Paul Hartog: “Faith and Hospitality in 1 Clement 9-12: The Case of Hospitable Noah”

1 Clement mentions Noah on two occasions. According to chapter 7, Noah “preached repentance, and they that obeyed were saved”—a seeming reference to the eight family members who were delivered. Nevertheless, the context (with the paralleling of the “Ninevites” and their response to Jonah’s preaching) may hint at the inclusion of the animals as well (cf. Jonah 3:7-8). 1 Clement 9 declares that Noah “preached regeneration,” and “through him the Master saved the living creatures that entered into the ark in concord.” This second mention of Noah explicitly highlights the animals who “entered into” (εἰσελθόντα) the ark and appears within a series of Hebrew Scripture illustrations. The case of Abraham immediately follows: “For his faith and hospitality (φιλοξενία) a son was given unto him in old age” (10.7). Chapter 11 appends, “For his hospitality (φιλοξενία) and godliness Lot was saved from Sodom” (11.1). Chapter 12 adds, “For her faith and hospitality (φιλοξενία) Rahab the harlot was saved,” because she had sheltered the Hebrew spies who “entered into” (εἰσῆλθον) her house. Numerous scholars have compared 1 Clement 9-11 with James 2, Romans 4-5, and/or Hebrews 11. Nevertheless, they have overlooked a key implication—the structure and vocabulary of this passage suggests that Noah also practiced hospitality, thus paralleling the instances of Abraham, Lot, and Rahab that immediately follow. This intimation of Noahic hospitality by welcoming the “living creatures” who “entered into” his ark could inform theological “environmental ethics” through a thicker reading of his ministry (λειτουργία) of hospitality.