Clement Κλήμης
Fellow laborer with Paul in the gospel
Who is Clement in the Bible?
Clement was a fellow laborer with Paul in spreading the gospel, mentioned by name in Philippians 4:3. Paul commends Clement and others like him, noting that their names were written in the Book of Life, a reference to their faithful commitment to Christ and eternal salvation. The apostle's appeal to the Philippians to assist these workers suggests they may have faced difficulties or conflicts during their ministry. Though Scripture provides no further details about Clement's specific activities or background, his mention indicates he was a recognized and valued figure in the Philippian church. Some early church traditions have identified this biblical Clement with Clement of Rome, an important early church father, though scholars cannot definitively confirm this connection.
Biography
Clement is mentioned in Php.4.3 as one of Paul's fellow laborers in the gospel. Paul describes Clement, along with others, as having his name in the Book of Life, indicating his faithful service and commitment to Christ. Paul's appeal to the Philippians to help these individuals suggests that they had faced some challenges or conflicts in their ministry. The mention of Clement's name implies that he was known to the Philippian church and had played a significant role in spreading the gospel alongside Paul. No further details about Clement's life or specific ministry activities are provided in the Bible. Some early church traditions identify this Clement as the same person as Clement of Rome, an early church father, but this connection cannot be conclusively established from the biblical text alone.
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Greek | Κλήμης |
Clement
ent as to any identity with the author of the Epistle to the Corinthians published under this name, who was also the third bishop of Rome. The truth of this supposition ("it cannot be called a tradition," Donaldson, The Apostolical Fathers, 120), although found in Origen, Eusebius, Epiphanius and Jerome, can neither be proved nor disproved. Even Roman Catholic authorities dispute it (article "Clement," Catholic Cyclopaedia, IV, 13). The remoteness between the two in time and place is against it; "a wholly uncritical view" (Cruttwell, Literary History of Early Christianity, 31).
H. E. Jacobs
kle'-o-pas (Kleopas, "renowned father"): One of the two disciples whom Jesus met on the way to Emmaus (Lu 24:18). The name is a contraction of Cleopatros, not identical with Clopa