Clement of Alexandria’s The Stromata, Book Seven

Clement of Alexandria was one of the most well-read of the Early Church Fathers. Little is known regarding Clement’s life before becoming a Christian, beyond the supposition that he was born around A.D. 150 in Alexandria or Athens. After converting, however, he traveled around the Mediterranean seeking instruction from those in the Church. Becoming both head of the catechetical school and presbyter of the Church in Alexandria, he taught many Christians including Origen. 

This episode contains Book Seven of The Stromata. According to Eusebius, the full title of the work is “Titus Flavius Clement’s miscellaneous collections of speculative (gnostic) notes bearing upon the true philosophy.” There were eight books comprising this set but the third remains untranslated from Latin and the eighth has been lost to time.

The Stromata is an expansive work, covering a multitude of ideas and topics. Clement lays out a positive model for how Christians can use philosophy and philosophical methods in attaining true knowledge, or “gnosis.” In doing so, he demonstrates a willingness to see the grace of God present in the work of non-Christians. Rather than shunning pagan texts, he chooses to affirm in them what is true and accords with Scripture while simultaneously recognizing their inferior origins and shortcomings. In doing so, Clement chides those who would dismiss learning as useless and attempts to reclaim the concept of gnosis from the heretics of his day.

And now, please enjoy this rendition of Book one of Clement of Alexandria’s The Stromata, book seven.

If you would like to read more of the writings of the Early Christian Fathers, please visit ccel.org to view the full collection.