A History of Christian Theology AHOCT - Episode 24 - Clement of Alexandria's Exhortation to the Heathen (Part 2)
Nov 13, 2015
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Clement Frames Christianity With Greek Thought
- Clement of Alexandria explains Christianity to non-Christians using Greek philosophical language.
- His style blends Platonic ideas with Christian claims to make faith intelligible to pagan audiences.
Genesis As Allegory And Archetype
- Clement often reads Genesis allegorically, treating serpent and fall as moral archetypes rather than only literal events.
- He presents Adam and Eve as types illustrating how individuals are led from truth by pleasure and ignorance.
Christ Reverses The Fall
- Clement portrays Christ as reversing the Fall: the Lord is humbled and man rises to a greater reward than paradise.
- He uses Platonic ascent language to describe salvation as restoration and elevation through Christ.