# 1 Clement 32.4

- Author: [Clement of Rome](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/authors/clement-of-rome/)
- Work: [1 Clement](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/1-clement/) (*Epistula I ad Corinthios*)
- Date: ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100) (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 24:62; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 1, LCL 24 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1912), 8–121 (Greek text: K. Lake, The Apostolic Fathers (LCL, 1912-1913), digitized by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/1-clement/32/4/

Summary: We are justified not by our own wisdom, piety, or works, but through faith.

## Greek text

καὶ ἡμεῖς οὖν, διὰ θελήματος αὐτοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ κληθέντες, οὐ διʼ ἑαυτῶν δικαιούμεθα, οὐδὲ διὰ τῆς ἡμετέρας σοφίας ἢ συνέσεως ἢ εὐσεβείας ἢ ἔργων ὧν κατειργασάμεθα ἐν ὁσιότητι καρδίας, ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς πίστεως, διʼ ἧς πάντας τοὺς ἀπʼ αἰῶνος ὁ παντοκράτωρ θεὸς ἐδικαίωσεν· ᾧ ἔστω ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. ἀμήν.

## English translation (Claude)

And we, therefore, who have been called through his will in Christ Jesus, are not justified through ourselves, nor through our own wisdom or understanding or piety or the works we have done in holiness of heart, but through faith, through which the almighty God has justified all people from the beginning; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

## Scripture references

- Rom 3:28: echo, medium confidence
- Eph 2:8: echo, medium confidence
- Titus 3:5: echo, medium confidence

## Translation notes

- Clement here says believers are justified “through faith” and not “through the works we have done” (compare Rom 3:28; Gal 2:16). Chapter 33 immediately adds that this is no reason to stop doing good.

## Citation (SBL)

1 Clem. 32.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/1-clement/32/4/).