Description
The book examines Clement’s project which brings together ethical, intellectual and spiritual development of a Christian while highlighting the need to search for integrity in the life of faith and reason.
Achievement of maturity/perfection as one of the central themes of Clement’s philosophy and theology, has two main approaches. Lilla’s (1971) position pointed to philosophical context which marked Clement’s thought, while Osborn studied adaptation of the Greek legacy into new Christian context. This study challenges Osborn’s view (1957), while modifying Lilla’s position. In addition it deals with elements of Clement’s theology not dealt with by Lilla i.e. the role of Christian community in progress towards Christian perfection. This patristic idea of ‘perfection’ still has much to offer to a modern reader or student of theology, as it promotes a positive, holistic and optimistic vision of human being and his/her relationship with God.
Table of Contents
Introduction Part one 1.1.Life and works re-examined 1.2.The Catechetical school as a part of Clement’s puzzle. 2. Hellenistic Judaism and its role in Clement’s project. 2.1. Moses as the archetype of perfection: Philo of Alexandria and Clement. 2.2. The role of the metaphor of the High Priest: Philo, Clement and the Letter to the Hebrews. 2.3. The Hebrew attitude of fo&boj and its role in Clement’s project. 3. Philosophical scholae inspiring Clement’s project. 3.1. Pythagoras and Plato: their influence on Clement’s ideal. 3.2. The Stoics and philosophical therapy. 3.3. Clement’s eclecticism as a hermeneutical method. 4. Alternative hetero-Gnostic models of perfection in Clement’s work. 4.1. Traditions - Scriptures – diversity. 4.2. Basilides and Valentinus and their schools in Clement’s dossier. 4.3. The libertine groups and the extreme ascetic sects. PART TWO 5. The path to perfection. 5.1. Becoming a Gnostic – becoming Cherubim-like. 5.2. Becoming a contemplative Gnostic – becoming the Gnostic Levite. 5.3. The climax of perfection. 6. Ekklesia Gnostike – the natural habitat of the Christian Gnostic. 6.1. Membership and the marks of the church. 6.2. The manifold functions of the Church. Conclusion Bibliography Biblical Index Modern Authors
Author(s)
Piotr Ashwin-Siejkowski,
The Revd Dr Piotr Ashwin-Siejkowski is a priest of the Church of England and Assistant Lecturer for Patristics at the University of Chichester, UK. His academic research is focused on various theological schools in late Hellenistic Alexandria. His publications include Clement of Alexandria. A Project of Christian Perfection (2008)."