Clement of Alexandria

Clement of Alexandria

Introduction

Human beings exist in a world that has a lot of explanations and rules that exist from that which was created before us. We live in a time continuum, where we know not about the future but only the past and what existed before. In this way, we are able to understand who we are and the different values and modes of behavior that we follow. Values, judgments, and even rules that we follow in the present are only functions of what happened in the past. In this way, we are a people dependent on what existed before in understanding what is happening today and subsequently looking for meaning in the future. History is, therefore, the basis for the present, as we build our values today based on the foundations that were set in the past. Throughout history, we get to see what was happening in the past and the way they also understood the different occurrences and the meaning they derived from them. [1]

As the world exists, it is important to understand where the particular values we hold came from so that we can also individually make an assessment of our individual truths. Blind belief no longer exists, as we have become more modernized and believe that there had to be a reason for all the occurrences that take place. Things have, however, been made easier in that historical philosophers did their best in creating a better understanding of the world. It is from their works that we base our beliefs and the understanding of daily life as we are able to create more meaning by using their works as reference points. History is, therefore, an integral part of human life because it grounds us and makes us value what we have based on the understanding of where it all began [2]

Christianity is a religion but a concept as any other, that began with the followers of Christ. They created a religion that was based on the teachings of Christ and the many values that he taught them. But as time went by, the teachings were always added upon and disputed by the different philosophers who sought to find meaning in all these teachings. The result was that a lot of change was taking place in regard to the different interpretations that were being made, and this increased the scope of understanding of religion. These philosophers aimed to create a link between their own understanding of the world and the teachings of the Bible. In this way, they created a better understanding of the world and religion, making it easier for interpretation and personal interpretation.

At the time, the Roman Catholic church was the main religion and church. But with these various interpretations made by the different Christian philosophers, different churches such as the Anglican, Orthodox, and Protestant churches came up. In this paper, I analyze one of these many early Christian philosophers who played a key role in enhancing the Christian values and religions. This is Clement of Alexandria, an early Christian philosopher, and theologian who was sanctified by the Orthodox and Anglican church for the contribution that he made to advancing the Christian religion.[3] I will then also look at the philosophical and spiritual contribution that he made to Christianity and the way these teachings have been interpreted to contemporary Christianity. The final part will be an analysis of the difference between the works that he taught and the way Christians worship and live today.

Clement of Alexandria

Clement of Alexandria is one of the earliest church fathers whose works survived through the ages and thus provided direction as to the beginning of religion. Born Titus Flavius Clemens of Greek origins, he was originally a follower of the Greek gods and their ways of life [4] It is from these pagan religions that he learned all about Greek mythology and the different practices that the Greeks followed. He converted to Christianity at this young age, because he felt that the pagan ways were just not right. Paganism led to moral corruption, and this is what drove him to understand Christianity and become a full convert. He then moved from city to city as a religious undertaking, aimed at understanding religion better and improving his knowledge.

He finally settled in Alexandria and went to the catechetical school there, where he spent days being instructed in religion and learning the different concepts. This is where he found most fulfillment, and he was soon ordained to Priesthood. Being a priest came with its own advantages and challenges, which he took as an opportunity to increase his knowledge and grow. His teacher was Pantaenus, who was himself a stoic philosopher who held on to different values and beliefs. As Clement immersed himself into religion, his influence in the school grew, and he became one of the religious instructors. He took a more intellectual approach to Christianity and valued the way that people thought and interpreted religion.[5]

After the death of Pantaenus, he took over as the leader of the Alexandrian Christian Community. He was an intellectual leader who wrote theological works that were based on philosophy, ethics, and other biblical commentaries. He was an intellectual who was grounded in his Christian beliefs but at the same time, also valuing that it was important always to seek to understand the world. This was his view, and one that he viewed would help to ground all the other Christians in their faith. They lived in a time of paganism, and when there were so many gods who made the devotion to Christianity difficult. He educated many on Christianity and how they should be grounded in their faith, though he received a lot of hostility from those who were against intellectualized Christianity. The latter engaged him in polemics, but his view was that it was only through consistent knowledge-seeking that people would be able to be grounded in their faith. [6]

Clement of Alexandria also hoped to change the heretical gnostics who held on to the belief that they could gain their salvation through esoteric knowledge. He taught them that salvation could only be received through knowing and understanding God and not through their esoteric knowledge that they believed would reveal to them their spiritual identities and destinies. Clement of Alexandria aimed at making Christianity a practical religion through using philosophy. The Greek greatly valued philosophy, and it was through incorporating it in his teachings that he hoped they would understand Christianity and eventually get converted [7]

Works of Clement of Alexandria

Clement of Alexandria aimed at making Christian beliefs intelligible and similar to the teachings of Greek, as this would lead to more conversions. This he did through his numerous works, amongst the most famed and important ones being his trilogy that aimed to give a realistic view to Christianity. In these three works, he aims at showing the truth about religion by discrediting pagan ways and encouraging people to have an open-minded view and approach to Christianity.

1. Protrepticus (Exhortation)

The first one is the Protrepticus, which is Greek for Exhortation and is estimated to have been written in the year 195. It is here that he talks about Greek gods and, in itself, their exhortation. What he aimed to do was explain to those who worshipped these gods that it was imperative to repent and look to Christianity for the one true God. He starts by adequately defining the Greek gods and the way they are worshipped. He shows his extensive knowledge of Greek mythology and looking at the different stages that this developed. Clement states that their religions developed as a function of anthropology and the different mythical stories that the Greeks had. The first stage of their religious development is that the Greeks believed that the heavenly bodies such as the sun, moon, and stars were their gods.[8]

This was mainly because they had to way of reaching them, and these heavenly bodies provided light and life to the people. The second developmental stage was that they began worshipping products of agriculture, viewing that it was from these that they had life and would be able to carry out their daily activities. This also included them giving agriculture offerings to these gods so that they would be blessed in return. The following stage is one that was based on the defiance of man to their natural and caring emotions and then turning to evil. Man valued revenge and, in this way, went against the values of love and fear, feeling that they were able to exact vengeance on their own. Greek poets were instrumental in the next stage as they named the Greek Gods and made their worship a bit more organized. [9]

The final stage in this development is that men began to exemplify other men and see them as gods. An example of such a man that was made a deity is Heracles and this was when they started making idols that they then worshipped. These idols were carved from wood and unshaped stone, and he insisted that visual art was a mere illusion that blinded the people from the truth. It was in this first part of the trilogy that he spoke against Greek paganism and that their worship of gods was a great moral corruption. The deities corrupted one’s morals in that they had obscure and trivial rituals, with some of the gods being based on demons. The idols themselves were fearful and in no way exhibited something that was holy and deserving of reverence.  It is from this that the second work of the trilogy stems, as it aims at teaching people to value Jesus and focus only on the good that they can receive when they convert to Christianity.

2. Paedagogus (Tutor)

It is called Paedagogus, which translates to Tutor, and it names Jesus Christ as the teacher of all mankind. It is here that he focuses on Christ and the teachings he gave people, stating that it is only through Christ that people can act morally. His teachings help people to control their human passions and focus on the best ways to act morally and justly at all times.

Christ was also made in the image of God as all human beings, but he is the only one who has the likeness of God. This makes him sinless. Therefore only through him, his teachings and imitating his values that human beings can achieve salvation. Clement also states that sin is not original to man, but something that is irrational and involuntary that affects all human beings. It is only Christ who is not prone to sin. Thus, salvation can only be achieved through the wisdom of Christ, who is referred to as Logos. By giving as Christ and providing a way that human beings can be guided away from sin, God demonstrates his universal love to all of man and his mercy that is ever-present. [10]

It is here also that he affirms his progressive view on gender, advocating for equality among the sexes and that they are all equal. He states that Christ himself was neither male nor female and that God also has both male and female aspects and representations. In this way, he states that both males and females have the right to seek and receive salvation, with no gender being greater than the other. All sexes are free to seek out the knowledge of Christ, and it is through this that we all become enlightened and saved. It is in this second book that Clement of Alexandria provides rules for Christian living and the various rules that will guide them to living a more spiritual life like Christ. He warns against any form of over-indulgence, both in terms of food and drink, emphasizing that Christian living should be based on simplicity and be grounded on moderation.

It is from this view of Simplistic Christian living that he condemns people from using expensive clothing, furnishes, and perfumes that would make them feel more important than everyone else. He, however, does not ask Christians to live dull lives but instead encourages them to go out and party and, in this way, affirm God’s creation and gaiety through the celebrations that they accord him. Clement shares the same view when it comes to material wealth, stating that it is not bad, but it has a way of blinding people from seeking true spiritual meaning in their lives through learning and adhering to God’s words. Christians have to strive to be like Christ through their thoughts and all their actions, as it only through him that salvation can be found[11]

3. Stromata (Miscellaneous)

Stromata, on the other hand, is a collection of the other works of Clement of Alexandria that were collected and which he based on a variety of topics. He starts by looking at philosophical arguments and how they are different from faith and the roles that each play. He notes that although they are both important in understanding religion, what is most important is the utmost fear of God through which an individual receives divine wisdom and salvation. The scripture that is followed in Christianity is in itself a form of philosophy which is made true through the Logos (Christ). He states that faith is not irrational, and indeed is the first step in getting closer to God and is founded on the knowledge and truth of God.

He then delves into family life and marriage, stating that marriage and family are important. He states that being celibate is not in itself a Christian value because human beings were commanded by God to reproduce and fill the earth. He also argues that Christians should be ready to die for their faith, but at the same time, they should not actively seek it out. The universal first principle is that God had no beginning and is the only one who is divine and deserves our utmost faith and belief. Faith is something that is not only in the mind but is also practiced through human deeds, without which it merely becomes empty expression. As such, people should strive to emulate both the Father and Son, so that they can live a good and honest life that brings them close to divinity. He also argues that sin, in most cases, is caused by ignorance, but with proper teachings and understanding, people can be able to follow Christ and live a life full of faith and expect salvation. [12]

Difference with the life and worship of the contemporary church

Clement of Alexandria focused much of his teachings on faith and bringing people back to Christ. He insisted that salvation could only be achieved through accepting Christ and following in the example that he set for all mankind. He wanted to change the orientation that people had with regards to the Christian gospel and, in this way, make men live their personal lives in accordance with the teachings of Christ. This meant living a simplistic life that was based on complete faith and trust of God. According to Clement, Christians are supposed to live under the gospel of God in a way that was equal to a citizen who has already achieved salvation and is in heaven. [13]While still adhering to a higher law, they must as well be grounded in the present and live according to the laws of the earth and where they live. But Christians should be vigilant and not let their obedience to worldly rulers and kings blind them from seeking true salvation and freedom that is part of God.

In this way, he showed acceptance and tolerance to open rebellion against unjust leaders, and this is referred to as the concept of just war. His views on wealth were that it was merely a means through which human beings can achieve and affirm their goodwill to others and meet their needs. He warns that the search for wealth only makes one move away from God, and this reduces their chances of being saved and fulfilling their duty to God. In this way, it is cautionary advice, and he applies the same wisdom when it comes to giving alms as he encourages people to be discerning. This means not giving to all individuals, but looking at those who are in deep need of it and not those who are just lazy and freeloaders.

Clement of Alexandria was a great advocate of using philosophy to understand religion, as it created a framework through which religion could be analyzed. The difference with contemporary Christianity is that the latter is based completely on the Bible and the teachings that come from it. Philosophy seeks to understand human life and the reason for the occurrences that take place and then creating meaning from them. In this way, it is open in the sense that humanity and all the things that take place play a key role in the interpretation of life. Christianity, on the other hand, encourages Christians to only see God through the scriptures as this is where their guidance comes from.

Clement of Alexandria advocated for a conscious Christianity, and this means that one must also think through the laws before simply following them. This is a crucial difference with contemporary Christianity in which the life and the teachings of Christ are all that we need in order to live and survive. Care should be taken in becoming discerning because one could be too critical of the scripture and become an atheist. It is for this reason that contemporary Christianity only advocates for faith and trust in God. The other major difference that comes out from the teachings of Clement of Alexandria is that he advocated for a minimalist and monotheistic lifestyle, one that was pegged on having only what was needed. This meant not wearing expensive clothes and perfumes. He also believed that Christians should not seek out wealth but only be concerned with their spiritual lives.

In contemporary Christianity, however, the belief is that Christ is more interested in our hearts and beliefs and not our appearances. This means that the lifestyle that we live has no effect on our beliefs, faith, or our potential to receive salvation. What is important is to always seek out God and look for ways of expressing our faith and trust in Him. At the same time, wealth is seen as a blessing from God and is given so that people can express their faith and do good to those who are in need. [14]Another difference that is seen is when it comes to almsgiving because Clement advocated for discernment when it comes to giving the needy. Some people might just be lazy and, therefore, do not deserve to have alms given to them as they would only be dependent and refuse to work. Contemporary Christianity, on the other hand, insists that it is a Christian obligation to take care of the needy. This means that we should always offer them help despite the way they are or in what situation they are in.

Another major difference is that Clement of Alexandria did not talk about creating a personal relationship with God, but only spoke in seeking Christ. He states that human beings are prone to sin, but the only way we can prevent ourselves from falling in sin and living a bad life is to emulate Christ in all that they do. This is the only way that human beings can ensure that they sanctify themselves and that they would receive salvation. Also, sin is not seen as something that is inherent in human nature but something that people, unfortunately, fall into and something that comes from their ignorance.

Indeed, Christ is the holiest, and Christians should emulate him, but contemporary Christianity greatly advocates for creating a personal relationship with God. Sin is seen as something that is in the nature of all human beings as a result of the first sin that was committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This means that all human beings are prone to sin, and they should always look for ways of repenting as this original sin prevents them from receiving salvation. Clement of Alexandria taught that human beings were born free, but the only thing that binds all of them is the spiritual search or God and all that is holy.

Conclusion

Clement of Alexandria is indeed a saint, and it is due to his commitment to the Christian faith. He had a deep faith and trust in God, which he aimed at teaching to the Greek people. He was deeply grounded in philosophy because those were the teachings of those times, and the only way that people would understand him. In using philosophy, he was able to communicate with the people in a way they would understand and value and ultimately see sense in Christianity. He advocated for utmost faith in God, and that salvation was available to all people who looked for it. This means that he believed faith and trust in Jesus Christ is what leads to salvation, and this is the same view that is shared today in Christianity. His teachings may have been pegged on the Greeks, but it is very instrumental in understanding Christianity today and that what is most important is holding on to faith.

References

Ashwin-Siejkowski, Piotr. Clement of Alexandria: a project of Christian perfection. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2008.

Ashwin‐Siejkowski, Piotr. Clement of Alexandria. John Wiley & Sons, 2015.

Bucur, Bogdan. Angelomorphic pneumatology: Clement of Alexandria and other early Christian witnesses. Brill, 2009.

Gibbons, Kathleen. The Moral Psychology of Clement of Alexandria: Mosaic Philosophy. Routledge, 2016.

Gilson, Etienne. History of Christian philosophy in the Middle Ages. Catholic University of America Press, 2019.

Hägg, Henny Fiska, and Henny Fiska H. Gg. Clement of Alexandria and the beginnings of Christian apophaticism. Oxford University Press, 2006.

Helms, Lindsey. “Clement of Alexandria and Early Christian Views of Martyrdom.” (2018).

Pelikan, Jaroslav. The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, Volume 1: The Emergence of the Catholic Tradition (100-600). Vol. 1. University of Chicago Press, 2018.

Saint Clement (of Alexandria), Henry Chadwick, and John Ernest Leonard OULTON. Alexandrian Christianity. Selected Translations of Clement and Origen with Introductions and Notes by John Ernest Leonard Oulton… and Henry Chadwick.[Consisting of the Stromateis, Books 3 and 7, by Clement of Alexandria, and the Treatises Entitled” On Prayer,”” Exhortation to Martyrdom” and” Dialogue with Heraclides” by Origen.]. SCM Press, 1954.

Trigg, Joseph Wilson. Origen: The Bible and philosophy in the third-century church. John Knox Pr, 1983.

Yong, Amos. Discerning the spirit (s): A Pentecostal-charismatic contribution to Christian theology of religions. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2019.

[1] Yong, Amos. Discerning the spirit (s): A Pentecostal-charismatic contribution to Christian theology of religions. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2019.

[2] Trigg, Joseph Wilson. Origen: The Bible and philosophy in the third-century church. John Knox Pr, 1983.

[3] Ashwin-Siejkowski, Piotr. Clement of Alexandria: a project of Christian perfection. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2008.

[4] Bucur, Bogdan. Angelomorphic pneumatology: Clement of Alexandria and other early Christian witnesses. Brill, 2009.

[5] Ashwin‐Siejkowski, Piotr. Clement of Alexandria. John Wiley & Sons, 2015.

[6] Helms, Lindsey. “Clement of Alexandria and Early Christian Views of Martyrdom.” (2018).

[7] Gibbons, Kathleen. The Moral Psychology of Clement of Alexandria: Mosaic Philosophy. Routledge, 2016.

[8] Gibbons, Kathleen. The Moral Psychology of Clement of Alexandria: Mosaic Philosophy. Routledge, 2016.

[9] Pelikan, Jaroslav. The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, Volume 1: The Emergence of the Catholic Tradition (100-600). Vol. 1. University of Chicago Press, 2018.

[10] Gibbons, Kathleen. The Moral Psychology of Clement of Alexandria: Mosaic Philosophy. Routledge, 2016.

[11] Trigg, Joseph Wilson. Origen: The Bible and philosophy in the third-century church. John Knox Pr, 1983.

[12] Ashwin‐Siejkowski, Piotr. Clement of Alexandria. John Wiley & Sons, 2015.

[13] Gilson, Etienne. History of Christian philosophy in the Middle Ages. Catholic University of America Press, 2019.

[14] Helms, Lindsey. “Clement of Alexandria and Early Christian Views of Martyrdom.” (2018).