I have a few more comments on the alleged Second Clement. There are plentiful citations from the New Testament, as well as a few from the Old Testament. In his book, Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger, Catholic apologist Gary Michuta notes,"Scholars do note a few points of contact between the [deuterocanonical books] and 2nd Clement. These allusions are a bit vague and may, again, have been quoted from memory. For example, Lightfoot believes the writer of 2 Clement 16:4 to have had Tobit 12:8 in mind. Likewise, 2 Clement 16:4 appears to be more of an echo of Tobit 12:8 than a direct quote or allusion." (p.64)
So, Michuta believes these "allusions" to Tobit imply that the writer of Second Clement considered the apocrypha to be sacred Scripture. However, read through these citations from Second Clement, and note what else was considered Scripture:
"...the Lord said, 'If you are gathered with me in my bosom, yet you do not keep my commandments, I will throw you out and will say to you: Get away from me; I do not know where are from, you evildoers.' " [Source unknown. It may be from the Gospel of the Egyptians]
Source: Michael W. Holmes, ed. The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations (Michigan: Baker Books, 1999), p.111
"Therefore brothers, let us turn away from life as residents in this world and do the will of him who called us, and let us not be afraid to depart from this world. For the Lord says, 'You will be like lambs among wolves.' But Peter answered and said to him, 'What if the wolves tear the lambs to pieces?' Jesus said to Peter, 'Let the lambs have no fear of the wolves after their death, and as for you, do not fear those who, though they kill you, are not able to do anything else to you, but fear him who, after you are dead, has power to cast soul and body into the flames of hell.' " [Sources of this series of quotations unknown; possibly from the gospel of the Egyptians, but for the individual sayings, cf. Luke 10:3; Matt 10:16, 28; Luke 12:4-5]
Source: Michael W. Holmes, ed. The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations (Michigan: Baker Books, 1999), p.111.
"For the Lord says in the Gospel: 'If you did not guard something small, who will give you something great? For I say unto you, whoever is faithful with very little is also faithful with much.' " [Source uncertain, possibly the Gospel of the Egyptians, but also Luke 16:10-12]
Source: Michael W. Holmes, ed. The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations (Michigan: Baker Books, 1999), p.115.
"For the prophetic word says: 'Wretched are the double-minded, those who doubt in their heart and say, 'We heard all these things even in the days of our fathers, and though we have waited day after day we have seen none of them.' Fools! Compare yourselves to a tree, or take a vine: first it sheds its leaves, then a shoot comes, and after these a sour grape, and then a full ripe bunch. So also my people have had turmoil and tribulation, but afterward they will receive good things.' " [Source unknown. The same passage (though without the final sentence) is quoted as "Scripture" in 1 Clem. 23:3. Lighfoot speculates it is from the lost book of Eldad and Modat mentioned by Hermas (Vis. 2.3-4)].
Source: Michael W. Holmes, ed. The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations (Michigan: Baker Books, 1999), p.117.
"For the Lord himself, when he was asked by someone when his kingdom was going to come, said: 'When the two shall be one, and the outside like the inside, and the male with the female, neither male nor female.' " [Source unknown. A shorter version of the saying (lacking and the outside...inside) forms part of a longer dialogue cited by Clement of Alexandria (Stromata 3.13.92), who attributes it to the gospel of the Egyptians. Cf. also, however, the Gospel According to Thomas, saying 22, which preserves a longer form of the saying.]
Source: Michael W. Holmes, ed. The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations (Michigan: Baker Books, 1999), p.110.
"For the Lord says... 'Woe to him on whose account my name is blasphemed." [Source unknown].
Source: Michael W. Holmes, ed. The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations (Michigan: Baker Books, 1999), p.119.
Another good read, Jim. I can't count how many times I've been exposed to the argument that Paul (or another Apostle) "seems" to be citing Wisdom (or some other book), thus validating the book as Scripture. The same Paul didn't hesitate to use pagan sources because of a true statement and, as a result, by its inclusion in Scripture becomes Scripture as a result. One can see Clement doing the same (albeit he wasn't writing "inspired" Scripture) OR citing something which HE thought to be Scripture. The assumption that Clement "may be" citing Tobit really doesn't mean much given the other citations mention in your entry. I'm sure Clement was familiar with the book and "may" have cited it (anything's possible) but if Clement considered it "theopneustos" Scripture that is something else entirely. Citing a book Rome accepts and another that Rome doesn't accept is "pick and choosy." IF one is going to cite Clement as support for the canonicity of an apocryphal book and slight the others he may have cited reveals much about one's bias loud and clear.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that Mr. Swan has not considered the possibility that the author of II Clement was not directly citing either the NT (which he likely did not have in its full 27 book canon) or the OT, with or without deuterocanonicals. This is evidenced by Mr. Swan's statement "There are plentiful citations from the New Testament, as well as a few from the Old Testament." I would posit that far more likely is that the author was "citing" oral renditions of Apostolic teachings which conveyed the meaning of some extant passages, the meaning of some strictly oral teachings, and so forth. Have you considered this possibility, Mr. Swan? I don't see any reason for the writer of II Clement to have been limited to strict citations of written works.
ReplyDeleteMike Burgess