the epistle was publicly read from time to time in corinth, and by the 4th century this usage had spread to other churches. it was included in the 5th century codex alexandrinus, which contained the entire old and new testaments. it was included with the gospel of john in the fragmentary early greek and akhmimic coptic papyrus designated papyrus 6. first clement is listed as canonical in "canon 85" of the canons of the apostles, showing that first clement had canonical rank in at least some regions of early christendom. ibn khaldun also mentions it as part of the new testament, suggesting that the book may have been in wide and accepted use in either 14th century spain or egypt.