When Leaders Fail

We continue our series on the apostolic fathers as look into 1 Clement 56–58.

Our series uses for its text Michael Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers.

1 Clement is from a leader in Rome to the leaders and people of Corinth, and in chps 56-58 he turns to the factions and fractions in Corinth with some corruption in leadership.

Where to begin? With prayer.

1Clem. 56:1    Therefore let us also intercede for those who are involved in some transgression, so that forbearance and humility may be given them, so that they may submit, not to us but to the will of God. For in this way the merciful remembrance of them in the presence of God and the saints will be fruitful and perfect for them. 

When there is failure, correction (paideia) is good and needs to be accepted and not resented. Mutual reproof is valuable for all. In fact, God’s discipline expresses God’s love for us.

² Let us accept correction, which no one ought to resent, dear friends. The reproof that we give one to another is good and exceedingly useful, for it unites us with the will of God.  ³ For thus says the holy word: “The Lord has indeed disciplined me but has not handed me over to death.  ⁴ For whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and he punishes every child whom he accepts.”  ⁵ “For the righteous,” it is said, “will discipline me in mercy and reprove me, but let not the oil of sinners anoint my head.”  ⁶ And again it says: “Blessed is the person whom the Lord has reproved; do not reject the correction of the Almighty. For he causes pain, and he makes well again;  ⁷ he has wounded, and his hands have healed.  ⁸ Six times will he rescue you from distress, and the seventh time evil will not touch you.

Those rescued from death through discipline, those who divinely wounded, will find the blessings of God on the other side of discipline. The entirety of the following section speaks in metaphors of these divine blessings beyond divine discipline. It all goes back to 56:2, the accepting of discipline at the hand of our loving God.

1Clem. 56:9    In famine he will rescue you from death, and in war he will release you from the power of the sword.  ¹⁰ From the scourge of the tongue he will hide you, and you will not be afraid when evils approach.  ¹¹ You will laugh at the unrighteous and wicked,  ¹² and of the wild beasts you will not be afraid, for wild beasts will be at peace with you.  ¹³ Then you will know that your house will be at peace, and the tent in which you dwell will not fail.  ¹⁴ And you will know that your seed will be many, and your children will be like the grass of the fields.  ¹⁵ And you will come to the grave like ripe wheat harvested at the proper time, or like a heap on the threshing floor gathered together at the right time.”  ¹⁶ You see, dear friends, what great protection there is for those who are disciplined by the Master; because he is a kind Father, he disciplines us in order that we may obtain mercy through his holy discipline.

Here comes some specifics on the revolt in Corinth. Those fighting truth and God’s will are to listen to the “elders” as those administering divine discipline’s truth-telling. Those fighting truth are seeking reputation and avoiding the smallness of inclusion in the church of God. Those who don’t listen — which means hearing the prophetic truth of the elders in Corinth — will experience the judgment of God (not the same as divine discipline).

1Clem. 57:1    You, therefore, who laid the foundation of the revolt must submit to the presbyters and accept discipline leading to repentance, bending the knees of your heart.  ² Learn how to subordinate yourselves, laying aside the arrogant and proud stubbornness of your tongue. For it is better for you to be found small but included in the flock of Christ than to have a preeminent reputation and yet be excluded from his hope.  ³ For thus says the all-virtuous Wisdom: “Listen! I will bring forth for you a saying of my spirit, and I will teach you my word.  ⁴ Because I called and you did not obey, and because I held out words and you paid no attention, but ignored my advice and disobeyed my correction, I therefore will laugh at your destruction and rejoice when ruin comes upon you, and when confusion suddenly overtakes you, and catastrophe arrives like a whirlwind, or when tribulation and distress come upon you.  ⁵ At that time, when you call upon me, I will not listen to you. Evil ones will seek me but not find me, for they hated wisdom and did not choose the fear of the Lord, nor did they desire to pay attention to my advice, but mocked my correction.  ⁶ Therefore they will eat the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own ungodliness.  ⁷ Because they wronged infants, they will be slain, and a searching inquiry will destroy the ungodly. But the one who hears me will dwell safely, trusting in hope, and will live quietly, free from fear of all evil.”

His exhortation to listen and obey the truth of the gospel.

1Clem. 58:1    Let us, therefore, obey his most holy and glorious name, thereby escaping the threats spoken by Wisdom long ago against those who disobey, so that we may dwell safely, trusting in his most holy and majestic name. 

A leader in touch with God’s truth is willing to say what comes next: follow the will of God and find redemption.

² Accept our advice and you will have nothing to regret. For as God lives, and as the Lord Jesus Christ lives, and the Holy Spirit (who are the faith and the hope of the elect), so surely the one who with humility and constant gentleness has kept without regret the ordinances and commandments given by God will be enrolled and included among the number of those who are saved through Jesus Christ, through whom is the glory to God for ever and ever. Amen.