Clement of Rome served as the Bishop of Rome 88AD – 99AD. Specific documents held by the Roman Catholic Church say that he was a friend of the Apostle Peter. He would have probably also known Paul because of Paul’s mention of his name in Philippians 4:3 Indeed, true comrade, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

He was recognized as an early evangelist within the city of Rome and was probably part of the original congregation that was established in Rome. He was thought to be the fourth bishop of the city of Rome.  

In the midst of a severe persecution of the known Christians during the latter part of the 10^th decade of the 1^st century, the Roman Emperor Trajan had him eexiled to a stone quarry located on the Black Sea.

This did not suppress Clement’s faith or his evangelistic efforts. He was able to evangelize a large number of workers and fellow prisoners at the stone quarry to the Christian faith. It finally got to the point that the only way the expression of his faith in Jesus Christ could be stopped was that they had to tie him to a large anchor and drown in the Black Sea in 102 AD.

His only literary work was a letter that he wrote to the Christian church in the Greek city of Corinth. Writing in 85 AD to the same community at Corinth which Paul had once addressed in his letters, Clement reproved a number of Christians: “You will please us greatly if, being obedient to the things which we have written through the Holy Spirit, you will root out the wicked passion of jealousy.”[1]

The letter was lost until 1627, when it was amazingly found in an old library in Constantinople. This letter to the Corinthians was first published in 1633.

Read Clement of Rome’s Letter to Corinth on line at:

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/1clement-lightfoot.html

Clement was very concerned with Christians knowing the correct theology and doctrine of the Christian faith, as well as living a life that displayed good moral behavior. Another major theme in his ministry was focused on achieving unity amongst all of the Christians he ministered to and wrote to.