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Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty · Catechism · 1277

Faith Q&A › Catechism › 8. Christian Faith and Military Service

What are the views of St. Clement of Rome on participating in military service?

The answer

In his writings, St. Clement of Rome speaks of the military command structure of the Roman army not just as a metaphor, but as one who endorses and accepts it.921 He shows that some Christians served in the army as though they were in the army of God and obeyed military orders. They occupied various ranks and saw the army as an expression of the need we all have for each other, whether big or small; and of the need to live out the spirit of obedience more generally.922

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty

Notes

921 Cf. R. M. Grant, Early Christianity and Society (Collins, 1978): pp. 22–23.

922 St. Clement of Rome, First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians 37 (ANF 1:15).

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty, Catechism of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Volumes 1 and 2, Books 1–7. First English Edition, 2023. Published by St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, Sporting, Alexandria, and Queen St. Mary & Prince Tadros Coptic Orthodox Church, South Brunswick, NJ. Copyright © 2023. Translation and Editing: Youth of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Arabian Gulf, and Egypt.