Clement of Rome (A.D, 35 - 99).
Clement of Rome is the first early church father who would become a successor to the Apostles. He was consecrated by the Apostle Peter and mentioned favorably by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:3,
"And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life."
Clement's name is written in the Book of Life. Clement is believed by some scholars to have been the author of the Book of Hebrews based on the grammatical style. While this is uncertain, what is certain is that Clement gives us clear insight to what 1st century Christians believed. Clement knew the Bible better than all 20th and 21st century scholars. His testimony on basic doctrine provides us essential insight into the ancient Church as well as the Succession in which all other consecrated priests would follow (though many priests today have deviated from sound doctrine to their own destruction -- 1 Tim.4:16; Heb. 5:11-14; 6:1-12).
Clement affirms his strong belief in the round world. All quotations are taken from The Ancient Christian Writers series Vol.1. His Epistle To The Corinthians was written in 97 A.D. which is only one or two years after the Apostle John penned Revelation!
“Thus, by His transcendent might He established the heavens, and by His incomprehensible understanding He ordered them: the earth He separated from the water now encircling it, and firmly grounded it on the unshakable foundation of His own will” (33:3).
Clement is referring to the establishment of the heavens and the earth before dry land appeared. This means that only water would have been seen encircling the globe.
The next quote comes from chapter 20 and here Clement clearly states the earth rotates:
"Day and night complete the revolution ordained by Him, and neither interferes in the least with the other" (20: 2).
It seems clear enough to me that he is reading from the Book of Job chapter 26 verse 10...
"He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end" (KJV)
"He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters,
At the boundary of light and darkness" (NKJV).
...and Job 38:14,
"It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment" (KJV).
"It turneth itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed" (YLT).
Moreover, Clement was a believer in what was called antipodes -- people of opposite earth, who's feet walk opposite to ours.
“The ocean, impassable for men, and the worlds beyond it are governed by the same decrees of the Master” (20:8).
What Clement is saying here is that the earth is a sphere and the other side of the earth is peopled.
Origen (185-254 A.D.) explains Clement's comment:
“Clement indeed, a disciple of the apostles, mentions those whom the Greeks call “people of the opposite earth,” and speaks of other parts of the world which none of our people can reach, nor can any of those who live there cross over to us; and these parts themselves he called “worlds,” when he says, “The ocean is impassable to men, and the worlds beyond it are governed by the same ordinances of God the Ruler” (On First Principles, Chapter III verse 6).
St.Augustine knew the Bible taught globe earth but could not fathom the idea of antipodes. Here are two translations of Augustine's "City of God" containing his indirect remark about Clement's belief in antipodes. Here Augustine is at odds with Clement:
"9. The story of the 'antipodes'
As for the fabled 'antipodes', men, that is, who live on the other side of earth, where the sun rises when it sets for us, men who plant their footsteps opposite ours, there is no rational ground for such a belief. The upholders of this notion do not assert that they have discovered it from scientific evidence; they base their conjecture on a kind of priori reasoning. They argue that the earth is suspended within the sphere of the heavens, so that the lowest point and the middle point of the world are identical; and this leads them to suppose that the other half of the world which lies below this part cannot be devoid of human inhabitants. They ignore the fact that even if the world is supposed to be a spherical mass, or if some rational proof should be offered for the superstition, it does not follow that the land on that side is not covered by 'the gathering together of the waters'. Again, even if the land were uncovered, it does not immediately follow that it has human beings on it. For there is no untruth of any kind in Scripture, whose reliability in the account of past events is attested by the fulfillment of its prophecies for the future; and it would be too ridiculous to suggest that some men might have sailed from our side of the earth to the other, arriving there after crossing the vast expanse of ocean, so that the human race should be established there also by the descendants of the first man." (St.Augustine, "City of God," Penguin Classics, p.664).
Now for another translation,
"9. Whether we are to believe in the Antipodes
But as to the fable that there are Antipodes, that is to say, men on the opposite side of the earth, where the sun rises when it sets to us, men who walk with their feet opposite to ours, that is on no ground credible. And, indeed, it is not affirmed that this has been learned by historical knowledge, but by scientific conjecture, on the ground that the earth is suspended within the concavity of the sky, and that it has as much room on one side of it as on the other : hence they say that the part which is beneath must also be inhabited. But they do not remark that, although it be supposed or scientifically demonstrated that the world is of round and spherical form, yet it does not follow that the other side is bare of water ; nor even, though it be bare, does it immediately follow that it is peopled. For Scripture, which proves the truth of its historical statements by the accomplishments of its prophecies, gives no false information ; and it is too absurd to say that some men might have taken ship and traversed the whole wide ocean, and crossed from this side of the world to the other, and that thus even the inhabitants of that distant region are descended from that first man." (St.Augustine, "City of God," Book XVI, chapter 9, p.532; translated by Marcus Dods, D.D.; The Modern Library, NY).
Wikipedia cites this information in their "Flat Earth" section to claim Augustine had denied the spherical shape of the earth. But he is not rejecting the sphericity of the earth, but rather he finds it unnecessary to believe that the world is populated with antipodes who live on opposite earth. This opposite earth includes Australia, New Zealand and the Americas (North, Central and South), along with Canada and Mexico etc.
Augustine did know the earth is spherical.The following quotation is taken from Augustine’s book The Literal Meaning of Genesis, Vol.1. (Ancient Christian Writers, Vol.41).
“But if the light first created enveloped the earth on all sides, whether it was motionless or travelling round, it could not be followed anywhere by night, because it did not vacate any place to make room for night. But was it made on one side, so that as it travelled it would permit the night to follow after from the other? Although water still covered all the earth, there was nothing to prevent the massive watery sphere from having day on one side by the presence of light, and on the other side, night by the absence of light. Thus, in the evening, darkness would pass to that side from which light would be turning to the other” (The Literal Meaning of Genesis, Vol.1. Ancient Christian Writers, Vol.41, p.33).
Augustine is speaking about the light God created. He speaks with confidence concerning his own knowledge of the shape of the earth. He sees an earth that is spherical and rotating. He may not of had all the knowledge he would have wanted to know, but the shape of the earth is spoken with confidence.
The purpose of citing Augustine's criticism of antipodes is to prove what Clement is saying when he writes:
"The ocean, impassable for men, and the worlds beyond it are governed by the same decrees of the Master” (20:8).
This is a very clear globe earth reference from the 1st century A.D. and it comes from the most important successor of the Apostles.
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BONUS: What did Clement mean by "the worlds beyond it are governed by the same decrees as the Master"? Perhaps this will be a prophetic guide to what Clement had in mind.
An Old Indian Chief Speaks about Washington.
This is one of my favorite accounts of President George Washington which is often cited in many discussions on social media. This event happens before Washington becomes the 1st President of the United States. This account is taken from "America's God And Country: Encyclopedia Of Quotations" by William J. Federer, p.636-637,
"Fifteen years later, Washington and Dr.Craik, a close friend of his from his youth, were traveling through those same woods near the Ohio River and Great Kanawha River. They were met by an old Indian chief, who addressed Washington through an interpreter:
"I am chief and ruler over my tribes. My influence extends to the waters of the great lakes and to the far blue mountains.
I have traveled a long and weary path that I might see the young warrior of the great battle. It was on the day when the white man's blood mixed with the streams of the forests that I first beheld this chief [Washington].
I called to my young men and said, mark yon tall and daring warrior? He is not of the red-coat tribe - he hath an Indian's wisdom, and his warriors fight as we do - himself alone exposed.
Quick, let your aim be certain, and he dies. Our rifles were leveled, rifles which, but for you, knew not how to miss - 'twas all in vain, a power mightier far than we, shielded you.
Seeing you were under the special guardianship of the Great Spirit, we immediately ceased fire at you. I am old and soon shall be gathered to the great council fire of my fathers in the land of shades, but ere I go, there is something bids me speak in the voice or prophecy:
Listen! The Great Spirit protects that man [pointing at Washington], and guides his destinies--he will become the chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him as the founder of a mighty empire. I am come to pay homage to the man who is the particular favor favorite of Heaven, and who can die in battle."
The famous Indian warrior, who was in that battle, said:
"Washington was never born to be killed by a bullet! I had seventeen fair fires at him with my rifle, and after all could not bring him to the ground."
So what we read here further confirms Clement's words about how the people of opposite earth "are governed by the same decrees of the Master” (God). All this was understood by Clement 2000 years before Columbus discovered the new world!