| Author | Message | ||
| Colossians2v8 Registered user Username: Colossians2v8 Post Number: 98 Registered: 4-2012 |
I've begun reading the ante-Nicene writings, with Clement I(also known as the epistle of the Church of Rome to the Church of Corinth), it is believed this was written by a "disciple of the Apostles" namely Paul, who is mentioned in Philippians 4:3. It is an interesting read, and I wanted to share a chapter of it which is making the case to the Corinthians to be humble because Christ was humble, I did not capitalize the "He" and the "His" and so on, as I often do, I suppose the original English translator(s) know(s) just Who this Jesus is  CHAPTER 16 CHRIST AS AN EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY For Christ is of those who are humble-minded, and not of those who exalt themselves over His flock. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Scepter of the majesty of God, did not come in the pomp of pride or arrogance, although He might have done so, but in a lowly condition, as the Holy Spirit had declared regarding Him. For He says, “Lord, who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? We have declared [our message] in His presence: He is, as it were, a child, and like a root in thirsty ground; He has no form nor glory, yea, we saw Him, and He had no form nor comeliness; but His form was without eminence, yea, deficient in comparison with the [ordinary] form of men. He is a man exposed to stripes and suffering, and acquainted with the endurance of grief: for His countenance was turned away; He was despised, and not esteemed. He bears our iniquities, and is in sorrow for our sakes; yet we supposed that [on His own account] He was exposed to labor, and stripes, and affliction. But He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we were healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray; [every] man has wandered in his own way; and the Lord has delivered Him up for our sins, while He in the midst of His sufferings openeth not His mouth. He was brought as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before her shearer is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth. In His humiliation His judgment was taken away; who shall declare His generation? for His life is taken from the earth. For the transgressions of my people was He brought down to death. And I will give the wicked for His sepulcher, and the rich for His death, because He did no iniquity, neither was guile found in His mouth. And the Lord is pleased to purify Him by stripes. If ye make an offering for sin, your soul shall see a long-lived seed. And the Lord is pleased to relieve Him of the affliction of His soul, to show Him light, and to form Him with understanding, to justify the Just One who ministereth well to many; and He Himself shall carry their sins. On this account He shall inherit many, and shall divide the spoil of the strong; because His soul was delivered to death, and He was reckoned among the transgressors, and He bare the sins of many, and for their sins was He delivered.” And again He saith, “I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All that see Me have derided Me; they have spoken with their lips; they have wagged their head, [saying] He hoped in God, let Him deliver Him, let Him save Him, since He delighteth in Him.” Ye see, beloved, what is the example which has been given us; for if the Lord thus humbled Himself, what shall we do who have through Him come under the yoke of His grace? | ||
| Katarain Registered user Username: Katarain Post Number: 161 Registered: 1-2012 |
There's so many Biblical quotes in that, which really isn't surprising. I don't understand this passage, though. "If ye make an offering for sin, your soul shall see a long-lived seed. And the Lord is pleased to relieve Him of the affliction of His soul, to show Him light, and to form Him with understanding, to justify the Just One who ministereth well to many; and He Himself shall carry their sins" Especially the first sentence. Who is the ye, is it saying that we make an offering, or is it talking about Jesus' offering? Or perhaps a reference to the sacrificial system? And what is a long-lived seed? Your soul shall live a long time? Your descendents will be many? I think it's really interesting to read things written by the next generation of Christians after the disciples. | ||
| Colossians2v8 Registered user Username: Colossians2v8 Post Number: 100 Registered: 4-2012 |
Yes, I think it's referencing the sacrificial system as well as Jesus' sacrifice for us. Having read through this a bit more, I'd say Clement evidently loves Jesus Christ a lot, and possibly knew Paul, but he is sooo gullible, but after all a certain scripture saith, love doth always trust. He believes there's a bird in Creation that lives 500 years in the Arabian region, called a phoenix. I was really disappointed by a phoenix reference. | ||
| Katarain Registered user Username: Katarain Post Number: 162 Registered: 1-2012 |
I think that really testifies to the inspiration of the Bible. Isn't it incredible that there are no references to these false beliefs anywhere in the Bible, since these things were so widely believed? | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13733 Registered: 12-2003  |
Katarain, that is a good point. The Bible is God's word, His revelation of Himself and of His will. It is not an expose of false teaching. It addresses heresy with broad brush strokes, and it addresses how we live for God in contradistinction to living by the flesh, or natural man. But it doesn't list the details of false beliefs. It just speaks truth, and the truth is timeless. It speaks to every culture. Colleen | ||
| Colossians2v8 Registered user Username: Colossians2v8 Post Number: 108 Registered: 4-2012 |
Yes and it is impressive, those kinds of tall tales where a very common part of life back in the day, all the fanciful things that supposedly existed over the horizon, yet Paul, Luke, John, Peter, etc, did not make a SINGLE reference to any of it. |
