Miscellanies 6.18.164
Summary: Not even visible bodies can be truly copied in images; converts from idols must hear that their righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees, reaching knowledge, the head of faith, as Paul shows when he speaks of going “beyond” among the Corinthians.
Greek text · Stählin 2:516–517
ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ τῶν ὀργάνων τὰς εἰκόνας οἷόν τε ἀπομιμεῖσθαι ἐναργῶς, ἐπεὶ καὶ τὸν ἥλιόν τις, ὡς ὁρᾶται, πλασσέτω καὶ τὴν ἶριν τοῖς χρώμασιν ἀπεικαζέτω. ἐπὰν δὲ ἀπολείπωσι τὰ εἴδωλα, τότε ἀκούσονται τῆς γραφῆς· ἐὰν μὴ πλεονάσῃ ὑμῶν ἡ δικαιοσύνη πλεῖον τῶν γραμματέων καὶ Φαρισαίων, τῶν κατὰ ἀποχὴν κακῶν δικαιουμένων, σὺν τῷ μετὰ τῆς ἐν τούτοις τελειώσεως καὶ τῷ τὸν πλησίον ἀγαπᾶν καὶ εὐεργετεῖν δύνασθαι, οὐκ ἔσεσθε βασιλικοί. ἡ ἐπίτασις γὰρ τῆς κατὰ τὸν νόμον δικαιοσύνης τὸν γνωστικὸν δείκνυσιν. οὕτως τις κατὰ τὸ ἡγεμονοῦν τοῦ οἰκείου σώματος, τὴν κεφαλήν, ταγείς, ἐπὶ τὴν ἀκρότητα τῆς πίστεως χωρήσας, τὴν γνῶσιν αὐτήν, περὶ ἣν πάντα ἐστὶ τὰ αἰσθητήρια, ἀκροτάτης ὁμοίως τεύξεται τῆς κληρονομίας. τὸ δὲ ἡγεμονικὸν τῆς γνώσεως σαφῶς ὁ ἀπόστολος τοῖς διαθρεῖν δυναμένοις ἐνδείκνυται, τοῖς Ἑλλαδικοῖς ἐκείνοις γράφων Κορινθίοις ὧδέ πως· ἐλπίδα δὲ ἔχοντες αὐξανομένης τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν ἐν ὑμῖν μεγαλυνθῆναι κατὰ τὸν κανόνα ἡμῶν εἰς περισσείαν, εἰς τὰ ὑπερέκεινα ὑμῶν εὐαγγελίσασθαι, οὐ τὴν ἐπέκτασιν τοῦ κηρύγματος τὴν κατὰ τὸν τόπον λέγων (ἐπεὶ καὶ ἐν Ἀχαΐᾳ πεπλεονακέναι τὴν πίστιν αὐτός φησιν,
English · Claude translation
But neither is it possible to imitate vividly the likenesses even of the instruments; otherwise let someone model the sun as it is seen, and represent the rainbow in its colors. And when they abandon idols, then they will hear the Scripture: “Unless your righteousness exceeds more than that of the scribes and Pharisees”—who are justified by abstention from evils—“together with perfection in these things and with the ability to love and do good to one's neighbor, you will not be kingly.” For the intensifying of righteousness according to the law shows the one who knows. So a person who has been ranged with the ruling part of his own body, the head, having advanced to the summit of faith, knowledge itself, around which are all the organs of sense, will likewise obtain the highest inheritance. The apostle plainly shows the ruling place of knowledge to those able to see through things, writing to those Corinthians of Greece somewhat as follows: “And having hope that, as your faith increases, we may be magnified among you according to our rule to abundance, to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you”—not speaking of the extension of preaching in place (for he himself says that faith had increased in Achaia too,
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The quotations are Matt 5:20, expanded by Clement (the words “together with perfection … neighbor” and “you will not be kingly,” in place of “you will not enter the kingdom of heaven”), and 2 Cor 10:15–16.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (stray period in the digital text): ταγείς. ἐπὶ → ταγείς, ἐπὶ.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 6.18.164 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/6/18/164/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 6.18.164 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/6/18/164/).
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