Clement's view of the new testament writings

Abstract

This chapter discusses the Clement's own evaluation of New Testament (NT) writings, and examines the implications of Clement's use of certain NT writings for the prehistory of the Canon. The evidence which exists seems to indicate that the Pauline epistles were the first NT writings to be collected, and subsequently the Gospels and, more gradually, the remaining apostolic writings. The history of the canon shows that many of the remaining books of the NT found universal acceptance very late. There is, unfortunately, very little direct evidence of the exact way in which the Apostolic Fathers conceived of the writings of Apostles and their circle. The chapter concludes that while Clement is an important witness for the use of the writings of the NT in AD 95, and thus indirectly for the prehistory of the canon, the Clement provides us with no indication of his own hermeneutic approach to these writings.Keywords: Apostolic Fathers; Canon; Clement's view; New Testament (NT) writings; Pauline epistles