῳ μᾶλλον ὑποκείμεθα κινδύνῳ).
Significant Greek Expressions
ἐν τῷ ἰδίῳ τάγματι (In his own rank / assigned order): Reappears as a central Clementine motto (cf. 1 Clement 37.3). Tagma reinforces that every Christian has a specific place within the ecclesiastical hierarchy, prohibiting self-exaltation or the usurpation of established office.
παρεκβαίνων (Straying beyond / stepping outside): Present active participle of parekbainō (to step aside, deviate, transgress, or overstep boundaries). Describes the action of boundary-crossing or altering established liturgical rules (kanōn).
τὸν ὡρισμένον τῆς λειτουργίας αὐτοῦ κανόνα (The fixed rule / boundary of his service):
Horizō: perfect passive participle meaning fixed, determined, or bounded.
Kanōn: a measuring rod, standard, rule, or defined sphere of duty (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:13–15). Each minister’s sphere of service (leitourgia) is divinely circumscribed.
μωμοσκοπηθὲν (Having been inspected for defects): Aorist passive participle of mōmoskopeō (from mōmos, blemish/defect, and skopeō, to examine). A specialized technical cultic term from the Septuagint referring to the priestly examination of sacrificial animals to ensure they met the legal standard of faultlessness before being offered at the altar.
παρὰ τὸ καθῆκον τῆς βουλήσεως αὐτοῦ (Contrary to what is fitting to His will): Combines para (against/contrary to) with to kathēkon (that which is proper, appropriate, or fitting; a classic Stoic and moral term) and boulēsis (divine will/counsel). Wilful deviation from appointed roles is framed as fundamentally improper and rebellious.
θάνατον τὸ πρόστιμον ἔχουσιν (They have death as the penalty): Uses prostimon (a penalty, fine, or judicial retribution). Points to Old Testament precedents where presumpuous intrusion into sacred rites resulted in immediate death (e.g., Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10; Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6; Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26).
ὅσῳ... τοσούτῳ μᾶλλον ὑποκείμεθα κινδύνῳ (By how much... by so much the more are we subject to danger): A formal a minori ad maius rhetorical construction. Greater revelation brings greater responsibility; the Corinthian agitators who disregard ordained order face a far more severe divine judgment than Old Testament transgressors.


