Clement and the Early Tradition (2)

In Clement 40-44, note how seamlessly woven together is the Levitical priesthood and the Christian episcopate. They are so much the same thing in Clement's mind that in chapter 40 he switches from one to the other without so much as a wink to indicate where one subject stops and the other begins. This is expressive of a consistent method on Clement's part to interpret Christianity in the most continuous fashion possible — continuous, that is, with temple religion and synagogue. It is important at this juncture to note that Clement is intimately familiar with the Epistle to the Hebrews. Not only does he quote from it, he borrows liberally from its theology and subject matter, with one stark difference: whereas Paul a few years earlier emphasizes what is novel about Christianity compared to what came before, Clement's emphasis is on what isn't. This shift is of seismic importance in the doctrinal development that accompanies the growth of early Catholic tradition. In contrast to the Judaizers who were blind to the newness of grace, Paul, in his horror of their perversion of the gospel, exaggerates the differences between the old dispensation and the new covenant. Nowhere does he do so quite so much as in Hebrews. While revering Paul and remaining faithful to his teaching, beginning with Clement, the early tradition reasserts the continuity of Christianity with the old religion of Israel. This is especially important to bear in mind as we move on to examining Clement's idea of Holy Orders.