Esoteric Teaching in the Stromateis of Clement of Alexandria (Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae)

257 Pages·2009·1.03 MB·English

by  C. Itter

Esoteric Teaching in the Stromateis
of Clement of Alexandria
Supplements
to
Vigiliae Christianae
Texts and Studies of
Early Christian Life and Language
Editors
J. den Boeft – B.D. Ehrman – J. van Oort
D.T. Runia – C. Scholten – J.C.M. van Winden
VOLUME 97
Esoteric Teaching in the
Stromateis of Clement
of Alexandria
by
Andrew C. Itter
LEIDEN • BOSTON
2009
Illustration taken from André Thevet, Les Vrais Pourtraits et Vies Hommes Illustres, 1584.
Special Collections Department, University of Michigan.
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Itter, Andrew C.
Esoteric teaching in the Stromateis of Clement of Alexandria / by Andrew C. Itter.
p. cm. — (Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae, ISSN 0920-623X ; v. 97)
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 978-90-04-17482-5 (hardback : alk. paper) 1. Clement, of Alexandria,
Saint, ca. 150–ca. 215. Stromata. 2. Theology—History—Early church, ca. 30–600.
I. Title. II. Series.
BR65.C65S773 2009
239’.1—dc22
2009000337
ISSN 0920-623x
ISBN 978 90 04 17482 5
Copyright 2009 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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IDC Publishers, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers and VSP.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated,
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printed in the netherlands
In the case of people who are setting out on a road with which they are
unacquainted, it is suffi cient merely to point out the direction. After this
they must walk and fi nd out the rest for themselves.
(Clement of Alexandria Str. 4.2.4.3)

For Diane

CONTENTS
List of Diagrams ......................................................................... xiii
Acknowledgments ....................................................................... xv
Abbreviations .............................................................................. xvii
Abbreviations for Clement’s Works ............................................ xix
Note on Translations .................................................................. xix
Introduction ................................................................................ 1
PART ONE
METHOD
Chapter One: Teaching, Learning and Writing in Second
and Third Century Alexandria .............................................. 7
1.1. Background: The Alexandrian Paideia ............................ 7
1.2. The Problem of the Stromateis and the Didaskalos .......... 15
1.2.1. Osborn ................................................................. 17
1.2.2. Méhat ................................................................... 21
1.2.3. Fortin .................................................................... 23
1.2.4. Lilla ...................................................................... 27
1.2.5. Ferguson ............................................................... 27
1.2.6. Roberts ................................................................. 28
1.2.7. Le Boulluec .......................................................... 29
1.2.8. Kovacs .................................................................. 30
1.3. Conclusion ...................................................................... 31
Chapter Two: The Number and Sequence of the Works ........ 33
2.1. Introduction .................................................................... 33
2.2. Writing and Teaching ..................................................... 35
2.3. The Soteriological Sequence .......................................... 37
2.3.1. The Jewish Model ................................................ 39
2.3.2. The Mystagogy .................................................... 43
2.3.3. The Greek Christian Model ................................ 47
2.4. The Number and Sequence of Clement’s Works ......... 51
2.5. The Eighth Book of the Stromateis .................................. 54