Miscellanies 2.20.125
Summary: Zeno would learn more from one Indian enduring fire than from arguments; Christians see martyrs burned and beheaded daily, trained by the law's fear; the “gods” of Psalm 82 are those who rise above pleasure and the flesh.
Greek text · Stählin 2:180–181
Παγκάλως ὁ Ζήνων ἐπὶ τῶν Ἰνδῶν ἔλεγεν ἕνα Ἰνδὸν παροπτώμενον ἐθέλειν ἂν ἰδεῖν ἢ πάσας τὰς περὶ πόνου ἀποδείξεις μαθεῖν. ἡμῖν δὲ ἄφθονοι μαρτύρων πηγαὶ ἑκάστης ἡμέρας ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν θεωρούμεναι παροπτωμένων ἀνασκινδυλευομένων τὰς κεφαλὰς ἀποτεμνομένων. τούτους πάντας ὁ παρὰ τοῦ νόμου φόβος εἰς Χριστὸν παιδαγωγήσας συνήσκησε τὸ εὐλαβὲς καὶ διʼ αἱμάτων ἐνδείκνυσθαι. ὁ θεὸς ἔστη ἐν συναγωγῇ θεῶν, ἐν μέσῳ δὲ θεοὺς διακρινεῖ. τίνας τούτους; τοὺς ἡδονῆς κρείττονας, τοὺς τῶν παθῶν διαφέροντας, τοὺς ἕκαστον ὧν πράσσουσιν ἐπισταμένους, τοὺς γνωστικούς, τοὺς τοῦ κόσμου μείζονας. καὶ πάλιν ἐγὼ εἶπα, θεοί ἐστε καὶ υἱοὶ ὑψίστου πάντες τίσι λέγει ὁ κύριος; τοῖς παραιτουμένοις ὡς οἷόν τε πᾶν τὸ ἀνθρώπινον. καὶ ὁ ἀπόστολος λέγει· ὑμεῖς γὰρ οὐκέτι ἐστὲ ἐν σαρκί, ἀλλʼ ἐν πνεύματι. καὶ πάλιν λέγει· ἐν σαρκὶ ὄντες οὐ κατὰ σάρκα στρατευόμεθα· σὰρξ γὰρ καὶ αἷμα βασιλείαν θεοῦ κληρονομῆσαι οὐ δύνανται, οὐδὲ ἡ φθορὰ τὴν ἀφθαρσίαν κληρονομεῖ· ἰδοὺ δὲ ὡς ἄνθρωποι ἀποθνῄσκετε διελέγχον ἡμᾶς τὸ πνεῦμα εἴρηκεν.
English · Claude translation
Zeno spoke very finely about the Indians: that he would rather see one Indian being burned than learn all the demonstrations about pain. But we have abundant springs of martyrs every day before our eyes, being burned, impaled, beheaded. The fear that comes from the law, leading them all like a schoolmaster to Christ, trained them to show their reverence even by their blood. “God stood in the assembly of gods; in the midst he judges gods.” Who are these? Those who are stronger than pleasure, who rise above the passions, who know each thing they do, those who know, those greater than the world. And again: “I said, you are gods, and all sons of the Most High.” To whom does the Lord say this? To those who reject, as far as possible, everything human. And the apostle says: “For you are no longer in the flesh, but in the Spirit.” And again he says: “Though we are in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.” “For flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption.” “But behold, you die like men,” the Spirit has said, reproving us.
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The quotations are Ps 82:1, 6–7 (81:1, 6–7 LXX), Rom 8:9, 2 Cor 10:3, and 1 Cor 15:50. The “Indians” are the Indian ascetics (gymnosophists), who were said to endure fire. This is an important witness to martyrdoms at Alexandria around 202.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 2.20.125 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/2/20/125/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 2.20.125 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/2/20/125/).
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