The Instructor 3.11.83
Summary: One can sin by looking as well as touching, so Christians must guard their eyes and avoid even suspicion, as Paul and Sirach teach.
Greek text · Stählin 1:281–282
οὐ γὰρ ἁψαμένους μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ θεασαμένους ἔστιν ἁμαρτεῖν, ὃ μάλιστα ἀποφεύγειν χρὴ τὸν γνησίως παιδαγωγούμενον. »οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ γάρ σου ὀρθὰ βλεπέτωσαν, τὰ δὲ βλέφαρα νευέτω δίκαια·« μὴ γὰρ οὐκ ἐξὸν καὶ ἰδόντα καρτερεῖν; ἀλλὰ τὸ ἐμπεσεῖν φυλακτέον. δυνατὸν γὰρ ἰδόντα ὀλισθεῖν, ἀμήχανον δὲ μὴ ἰδόντα ἐπιθυμεῖν. οὐ γὰρ τὸ καθαρεύειν μόνον ἀπόχρη τοῖς σώφροσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ ἐκτὸς εἶναι τοῦ ψόγου σπουδαστέον πᾶσαν ἀποκλείσαντας ὑπονοίας αἰτίαν πρὸς συγκεφαλαίωσιν ἁγνείας, ὡς μὴ μόνον εἶναι ἡμᾶς πιστούς, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀξιοπίστους φανῆναι. καὶ γὰρ οὖν καὶ τοῦτο παραφυλακτέον, ὥς φησιν ὁ ἀπόστολος, »μή τις ἡμᾶς μωμήσηται· προνοούμενοι γὰρ καλὰ οὐ μόνον ἐνώπιον κυρίου, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐνώπιον ἀνθρώπων.« »ἀπόστρεψον δὲ τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν ἀπὸ γυναικὸς κεχαριτωμένης, καὶ μὴ καταμάνθανε κάλλος ἀλλότριον,« φησὶν ἡ γραφή. κἂν πύθῃ τὴν αἰτίαν, προσεπεξηγήσεταί σοι· »ἐν γὰρ κάλλει γυναικὸς πολλοὶ ἀπεπλανήθησαν, καὶ ἐκ τούτου φιλία ὡς πῦρ ἀνακαίεται,« εἰς πῦρ ἄγουσα ἀκατάπαυστον διὰ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἡ ἐκ πυρὸς ὁρμωμένη φιλία, ἣν ἔρωτα κεκλήκασιν.
English · Claude translation
For it is possible to sin not only by touching but also by looking, which the one who is genuinely instructed must above all avoid. “Let your eyes look straight, and your eyelids nod just things.” For is it not possible to look and remain firm? Yes, but falling must be guarded against. For it is possible for one who looks to slip, but impossible for one who does not look to desire. It is not enough for the self-controlled to be pure; they must also take care to be beyond reproach, shutting out every occasion of suspicion, for the crowning of purity, so that we may not only be faithful but also appear worthy of trust. For this too must be guarded against, as the apostle says, “that no one should blame us; for we take thought for what is good not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men.” “Turn away your eye from a graceful woman, and do not gaze at another's beauty,” says Scripture. And if you ask the reason, it will explain further: “for by the beauty of a woman many have been led astray, and from this affection is kindled like fire,” the affection that springs from fire, which they have called erotic love, leading to unquenchable fire because of sin.
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The quotations are Prov 4:25 (LXX), 2 Cor 8:20–21, and Sir 9:8. “Unquenchable fire” echoes Mark 9:43 and Matt 3:12.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (stray space before the closing quotation mark): ον, « → ον,«; αι, « → αι,«.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 3.11.83 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-paedagogus/3/11/83/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 3.11.83 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-paedagogus/3/11/83/).
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