EarlyChurch.org.uk: Clement of Alexandria (c.150 (2024)

Theology on the Web helps over 2.5 million people every year to find high quality theological resources that will help to equip them to serve God and to know Him better (2 Timothy 2:15). Like other websites that provide free services, it is dependent on donations to enable it to grow and develop and only 0.004% of visitors currently do so. If you would like to support this site, please use one of the options to the right of this message.

Clement of Alexandria (fromAndré Thevet)
Click on thumbnail for information on howto
purchase a larger version of this image
(see copyright information)

Synopsis

Little is known about the life of Titus FlaviusClemens.[1] He succeeded the converted stoic philosopherPantaenus[2] as head of the Christian Catechetical school inAlexandria, founded by the latter in the middle of the second century. He isregarded as an inferior theologian to his immediate successor to the post,Origen.[3]

Clement drew extensively on Philo,[4] and followed both Philo and Justin Martyr[5] in claiming that the Greek philosophers had plagiarised theirteaching from Moses.[6] His reasons for doing this weretwofold. First, he wished to counter the negative attitude that many uneducatedChristians had towards Greek philosophy. That (in his opinion) would havegreatly hindered its spread in the Hellenistic world. Secondly, he was facedwith the attacks of educated Pagans, such as Celsus (late second century), whoin his work True Doctrine[7] argued for thesuperiority of Greek culture, of which Judaism and Christianity were but shabbycounterfeits.[8] On the contrary, Clement argued, Plato andthe other philosophers had read the writings of Moses and the Prophets:whatever good could be found in their works was a result of divine inspirationand/or their use of biblical material.[9] This theory isoften referred to as "the theft of the Greeks". Lilla points out that Clementand Celsus shared the common conviction that the Greeks had inherited, notinvented their superior culture and philosophy from the ancient civilisationsof India, Persia, Babylon and Egypt.[10]

In extolling the divine character of the philosophy ofPlato, Clement claims several times that Plato was dependent on Scripture,[11] as was Pythagoras (who is also warmly praised).[12] This is amply demonstrated in the reading list of theCatechetical school in Alexandria, which included the works of all thephilosophers (except those of the Epicureans, who denied the existence of God),and was clearly modelled on the Platonic schools of the time.[13]He interpreted Greek philosophy in a biblical sense[14] andmaintained that it had prepared the Hellenistic world for the truephilosophy: the Christian gospel.[15] Philosophy gaveClement an the means by which he could penetrate beyond the literal sense ofScripture to reveal the true meaning, namely allegory.

Rob Bradshaw, Webmaster

References

[1] Albert C. Outler,"The Platonism of Clement of Alexandria," The Journal ofReligion, Vol. 20, No. 3. (1940): 217.

[2] Eusebius, History 6.6 (NPNF, 2nd series, Vol. 1, 253-254). Henry Chadwickin A. Hilary Armstrong, ed. The Cambridge History of Later Greek And EarlyMedieval Philosophy. (Cambridge: CUP, 1970), 168.

[3] Outler, 217.

[4] Joseph W. Trigg,"Allegory," Everett Ferguson ed. EEC. (New York: Garland, 1990), 24.

[5] Though Clementnowhere gives Justin credit when he develops Justins ideas. Chadwick, Later Greek And Early Medieval Philosophy, 170.

[6] E.g. Clement, Strom. 1.20-29; 2.1.1; 4.1.2 (ANF, Vol. 2, 323-341). SalvatoreR.C. Lilla., Clement of Alexandria, A Study in Christian Platonism andGnosticism. (Oxford: OUP, 1971), 31-41.

[7] Written 178AD.

[8] Lilla,34-36.

[9] Clement ofAlexandria, Exhortation 6; Strom. 1:15, 21; 2.5, 11, 14; 6.3(ANF, Vol. 2, 316-317, 324; 351-353, 460, 465-476; 486-488).

[10] Lilla,37-39.

[11] Clement, Strom. 1.25; 2.22; 5.14 (ANF, Vol. 2, 338, 375-376, 465-469).Lilla, 42, n.4.

[12] Lilla,43.

[13] GregoryThaumaturgus (or the wonder-worker) Thanksgiving toOrigen is our source for details of the schools curriculum. G.L.Prestige, Fathers And Heretics. (London: SCM, 1963), 49-52; Lilla,55-56.

[14] Lilla,43.

[15] Lilla, 56;Daniélou, Hellenistic, 109.

Primary Sources

	Denise Kimber Buell, Making Christians:Clement of Alexandria and the Rhetoric of Legitimacy. Princeton, NewJersey: Princeton University Press, 1999. Hbk. ISBN: 0691059802. pp.236.
	G.W. Butterworth, trans., Clement of Alexandria:Exhortation to the Greeks / Rich Man's Salvation / To the Newly Baptized,Loeb Classical Library Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1919. Hbk. ISBN:0674991036. pp.432.
	HenryChadwick, ed. Alexandrian Christianity, J. Baillie et al, ed.Library of Christian Classics, Vol. 2. Philadelphia:Westminster, 1977. Pbk.ISBN: 0664241530.
	Clement ofAlexandria (Christian Classic Ethereal Library)
	Clementof Alexandria, Christ the Educator. Fathers of the Church, Vol. 23.Simon P. Wood, trans. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press.Hbk. ISBN: 0813200237. pp.309.
	Clementof Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of St. John (Tertullian.org)
	Clementof Alexandria, Stromateis Books 1-3, Fathers of the Church, Vol. 85.John Ferguson, trans. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press,1991. ISBN: 0813200857. Hbk. pp.312.
	Clementof Alexandria (Peter Kirby)
	MiroslavMarcovich, Clementis Alexandrini "Paedagogus". Vigiliae Christianae,Supplements. Leiden: Brill, 2003. Hbk. ISBN: 9004124705. pp.240.
	[This material is in the Public Domain]
	MortonSmith, ed. Clement of Alexandria and the Secret Gospel of Mark.Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1973. ISBN: 0674134907.
	[This material is in the Public Domain]

Secondary Sources

	Piotr Ashwin-Siejkowski, Clement of Alexandria. London: T & T Clark, 2008. ISBN: 9780567418128. pp.272. [Sign-up to Perlego and access book instantly]
	Richard Bauckham, "The Fall of theAngels as the Source of Philosophy In Hermias and Clement of Alexandria," Vigiliae Christianae 39.4 (1985): 313-330.
	Charles Bigg [1840-1908], The Christian Platonists of Alexandria. Being the Bampton Lectures of the Year 1886. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. Hbk. pp.386. pdf [This material is in the Public Domain]
	Charles Bigg [1840-1908], The ChristianPlatonists of Alexandria. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2000.Pbk. ISBN: 1579103030. pp.332.
	James A. Brooks, "Clement of Alexandriaas a Witness to the Development of the New Testament Canon," SecondCentury 9.1 (1992): 41-55.
	B.G. Bucur, "The Other Clement ofAlexandria: Cosmic Hierarchy and Interiorized Apocalypticism," VigiliaeChristianae 60.3 (2006): 251-268.
	Denise Kimber Buell, Making Christians. Clement of Alexandria and the Rhetoric of Legitimacy. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2020. ISBN: 9780691221526. [Sign-up to Perlego and access book instantly]
	Aecio Cairus, "Clement of Alexandria and the Lord's Day," Andrews University Seminary Studies 40.2 (Autumn 2002): 273-276. pdf
	H. von Campenhausen, Fathers of the Greek Church.Hendrickson, 1998. Hbk. ISBN: 1565630955. pp.29-39.
	Stephen C. Carlson, "Clement ofAlexandria on the 'Order' of the Gospels," New Testament Studies 47.1(2001): 118-125.
	Robert P.Casey, "Clement of Alexandria and the Beginnings of Christian Platonism," Harvard Theological Review, Vol. 18, No. 1 (1925): 39-101. pdf
	Robert Pierce Casey, Clement of Alexandria and the Beginnings of Christian Platonism. Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press, 2007. ISBN: 9781463214401. pp.67. [Sign-up to Perlego and access book instantly]
	Henry Chadwick, EarlyChristian Thought and the Classical Tradition. Oxford: Clarendon, 1984.Pbk. ISBN: 0198266731. pp.182.
	ElizabethA.Clark, Clement's Use of Aristotle: The Aristotelian to Clement ofAlexandria's Refutation of Gnosticism. New York: Mellen, 1977. Hbk. ISBN:0889469849. pp.182.
	F.L. Cross, The Early ChristianFathers. Studies in Theology 1. London: Gerald Duckworth & Co. Ltd.,1960. Hbk. pp.118-122.
	James Davison, "Structural Similaritiesand Dissimilarities in the Thought of Clement of Alexandria and theValentinians," Second Century 3.4 (1983): 201-218.
	E. Draczkowski, "The educationalfunction of the Old Testament in Clement of Alexandria's Conception. WrittenKerygma in Theory and Practice," Roczniki teologisczno-kanonisczne 26.3((1979): 17-29.
	M.J. Edwards, "Clement of Alexandriaand His Doctrine of the Logos," Vigiliae Christianae 54.2 (2000):159-177.
	Peter Ensor, "Clement of Alexandria and penal substitutionary atonement," Evangelical Quarterly 85.1 (Jan. 2013): 19-35. pdf [Reproduced by permission of the current copyright holder]
	Denis Farkasfalvy, "The Presbyters'Witness on the Order of the Gospels as Reported by Clement of Alexandria," Catholic Biblical Quarterly 54.2 (1992): 260-270.
	John Ferguson, "The Achievement ofClement of Alexandria," Religious Studies 12.1 (1976):59-80.
	JohnFerguson, Clement of Alexandria. New York: Twayne, 1974. Hbk. ISBN:0805722319. pp.210.
	Thomas Finan, "Hellenism andJudeo-Christian History in Clement of Alexandria," Irish TheologicalQuarterly 28 (1961): 83-114.
	WE Gregory Floyd, Clement of Alexandria's Treatment of the Problem ofEvil. Oxford Theological Monographs. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1971,Hbk. ISBN: 019826707X. pp.136.
	Tom Halton, "Clement of Alexandria andAthenaeus (Paed. III. 4,26)," Second Century 6.4 (1987/88):193-202.
	Trevor A. Hart, "The Two SoteriologicalTraditions of Alexandria," The Evangelical Quarterly 61.3 (1989):239-259. pdf [Clement andAthanasius]
	Clementof Alexandria (Francis P. Havey)
	A.van der Hoek, Clement of Alexandria and His Use of Philo in theStromateis. Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae, 3. Leiden: Brill, 1988.Hbk. 9004087567. pp.261.
	A. Van Den Hoek, "How Alexandrian wasClement of Alexandria? Reflections on Clement and his Alexandrian Background," Heythrop Journal 31 (1990): 179-194.
	A. Van Den Hoek, "Divergent Traditionsin Clement of Alexandria," and other Authors of the 2nd century," Apocrypha 7 (1996): 43-62.
	Annewies van den Hoek, "TheCatechetical School of Early Christian Alexandria and its Philonic Heritage," Harvard Theological Review 90.1 (1997): 59-87.
	Annewies van den Hoek, "Techniques ofQuotation in Clement of Alexandria: A View of Ancient Literary WorkingMethods," Vigiliae Christianae 50.3 (1996): 223-243.
	[This material is in the Public Domain]
	Clayton N. Jefford, "Clement ofAlexandria and Gnosis: A Dissertation in Review," Perspectives in ReligiousStudies 20.4 (1993): 381-396.
	PeterKaravites, Evil-Freedom and the Road to Perfection in Clement ofAlexandria. Vigiliae Christianae Supplements Series. Leiden: Brill, 1998.Hbk. ISBN: 9004112383. pp.208.
	Donald Kinder, "Clement of Alexandria:Conflicting Views on Women," Second Century 7.4 (1989/90):213-220.
	Frederic Henry Chase [1853-1925], "Clement of Alexandria,"William Lefroy [1836-1909], ed., Church Leaders in Primitive Times. Lectures on Their Words and Works. Delivered in Norwich Cathedral by Eminent Anglican Devines, 2nd edn. London: Chas. J. Thynne, 1909. Hbk. pp.255-297. pdf [This material is in the Public Domain]
	Blake Leyerle, "Clement of Alexandriaon the Importance of Table Etiquette," Journal of Early ChristianStudies 3.2 (1995): 123-141.
	SalvatoreRomano Clemente Lilla, Clement of Alexandria, A Study in Christian Platonismand Gnosticism. Oxford Theological Monographs. Oxford: OUP, 1971. ISBN:0198267061. pp.282.
	Joseph C McLelland, God theAnonymous: A Study in Alexandrian Philosophical Theology. PatristicMonograph series 4. Cambridge, MA: Philadelphia Patristic Foundation, 1976.ISBN: 091564603X. pp.209.
	Harry O. Maier, "Clement of Alexandriaand the Care of the Self," Journal of American Academy of Religion 62.3(1994): 719-745.
	Einar Molland, The Conception of theGospel in the Alexandrian Theology. Oslo: I kommisjon hos J. Dybwad, 1938.pp. xi + 185.
	Raoul Mortley, "The Theme of Silence inClement of Alexandria," Journal of Theological Studies 24.1 (1973):197-202.
	Raoul Mortley, "The Mirror and I Cor.13, 12 in the Epistemology of Clement of Alexandria," VigiliaeChristianae 30.2 (1976): 109-120.
	Eric Osborn, The Philosophy ofClement of Alexandria. Texts and Studies, new series, Vol. 3. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press, 1957. pp.xi + 205.
	Eric Osborn, Ethical Patterns inEarly Christian Thought. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1976. ISBN:0521208351. pp. x + 252.
	Eric Osborn, "Clement of Alexandria: AReview of Research, 1958-1982," Second Century 3.4 (1983):219-244.
	Eric Osborn, "Arguments for Faith inClement of Alexandria," Vigiliae Christianae 48.1 (1994): 1-24.
	Albert C. Outler, "The Platonism ofClement of Alexandria," The Journal of Religion, Vol. 20, No. 3. (1940):217-240.
	James Carlton Paget, "Clement ofAlexandria and the Jews," Scottish Journal of Theology 59.1 (1998):86-97.
	David Paulsen, "Ethical Individualismin Clement of ALexandria," Concordia Theological Monthly 43.1 (1972):3-20.
	David Ivan Rankin, From Clement to Origen. The Social and Historical Context of the Church Fathers. London: Routledge, 2016. ISBN: 9781317132424. pp.182. [Sign-up to Perlego and access book instantly]
	David T. Runia, "Why Does Clement ofAlexandria Call Philo The Pythagorean?" Vigiliae Christianae 49.1(1995): 1-22.
	Alan.P.F. Sell, "Theology and the Philosophical Climate: Case-Studies From theSecond Century AD (Part 2) Vox Evangelica 14 (1984): 53-64. pdf
	MortonSmith, Clement of Alexandria and a Secret Gospel of Mark. Cambridge, MA:Harvard University Press, 1973. Hbk. ISBN: 0674134907. pp.460.
	Morton Smith, "Clement of Alexandriaand Secret Mark: The Score at the End of the First Decade," HarvardTheological Review 75.4 (1982): 449-461.
	Robert Bertram Tollinton [1866-1932], Clement ofAlexandria: A Study in Christian Liberalism, 2 Vols. London: Williams andNorgate, 1914. Hbk. pp.366+339. pdf [This material is in the Public Domain]
	Miriam Bergo Tremblay, Clement of Alexandria and the Sibylline Oracles. Chisinau, Republic of Moldova: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, 2015. ISBN: 9783659694257. pp132. [Sign-up to Perlego and access book instantly]
	Joseph W. Trigg, "Receiving the Alpha:Negative Theology in Clement of Alexandria and its Possible Implications," Studia Patristica 31 (1997): 540-45.
	A.H.C. Van Eijk, "The Gospel of Philipand Clement of Alexandria," Vigiliae Christianae 25.2 (1971):94-120.
	J.G.M. Van Winden, "Quotations FromPhilo in Clement's Protepticus," Vigiliae Christianae 32.3 (1978):208-213.
	W.H. Wagner, "Another Look at theLiterary Problem in Clement of Alexandria's Major Writings," ChurchHistory, Vol. 37 (1968): 251-260.
	RobertL. Wilken, "Alexandria: A School for Training in Virtue," Patrick Henry, ed. Schools of Thought in the Christian Tradition. Philadelphia: FortressPress, 1985. Pbk. ISBN: 0800607309. pp.15-30.
	J.C.M. van Winden, "Quotations fromPhilo in Clement of Alexandria's Protrepticus," Vigiliae Christianae 32(1978): 208-213.
	H.A. Wolfson, "Clement of Alexandria onthe Generation of the Logos," Church History 20.2 (1951):72-81.
	Jan Zandee, "The Teachings ofSilvanus" and Clement of Alexandria: a New Document of AlexandrianTheology. Mededelingen en Verhandelingen van het Vooraziatisch-EgyptischGenootschap Ex Oriente Lux 19. Leiden: Ex Oriente Lux, 1977. pp. viii +166.