Chapter 63
A reason for this letter
| 1 Θεμιτὸν οὖν ἐστὶν τοῖς τοιούτοις καὶ τοσούτοις ὑποδείγμασιν προελθόντας ὑποθεῖναι τὸν τράχηλον καὶ τὸν τῆς ὑπακοῆς τόπον ἀναπληρῶσαντας προσκλιθῆναι τοῖς ὑπάρχουσιν ἀρχηγοῖς τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν, ὅπως ἡσυχάσαντες τῆς ματαίας στάσεως ἐπὶ τὸν προκείμενον ἡμῖν ἐν ἀληθείᾳ σκοπὸν δίχα παντὸς μώμου καταντήσωμεν. | Therefore, after considering so many great examples, it is right for us to bow our neck and have the attitude of obedience, to submit to those who are the leaders of our souls, so that by ceasing from useless dissension, we may reach the goal that is truly set before us, without any blame. |
| 2 χαρὰν γὰρ καὶ ἀγαλλίασιν ἡμῖν παρέξετε, ἐὰν ὑπήκοοι γενόμενοι τοῖς ὑφ' ἡμῶν γεγραμμένοις διὰ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος ἐκκόψητε τὴν ἀθέμιτον τοῦ ζήλους ὑμῶν ὀργὴν κατὰ τὴν ἔντευξιν, ἣν ἐποιησάμεθα περὶ εἰρήνης καὶ ὁμονοίας ἐν τῇδε τῇ ἐπιστολῇ. | For you will give us great joy and gladness if you obey the things we have written through the Holy Spirit, and root out the unlawful anger of your jealousy, in accordance with the appeal for peace and harmony which we have made in this letter. |
| 3 ἐπέμψαμεν δὲ ἄνδρας πιστοὺς καὶ σώφρονας ἀπὸ νεότητος ἀναστραφέντας ἕως γήρους ἀμέμπτως ἐν ἡμῖν, οἵτινες καὶ μάρτυρες ἔσονται μεταξὺ ὑμῶν καὶ ἡμῶν. |
We have also sent faithful and prudent men who have blamelessly lived among us from their youth to old age. They will also be witnesses between you and us. |
| 4 τοῦτο δὲ ἐποιήσαμεν, ἵνα εἰδῆτε, ὅτι πᾶσα ἡμῖν φροντὶς καὶ γέγονεν καὶ ἔστιν εἰς τὸ ἐν τάχει ὑμᾶς εἰρηνεῦσαι. | We have done this so that you might know that we have had, and still have, every concern that you should quickly be at peace. |
Summary
In Chapter 63, Clement delivers his final direct plea for submission and outlines the practical steps taken by the Church of Rome to ensure peace in Corinth. Building on the vast array of historical and biblical examples (ὑποδείγματα) set forth throughout the letter, Clement argues that it is entirely right and fitting (θεμιτόν) for the Corinthians to bow their necks in obedience and abandon their futile rebellion (ματαία στάσις). By doing so, the community will reach its true goal in blamelessness and truth.
Clement then outlines the practical and spiritual terms of reconciliation:
Obedience to the Spirit-Inspired Letter: The Corinthians will bring joy and exultation (χαρὰ καὶ ἀγαλλίασις) to the Roman church if they obey what has been written through the Holy Spirit (διὰ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος) and excise their unholy, jealous anger (ἀθέμιτος ὀργή), in accordance with the petition for peace and concord made throughout the epistle.
Dispatch of Legates/Witnesses: Rome announces that it has dispatched trusted, prudent Christian elders—men who have lived blamelessly among the Romans from youth to old age—to serve as official mediators and witnesses (μάρτυρες) between Rome and Corinth.
Rome’s Single-Minded Focus: Clement concludes by assuring the Corinthians that Rome’s sole priority (πᾶσα φροντίς) has been, and continues to be, the swift restoration of peace (τὸ ἐν τάχει εἰρηνεῦσαι) among them.
Significant Greek Expressions
ὑποθεῖναι τὸν τράχηλον (To place / bow the neck under [the yoke]):
Hypotithēmi: to place under, submit.
Trachēlos: neck.
A vivid somatic idiom representing voluntary submission to legitimate authority and discipline (contrasting sharply with the "stiff-necked" [σκληροτράχηλος] rebels depicted in earlier chapters).
τὸν τῆς ὑπακοῆς τόπον ἀναπληρῶσαι (To fill / take up the position of obedience):
Anaplēroō: to fill up, fulfill, occupy fully.
Topos: place, station, rank, position.
Refers to stepping back into one’s proper, divinely assigned rank (taxis) within the ecclesial hierarchy after the disruption caused by schism.
τοῖς ὑφ̓ ἡμῶν γεγραμμένοις διὰ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος (The things written by us through the Holy Spirit):
Hypo (agency of Rome) + dia (instrumental agency of the Holy Spirit).
A remarkable declaration of pneumatological inspiration for an early post-canonical Christian epistle. Clement presents the admonitions of the Roman church as direct instruments of the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
ἐκκόψητε τὴν ἀθέμιτον... ὀργήν (You cut out / excise the unholy anger):
Ekkoptō: to cut off, cut down, eradicate (cf. Matthew 3:10, 5:30).
Athemitos: unlawful, improper, unholy, abominable.
A radical surgical metaphor demanding the complete eradication of factional jealousy (zēlos) and anger from the heart of the community.
ἄνδρας πιστοὺς καὶ σώφρονας... μάρτυρες (Faithful and prudent men... witnesses):
Sōphrōn: prudent, self-controlled, sober-minded.
Martys: witness, bearer of testimony.
Refers to the Roman delegation (identified in Chapter 65 as Claudius Ephebus, Valerius Bito, and Fortunatus). These veteran believers act as neutral emissaries and formal legal/ecclesial witnesses (martyres) between the two churches to facilitate peace.
πᾶσα ἡμῖν φροντίς... εἰς τὸ ἐν τάχει ὑμᾶς εἰρηνεῦσαι (All our care has been and is for you to be at peace quickly):
Phrontis: care, anxious thought, deep concern.
En tachei: quickly, without delay.
Eirēneuo: to make peace, establish concord, live at peace.
Emphasizes Rome’s pastoral motivation: the intervention was not driven by imperial ambitions or meddling, but by an urgent, loving concern for the unity of Christ’s flock.