Chapter 51
Let us repent and end our division
| 1 Ὅσα οὖν παρεπέσαμεν καὶ ἐποιήσαμεν διά τινος τῶν[1] τοῦ ἀντικειμένου, ἀξιώσωμεν ἀφεθῆναι ἡμῖν. καὶ ἐκεῖνοι δέ, οἵτινες ἀρχηγοὶ στάσεως καὶ διχοστασίας ἐγενήθησαν, ὀφείλουσιν τὸ κοινὸν τῆς ἐλπίδος σκοπεῖν. |
Therefore, let’s pray for forgiveness for whatever sins we have committed through any attacks of the adversary. Those who were the leaders of the of the sedition and division ought to consider the common ground of hope. |
| 2 οἱ γάρ μετὰ φόβου καὶ ἀγάπης πολιτευόμενοι ἑαυτοὺς θέλουσιν μᾶλλον αἰκίαις περιπίπτειν ἢ τοὺς πλησίον· μᾶλλον δὲ ἑαυτῶν κατάγνωσιν φέρουσιν ἢ τῆς παραδεδομένης ἡμῖν καλῶς καὶ δικαίως ὁμοφωνίας, |
For those who walk in fear and love wish that they themselves would rather fall into suffering than that their neighbours should. And they would rather pronounce condemnation against themselves than against the harmony which has been handed down to us nobly and righteously. |
| 3 καλὸν γὰρ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐξομολογεῖσθαι περὶ τῶν παραπτωμάτων ἢ σκληρῦναι τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ, καθὼς ἐσκληρύνθη ἡ καρδία τῶν στασιαζόντων πρὸς τὸν θεράποντα τοῦ θεοῦ Μωϋσῆν, ὧν τὸ κρίμα πρόδηλον ἐγενήθη, | For it is good for a person to confess his trespasses rather than to harden his heart as the heart of those who rebelled against Moses the servant of God, whose judgment became clear, |
| 4 κατέβησαν γὰρ εἰς ᾅδου ζῶντες, καὶ θάνατος ποιμανεῖ αὐτούς. | for they went down to Hades alive, and death will be their shepherd. |
| 5 Φαραὼ καὶ ἡ στρατιὰ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἡγούμενοι Αἰγύπτου, τά τε ἅρματα καὶ οἱ ἀναβάται αὐτῶν οὐ δι' ἄλλην τινὰ αἰτίαν ἐβυθίσθησαν εἰς θάλασσαν ἐρυθρὰν καὶ ἀπώλοντο, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὸ σκληρυνθῆναι αὐτῶν τὰς ἀσυνέτους καρδίας μετὰ τὸ γενέσθαι τὰ σημεῖα καὶ τὰ τέρατα ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτου διὰ τοῦ θεράποντος τοῦ θεοῦ Μωϋσέως. | Pharaoh and his army and all the rulers of Egypt, and their chariots and their cavalry were sunk into the Red Sea, and perished for no other reason than that their foolish hearts were hardened after the signs and wonders had been performed in the land of Egypt by the hand of Moses the servant of God. |
Summary
In Chapter 51, Clement transitions into an explicit exhortation to repentance directed both to the general assembly and specifically to the ringleaders of the Corinthian revolt. He acknowledges that human failings and transgressions have occurred through the subtle instigations of the Adversary (τοῦ ἀντικειμένου) and urges everyone to pray for divine forgiveness.
Clement then outlines the moral and pastoral duties required of true leaders:
Focus on the Common Hope: Those who acted as instigators of rebellion (ἀρχηγοὶ στάσεως) must abandon self-interest and consider the common hope of the whole church (τὸ κοινὸν τῆς ἐλπίδος).
Noble Self-Sacrifice: True Christian leaders who walk in fear and love prefer to suffer personal indignity (αἰκίαι) or condemnation (κατάγνωσις) rather than subject their neighbors to harm or ruin the sacred harmony (ὁμοφωνία) handed down to the church.
The Danger of Hardened Hearts: Clement warns against stubbornness, declaring it far better to confess transgressions (ἐξομολογεῖσθαι) than to harden one’s heart (σκληρῦναι τὴν καρδίαν).
To illustrate the fatal consequences of a hardened heart, Clement cites two historical Old Testament warnings:
Dathan and Abiram (Numbers 16): The rebels who rose up against God’s servant Moses had their judgment made instantly clear when they descended alive into Hades (κατέβησαν εἰς ᾅδου ζῶντες).
Pharaoh and the Egyptian Host (Exodus 14): Pharaoh, his commanders, chariots, and horsemen drowned in the Red Sea not for any random reason, but precisely because their foolish hearts were hardened (διὰ τὸ σκληρυνθῆναι αὐτῶν τὰς ἀσυνέτους καρδίας) even after witnessing God’s signs and wonders through Moses.
Significant Greek Expressions
παρεμπτώσεις τοῦ ἀντικειμένου (Incursions / instigations of the Adversary):
parepesamen: slipping in, accidental lapse, subtlety, or unexpected temptation/intrusion.
Ho antikeimenos: the Adversary / Satan (cf. 1 Timothy 5:14, 2 Thessalonians 2:4). Clement partially attributes the church’s breakdown to demonic infiltration without excusing human moral responsibility.
ἀρχηγοὶ στάσεως καὶ διχοστασίας (Ringleaders / instigators of rebellion and dissension):
Archēgos: leader, originator, ringleader, founder (cf. Acts 3:15, 12:2).
Stasis / Dichostasia: insurrection, faction, standing apart.
Clement directly confronts the primary authors of the schism, calling upon them to prioritize corporate unity over individual ambition.
τὸ κοινὸν τῆς ἐλπίδος (The common hope): Combines koinos (shared, common) with elpis (hope). Reminds the Corinthians that their salvation and future glory are intrinsically bound up with the collective health of the ecclesial body.
τῆς παραδεδομένης ἡμῖν... ὁμοφωνίας (The harmony handed down to us):
Paradidōmi: handed down, delivered via apostolic tradition (paradosis).
Homophōnia: harmony, unison of voice/agreement.
Ecclesial harmony is not an arbitrary local policy, but a sacred apostolic deposit (traditio) to be guarded.
κατέβησαν γὰρ εἰς ᾅδου ζῶντες (For they went down into Hades alive): Direct quote summarizing the fate of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram in Numbers 16:33 LXX. Used as a terrifying typological warning for those who rise up against ordained leaders (θεράπων τοῦ θεοῦ).
θάνατος ποιμανεῖ αὐτούς (Death shall shepherd them): Direct citation of Psalm 48:15 LXX (Psalm 49:14 MT). A stark poetic image depicting Death personified as the sole shepherd guarding those who die in persistent rebellion.
διὰ τὸ σκληρυνθῆναι αὐτῶν τὰς ἀσυνέτους καρδίας (Because of the hardening of their senseless hearts): Uses sklerynō (to harden, render stubborn; cf. Exodus 8–14, Hebrews 3:8, 15) and asynetos (senseless, foolish, uncomprehending). Clement warns that ignoring God’s corrective discipline leads to judicial hardening and total destruction.