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Clement of Alexandria
ca. A. D.
150 - ca. 215
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 Alexandria and the Rhetoric of Legitimacy
by Denise Kimber Buell.
How did
second-century Christians vie with each other in seeking to
produce an authoritative discourse of Christian identity? In
this innovative book, Denise Buell argues that many early
Christians deployed the metaphors of procreation and kinship in
the struggle over claims to represent the truth of Christian
interpretation, practice, and doctrine. In particular, she
examines the intriguing works of the influential theologian
Clement of Alexandria (ca. 150-210 c.e.), for whom cultural
assumptions about procreation and kinship played an important
role in defining which Christians have the proper authority to
teach, and which kinds of knowledge are authentic.
 Click
here to learn more about this book
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for more Clement Books
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Excerpt:
Clement of Alexandria, full name TITUS FLAVIUS CLEMENS
(150?-215?), Greek theologian and an early Father
of the Church. He was probably born in Athens, Greece, and was
educated at the catechetical school in Alexandria,
where he studied under the Christian philosopher Pantaenus. Some time
after Clement's conversion from paganism, he was ordained a presbyter.
In about 190 he succeeded Pantaenus as head of the catechetical school,
which became famous under his leadership. Origen,
who later achieved distinction as a writer, teacher, and theologian, may
have been one of Clement's pupils. During the persecution of the
Christians in the reign of Septimius
Severus, emperor of Rome, Clement moved from Alexandria to Caesarea
(Mazaca) in Cappadocia. Little is known of his subsequent activities. At
times, he was considered a saint; his name appeared in early Christian
martyrologies...
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This site furnishes an English translation of the noted eight-book work authored by Clement of Alexandria.
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Clement of alexandria associates
musical worship with idolatry. The frenzy was intoxication on ignorance.
In this work Clement of Alexandria describes the lifeless instruments
condemned by Paul to the Corinthians.
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Excerpt:
Clement wrote, "It is far better to be happy than
to have your bodies act as graveyards for animals. Accordingly, the
apostle Matthew partook of seeds, nuts and vegetables, without
flesh". One of the earliest Christian documents is the `Clementine
Homiles', a second-century work purportedly based on the teachings of
St. Peter. Homily XII states, "The unnatural eating of flesh meats
is as polluting as the heathen worship of devils, with its sacrifices
and its impure feasts, through participation in it a man becomes a
fellow eater with devils"...
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This fragment of a longer work by Clement has survived
because it is quoted in an oration on Luke 15 by Macarius Chrysocephalus.
The second part, however, starting at section 4, is in a different style
and refers directly to the Novatian schism which took place after St.
Clement's repose. The second unknown author is however very close to
Clement in his general approach to exegesis.
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Provides a biography of the 2nd century Christian apologist and educator of Alexandria. Furnishes access to many of his works in English.
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Henry Karlson
This site is devoted to Christian theological and
philosophical concerns. It contains original writings as well as old
editions of major Christian theological and philosophical texts which
are hard to find.
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Translation by Morton Smith
Excerpt:
You did well in silencing the
unspeakable teachings of the Carpocratians. For these are the
"wandering stars" referred to in the prophecy, who wander from
the narrow road of the commandments into a boundless abyss of the carnal
and bodily sins. For, priding themselves in knowledge, as they
say, "of the deep things of Satan," they do not know that they
are casting themselves away into "the nether world of the
darkness" of falsity, and, boasting that they are free, they have
become slaves of servile desires. Such men are to be opposed in all ways
and altogether. For, even if they should say something true, one who
loves the truth should not, even so, agree with them. For not all true
things are the truth, nor should that truth which merely seems true
according to human opinions be preferred to the true truth, that
according to the faith.
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Eugene Afonasin analyzes Pythagorian symbolism and philosophic "paideia" in Clement's
"Stromateis."
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