Clement of Alexandria

1
Clement of Alexandria

• Birth date unknown
• Died about the year 215

2
Origin
Athens is known to be his starting point of his
journeys This was is said to be his birthplace
also.

3
Travells

• Traveled from place to place for higher
  instructions.
• attaching himself successively to different
  masters to a Greek of Ionia, to another of Magna
  Graecia, to a third of Coele-Syria,
• an Assyrian, and a converted Palestinian Jew. At
  last he met Pantænus in Alexandria, and in his
  teaching "found rest".

4
Clements Assistance

• Clement first assisted and then succeeded
  Pantaenus in the direction of the school, about
  A.D. 190.
• He was already known as a Christian writer before
  the days of Pope Victor (188-199).

5
Early Works

• The work entitled "Outlines" (Hypotyposeis) is
  likewise believed to be a production of the early
  activity of Clement.
• Clements's style is difficult, his works are full
  of borrowed excerpts, and his teaching is with
  difficulty reduced to a coherent body of
  doctrine.

6
Clements Major Works

• Clement of Alexandria had three major works that
  corresponded to the Christian instruction.
• One of his first works was Exhortation to the
  Greeks, an apology that was part of a pattern
  from the second-century apologists. His second
  was Tutor, which was a manual of instruction for
  a new convert. His last was Carpet Bags, where
  his spiritual teaching is presented.

7
Clements Major works Cont

• Clement had other works but were not so much
  treatises as proper as excerpts he had made from
  other books, and notes he intended to use in
  future compositions. The Excerpts et. Scripts are
  the works of Theodosius

8
Beliefs on Christian Philosophy

• Clement was believed to be one of the most
  revered deans in catechetical school for his
  succeeding in uniting the missions of both
  religion and science.
• Clement thought that if people were to learn
  Christianity than it should be understood through
  Greek philosophy and and science. He believed
  that people should not fear the teachings of
  philosophy because it would provide protection to
  a faith that has always been under attack.

9
Beliefs Cont

• Thus, it is clear that he wanted to use a new
  brand of philosophy to prove that Christianity
  was a higher, and quite rational for itself.

10
His Significance for the Church

• Clement had a big impact on the Church. He
  attempted to unite Greek philosophy with
  Christianity. He believes that philosophers owed
  most of their works to the Old testament.
• Clement spent much time teaching Christians the
  original concept of logos, the principle of true
  gnosis. He explains the relation between
  knowledge and faith. As faith involved the
  concept of knowledge it allows the believer to
  make a better understanding of what the person
  believes.
• He finds most of his inspiration for his beliefs
  from Plato and Stoics. He praises both men for
  their inspiration on showing the likeness of God
  as the aim of life.

11
Clements thoughts and ideas

• Clemet cites 359 classical and non-Christian
  writers, 70 biblical writings and 36 patristic
  and New Testament writings and also those of
  heretics. His writings disclose the knowledge of
  both classical and Biblical literature.

12
Clements thoughts and ideas cont

• Clement was a leader of the catechetical school
  of Alexandria. He had a passion and it was shown
  through his gifted and young student, Origin.
  Statistics reveal that he quotes from the New
  Testament more then he does in the Old Testament.