Chapter 64
The final prayer
| 1 Λοιπὸν ὁ παντεπόπτης θεὸς καὶ δεσπότης τῶν πνευμάτων καὶ κύριος πάσης σαρκός, ὁ ἐκλεξάμενος τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν καὶ ἡμᾶς δι' αὐτοῦ εἰς λαὸν περιούσιον, δῴη πάσῃ ψυχῇ ἐπικεκλημένῃ τὸ μεγαλοπρεπὲς καὶ ἅγιον ὄνομα αὐτοῦ πίστιν, φόβον, εἰρήνην, ὑπομονὴν καὶ μακροθυμίαν, ἐγκράτειαν ἁγνείαν, σωφροσύνην, εἰς εὐαρέστησιν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ διὰ τοῦ ἀρχιερέως καὶ προστάτου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, δι' οὗ αὐτῷ δόξα καὶ μεγαλωσύνη, κράτος καὶ τιμή, καὶ νῦν καὶ εἰς πάντας τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. ἀμήν. |
Finally, may the all-seeing God and Master of spirits and Lord of all flesh, who chose the Lord Jesus Christ, and us through Him for His own special people, grant to every soul who has called upon His magnificent and holy name faith, fear, peace, patience, steadfastness, self-control, purity, and sobriety,
so that they may be pleasing to His name through our high priest and benefactor, Jesus Christ, through whom be glory and majesty, might and honour to Him, both now and for ever and ever. Amen. |
Summary
In Chapter 64, Clement introduces the final solemn benediction of the letter. Functioning as a comprehensive prayer of blessing over the entire recipient community, this section encapsulates the core theological themes of divine sovereignty, election, and moral transformation that have run throughout the epistle:
Invocation of the Sovereign God: Clement addresses God with exalted divine titles, calling Him the all-seeing God (παντεπόπτης θεός), Master of spirits (δεσπότης τῶν πνευμάτων), and Lord of all flesh (κύριος πάσης σαρκός).
The Basis of Election: He highlights God’s sovereign initiative in choosing the Lord Jesus Christ and, through Him, choosing believers to be His own treasured people (λαὸς περιούσιος).
Petition for Christian Virtues: Clement petitions God to grant every soul that invokes His holy name a full bouquet of essential Christian virtues: faith, fear, peace, endurance, patience, self-control, purity, and sober-mindedness (πίστιν, φόβον, εἰρήνην, ὑπομονὴν...).
Doxology through the High Priest: The benediction concludes with a grand doxology offering glory, majesty, power, and honor to God through Jesus Christ, who is praised once more as the Church’s High Priest and Protector (ἀρχιερεὺς καὶ προστάτης).
Significant Greek Expressions
ὁ παντεπόπτης θεός (The all-seeing God):
Pantepoptēs: all-seeing, beholding all things (from pas "all" + epoptēs "watcher/beholder").
A prominent Hellenistic Jewish and early Christian divine attribute (cf. 1 Clement 55.6). Reminds the Corinthians that no hidden factional motive or private malice escapes God’s all-searching gaze.
δεσπότης τῶν πνευμάτων καὶ κύριος πάσης σαρκός (Master of spirits and Lord of all flesh): Direct allusion to Numbers 16:22 LXX / 27:16 LXX ("O God, the God of the spirits and of all flesh"). Highly significant contextually, as Numbers 16 records the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram—the key Old Testament typology Clement uses to warn against revolt against ordained ministers.
εἰς λαὸν περιούσιον (For / into a treasured / special people):
Laos: people, nation, covenanted community.
Periousios: treasured, chosen, special, valued above others (cf. Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 7:6, Titus 2:14, 1 Peter 2:9).
Emphasizes that the Church’s identity as God’s special possession demands a lifestyle of unity and holiness matching her elevated status.
πίστιν, φόβον, εἰρήνην... (Faith, fear, peace...): Clement groups together an eightfold list of virtues required for ecclesial health:
Pistis: faith / faithfulness.
Phobos: godly fear / reverence.
Eirēnē: peace / concord.
Hypomonē / Makrothumia: endurance and patience / forbearance.
Egkrateia / Hagneia / Sōphrosynē: self-control, purity, and sober-mindedness.
Together, these virtues serve as the antidote to the proud stasis (rebellion) that disrupted the Corinthian church.
διὰ τοῦ ἀρχιερέως καὶ προστάτου ἡμῶν (Through our High Priest and Protector):
Archiereus: High Priest.
Prostatēs: patron, protector, guardian, advocate.
A fundamental Christological double-title in 1 Clement (cf. 36.1, 61.3). Christ is both the sacrificial mediator who opens access to the Father (archiereus) and the active patron/champion who defends and protects His flock (prostatēs).