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Historic Christianity vs Calvinism  /  Lecture 9: The History and Dangers of Proof-texting  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 4
Clement of Rome says goodness “under necessity is not really good,” and that God punishes sinners because they “were able to conquer but neglected”; what does that reveal about God’s justice and what He seems to assume about human ability, and how would early Christians likely have preached repentance and obedience if they believed Clement’s logic?
Another way to ask: If Clement says a forced good deed isn’t really good, and God punishes people because they could have obeyed but didn’t, what does that say about God’s justice and human ability? If early Christians agreed, how would that shape the way they preached repentance and obedience?

Direct Answer Clement’s logic assumes God’s justice is tied to real human choice: punishment is fair only because sinners genuinely “were able” to do otherwise, and coerced goodness doesn’t count as true goodness. If early Christians believed this, their preaching of repentance and obedience would emphasize meaningful responsibility—calling people to choose life, not merely to wait for an irresistible change.

Support from Transcript:

  • Clement: “It is therefore in the power of everyone since man has been made possessed of free will.”
  • Clement frames the choice starkly: “Whether he shall hear of us to life or the demons to destruction.”
  • Clement: “He who is made good by another under necessity is not really good…because he is not what he is…by his own choice.”
  • Clement ties judgment to ability: “For no other reason does God punish the sinner…except because he knows that the sinner was able to conquer but neglected to gain the victory.”
  • Finny comments this is “common sense” and says it “illustrates how the early church taught,” dated “around the year 95 AD,” very close to the apostles.
Discussion Follow-ups If God punishes because a person “was able,” what does that suggest about how grace and responsibility work together? How might this challenge the idea that unbelievers cannot even respond or confess?

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