Philo of Alexandria was the most well-known representative of Hellenistic Judaism in the first century. His many books combine Platonism with scripture via allegory–a daring project that had a massive influence on Christian thinkers. Clement of Alexandria followed in Philo’s footsteps a century later, doing for the Christian scriptures what Philo had done for the Jewish bible. In addition to covering these two we’ll take a couple of detours to learn about the city of Alexandria as well as a few of Plato’s important ideas. Although overlooked today in most discussions of the history of Christology, Philo and Clement lay the foundations upon which Origen, the Cappodocians, and Augustine would build generations later.
capital of Egypt for a millennium (until the Muslims came in 641)
still the largest city on the Mediterranean
had the Pharos light house (one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world)
had a massive world-famous library
port city providing grain to Rome
center of philosophical learning
diverse and populous metropolis
Philo of Alexandria (20 BC – AD 50)
Jewish Platonist philosopher
heavily influenced by Plato
The true realm is the upper, spiritual, invisible world. (Allegory of the Cave)
A craftsman created our world based on the pattern of the eternal realm. (Timaeus)
Our souls are immortal and will escape our bodies at death, enabling us to perceive the eternal, unchanging realm. (Phaedo)
applied allegorical interpretation method to the Old Testament (LXX)
Logos
God’s organ to create and govern universe
second place next to God
God is the Father and wisdom [Sophia] is the mother of the Word [Logos]
Clement of Alexandria (AD 150 – 215)
grew up non-Christians
traditional religion
mystery religion
schools of philosophy
found Pantaenus to teach him
books
Protrepticus (Exhortation to Greeks) c. 195
Paedagogus (Tutor or Educator) c. 198
Stromata (Miscellanies) c. 203
Who Is the Rich Man Who Will Be Saved?
beliefs
heavily influenced by Plato and Philo
Ideal Christian is “the gnostic”; try to “out gnostic” the Gnostics and take the label back.
concerned about the whole Christian life, not just beliefs seeking pleasure is sin
Wine is ok in strict moderation.
Laughter should be controlled.
esotericism (especially in the Stromata)
Christology
God is the unknowable, supreme, unbegotten one.
The Son “is nearest to him who is alone the Almighty One”.
The Logos is chief among God’s saints who, like us, worships God.
“Thus the idea of the Logos is the centre of Clement’s theological system and of all his religious thinking. However, the supreme idea in Christian thought is not the idea of the Logos but the idea of God.”[1]
legacy
set the precedent for combining Platonism with the Bible through the use of allegory, a strategy that came to dominate for centuries
became the teacher of Origen who, as we’ll see in our next session, was the most influential Christian theologian of the third century
was regarded as a saint by Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, but then they changed their minds
Review
Alexandria, Egypt was a major metropolis from which not only grain but philosophical ideas spread to the Mediterranean world.
Philo was a first-century Jew who applied Middle Platonism to the Old Testament via allegory.
Influenced by Plato’s Timaeus, Philo used the concept of Logos to separate the high God from creation.
For Philo the Logos was God’s organ to create and govern the world.
Clement of Alexandria drew upon Philo’s work and applied it to the New Testament.
Clement wanted Christians to live in a proper and moderate manner.
In an effort to show the supremacy of Christianity, Clement attempted to out-gnostic the Gnostics, labelling the enlightened Christian “the gnostic.“
For Clement, the Logos is subordinate to the Father, who alone is the true God.
He might have believed that the Logos existed eternally as God’s high priest.
[1] Johannes Quasten, Patrology, vol 2 (Notre Dame, IN: Christian Classics, Ave Maria Press, 1983), 23.
