scholars have proposed a range of dates, but most limit the possibilities to the last three decades of the 1st century, and no later than ad140. 1 clement is dated by some scholars to as early as ad 70. the common time given for the epistle’s composition is at the end of the reign of domitian (c. ad96). the phrase "sudden and repeated misfortunes and hindrances which have befallen us" (1:1) is taken as a reference to persecutions under domitian. some scholars believe that 1 clement was written around the same time as the book of revelation (c. ad95–97).