Elucidations - The Stromata, Book 6

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I.
(Gentlemen of the Jury, cap. ii. [112]p. 485.)

This strange rendering of o andres dikastai (which we were taught to
translate O judices, in our school-days) occurs three times on this
page, and I felt bound to retain it. But why import such an anachronism
into the author's work, and the forensic eloquence of the Athenians?
Better do violence to idiom, like our English Bible ("men and
brethren"), and say, O men and judges. Why not judges? See Sharon
Turner (Anglo-Saxons, i. p. 476) and Freeman (Norman Conquest, v. p.
451).

II.
(Aristobulus, cap. iii. p. 487, [113]note 7.)

In addition to the note in loc., it may be well to mention the Stromata
(book i. cap. xv. p. 316), as another place where this name occurs. The
learned Calmet (Works, tom. ix. p. 121), in his Dict. Critic., has a
valuable statement as to the difficulties connected with this name and
the probability that there were two so called, who have been confused
in the citations and references of authors.

III.
(Egyptians, cap. iv. [114]p. 488.)

The paradoxical genius of Warburton ought not to dissuade us from
enjoying the amusement and instruction to be found in his Divine
Legation. In many respects he reminds me of this great Alexandrian
Father, and they are worthy of being studied together. Let me instance,
in connection with this subject, the second book, e. g. p. 151, on
Metempsychosis (Hurd's Edition, vol. ii. 1811).

IV.
(Egyptian Women, book vi. cap. iv. [115]p. 488.)

"Last, about women," says our author; and one would infer least. But
Rawlinson (Herod., vol. ii. p. 47, ed. New York) has a long and learned
note on this subject. "Queens made offerings with the kings, and the
monuments show that an order of women were employed in the service of
the gods." ... Then he says, "A sort of monastic institution seems to
have originated in Egypt at an early time, and to have been imitated
afterwards, when the real conventual system was set on foot by the
Christians, in the same country." This may be worthy of being borne in
mind, when we come to the coenobitic life of the Thebaid, which lies,
indeed, beyond the limits of our ante-Nicene researches. But
persecution had already driven Christians to the desert; and the
ascetic type of piety, with which the age and its necessities imprinted
the souls of many devout women, may have led them at a very early
period to the "imitation" of which Rawlinson speaks. The "widows"
recognised by the ante-Nicene canons, would naturally become the
founders of "widows' houses," such as are to be seen among the pious
Moravians in our times. (See Bunsen, Hippol., iii. p. 81.)

V.
(Philosophy, cap. vii. [116]p. 493.)

In justice to Clement's eulogies of philosophy, we must constantly bear
in mind his reiterated definitions. We have here a very important
outline of his Christian Eclecticism, which, so far from clashing with
St. Paul's scornful references to Gentile wisdom, seems to me in
absolute correspondence with his reference to "science falsely so
called" (1 Tim. vi. 20). So, when the apostle identifies philosophy
with "the rudiments of the world," he adds, "and not after Christ."
Now, Clement's eclectic system yokes all true philosophy to the
chariot-wheels of the Messiah, as in this instance; making all true
science hinge upon "the knowledge of the Son of God." How these
chapters shine in contrast even with Plato.

VI.
(Numbers, cap. xi. [117]p. 499.)

The marvellous system of numbers which runs through all revelation, and
which gives us the name Palmoni (English margin) in a remarkable
passage of Dan. viii. 13, has lately excited fresh interest among the
learned in England and America. Doubtless the language of St. John
(Rev. xiii. 18), "Here is wisdom," etc., influenced the early Church in
what seems to us purely fanciful conjectures and combinations like
these. Two unpretending little books have lately struck me as quite in
the spirit of the Ante-Nicene Fathers: The Number Counted, and the Name
Counted, by J. A. Upjohn (Appleton, Wis., 1883).

VII.
(The Gnostic, cap. xi. [118]p. 501.)

The Gnostic "conjectures things future," i.e., by the Scriptures. "He
shall show you things to come," said the Divine Master, speaking of the
Blessed Comforter. To what extent did these ancients, in their esoteric
conjectures, anticipate the conversion of the empire, and the evils
that were to follow? This they could not publish; but the inquiry
deserves thought, and there are dues for inquirers.

VIII.
(Ultimate Issues, cap. xiii. [119]p. 504.)

With reference to the choice of Judas to be an apostle, and like
mysteries, this seems to me a bit of calm philosophy, worthy of the
childlike faith of the early Christians. I confess great obligations to
a neglected American author, with reference to such discussions (see
Bledsoe, Theodicy, New York, 1854).

IX.
(Enigmas, cap. xv. [120]p. 510.)

We are often troubled by this Oriental tendency to teach by myth and
mysteries; but the text here quoted from the Proverbs, goes far to show
that it is rooted in human nature, and that God himself has
condescended to adopt it. Like every gift of God, it is subject to
almost inevitable corruption and abuse.

X.
(Omissions, cap. xvi. [121]p. 515.)

The omissions in Clement's Decalogue are worthy of remark, and I can
only account for them by supposing a defective text. Kaye might have
said more on the subject; but he suggests this as the solution of the
difficulty, when he says (p. 201), "As the text now stands, Clement
interprets only eight out of the ten."

P.S.--I have foreborne to say anything on "the descent into hell," in
my annotations (on cap. vi.), for obvious reasons of propriety; but,
for an entire system of references to the whole subject, I name Ezra
Abbot's Catalogue, appended to Alger's History, etc. (Philadelphia,
1864.)

The Pastor of Hermas - Introductions

The Pastor of Hermas: Book 1

The Pastor of Hermas: Book 2

The Pastor of Hermas: Book 3

Tatian the Assyrian's Address to the Greeks

Fragments - Tatian the Assyrian

Theophilus of Antioch - Introduction

Theophilus of Antioch to Autolycus: Book 1

Theophilus of Antioch to Autolycus: Book 2

Theophilus of Antioch to Autolycus: Book 3

Athenagoras

A Plea for Christians by Athenagoras the Athenian: Philosopher and Christian

The Treatise of Athenagoras the Athenian, Philosopher and Christian, on the Resurrection of the Dead

Clement of Alexandria - Introductory Note

Exhortation to the Heathen

The Instructor (Paedagogus) - Book 1

The Instructor (Paedagogus) - Book 2

The Instructor (Paedagogus) - Book 3

Elucidations - Clement of Alexandria

The Stromata, or Miscellanies - Book 1

Elucidations - Purpose of the Stromata

The Stromata, or Miscellanies - Book 2

Elucidations - The Stromata, Book 2

The Stromata, or Miscellanies - Book 3

The Stromata, or Miscellanies - Book 4

Elucidations - The Stromata, Book 4

The Stromata, or Miscellanies - Book 5

Elucidations - The Stromata, Book 5

The Stromata, or Miscellanies - Book 6

Elucidations - The Stromata, Book 6

The Stromata, or Miscellanies - Book 7

Elucidations - The Stromata, Book 7

The Stromata, or Miscellanies - Book 8

Elucidations - The Stromata, Book 8

Fragments of Clemens Alexandrinus

Clemens Alexandrinus on the Salvation of the Rich Man

Elucidations - Clemens Alexandrinus on the Salvation of the Rich Man