Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A first-century letter from the church in Rome mentions Peter—but never calls him the first pope or describes a papacy. What can we learn from Clement and the letter he wrote to the Corinthians, the same church that had caused Paul so much grief only decades earlier?
Traditionally known as Pope Clement I, Clement of Rome is among the earliest Christian authors writing under their own name whose writings survive in the form of a single authentic text: the First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians. Active at the end of the 1st century, Clement’s letter was written at the same time as the gospels and most of other texts that were included in the New Testament. Had he written pseudonymously under the name of an apostle, like the two different authors who wrote epistles of Peter, his writing might have been canonized.
Instead, Clement is considered the first “Apostolic Father” — the earliest known Christian writer living after the age of the apostles. Clement’s letter gives us an important glimpse into the development of Christianity, including the church in Rome. Was Clement bishop of Rome? He doesn’t claim to be. Was Peter the first bishop of Rome? Clement makes no such claim. Was the church in Rome governed by a single bishop in Clement’s day?
John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place will explore what we can know about Clement of Rome, and what his writings tell us about early Christian history.
Join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions of our lecturer during the Q&A.
This lecture is part of our series exploring Christianity and the Bible from an academic perspective through history, mythology, archaeology, theology, and biblical studies.
📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at centreplace.ca/lectures
Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider making a donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada):
❤️ centreplace.ca/donate
A first-century letter from the church in Rome mentions Peter—but never calls him the first pope or describes a papacy. What can we learn from Clement and the letter he wrote to the Corinthians, the same church that had caused Paul so much grief only decades earlier?
Traditionally known as Pope Clement I, Clement of Rome is among the earliest Christian authors writing under their own name whose writings survive in the form of a single authentic text: the First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians. Active at the end of the 1st century, Clement’s letter was written at the same time as the gospels and most of other texts that were included in the New Testament. Had he written pseudonymously under the name of an apostle, like the two different authors who wrote epistles of Peter, his writing might have been canonized.
Instead, Clement is considered the first “Apostolic Father” — the earliest known Christian writer living after the age of the apostles. Clement’s letter gives us an important glimpse into the development of Christianity, including the church in Rome. Was Clement bishop of Rome? He doesn’t claim to be. Was Peter the first bishop of Rome? Clement makes no such claim. Was the church in Rome governed by a single bishop in Clement’s day?
John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place will explore what we can know about Clement of Rome, and what his writings tell us about early Christian history.
Join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions of our lecturer during the Q&A.
This lecture is part of our series exploring Christianity and the Bible from an academic perspective through history, mythology, archaeology, theology, and biblical studies.
📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at centreplace.ca/lectures
Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider making a donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada):
❤️ centreplace.ca/donate
