Pseudo-Clement of Rome, Homilies 1.15
https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/81
Context
A varied group of ancient works called the Pseudo-Clementine Writings
or Clementine Literature was purportedly written by Clement of Rome, who held the papacy
toward the the end of the 1st century C.E. These works, which clearly have diverse
origins and dates, have long been debated among scholars of Early Christianity. Among
them are two close versions of a prose romance recounting Clement’s relations and
travels with Peter the Apostle, the Homilies surviving in Greek and the
Recognitions surviving in a Latin translation by Rufinus of Aquileia.
Both most likely derive from a single lost Greek archtype composed in Syria during the
early 3rd century C.E.; part of an early Syriac translation also survives, as well as
two later Greek epitomes. In this passage from the Homilies, early in the
story, Clement follows Barnabas, whom he has met and championed at Rome, and sails to
Caesarea, where he meets Peter.
Text
Ἡμερῶν δὲ διατρίψας καὶ τὸ χρέος οὐχ ὅλον λαβεῖν δυνηθείς, τάχους ἕνεκα
ἀμελήσας τοῦ περιλειφθέντος ὡς ἐμποδίου ὄντος, καὶ αὐτὸς εἰς Ἰουδαίαν ἀπέπλευσα καὶ
δεκαπέντε ἡμερῶν εἰς Καισάρειαν κατήντησα τὴν Στράτωνος.
ἐπιβάντος δέ μου τῆς γῆς καὶ ξενίαν θηρωμένου, ἔμαθον ὅτι Πέτρος τις λεγόμενος, τοῦ ἐν
Ἰουδαίᾳ εἰσφανέντος ἀνδρὸς τοῦ σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα πεποιηκότος ὁ δοκιμώτατος ὑπάρχων
μαθητής, αὔριον Σίμωνι τῷ ἀπὸ Γιτθῶν Σαμαρεῖ ζήτησιν ποιεῖται λόγων. ἐγὼ δὲ ταῦτα
ἀκούσας ἐδεήθην τὴν τούτου μοι μηνυθῆναι μονήν· καὶ ὡς ἔμαθον καὶ τῷ πυλῶνι ἐπέστην,
ἀντέβαλλον, τίς τε ὢν καὶ πόθεν ἥκω. καὶ ἰδοὺ Βαρνάβας ἐκβὰς ἅμα τῷ ἰδεῖν περιεπλάκη
μοι, πολὺ χαίρων καὶ δακρύων· καὶ λαβόμενός μου τῆς χειρὸς εἰσέφερεν ἔνθα ἦν ὁ Πέτρος,
λέγων μοι· Οὗτός ἐστιν Πέτρος, ὃν μέγιστον ἐπὶ τῇ τοῦ θεοῦ σοφίᾳ ἐπηγγελλόμην σοι, ᾧ
ἀπαύστως σε ἀντέβαλλον, ὡς εἴσει ἐκ ταὐτομάτου, ὅτι πάντα τὰ κατὰ σὲ καλὰ ὄντα ἀψευδῶς
ἀντέβαλλον, ἅμα καὶ τὴν προαίρεσιν ἐξέφανα, ὡς αὐτὸν γλίχεσθαι καὶ ἰδεῖν σε. μέγα οὖν
αὐτῷ δῶρόν σε διὰ τῶν ἐμῶν προσφέρω χειρῶν. καὶ τοῦτ’ εἰπὼν προσενέγκας ἔφη· Οὗτός ἐστιν
Κλήμης, Πέτρε.1
Textual Note
Ed. Rehm, Irmscher, and Paschke 1969Translation
After I had spent [a few] days [at Rome], and not having been able
to recover my whole debt, for the sake of speed I neglected the balance as a hindrance,
and I myself set sail for Judaea, and in 15 days I arrived at Strato’s
Caesarea. When I had disembarked and was hunting for an inn, I learned
that a man named Peter, who was the most esteemed disciple of the Man who had appeared
in Judaea [and] performed signs and miracles, would on the next day conduct a verbal
inquiry with Simon of Samaria, from Gitthoi. When I had heard this, I asked to be shown
where this man (Peter) was staying. And when I had found out and was standing at the
door, I said who I was and from where I had come. And behold, Barnabas came out, and as
soon as he saw me he embraced me, full of joy and weeping. And taking me by the hand he
led me in to where Peter was, saying to me, “This is Peter, who I proclaimed to you is
the greatest in the wisdom of God, to whom I have spoken of you endlessly. So enter as
you will, for I have told him without falsehood that all your qualities are excellent,
and at the same time I have revealed your purpose (to him), so that he desires also to
see you. Therefore with my hands I present you to him as a great gift.” After saying
this, he presented me and said, “This is Clement, Peter.”2
Translation Note
Adapted from Smith 1886Works Cited
- 1 Pseudo-Clement of Rome, Dis Pseudoklementinen: Homilien, ed. Bernhard Rehm, Johannes Irmscher, and Franz Paschke, 2nd rev., vol. 1, 2 vols., Die griechische christliche Schriftsteller der ersten Jahrhunderte (Berlin: Akademie-Verlag, 1969), bk: 1, section: 15.
- 2 Pseudo-Clement, The Clementine Homilies, in The Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts and Epistles, the Clementia, Apocrypha, Decretals, Memoirs of Edessa and Syriac Documents, Remains of the First Ages, ed. Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and Philip Schaff, trans. Thomas Smith and Peter Peterson, vol. 8, The Ante-Nicene Fathers: Translations of the Writings of the Fathers down to A.D. 325 (Buffalo: The Christian Literature Publishing Company, 1886), 223–346, p: 26-27.
How to Cite This Entry
Joseph L. Rife, “Pseudo-Clement of Rome, Homilies 1.15,” in Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia, entry published April 28, 2023, https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/81.
Show full citation information...
Bibliography:
Joseph L. Rife, “Pseudo-Clement of Rome, Homilies 1.15.” In Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia, edited by Joseph L. Rife., edited by Joseph L. Rife. Caesarea City and Port Exploration Project, 2023. Entry published April 28, 2023. https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/81.About this Entry
Entry Title: Pseudo-Clement of Rome, Homilies 1.15
Authorial and Editorial Responsibility:
- Joseph L. Rife, general editor, Vanderbilt University
- Joseph L. Rife, editor, Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia
- David A. Michelson, Daniel L. Schwartz, and William L. Potter, technical editor, “Pseudo-Clement of Rome, Homilies 1.15”
- Joseph L. Rife, entry contributor, “Pseudo-Clement of Rome, Homilies 1.15”
Additional Credit:
- Testimonium edited by Joseph L. Rife
- TEI record created by Joseph L. Rife
- Testimonium translated by Joseph L. Rife
- Testimonium transcribed by Joseph L. Rife
- Testimonium identified by Joseph L. Rife
- Editorial review by Joseph L. Rife