Clement's First Letter to God's Community at Corinth - Section 1

Explanatory note: I was finally able to pick up the 38 volume Early Church Fathers series (a rearrangement of the Edinburgh collection of translations) for personal study/devotional time. Tonight I felt like doing a paraphrase of the first "chapter" of the "first" epistle of Clement to the Corinthians and I feel like posting it here. I'd like to do this again, so I probably will. It helps me to meditate on the content if I paraphrase as I go. Also, even though I'm busy with work, I miss blogging.

Those of God's community who are, for but a brief time, in Rome, to those of God's community who are, for but a brief time, in Corinth - all of you who are right now being set apart for the special service to which each of you is called by God's will, which can operate in all of us through our Lord, Jesus, the One who has always been set apart:

                May God look upon all of you favorably and, from his unending power, cause peace to grow in you all through Jesus, the One set apart.

                A recent series of unfortunate events has delayed us in addressing your questions. We specifically regret the delay in our responses concerning the embarrassingly disgusting (especially to those whom God has set apart) mutiny begun by those who have gotten cocky and rushed blindly into starting up a big fuss that has greatly damaged your good reputation - a reputation which ought to have been admired by everyone. Seriously, hadn't everyone - even those who had barely met you all - seen how real your faith was and how productive it had been in making you all grow strong in character? Who didn't admire the clear and sensible thinking that came with your being made more like the One who has always been set apart? Who didn't brag on you all about what great hosts you consistently were? Who didn't get excited about the perfect and well-founded knowledge you all have? You all did everything without worrying about anyone's "status." Together, you followed God's directions all the way, even when that meant obeying authorities with whom you may not have readily agreed, and you all showed proper respect to the leaders God had placed in your lives to help you learn more about and follow him. You all encouraged clear, rational thinking in your young men. You all taught every married woman among you to do everything justly - keeping a clean conscience in mind - and to respect her marriage by loving her husband and by making thoughtful, appropriate decisions for the household.