We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
from II - The first encounter of Judaism and Christianity with ancient Greek philosophy
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 May 2011
LIFE AND WRITINGS
Titus Flavius Clemens (St. Clement of Alexandria) was probably born in about 150 ce, though we know not where, nor who his parents were. His own works, and those of Eusebius, are the main sources for his life. His obscure and controverted account of his studies (Strom. 1.1, 11.2) seems to refer to six teachers: one ‘of Ionian origin’ in Greece, two in Magna Graecia, one from Coele-Syria (part of Lebanon) and one from Egypt; from ‘the East’, one Assyrian and one Palestinian Jew; and finally one in Egypt: ‘This was the last I encountered but the first in ability’ (1.1, 11.2). This comment implies that his narrative tracks his travels chronologically, whence we may infer that his education began in Greece (which may or may not have been his home) and ended in Alexandria.
Who were these teachers? Were they Christians or pagans? His knowledge of mystery religion suggests that he may have started his adult life as a pagan. The favourite teacher is probably Pantaenus, head of the Christian School in Alexandria. According to Eusebius, Pantaenus was a prominent thinker in Alexandria during the reign of Commodus (180–93 ce) having received a Stoic philosophical education. Allegedly Clement succeeded Pantaenus at the Catechetical School, although it remains unclear what post Clement held and for how long.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
