The mocker is set in his way and will not change. The mocker is a leader that the simple will follow. The simple is directionless and looking for leadership, so the simple will follow the mocker. But,
if the mocker is punished that same simpleton will see firsthand that he does not want to walk in
the way of the mocker. The mocker’s failure becomes the simpleton’s lesson.

While the simple learn from observation and experience, the wise man can learn from instruction. Because of this the wise man can avoid many of the hard lessons the simple must learn from life experience. Just as the simple will follow and learn from the punishment of the mocker, the simple can also follow the wise and learn by observation of the success and prosperity of the wise man’s lifestyle.

“Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence; 
rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge.”
- Proverbs 19:25

A mocker cannot be taught, corrected, or even, beaten into wisdom:

• Proverbs 9:7 - correct a mocker and be insulted
• Proverbs 9:8 - rebuke a mocker and they will hate you.
• Proverbs 15:12 - mockers resent correction

But, the teaching, penalizing, correcting and beating the mocker will educate the simple man and lead him toward wisdom.

“Theology is for everyone. Indeed, everyone needs to be a theologian. In reality, everyone is a theologian — of one sort or another. And therein lies the problem. There is nothing wrong with being an amateur theologian or a professional theologian, but there is everything wrong with being an ignorant or sloppy theologian.”
- Charles Ryrie

30-100 Clement of Rome
- Knew and worked with Paul. - Mentioned in Philippians 4:3.
- According to Origen he was a disciple of the apostles.
Irenaeus writes: “He had the preaching of the apostles still echoing in his ears and their doctrine in front of his eyes.”

- Learned to use Septuagint from Paul and Luke
- He wrote a letter from Rome to the Corinthians called “First Clement”. It had been referred to by other writers but was not discovered until the 1600’s.
- Clement wrote the Corinthians because that church had overthrown its own leadership.

- Clement appealed to the Word of God as final authority and referred to 1 Cor. 1:10.
Clement gave testimony to: Trinity, divinity of Christ, salvation only by Christ, necessity of repentance, necessity of faith, justification by grace, sanctification by Holy Spirit, unity of the church, fruit of the Spirit.
- Clement was the pastor of Rome and knew no higher office other than the local pastor or bishop.

- Clement wrote to a church of apostolic foundation with a tone of authority and thus revealed how easily and innocently the papacy began.

-100 years after his death this same position in the same church would take authority and would excommunicate whole churches for much smaller differences