Miscellanies 4.17.105
Summary: Clement of Rome, whom Clement calls an apostle, praises the Corinthians' faith, godliness, hospitality, and knowledge, and holds up Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Lot, Rahab, and the prophets as models.
Greek text · Stählin 2:294
Ναὶ μὴν ἐν τῇ πρὸς Κορινθίους ἐπιστολῇ ὁ ἀπόστολος Κλήμης καὶ αὐτὸς ἡμῖν τύπον τινὰ τοῦ γνωστικοῦ ὑπογράφων λέγει· τίς γὰρ παρεπιδημήσας πρὸς ὑμᾶς τὴν πανάρετον καὶ βεβαίαν πίστιν ὑμῶν οὐκ ἐδοκίμασεν; τήν τε σώφρονα καὶ ἐπιεικῆ ἐν Χριστῷ εὐσέβειαν οὐκ ἐθαύμασεν; καὶ τὸ μεγαλοπρεπὲς τῆς φιλοξενίας ὑμῶν ἦθος οὐκ ἐκήρυξεν; καὶ τὴν τελείαν καὶ ἀσφαλῆ γνῶσιν οὐκ ἐμακάρισεν; ἀπροσωπολήπτως γὰρ πάντα ἐποιεῖτε, καὶ ἐν τοῖς νομίμοις τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπορεύεσθε καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς. εἶτʼ ἐμφανέστερον· ἀτενίσωμεν οὖν εἰς τοὺς τελείως λειτουργήσαντας αὐτοῦ τῇ μεγαλοπρεπεῖ δόξῃ. λάβωμεν Ἐνώχ, ὃς ἐν ὑπακοῇ δίκαιος εὑρεθεὶς μετετέθη, καὶ Νῶε, ὃς πιστεύσας διεσώθη, καὶ Ἀβραάμ, ὃς διὰ πίστιν καὶ φιλοξενίαν φίλος θεοῦ, πατὴρ δὲ τοῦ Ἰσαὰκ προσηγορεύθη. διὰ φιλοξενίαν καὶ εὐσέβειαν Λὼτ ἐσώθη ἐκ Σοδόμων· διὰ πίστιν καὶ φιλοξενίαν ἐσώθη Ῥαὰβ ἡ πόρνη· διʼ ὑπομονὴν καὶ πίστιν ἐν δέρμασιν αἰγείοις καὶ μηλωταῖς καὶ τριχῶν καμηλείων πλέγμασιν περιεπάτησαν κηρύσσοντες τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Χριστοῦ, λέγομεν δὲ Ἠλίαν καὶ Ἐλισσαῖον, Ἰεζεκιήλ τε καὶ Ἰωάννην, τοὺς προφήτας.
English · Claude translation
Indeed, in the letter to the Corinthians the apostle Clement too, sketching for us a type of the one who knows, says: “For who has stayed among you and not proved your all-virtuous and firm faith? Who has not admired your self-restrained and gentle godliness in Christ? And who has not proclaimed the magnificent character of your hospitality? And who has not called blessed your perfect and secure knowledge? For you did all things without partiality, and walked in the ordinances of God,” and so on. Then more clearly: “Let us fix our eyes, then, on those who have served his magnificent glory perfectly. Let us take Enoch, who, found righteous in obedience, was translated; and Noah, who, believing, was saved; and Abraham, who through faith and hospitality was called friend of God and father of Isaac. Through hospitality and godliness Lot was saved out of Sodom; through faith and hospitality Rahab the harlot was saved. Through endurance and faith they went about in goatskins, sheepskins, and garments woven of camel's hair, preaching the kingdom of Christ; we mean Elijah and Elisha, Ezekiel and John, the prophets.”
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The quotations are 1 Clem. 1.2–3; 9.2–4; 10.1, 7; 11.1; 12.1; 17.1 (condensed).
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 4.17.105 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/4/17/105/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 4.17.105 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/4/17/105/).
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