Chapter 52
God does not need anything from us but a contrite heart
| 1 Ἀπροσδεής, ἀδελφοί, ὁ δεσπότης ὑπάρχει τῶν ἁπάντων· οὐδὲν οὐδενὸς χρῄζει εἰ μὴ τὸ ἐξομολογεῖσθαι αὐτῷ. |
The Master, brothers, has need of nothing at all. He doesn’t require anything from anyone, except to confess to Him. |
| 2 φησὶν γὰρ ὁ ἐκλεκτὸς Δαυίδ· Ἐξομολογήσομαι τῷ κυρίῳ, καὶ ἀρέσει αὐτῷ ὑπέρ μόσχον νέον κέρατα ἐκφέροντα καὶ ὁπλάς· ἰδέτωσαν πτωχοὶ καὶ εὐφρανθήτωσαν. |
For David the chosen says, "I will confess to the Lord and it will please Him more than a young calf that grew horns and hoofs. Let the poor see it and rejoice" {Ps. 69:30-32}. |
| 3 καὶ πάλιν λέγει· Θῦσον τῷ θεῷ. θυσίαν αἰνέσεως καὶ ἀπόδος τῷ ὑψίστῳ τὰς εὐχάς σου· καὶ ἐπικάλεσαί με ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεώς σου, καὶ ἐξελοῦμαί σε, καὶ δοξάσεις με. |
And again he said, "Sacrifice to God the sacrifice of praise, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of your trouble and I will deliver you, and you will glorify me. |
| 4 θυσία γὰρ τῷ θεῷ πνεῦμα συντετριμμένον. | For the sacrifice to God is a broken spirit. |
Summary
In Chapter 52, Clement anchors his appeal for repentance in a profound theological reality: the absolute self-sufficiency (aseity) of God. He reminds the Corinthians that the Master (δεσπότης) of all things stands in need of nothing (ἀπροσδεής). God does not demand material sacrifices, ritual appease, or self-serving religious displays to satisfy His own lack, for He lacks nothing.
The only thing God asks from humanity is confession and thanksgiving (τὸ ἐξομολογεῖσθαι αὐτῷ). To demonstrate this, Clement weaves together three key Old Testament passages from the Psalms:
Psalm 68:31–33 LXX (Psalm 69:30–32 MT): A heartfelt song of praise pleases God far more than the sacrifice of a young bull with horns and hooves, bringing joy to the humble and poor (πτωχοί).
Psalm 49:14–15 LXX (Psalm 50:14–15 MT): God desires a sacrifice of praise (θυσία αἰνέσεως) and the fulfillment of vows, promising deliverance to those who call upon Him in times of affliction.
Psalm 50:19 LXX (Psalm 51:17 MT): The true, acceptable sacrifice to God is a broken spirit (πνεῦμα συντετριμμένον).
By highlighting these prophetic scriptures, Clement reframes the entire resolution of the Corinthian crisis: God does not require proud self-justification or elaborate political maneuvers, but a humble heart, open confession, and corporate praise.
Significant Greek Expressions
Ἀπροσδεής (In need of nothing / self-sufficient): Adjective aprosdeēs (from a- "not" + prosdeomai "to need besides / require"). A prominent term in Hellenistic philosophy (Stoic and Platonist descriptions of the Divine) as well as early Christian apologetics (cf. Acts 17:25). Clement uses it to emphasize God’s absolute independence; human worship and repentance do not profit God, but heal the believer.
τὸ ἐξομολογεῖσθαι (Confession / thanksgiving / praise): Articular present middle infinitive of exomologeomai. In Septuagint and early Christian usage, the verb carries a rich dual meaning: both the confession of sins (exomologēsis) and the acknowledgment/declaration of God’s praise and thanksgiving. Both dimensions are essential to resolving the Corinthian rebellion.
ὑπὲρ μόσχον νέον κέρατα ἐκφέροντα καὶ ὁπλάς (Above a young calf bearing horns and hooves): Citation of Psalm 68:32 LXX. Describes a young bull at full sacrificial value (having grown horns and split hooves). Clement uses this prophetic critique of physical animal sacrifices to emphasize that spiritual worship—humility, obedience, and thanksgiving—supersedes external cultic offerings.
θυσίαν αἰνέσεως (A sacrifice of praise): Direct quote from Psalm 49:14 LXX (cf. Hebrews 13:15: "let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God"). Contrasts bloody altar sacrifices with the unbloody, verbal, and heart-felt offering of thanksgiving and covenant fidelity.
πνεῦμα συντετριμμένον (A broken / contrite spirit): Perfect passive participle of syntribō (to crush, break in pieces, shatter). Direct quote from Psalm 50:19 LXX. Represents the exact opposite of the arrogant, unyielding spirit (stasis) displayed by the Corinthian rebels; a shattered ego and genuine contrition are the fundamental prerequisites for divine acceptance and ecclesial reconciliation.