Pseudo-Clement of Rome, Homilies 1.20.1-1.20.3
https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/82
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, after his
first discussions with Peter at Caesarea, Clement is astonished by the message. He then
describe’s Peter’s injunction to deliver an account of his activities and teachings from
Caesarea to James the disciple.
Text
(1) καὶ ὁμῶς ἀνέπαυσέν με, ἐκθέμενός μοι τίς ἐστιν καὶ πῶς εὑρίσκεται,
καὶ ἀληθῶς εὑρετόν μοι παρασχὼν αὐτόν, τῶν παρὰ ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρωμένων ἐμφανεστέραν τῆς
<περὶ> τοῦ προφήτου ὁμιλίας τοῖς ὠσὶν δείξας τὴν ἀλήθειαν, ὡς ἐκπλαγέντα με θαυμάζειν
πῶς τῶν πᾶσι ζητουμένων ἔμπροσθεν κειμένων οὐδεὶς ἐνορᾷ. (2) πλὴν γράψας τὸν περὶ
προφήτου λόγον, αὐτοῦ κελεύσαντος, ἀπὸ τῆς Καισαρείας τῆς
Στράτωνος διαπεμφθῆναί σοι ἐποίησεν τὸν τόμον, (3) παρὰ σοῦ ἐντολὴν ἔχειν
εἰπὼν τὰς καθ’ ἕκαστον ἐνιαυτὸν ὁμιλίας τε καὶ πράξεις γράφοντα διαπέμπειν σοι. …1
Textual Note
Ed. Rehm, Irmscher, and Paschke 1969Translation
(1) And nevertheless he brought me relief by explaining to me who
(Jesus Christ) is and how He is found, and holding out to me that He can truly be found,
demonstrating that the truth of the discourse concerning the Prophet is more manifest to
the ears than are those things seen by the eyes. As a result I wondered in astonishment
at how no one looks on those things which are sought by all, even though they lie before
him. (2) However, after writing this discourse concerning the Prophet on (Peter’s)
order, he had the volume sent along to you [James] from Strato’s
Caesarea, (3) saying that he had a charge from you to send along the
discourses and acts he was recording every year. …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: 20.1-20.3.
- 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: 29.
How to Cite This Entry
Joseph L. Rife, “Pseudo-Clement of Rome, Homilies 1.20.1-1.20.3,” in Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia, entry published April 28, 2023, https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/82.
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Bibliography:
Joseph L. Rife, “Pseudo-Clement of Rome, Homilies 1.20.1-1.20.3.” 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/82.About this Entry
Entry Title: Pseudo-Clement of Rome, Homilies 1.20.1-1.20.3
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 1.20.1-1.20.3”
- Joseph L. Rife, entry contributor, “Pseudo-Clement of Rome, Homilies 1.20.1-1.20.3”
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