Stromata was the third in the trilogy of Clement of Alexandria and continues with the individual cases of conduct began in Paedagogus. Protrepticus, the first in the trilogy, deals with the religious basis of Christian morality and lays a foundation in the knowledge of divine truth. Paedagogus, the second and Stromata, third with the individual cases of conduct. As with Epictetus, true virtue shows itself with him in its external evidences by a natural, simple, and moderate way of living. Titus Flavius Clemens, known as Clement of Alexandria, was a Christian theologian who taught at the Catechetical School of Alexandria. A convert to Christianity, he was an educated man who was familiar with classical Greek philosophy and literature. Clement was influenced by Hellenistic philosophy to a greater extent than any other Christian thinker of his time, and in particular by Plato and the Stoics.

Amphion of Thebes and Arion of Methymna were both minstrels, and both were renowned in story. They are celebrated in song to this day in the chorus of the Greeks; the one for having allured the fishes, and the other for having surrounded Thebes with walls by the power of music. Another, a Thracian, a cunning master of his art (he also is the subject of a Hellenic legend), tamed the wild beasts by the mere might of song; and transplanted trees—oaks—by music. I might tell you also the story of another, a brother to these—the subject of a myth, and a minstrel—Eunomos the Locrian and the Pythic grasshopper. A solemn Hellenic assembly had met at Pytho, to celebrate the death of the Pythic serpent, when Eunomos sang the reptile’s epitaph.

The Pædagogus, or Instructor, is addressed to those who have been rescued from the darkness and pollutions of heathenism, and is an exhibition of Christian morals and manners,-a guide for the formation and development of Christian character, and for living a Christian life. It consists of three books. It is the grand aim of the whole work to set before the converts Christ as the only Instructor, and to expound and enforce His precepts. In the first book Clement exhibits the person, the function, the means, methods, and ends of the Instructor, who is the Word and Son of God; and lovingly dwells on His benignity and philanthropy, His wisdom, faithfulness, and righteousness.The second and third books lay down rules for the regulation of the Christian, in all the relations, circumstances, and actions of life, entering most minutely into the details of dress, eating, drinking, bathing, sleeping, etc. The delineation of a life in all respects agreeable to the Word, a truly Christian life, attempted here, may, now that the Gospel has transformed social and private life to the extent it has, appear unnecessary, or a proof of the influence of ascetic tendencies. But a code of Christian morals and manners (a sort of "whole duty of man" and manual of good breeding combined) was eminently needed by those whose habits and characters had been molded under the debasing and polluting influences of heathenism; and who were bound, and were aiming, to shape their lives according to the principles of the Gospel, in the midst of the all but incredible licentiousness and luxury by which society around was incurably tainted. The disclosures which Clement, with solemn sternness, and often with caustic wit, makes of the prevalent voluptuousness and vice, form a very valuable contribution to our knowledge of that period.

CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA COLLECTION [3 BOOKS] — Quality Formatting and Value — Active Index, Multiple Table of Contents for all Books — Multiple Illustrations Titus Flavius Clemens, known as Clement of Alexandria to distinguish him from the earlier Clement of Rome, was a Christian theologian who taught at the Catechetical School of Alexandria. A convert to Christianity, he was an educated man who was familiar with classical Greek philosophy and literature. As his three major works demonstrate, Clement was influenced by Hellenistic philosophy to a greater extent than any other Christian thinker of his time, and in particular by Plato and the Stoics. His secret works, which exist only in fragments, suggest that he was also familiar with pre-Christian Jewish esotericism and Gnosticism. In one of his works he argued that Greek philosophy had its origin among non-Greeks, claiming that both Plato and Pythagoras were taught by Egyptian scholars. Among his pupils were Origen and Alexander of Jerusalem. Clement is regarded as a Church Father, like Origen. He is venerated as a saint in Coptic Christianity, Ethiopian Christianity and Anglicanism. He was previously revered in the Roman Catholic Church, but his name was removed from the Roman Martyrology in 1586 by Pope Sixtus V on the advice of Baronius. —BOOKS— EXHORTATION TO THE HEATHEN THE INSTRUCTOR THE STROMATA, OR MISCELLANIES PUBLISHER: AETERNA PRESS

Clement of Alexandria was a well-educated Christian scholar who lived in the second half of the second century. He not only knew the Holy Scriptures and almost all existing Christian literature, but he also had detailed knowledge of Greek philosophical and classical literature. He taught that revelation should be presented in the context of all true knowledge, and therefore in light of pre-Christian philosophy also. He gathered the elements of truth present in philosophy and showed that it had reached its fullness in Christianity, which was its new form. Only three writings from Clement of Alexandria's rich output have survived in their entirety, and these are mutually related and illustrate the stages of Christian maturity. They are, in chronological order: Protrepticus (Exhortation to the Heathen), Paedagogus (The Instructor) and Stromata (Miscellanies). The author, who was a moralist rather than a systematic theologian, remained under the influence of Middle Platonism. He also drew on the works of distinguished predecessors, such as Justin the Philosopher and Tatian. Clement of Alexandria understood theology as Christian gnosis. In his writings, which constitute a philosophical-theological trilogy, he presented the Logos as operating in three ways. In contrast to the Gnostics, Clement argued that there can be a proper and harmonious relationship between faith and knowledge. Faith is always the basis and starting point for his considerations, but philosophy can help us reach Christian truth. He thus established a dialogue between Christianity and philosophy and in so doing went beyond other Christian apologists. In his writings, Clement was not able to precisely define the relationship between God, the Logos-Son, and the Holy Spirit. For this reason, he described the Logos mainly in relation to God and people, and also in terms of the economy of salvation. In his view, Jesus Christ was the special activation of God the Father in action-the divine Logos who became Man in order to lead people to union with the Creator. The Logos was the Servant of God in relation to the world and this role allowed Clement to justify monotheism. Clement of Alexandria was a Hellenistic writer, but he emphasized his strong attachment to the Church. He strongly opposed Gnosticism and submitted to the authority of Scripture as inspired by Revelation. In his teaching, true knowledge was the process of spiritual growth through knowledge of God. The ultimate goal of such knowledge was to achieve full internal harmony with, and participation in the divine Logos.