Clement of Alexandria

A comprehensive study of how Clement of Alexandria's writings fused Christianity and classical culture.

Eric Osborn (Author)

9780521090810, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 12 January 2008

344 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.5 kg

Review of the hardback: 'This book deserves to be read widely, by patrologists, scholars of classical philosophy, historians of the early Church, theologians, and those working in related fields. Students of Clement, in particular, will be grateful for Osborn's continued commitment to teach through writing.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review

Clement of Alexandria (150–215) lived and taught in the most lively intellectual centre of his day. This book offers a comprehensive account of how he joined the ideas of the New Testament to those of Plato and other classical thinkers. Clement taught that God was active from the beginning to the end of human history and that a Christian life should move on from simple faith to knowledge and love. He argued that a sequence of three elliptical relations governed the universe: Father and Son, God and humanity, humans and their neighbours. Faith as a fixed conviction which is also a growing mustard seed was joined to Plato's unwavering search for the best reason. The open heaven of prophecy became intelligible through Plato's ascending dialectic. This book will be invaluable in making this outstanding thinker of the early Church accessible to the students of today.

Preface
1. Life and works
Part I. Economy and Mobility: 2. Divine plan/economy and mobility
3. Scripture
4. Philo and Clement: from divine oracle to true philosophy
Part II. Divine Reciprocity: 5. God beyond God and God within God: the known centre of the unknown God
6. God beside God: the ellipse
Part III. Faith and Salvation: 7. The spark and ferment of faith (exc 1.1.3)
8. Arguments for faith
9. Knowledge, sciences and philosophy
10. Church and heresy
11. Twofold hope
12. Love and reciprocity
Conclusion
Appendix.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX], Christian theology [HRCM], Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA]