Clement of Rome
The earliest known Christian author outside the New Testament.
Explore this event on the interactive timeline →Traditionally identified as the fourth Bishop of Rome (Pope), Clement is the author of the "First Epistle of Clement" (c. 96 CE), a letter from the Roman church to the Corinthian church urging order and obedience to church leaders.
Verified Facts
- 1 Clement is one of the oldest surviving Christian documents outside the New Testament, typically dated to around 96 CE during the reign of Emperor Domitian.
- The letter reveals that the Roman church was already asserting authority over other churches by the end of the 1st century, intervening in a dispute in Corinth where younger members had deposed their elders.
- Clement never claims the title "pope" or universal authority, but later Catholic tradition points to this letter as the earliest evidence of Roman primacy over other Christian communities.
- A second letter attributed to Clement (2 Clement) is actually the oldest surviving complete Christian sermon, likely written by a different author around 140-160 CE.