Early Second Century Literature: Epistle of Clement

Clement of Rome writing on the body of the Church. This would have been composed around the late 1st century to the early 2nd century.

Second Epistle of Clement 2:

"Rejoice o barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in travail; for the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her that is married." In saying "rejoice O barren one who did not bear," he meant us, for our church was barren before children were given to her.

Clement is referring to the church giving birth to her children and is referencing Isaiah 51.

Second Epistle of Clement 14:

Brethren, if we do the will of our Father God, we shall belong to the first Church, the spiritual one which was created before the sun and moon... (reference to the church standing outside of time and creation)

Now I imagine that you are not ignorant that the living church is the body of Christ. For the Scripture says "God made man male and female": the male is Christ and the female is the Church. And moreover, the books and the Apostles (τα βιβλια και οι αποσοτολοι) declare that the Church belongs not to the present, but has existed from the beginning; for she was spiritual, as also was our Jesus, but was made manifest in the last days that he [or more likely: she] might save us; and the church, which is spiritual, was made manifest in the flesh of Christ, showing us that if any one of us guard her in the flesh without corruption, he shall receive back again in the Holy Spirit.

Second Epistle of Clement 17:

And let us not merely seem to believe and pay attention now, while we are being exhorted [teaching] (εν τω νουθετεισθαι) by the presbyters, but also when we have gone home let us remember the commandments of the Lord...