# Excerpts from Theodotus

- Author: [Clement of Alexandria](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/authors/clement-of-alexandria/)
- Latin title: *Excerpta ex Theodoto*
- Date: ca. 200 (approximate)
- Source: Otto Stählin, ed., Clemens Alexandrinus, vol. 3, Stromata Buch VII und VIII, Excerpta ex Theodoto, Eclogae propheticae, Quis dives salvetur, Fragmente, GCS 17 (Leipzig: Hinrichs, 1909) (Greek text: Otto Stählin, Clemens Alexandrinus 3 (GCS 17, 1909), digitized by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Translation: Claude, from the original text; each passage below gives the model and date
- Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/
- Passages: 249

## Excerpts from Theodotus 1.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/1/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:105
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Valentinians read Christ's dying words as committing to the Father the spiritual seed that Wisdom gave him as a covering when he came down.

### Greek text

»Πάτερ,« φησί, »παρατίθεμαί σοι εἰς χεῖρας τὸ πνεῦμά μου«. ὃ προέβαλε, φησί, σαρκίον τῷ Λόγῳ ἡ Σοφία, τὸ πνευματικὸν σπέρμα, τοῦτο στολισάμενος κατῆλθεν ὁ Σωτήρ.

### English translation (Claude)

“Father,” he says, “into your hands I commit my spirit.” What Wisdom put forth as a bit of flesh for the Word, the spiritual seed, this, he says, the Savior put on and came down.

### Scripture references

- Luke 23:46: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- This work is a set of notes by Clement: excerpts from the Valentinian teacher Theodotus and his school (introduced by “he says” or “they say”), mixed with Clement's own comments (often introduced by “we say”). The translation keeps these markers so that the reader can tell whose view is given. Wisdom (Sophia) is a figure of the Valentinian myth. The quotation is Luke 23:46.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 1.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/1/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 1.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/1/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:105
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: In this reading, at his passion Christ entrusts Wisdom, and with her all the elect, to the Father.

### Greek text

ὅθεν ἐν τῷ πάθει τὴν Σοφίαν παρατίθεται τῷ πατρί, ἵνα αὐτὴν ἀπολάβῃ παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ μὴ κατασχεθῇ ἐνταῦθα ὑπὸ τῶν στερίσκειν δυναμένων· οὕτως πᾶν πνευματικὸν σπέρμα, τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς, διὰ τῆς προειρημένης φωνῆς παρατίθεται.

### English translation (Claude)

So in his passion he commits Wisdom to the Father, so that he may receive her back from the Father and she may not be held back here by those able to rob her; and so by the words just quoted he commits every spiritual seed, the elect.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 1.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/1/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 1.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/1/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:105
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Clement's own view: the elect seed is a spark, the pupil of the eye, a mustard seed, and leaven,

### Greek text

Τὸ ἐκλεκτὸν σπέρμα φαμὲν καὶ σπινθῆρα ζωπυρούμενον ὑπὸ τοῦ Λόγου καὶ κόρην ὀφθαλμοῦ καὶ κόκκον σινάπεως καὶ ζύμην τὰ

### English translation (Claude)

We say that the elect seed is both a spark kindled by the Word, and the pupil of the eye, and a grain of mustard seed, and leaven, which unites in faith the kinds that

### Scripture references

- Deut 32:10: echo, medium confidence
- Matt 13:31: allusion, high confidence
- Matt 13:33: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Here Clement speaks (“we say”). The images are from Deut 32:10 (the pupil of the eye), Matt 13:31, and Matt 13:33. The sentence continues in the next section.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 1.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/1/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 2.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/2/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:105–106
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: which unites what seemed divided. The Valentinians say the Word placed a male spiritual seed in the elect soul while Adam slept.

### Greek text

δόξαντα καταδιῃρῆσθαι γένη ἑνοποιοῦσαν εἰς πίστιν. οἱ δʼ ἀπὸ Οὐαλεντίνου πλασθέντος φασὶ τοῦ ψυχικοῦ σώματος τῇ ἐκλεκτῇ ψυχῇ οὔσῃ ἐν ὕπνῳ ἐντεθῆναι ὑπὸ τοῦ Λόγου σπέρμα ἀρρενικόν. ὅπερ ἐστὶν ἀπόρροια τοῦ ἀγγελικοῦ, ἵνα μὴ ὑστέρημα ᾖ.

### English translation (Claude)

seemed to be divided. But the followers of Valentinus say that when the psychic body was formed, a male seed was placed by the Word in the elect soul while it was asleep, which is an emanation of the angelic element, so that there might be no deficiency.

### Scripture references

- Gen 2:21: allusion, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- “Psychic” (ψυχικός) is the Valentinian middle class of beings, between the “material” and the “spiritual”; it is kept as a technical term.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 2.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/2/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 2.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/2/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:106
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The seed acted as leaven; Adam's sleep was the soul's forgetfulness, which preserved the spiritual seed.

### Greek text

καὶ τοῦτο ἐζύμωσεν. τὰ δόξαντα καταδιῃρῆσθαι ἑνοποιοῦν, τὴν ψυχὴν καὶ τὴν σάρκα. ἃ καὶ ἐν μερισμῷ ὑπὸ τῆς Σοφίας προηνέχθη· ὕπνος δὲ [ἦν] Ἀδὰμ ἦν λήθη τῆς ψυχῆς, ἣ συνεῖχε μὴ διαλυθῆναι τὸ σπέρμα τὸ πνευματικόν, ὅπερ ἐνέθηκεν τῇ ψυχῇ ὁ Σωτήρ. τὸ σπέρμα δʼ ἀπόρροια ἦν τοῦ ἄρρενος καὶ ἀγγελικοῦ. διὰ τοῦτο λέγει ὁ Σωτήρ· »σώζου σὺ

### English translation (Claude)

And this leavened, uniting the things that seemed divided, the soul and the flesh, which had been brought forth by Wisdom in division. Adam's sleep was the soul's forgetting, which held the spiritual seed together so that it would not be dissolved, the seed that the Savior placed in the soul. The seed was an emanation of the male and angelic. That is why the Savior says, “Save yourself and your soul.”

### Scripture references

- Gen 19:17: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- The bracketed word in the Greek is the editor's deletion. The saying “Save yourself and your soul” is not in the canonical Gospels (compare Gen 19:17); it continues in the next section.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 2.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/2/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 3.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/3/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:106
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christ awakened the soul and kindled its spark, since his words are power.

### Greek text

καὶ ἡ ψυχή σου.« ἐλθὼν οὖν ὁ Σωτὴρ τὴν ψυχὴν ἐξύπνισεν, ἐξῆψεν δὲ τὸν σπινθῆρα· δύναμις γὰρ οἱ λόγοι τοῦ κυρίου. διὰ τοῦτο εἴρηκεν· »λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων.«

### English translation (Claude)

When the Savior came, then, he awakened the soul and kindled the spark; for the words of the Lord are power. That is why he said, “Let your light shine before men.”

### Scripture references

- Matt 5:16: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 3.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/3/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 3.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/3/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:106
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: When Christ breathed the Spirit on the apostles, he blew away the earthly dust and rekindled their spark.

### Greek text

καὶ μετὰ τὴν ἀνάστασιν ἐμφυσῶν τὸ πνεῦμα τοῖς ἀποστόλοις τὸν μὲν χοῦν, καθάπερ τέφραν, ἀπεφύσα καὶ ἐχώριζεν, ἐξῆπτε δὲ τὸν σπινθῆρα καὶ ἐζωπύρει.

### English translation (Claude)

And after the resurrection, breathing the Spirit on the apostles, he blew away the dust like ashes and separated it, but kindled the spark and brought it to life.

### Scripture references

- John 20:22: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 3.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/3/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 4.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/4/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:106
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Clement: at the Transfiguration Christ revealed his glory for the church's sake, to show its future after death.

### Greek text

Ὁ κύριος διὰ πολλὴν ταπεινοφροσύνην οὐχ ὡς ἄγγελος ὤφθη, ἀλλʼ ὡς ἄνθρωπος, καὶ ὅτε ἐν δόξῃ ὤφθη τοῖς ἀποστόλοις ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄρους, οὐ διʼ ἑαυτὸν ἐποίησεν δεικνὺς ἑαυτόν, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, ἥτις ἐστὶ »τὸ γένος τὸ ἐκλεκτόν«, ἵνα μάθῃ τὴν προκοπὴν αὐτοῦ μετὰ τὴν ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς ἔξοδον.

### English translation (Claude)

Through great humility the Lord appeared not as an angel but as a man. And when he appeared in glory to the apostles on the mountain, he did it not for his own sake, showing himself, but for the church, which is “the chosen race,” so that it might learn its own advancement after its departure from the flesh.

### Scripture references

- Matt 17:2: allusion, high confidence
- 1 Pet 2:9: quotation, high confidence
- Phil 2:7: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The allusions are Matt 17:1–2 and 1 Pet 2:9.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 4.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/4/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 4.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/4/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:106
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christ was and is the light above, the same that appeared in the flesh,

### Greek text

αὐτὸς γὰρ καὶ ἄνω φῶς ἦν καὶ ἔστι τὸ ἐπιφανὲν ἐν σαρκὶ καὶ τὸ ἐνταῦθα ὀφθὲν οὐχ ὕστερον τοῦ ἄνω.

### English translation (Claude)

For he himself was light above, and is that which appeared in flesh; and what was seen here is not later than what is above,

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 4.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/4/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 4.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/4/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:106
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christ did not leave the Father to come to earth but was present in both; the Transfiguration fulfilled his saying that some would see the Son of Man in glory before death.

### Greek text

οὐδὲ διεκέκοπτο ᾗ ἄνωθεν μετέστη δεῦρο, τόπον ἐκ τόπου ἀμεῖβον, ὡς τὸν μὲν ἐπιλαβεῖν, τὸν δὲ ἀπολιπεῖν· ἀλλʼ ἦν τὸ πάντῃ ὂν καὶ παρὰ τῷ πατρὶ κἀνταῦθα· δύναμις γὰρ ἦν τοῦ πατρός. ἄλλως τε ἐχρῆν κἀκεῖνον πληρωθῆναι τὸν λόγον τοῦ σωτῆρος, ὃν εἶπεν· »εἰσί τινες τῶν ὧδε ἑστηκότων, οἳ οὐ μὴ γεύσονται θανάτου, ἕως ἂν ἴδωσι τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν δόξῃ.« εἶδον οὖν καὶ ἐκοιμήθησαν ὅ τε Πέτρος καὶ Ἰάκωβος καὶ Ἰωάννης.

### English translation (Claude)

nor was he cut off when he moved from above to here, exchanging place for place, so as to take one and leave the other; but he was the one who is everywhere, both with the Father and here; for he was the power of the Father. Besides, that saying of the Savior had to be fulfilled, which he spoke: “There are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man in glory.” So Peter, James, and John saw and fell asleep.

### Scripture references

- Matt 16:28: quotation, high confidence
- Mark 9:1: quotation, medium confidence
- Luke 9:27: quotation, medium confidence
- 1 Cor 1:24: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is a form of Matt 16:28 (Mark 9:1; Luke 9:27).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 4.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/4/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 5.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/5/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:106–107
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: At the Transfiguration the disciples fell down at the voice, not the sight, because an unexpected voice astonishes more.

### Greek text

Πῶς οὖν τὴν μὲν ὄψιν τὴν φωτεινὴν ἰδόντες οὐκ ἐξεπλάγησαν, τὴν δὲ φωνὴν ἀκούσαντες ἔπεσον ἐπὶ γῆν; ὅτι ὦτα τυγχάνει ἀπιστότερα ὀφθαλμῶν καὶ ἡ παρὰ δόξαν φωνὴ μᾶλλον ἐκπλήσσει.

### English translation (Claude)

How then, when they saw the luminous sight, were they not astonished, but when they heard the voice they fell on the ground? Because ears are less believing than eyes, and an unexpected voice astonishes more.

### Scripture references

- Matt 17:6: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 5.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/5/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 5.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/5/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:107
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: John the Baptist heard the voice without fear in the Spirit; Christ told the disciples to tell no one what they had seen.

### Greek text

ὁ δὲ Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτιστὴς τῆς φωνῆς ἀκούσας οὐκ ἐφοβήθη, ὡς ἂν ἐν πνεύματι ἀκούσας συνήθει τῆς τοιαύτης φωνῆς· καθὸ δὲ ἄνθρωπός τίς ἐστι μόνον, ἀκούσας κατεπλάγη· διὸ καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ σωτήρ· »μηδενὶ εἴπητε ὃ εἴδετε.«

### English translation (Claude)

John the Baptist was not afraid when he heard the voice, since he heard it in the Spirit as one accustomed to such a voice; but anyone who is merely a man is astonished on hearing it. That is why the Savior also says to them, “Tell no one what you have seen.”

### Scripture references

- Matt 3:17: allusion, medium confidence
- Matt 17:9: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 5.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/5/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 5.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/5/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:107
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They saw the light not with fleshly eyes but because Christ's power strengthened them, the soul sharing its vision with the body.

### Greek text

καίτοι οὐδὲ σαρκικοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς τὸ φῶς ἑωράκεισαν (οὐδὲν γὰρ συγγενὲς καὶ οἰκεῖον ἐκείνῳ τῷ φωτὶ καὶ τῇδε τῇ σαρκί), ἀλλʼ ὡς ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ βούλησις τοῦ σωτῆρος ἐνεδυνάμωσεν τὴν σάρκα εἰς τὸ θεάσασθαι· ἄλλως τε καὶ ὃ ἡ ψυχὴ εἶδεν, μετέδωκεν κοινωνούσῃ τῇ

### English translation (Claude)

And yet they had not seen the light with fleshly eyes (for there is nothing akin or proper to that light and this flesh), but as the power and will of the Savior strengthened the flesh to behold it; and besides, what the soul saw it shared with the flesh, its companion,

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 5.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/5/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 5.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/5/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:107
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christ commanded silence so that his enemies would not hold back from putting him to death, which would have left the plan of salvation unfulfilled.

### Greek text

σαρκὶ διὰ τὸ συμπεπλέχθαι αὐτῇ. τὸ δὲ »μηδενὶ εἴπητε«, ἵνα μὴ ὅ ἐστιν ὁ κύριος νοήσαντες, ἀπόσχωνται τοῦ ἐπιβάλλειν τῷ κυρίῳ τὰς χεῖρας καὶ ἀτελὴς ἡ οἰκονομία γένηται καὶ ὁ θάνατος ἀπόσχηται τοῦ κυρίου, ὡς μάτην πειράζων ἐπὶ ἀνηνύτῳ.

### English translation (Claude)

because it is intertwined with it. “Tell no one,” so that, having understood what the Lord is, they might not refrain from laying hands on the Lord, and the plan be left unfulfilled, and death keep away from the Lord, as trying in vain at an impossible task.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 5.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/5/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 5.5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/5/5/
- Source: Stählin 3:107
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The voice at the Transfiguration came to believers, the voice at the Jordan to those not yet believing, who ignored it.

### Greek text

καὶ ἔτι ἡ μὲν ἐν τῷ ὄρει φωνὴ τοῖς ἤδη συνιεῖσιν ἐκλεκτοῖς ἐγένετο, διὸ καὶ ἐθαύμασαν μαρτυρουμένου τοῦ πιστευομένου, ἡ δὲ ἐπὶ τῷ ποταμῷ τοῖς μέλλουσι πιστεύειν. διὸ καὶ ἠμελήθη ἡ φωνὴ αὐτοῖς προκατεχομένοις ἐπὶ τῇ τῶν νομοδιδασκάλων ἀγωγῇ.

### English translation (Claude)

Further, the voice on the mountain came to the elect who already understood, which is why they marveled when the one they believed in was testified to; but the voice at the river came to those who were going to believe. That is why the voice was disregarded by them, since they were preoccupied with the teaching of the teachers of the law.

### Scripture references

- Matt 17:5: allusion, high confidence
- Matt 3:17: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 5.5 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/5/5/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 6.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/6/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:107
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Valentinian reading of John 1:1 follows.

### Greek text

Τὸ »ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεὸν καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος« οἱ ἀπὸ Οὐαλεντίνου οὕτως ἐκδέχονται.

### English translation (Claude)

The followers of Valentinus interpret “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” in this way.

### Scripture references

- John 1:1: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 6.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/6/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 6.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/6/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:107
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They identify “the Beginning” with the Only-begotten, called God in John 1:18.

### Greek text

ἀρχὴν μὲν γὰρ τὸν Μονογενῆ λέγουσιν, ὃν καὶ θεὸν προσαγορεύεσθαι, ὡς καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἑξῆς ἄντικρυς θεὸν αὐτὸν δηλοῖ λέγων· »ὁ μονογενὴς θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρός, ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο.«

### English translation (Claude)

They say that the Beginning is the Only-begotten, who is also called God, as in what follows he plainly shows him to be God, saying, “The only-begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.”

### Scripture references

- John 1:18: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is John 1:18 with the reading “only-begotten God.”

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 6.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/6/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 6.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/6/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:107
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They see in John's prologue their pairs of aeons: Mind and Truth, Word and Life.

### Greek text

τῷ δὲ λόγῳ τῷ ἐν τῇ ἀρχῇ, τοῦτʼ ἐστὶν ἐν τῷ Μονογενεῖ, ἐν τῷ Νῷ καὶ τῇ Ἀληθείᾳ, μηνύει τὸν Χριστόν, τὸν Λόγον καὶ τὴν Ζωήν· ὅθεν εἰκότως καὶ αὐτὸν θεὸν λέγει τὸν ἐν τῷ θεῷ τῷ Νῷ ὄντα.

### English translation (Claude)

And by the Word that was in the Beginning, that is, in the Only-begotten, in Mind and Truth, he indicates Christ, the Word and Life; hence he fittingly calls him God too, being in God, in Mind.

### Translation notes

- Mind, Truth, Word, and Life are aeons (divine emanations) in the Valentinian system.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 6.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/6/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 6.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/6/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:107–108
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They read “life” in John 1:4 as the Word's female consort.

### Greek text

»ὃ γέγονεν ἐν αὐτῷ« τῷ λόγῳ, »ζωὴ ἦν«, ἡ σύζυγος· διὸ καὶ φησιν ὁ κύριος· »ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ζωή.«

### English translation (Claude)

“What came into being in him,” the Word, “was life,” his consort; that is why the Lord also says, “I am the life.”

### Scripture references

- John 1:3: quotation, high confidence
- John 1:4: quotation, high confidence
- John 11:25: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotations are John 1:3–4 (with the punctuation “what came into being in him was life”) and John 11:25 (14:6).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 6.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/6/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 7.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/7/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:108
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: In the Valentinian account, the unknown Father, wishing to be known, put forth the Only-begotten, who is knowledge,

### Greek text

Ἄγνωστος οὖν ὁ πατὴρ ὢν ἠθέλησεν γνωσθῆναι τοῖς αἰῶσι, καὶ διὰ τῆς ἐνθυμήσεως τῆς ἑαυτοῦ, ὡς ἂν ἑαυτὸν ἐγνωκώς, πνεῦμα γνώσεως οὔσης ἐν γνώσει προέβαλε τὸν Μονογενῆ. γέγονεν οὖν καὶ ὁ ἀπὸ γνώσεως, τουτέστι τῆς πατρικῆς ἐνθυμήσεως. προελθὼν γνῶσις. τουτέστιν ὁ υἱὸς.

### English translation (Claude)

The Father, then, being unknown, wished to be known to the Aeons, and through his own thought, as though knowing himself, a spirit of knowledge existing in knowledge, he put forth the Only-begotten. He who came from knowledge, that is, from the Father's thought, has become knowledge too, that is, the Son,

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 7.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/7/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 7.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/7/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:108
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: since the Father is known through the Son; love and knowledge are joined as Father and Son, Thought and Truth.

### Greek text

ὅτι »διʼ υἱοῦ ὁ πατὴρ ἐγνώσθη«. τὸ δὲ τῆς ἀγάπης πνεῦμα κέκραται τῷ τῆς γνώσεως, ὡς πατὴρ υἱῷ καὶ ἐνθύμησις ἀληθείᾳ. ἀπʼ ἀληθείας προελθὸν ὡς ἀπὸ ἐνθυμήσεως ἡ γνῶσις.

### English translation (Claude)

since “through the Son the Father was known.” And the spirit of love has been mingled with the spirit of knowledge, as Father with Son and Thought with Truth; the spirit of love came forth from Truth, as knowledge from Thought.

### Scripture references

- Matt 11:27: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The quoted saying echoes Matt 11:27 (John 1:18); it is not an exact quotation.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 7.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/7/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 7.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/7/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:108
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They distinguish the Only-begotten who remained in the Father's bosom from the one who appeared on earth, called “as only-begotten” and “firstborn,” though they say he is the same.

### Greek text

καὶ ὁ μὲν μείνας »μονογενὴς υἱὸς εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς« τὴν ἐνθύμησιν διὰ τῆς γνώσεως ἐξηγεῖται τοῖς αἰῶσιν, ὡς ἂν καὶ ὑπὸ τοῦ κόλπου αὐτοῦ προβληθείς, ὁ δὲ ἐνταῦθα ὀφθεὶς οὐκέτι »μονογενής«, ἀλλʼ »ὡς μονογενὴς« πρὸς τοῦ ἀποστόλου προσαγορεύεται, »δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς«, ὅτι εἷς καὶ ὁ αὐτὸς ὢν ἐν μὲν τῇ κτίσει »πρωτότοκός« ἐστιν Ἰησοῦς, ἐν δὲ πληρώματι μονογενής· ὁ δὲ αὐτός ἐστι τοιοῦτος ὢν ἑκάστῳ τόπῳ οἷος κεχωρῆσθαι δύναται.

### English translation (Claude)

And the one who remained, “the only-begotten Son in the bosom of the Father,” explains the Thought to the Aeons through knowledge, as one put forth from his bosom; but the one who appeared here is no longer called “only-begotten” by the apostle, but “as only-begotten”: “glory as of the only-begotten.” For being one and the same, Jesus is “firstborn” in creation, but only-begotten in the Pleroma; and he is the same, being such in each place as he can be contained.

### Scripture references

- John 1:18: quotation, high confidence
- John 1:14: quotation, high confidence
- Col 1:15: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotations are John 1:18, John 1:14, and Col 1:15. The Pleroma (“fullness”) is the Valentinian divine realm. “The apostle” here is John.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 7.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/7/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 7.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/7/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:108
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The one who descended is never separated from the one who remained, as Paul says.

### Greek text

καὶ οὐδέποτε τοῦ μείναντος ὁ καταβὰς μερίζεται. φησὶ γὰρ ὁ ἀπόστολος· »ὁ γὰρ ἀναβὰς αὐτός ἐστι καὶ ὁ καταβάς.«

### English translation (Claude)

And the one who came down is never divided from the one who remained. For the apostle says, “For he who ascended is the same as he who descended.”

### Scripture references

- Eph 4:10: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is a form of Eph 4:10.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 7.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/7/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 7.5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/7/5/
- Source: Stählin 3:108
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Valentinians call the Creator (Demiurge) an image of the Only-begotten, so his works perish; Christ's raising of the dead was only an image of spiritual resurrection.

### Greek text

εἰκόνα δὲ τοῦ Μονογενοῦς τὸν Δημιουργὸν λέγουσιν. διὸ καὶ λυτὰ τῆς εἰκόνος τὰ ἔργα, ὅθεν καὶ ὁ κύριος εἰκόνα τῆς πνευματικῆς ἀναστάσεως ποιήσας τοὺς νεκροὺς οὓς ἤγειρεν, οὐκ ἀφθάρτους τὴν σάρκα. ἀλλʼ ὡς αὖθις ἀποθανουμένους ἤγειρεν.

### English translation (Claude)

They say that the Demiurge is an image of the Only-begotten. That is why the works of the image are also perishable; hence the Lord too, making the dead whom he raised an image of the spiritual resurrection, raised them not with incorruptible flesh but as people who would die again.

### Translation notes

- The Demiurge (“craftsman”) is the Valentinian name for the lower creator god of the Old Testament.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 7.5 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/7/5/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 8.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/8/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:108
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Clement's view: the Word is God in God, in the Father's bosom, undivided, one God.

### Greek text

Ἡμεῖς δὲ τὸν ἐν ταὐτότητι λόγον θεὸν ἐν θεῷ φαμεν, ὃς καὶ »εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς« εἶναι λέγεται, ἀδιάστατος, ἀμέριστος, εἷς θεός.

### English translation (Claude)

But we say that the Word in identity is God in God, who is also said to be “in the bosom of the Father,” without separation, without division, one God.

### Scripture references

- John 1:18: quotation, high confidence
- John 1:1: echo, high confidence

### Translation notes

- “In identity” (ἐν ταὐτότητι) means the Word in his identity with the Father.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 8.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/8/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 8.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/8/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:108
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: All things were made through the Word; the Savior, firstborn of creation, revealed the Father.

### Greek text

»πάντα διʼ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο«. κατὰ τὴν προσεχῆ ἐνέργειαν τοῦ ἐν ταὐτότητι λόγου, τά τε πνευματικὰ καὶ νοητὰ καὶ αἰσθητά. »οὗτος τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐξηγήσατο«. ὁ σωτὴρ καὶ [Ἡσαΐας »καὶ ἀνταποδώσω τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν κόλπον αὐτῶν«, εἰς τὴν ἔννοιαν αὐτῶν τὴν ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ, ἀφʼ ἧς πρώτης ἐνεργεῖται] »πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως«.

### English translation (Claude)

“All things came into being through him,” by the immediate activity of the Word in identity, spiritual, intelligible, and sensible things alike. “This one declared the bosom of the Father”: the Savior, “the firstborn of all creation.”

### Scripture references

- John 1:3: quotation, high confidence
- John 1:18: allusion, high confidence
- Col 1:15: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotations are John 1:3, John 1:18, and Col 1:15. The edition brackets as a later insertion a gloss on the word “bosom” from Isa 65:6 (“I will repay their works into their bosom,” that is, into their mind; Isa 65:6), which is omitted in the translation.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 8.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/8/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 8.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/8/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:108
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Only-begotten is the light of the church, once in darkness.

### Greek text

ὁ δὲ ἐν ταὐτότητι μονογενής, οὗ κατὰ δύναμιν ἀδιάστατον ὁ σωτὴρ ἐνεργεῖ, οὗτός ἐστι »τὸ φῶς« τῆς ἐκκλησίας τῆς πρότερον ἐν σκότῳ καὶ ἐν ἀγνοίᾳ οὔσης.

### English translation (Claude)

The Only-begotten in identity, by whose power the Savior works undivided, is “the light” of the church, which was formerly in darkness and ignorance.

### Scripture references

- John 1:4: allusion, high confidence
- John 1:5: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 8.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/8/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 8.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/8/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:108–109
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The darkness that did not grasp him is the apostates, the rest of mankind who did not know him, and death, which could not hold him.

### Greek text

»καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸν οὐ κατέλαβεν«, οἱ ἀποστατήσαντες, καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων οὐκ ἔγνωσαν αὐτόν, καὶ ὁ θάνατος οὐ κατέσχεν αὐτόν.

### English translation (Claude)

“And the darkness did not overcome him”: the apostates, and the rest of mankind did not know him, and death did not hold him.

### Scripture references

- John 1:5: quotation, high confidence
- John 1:10: echo, medium confidence
- Acts 2:24: echo, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 8.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/8/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 9.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/9/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:109
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Faith differs in degree: the called may be led astray by the Antichrist, but not the elect.

### Greek text

Ἡ πίστις οὐ μία, ἀλλὰ διάφορος. ὁ γοῦν σωτήρ φησι· »γενηθήτω σοῦ κατὰ τὴν πίστιν·« ὅθεν εἴρηται τοὺς μὲν τῆς κλήσεως ἀνθρώπους κατὰ τὴν παρουσίαν τοῦ ἀντιχρίστου πλανηθήσεσθαι· ἀδύνατον δὲ τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς· διό φησι· »καὶ εἰ δυνατόν, τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς μου.«

### English translation (Claude)

Faith is not one but various. At any rate, the Savior says, “Let it be done according to your faith.” Hence it is said that people of the calling will be led astray at the coming of the Antichrist, but the elect cannot be; that is why he says, “and, if possible, my elect.”

### Scripture references

- Matt 9:29: quotation, high confidence
- Matt 24:24: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotations are a form of Matt 9:29 and Matt 24:24.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 9.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/9/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 9.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/9/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:109
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Some sayings are addressed to the called: the prodigal son, and those called from the roads to the wedding feast.

### Greek text

πάλιν ὅταν λέγῃ »ἐξέλθετε ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ πατρός μου«, τοῖς κλητοῖς λέγει· πάλιν τῷ ἐξ ἀποδημίας ἐλθόντι καὶ κατεδηδοκότι τὰ ὑπάρχοντα, ᾧ τὸν σιτευτὸν ἔθυσεν μόσχον, τὴν κλῆσιν λέγει. καὶ ὅπου ὁ βασιλεὺς εἰς τὸ δεῖπνον τοῦ γάμου τοὺς ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς κέκληκεν.

### English translation (Claude)

Again, when he says, “Go out from my Father's house,” he is speaking to the called. Again, to the one who came back from abroad and had devoured his property, for whom the father killed the fatted calf, he speaks of the calling; and where the king has called those on the roads to the wedding supper.

### Scripture references

- Luke 15:13: allusion, high confidence
- Luke 15:23: allusion, high confidence
- Matt 22:9: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- “Go out from my Father's house” is not an exact Gospel quotation (compare John 2:16). The allusions are Luke 15:13, 23 and Matt 22:9–10.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 9.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/9/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 9.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/9/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:109
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: All are called equally, but those who believe more are chosen, to whom Christ speaks as his own.

### Greek text

πάντες μὲν οὖν κέκληνται ἐπʼ ἴσης (»βρέχει γὰρ ἐπὶ δικαίους καὶ ἀδίκους καὶ τὸν ἥλιον ἐπιλάμπει πᾶσιν«), ἐκλέγονται δὲ οἱ μᾶλλον πιστεύσαντες, πρὸς οὓς λέγει· »τὸν πατέρα μου οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν εἰ μὴ ὁ υἱός·« καί· »ὑμεῖς ἐστε τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου·« καί· »πάτερ ἅγιε, ἁγίασον αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου.«

### English translation (Claude)

All, then, have been called equally (“for he rains on the just and the unjust and makes the sun shine on all”), but those who have believed more are chosen, to whom he says, “No one has seen my Father except the Son”; and, “You are the light of the world”; and, “Holy Father, sanctify them in your name.”

### Scripture references

- Matt 5:45: quotation, high confidence
- John 6:46: quotation, medium confidence
- Matt 5:14: quotation, high confidence
- John 17:11: quotation, high confidence
- John 17:17: quotation, medium confidence
- Matt 22:14: echo, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotations are Matt 5:45, John 6:46 (Matt 11:27), Matt 5:14, and John 17:11, 17.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 9.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/9/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 10.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/10/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:109
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: No spiritual being, not even the Son, is entirely without form or body; each has a form suited to its rank.

### Greek text

Ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ τὰ πνευματικὰ καὶ νοερά, οὐδὲ οἱ ἀρχάγγελοι οὐδὲ οἱ πρωτόκτιστοι οὐδὲ μὴν οὐδʼ αὐτὸς ἄμορφος καὶ ἀνείδεος καὶ ἀσχημάτιστος καὶ ἀσώματός ἐστιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ μορφὴν ἔχει ἰδίαν καὶ σῶμα ἀνὰ λόγον τῆς ὑπεροχῆς τῶν πνευματικῶν ἁπάντων, ὡς δὲ καὶ οἱ πρωτόκτιστοι ἀνὰ λόγον τῆς ὑπεροχῆς τῶν ὑπʼ αὐτοὺς οὐσιῶν.

### English translation (Claude)

But neither spiritual and intellectual beings, nor the archangels, nor the first-created, nor indeed he himself is without form, shape, figure, and body; but he has a form of his own and a body corresponding to his preeminence over all spiritual beings, as the first-created too have bodies corresponding to their preeminence over the beings below them.

### Translation notes

- “He himself” is probably the Son. “The first-created” (πρωτόκτιστοι) are the highest angels, identified below with seven beings.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 10.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/10/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 10.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/10/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:109
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Created beings have substance, but not bodies like those in this world.

### Greek text

ὅλως γὰρ τὸ γενητὸν οὐκ ἀνούσιον μέν, οὐχ ὅμοιον δὲ μορφὴν καὶ σῶμα ἔχουσι τοῖς ἐν τῷδε τῷ κόσμῳ σώμασιν.

### English translation (Claude)

For in general what has come into being is not without substance, but they do not have form and body like the bodies in this world.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 10.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/10/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 10.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/10/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:109
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Above, the Only-begotten has his own pure substance and direct access to the Father's power; the first-created differ in number but are alike and equal.

### Greek text

ἄρρενά τε γὰρ καὶ θήλεα τὰ ἐνταῦθα καὶ διάφορα πρὸς αὐτά· ἐκεῖ δὲ ὁ μὲν μονογενὴς καὶ ἰδίως νοερὸς ἰδέᾳ ἰδίᾳ καὶ οὐσίᾳ ἰδίᾳ κεχρημένος ἄκρως εἰλικρινεῖ καὶ ἡγεμονικωτάτῃ καὶ προσεχῶς τῆς τοῦ πατρὸς ἀπολαύων δυνάμεως, οἱ δὲ πρωτόκτιστοι, εἰ καὶ ἀριθμῷ διάφοροι καὶ ὁ καθʼ ἕκαστον περιώρισται καὶ περιγέγραπται, ἀλλʼ ἡ ὁμοιότης τῶν πραγμάτων ἑνότητα καὶ ἰσότητα καὶ ὁμοιότητα ἐνδείκνυται.

### English translation (Claude)

For the things here are male and female and differ from one another. But there, the Only-begotten, who is properly intellectual, has his own form and his own substance, supremely pure and most sovereign, and enjoys directly the power of the Father; while the first-created, though they differ in number and each is defined and circumscribed, yet the likeness of their conditions shows unity, equality, and likeness.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 10.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/10/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 10.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/10/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:109
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The seven first-created angels are equal.

### Greek text

οὐ γὰρ τῷδε μὲν πλέον, τῷδε δὲ ἧττον παρέσχηται τῶν ἑπτά.

### English translation (Claude)

For among the seven, more has not been granted to one and less to another.

### Scripture references

- Rev 8:2: echo, medium confidence

### Extrabiblical texts

- Tob 12:15 (Tobit): echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The seven are probably the seven highest angels (compare Tob 12:15; Rev 8:2).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 10.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/10/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 10.5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/10/5/
- Source: Stählin 3:109–110
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The first-created were perfect from the start; the Son is the unapproachable light, beyond what any eye or heart has known.

### Greek text

οὐδʼ ὑπολείπεταί τις αὐτοῖς προκοπή, ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἀπειληφότων τὸ τέλειον ἅμα τῇ πρώτῃ γενέσει παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ διὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ. καὶ ὃ μὲν »φῶς ἀπρόσιτον« εἴρηται, ὡς »μονογενὴς« καὶ »πρωτότοκος«. »ἃ ὀφθαλμὸς οὐκ εἶδε καὶ οὖς οὐκ ἤκουσεν οὐδὲ ἐπὶ καρδίαν ἀνθρώπου ἀνέβη«. οὐδὲ ἔσται τις τοιοῦτος, οὔτε τῶν πρωτοκτίστων οὔτε ἀνθρώπων.

### English translation (Claude)

Nor is any advancement left for them, since from the beginning, together with their first coming into being, they received perfection from God through the Son. And he is called “unapproachable light,” as “only-begotten” and “firstborn,” “what eye has not seen and ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man.” Nor will anyone be such, either of the first-created or of human beings.

### Scripture references

- 1 Tim 6:16: quotation, high confidence
- 1 Cor 2:9: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotations are 1 Tim 6:16 and 1 Cor 2:9.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 10.5 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/10/5/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 10.6

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/10/6/
- Source: Stählin 3:110
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The angels see the Father's face, which is the Son; what sees and is seen must have some form, though they see with an intellectual eye.

### Greek text

οἳ δὲ »διὰ παντὸς τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ πατρὸς βλέπουσιν«, πρόσωπον δὲ πατρὸς ὁ υἱός, διʼ οὗ γνωρίζεται ὁ πατήρ. τὸ τοίνυν ὁρῶν καὶ ὁρώμενον ἀσχημάτιστον εἶναι οὐ δύναται οὐδὲ ἀσώματον. ὁρῶσι δὲ ὀφθαλμῷ οὐκ αἰσθητῷ, ἀλλʼ οἵῳ παρέσχεν ὁ πατήρ, νοερῷ.

### English translation (Claude)

But they “always behold the face of the Father,” and the face of the Father is the Son, through whom the Father is made known. What sees and is seen, then, cannot be without figure or without body. They see not with a sensible eye, but with such an eye as the Father has given, an intellectual one.

### Scripture references

- Matt 18:10: quotation, high confidence
- John 14:9: echo, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 10.6 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/10/6/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 11.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/11/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:110
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: As are the angels who see the Father's face, so will the elect be when perfected; and the pure in heart will see God.

### Greek text

Ὅταν οὖν εἴπῃ ὁ κύριος »μὴ καταφρονήσητε ἑνὸς τῶν μικρῶν τούτων· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν· τούτων οἱ ἄγγελοι τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ πατρὸς διὰ παντὸς βλέπουσιν«, οἷον τὸ προκέντημα, τοῖοι ἔσονται οἱ ἐκλεκτοί, τὴν τελείαν ἀπολαβόντες προκοπήν· »μακάριοι δὲ οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ

### English translation (Claude)

So when the Lord says, “Do not despise one of these little ones; truly I say to you, their angels always behold the face of the Father,” as is the model, so will the elect be when they have received perfect advancement. “And blessed are the pure in

### Scripture references

- Matt 18:10: quotation, high confidence
- Matt 5:8: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 11.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/11/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 11.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/11/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:110
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The apostle speaks of heavenly bodies; spiritual beings with different names must have forms.

### Greek text

καρδίᾳ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν θεὸν ὄψονται.« πρόσωπον δὲ τοῦ ἀσχηματίστου πῶς ἂν εἴη; σώματα γοῦν ἐπουράνια εὔμορφα καὶ νοερὰ οἶδεν ὁ ἀπόστολος. πῶς δʼ ἂν καὶ ὀνόματα διάφορα αὐτῶν ἐλέγετο, εἰ μὴ σχήμασιν ἦν περιγεγραμμένα, μορφῇ καὶ σώματι;

### English translation (Claude)

heart, for they shall see God.” But how could there be a face of what has no figure? At any rate, the apostle knows of heavenly bodies, well-formed and intellectual. And how could different names be given them, if they were not circumscribed by figures, form, and body?

### Scripture references

- 1 Cor 15:40: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 11.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/11/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 11.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/11/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:110
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Heavenly beings are bodiless compared with earthly bodies, but bodily compared with the Son, as the Son is compared with the Father.

### Greek text

»ἄλλη δόξα ἐπουρανίων, ἄλλη ἐπιγείων, ἄλλη ἀγγέλων, ἄλλη ἀρχαγγέλων·« ὡς πρὸς τὴν σύγκρισιν τῶν τῇδε σωμάτων (οἷον ἄστρων) ἀσώματα καὶ ἀνείδεα, ἀλλʼ ὡς πρὸς τὴν σύγκρισιν τοῦ υἱοῦ σώματα μεμετρημένα καὶ αἰσθητά· οὕτως καὶ ὁ υἱὸς πρὸς τὸν πατέρα παραβαλλόμενος· καὶ δύναμιν μὲν ἰδίαν ἔχει ἕκαστον τῶν πνευματικῶν καὶ ἰδίαν οἰκονομίαν.

### English translation (Claude)

“One glory is of heavenly beings, another of earthly, another of angels, another of archangels.” Compared with bodies here (such as the stars) they are bodiless and formless; but compared with the Son they are measured and perceptible bodies; so too the Son compared with the Father. Each spiritual being has its own power and its own administration.

### Scripture references

- 1 Cor 15:40: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The words adapt 1 Cor 15:40, with angels and archangels added.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 11.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/11/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 11.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/11/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:110
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The first-created share a common, undivided service.

### Greek text

καθὸ δὲ ὁμοῦ τε ἐγένοντο καὶ τὸ ἐντελὲς ἀπειλήφασιν οἱ πρωτόκτιστοι, κοινὴν τὴν λειτουργίαν καὶ ἀμέριστον.

### English translation (Claude)

But insofar as the first-created came into being together and received their completeness, their service is common and undivided.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 11.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/11/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 12.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/12/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:110
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Each rank sees the one above it; the Son, called the Father's face, is the beginning of the vision of the Father.

### Greek text

Οἱ πρωτόκτιστοι οὖν τόν τε υἱὸν ὁρῶσι καὶ ἑαυτοὺς καὶ τὰ ὑποβεβηκότα, ὥσπερ καὶ οἱ ἀρχάγγελοι τοὺς πρωτοκτίστους. ὁ δὲ υἱὸς ἀρχὴ τῆς πατρικῆς ὑπάρχει θέας, πρόσωπον τοῦ πατρὸς λεγόμενος.

### English translation (Claude)

The first-created, then, see the Son, themselves, and the beings below them, just as the archangels see the first-created. And the Son is the beginning of the vision of the Father, being called the face of the Father.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 12.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/12/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 12.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/12/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:110
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Angels are purified intellectual fire; intellectual light is a higher state, into which angels long to look,

### Greek text

καὶ οἱ μὲν ἄγγελοι νοερὸν πῦρ καὶ πνεύματα νοερά, τὴν οὐσίαν ἀποκεκαθαρμένοι, φῶς δὲ νοερὸν ἡ μεγίστη προκοπὴ ἀπὸ τοῦ νοεροῦ πυρὸς ἀποκεκαθαρμένου τέλεον, »εἰς ἃ ἐπιθυμοῦσιν ἄγγελοι παρακύψαι«.

### English translation (Claude)

The angels are intellectual fire and intellectual spirits, purified in substance; and intellectual light is the greatest advancement from intellectual fire completely purified, “into which angels long to look,”

### Scripture references

- 1 Pet 1:12: quotation, high confidence
- Ps 104:4 (103:4 LXX): echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is 1 Pet 1:12; compare Ps 104:4 (Heb 1:7), “his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire.”

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 12.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/12/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 12.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/12/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:110–111
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Son is purer still, the unapproachable light, who redeemed us by his precious blood and whose face shone like the sun.

### Greek text

ὁ Πέτρος φησίν· ὁ δὲ υἱὸς ἔτι τούτου καθαρώτερος, »ἀπρόσιτον φῶς« καὶ »δύναμις θεοῦ«, καὶ κατὰ τὸν ἀπόστολον »τιμίῳ καὶ ἀμώμῳ καὶ ἀσπίλῳ αἵματι ἐλυτρώθημεν«. οὗ »τὰ μὲν ἱμάτια ὡς φῶς ἔλαμψεν, τὸ πρόσωπον δὲ ὡς ὁ ἥλιος«, ᾧ μηδὲ ἀντωπῆσαι ἔστι ῥᾳδίως.

### English translation (Claude)

as Peter says. And the Son is purer still than this, “unapproachable light” and “the power of God”; and according to the apostle, “we were redeemed with precious, blameless, and spotless blood.” His “garments shone like light, and his face like the sun,” on which one cannot easily even look.

### Scripture references

- 1 Tim 6:16: quotation, high confidence
- 1 Cor 1:24: quotation, high confidence
- 1 Pet 1:19: quotation, high confidence
- Matt 17:2: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotations are 1 Tim 6:16, 1 Cor 1:24, 1 Pet 1:19 (attributed to “the apostle”), and Matt 17:2.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 12.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/12/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 13.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/13/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:111
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Son is the heavenly bread and spiritual food that gives life through eating and knowledge.

### Greek text

Οὗτός ἐστιν »ἄρτος ἐπουράνιος« καὶ »πνευματικὴ τροφὴ« ζωῆς παρεκτικὴ κατὰ τὴν βρῶσιν καὶ γνῶσιν, »τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων«. τῆς ἐκκλησίας δηλονότι.

### English translation (Claude)

This is the “heavenly bread” and the “spiritual food” that gives life by eating and by knowledge, “the light of men,” that is, of the church.

### Scripture references

- John 6:31: allusion, high confidence
- 1 Cor 10:3: allusion, high confidence
- John 1:4: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The allusions are John 6:31–33, 1 Cor 10:3, and John 1:4. Clement plays on βρῶσις (“eating”) and γνῶσις (“knowledge”).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 13.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/13/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 13.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/13/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:111
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Those who ate manna died, but those who eat the true bread will not die.

### Greek text

οἱ μὲν οὖν τὸν οὐράνιον ἄρτον φαγόντες ἀπέθανον, ὁ δὲ τὸν ἀληθινὸν ἄρτον τοῦ πνεύματος ἐσθίων οὐ τεθνήξεται.

### English translation (Claude)

Those who ate the heavenly bread died, but the one who eats the true bread of the Spirit will not die.

### Scripture references

- John 6:49: allusion, high confidence
- John 6:50: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 13.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/13/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 13.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/13/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:111
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Son is the living bread given by the Father.

### Greek text

ὁ ζῶν ἄρτος ὁ ὑπὸ τοῦ πατρὸς δοθεὶς ὁ υἱός ἐστι τοῖς ἐσθίειν βουλομένοις·

### English translation (Claude)

The living bread given by the Father is the Son, to those who wish to eat.

### Scripture references

- John 6:51: allusion, high confidence
- John 6:32: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 13.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/13/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 13.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/13/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:111
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: “The bread I will give is my flesh” means either what nourishes the flesh in the Eucharist, or, better, his body the church.

### Greek text

»ὁ δὲ ἄρτος ὃν ἐγὼ δώσω«, φησίν, »ἡ σάρξ μού ἐστιν«, ἤτοι ᾧ τρέφεται ἡ σὰρξ διὰ τῆς εὐχαριστίας ἤ, ὅπερ καὶ μᾶλλον. ἡ σὰρξ τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ ἐστιν, »ὅπερ ἐστὶν ἡ ἐκκλησία«.

### English translation (Claude)

“The bread that I will give,” he says, “is my flesh,” either that by which the flesh is nourished through the Eucharist, or, which is rather the case, the flesh is his body, “which is the church.”

### Scripture references

- John 6:51: quotation, high confidence
- Col 1:24: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotations are John 6:51 and Col 1:24 (Eph 1:23).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 13.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/13/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 13.5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/13/5/
- Source: Stählin 3:111
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The heavenly bread is also the blessed assembly of the elect, who share one substance and one destiny.

### Greek text

»ἄρτος οὐράνιος«, συναγωγὴ εὐλογημένη· τάχα δὲ ὡς ἐκ τῆς αὐτῆς οὐσίας τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν κατὰ τὸ ὑποκείμενον γενομένων, καὶ ὡς τοῦ αὐτοῦ τέλους τευξομένων.

### English translation (Claude)

“Heavenly bread,” a blessed assembly; perhaps too because the elect have come into being from the same substance in respect of their substrate, and because they will reach the same end.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 13.5 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/13/5/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 14.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/14/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:111
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Demons are called bodiless only by comparison with the spiritual bodies of the saved; they have a shape and can feel punishment.

### Greek text

Τὰ δαιμόνια »ἀσώματα« εἴρηται, οὐχ ὡς σῶμα μὴ ἔχοντα (ἔχει γὰρ καὶ σχῆμα· διὸ καὶ συναίσθησιν κολάσεως ἔχει), ἀλλʼ ὡς πρὸς σύγκρισιν τῶν σῳζομένων σωμάτων πνευματικῶν σκιὰ ὄντα ἀσώματα εἴρηται.

### English translation (Claude)

Demons are called “bodiless,” not as having no body (for they have a figure too, which is why they are conscious of punishment), but because, compared with the spiritual bodies of those being saved, they are a shadow and so are called bodiless.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 14.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/14/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 14.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/14/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:111
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Angels and souls are bodies of a kind, as Paul speaks of a psychic and a spiritual body.

### Greek text

καὶ οἱ ἄγγελοι σώματά εἰσιν· ὁρῶνται γοῦν. ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ σῶμα. ὁ γοῦν ἀπόστολος· »σπείρεται μὲν γὰρ σῶμα ψυχικόν, ἐγείρεται δὲ σῶμα πνευματικόν.«

### English translation (Claude)

Angels too are bodies; at any rate they are seen. And the soul too is a body. At any rate the apostle says, “It is sown a psychic body, it is raised a spiritual body.”

### Scripture references

- 1 Cor 15:44: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is 1 Cor 15:44; “psychic” (ψυχικόν) is usually rendered “natural.”

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 14.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/14/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 14.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/14/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:111
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Souls must be bodies of some kind, since they are punished; Christ speaks of casting soul and body into Gehenna.

### Greek text

πῶς δὲ καὶ αἱ κολαζόμεναι ψυχαὶ συναισθάνονται μὴ σώματα οὖσαι; »φοβήθητε« γοῦν λέγει »τὸν μετὰ θάνατον δυνάμενον καὶ ψυχὴν καὶ σῶμα εἰς γέενναν βαλεῖν.« τὸ γὰρ φαινόμενον οὐ πυρὶ καθαίρεται, ἀλλʼ εἰς γῆν ἀναλύεται.

### English translation (Claude)

And how do souls being punished feel it, if they are not bodies? At any rate he says, “Fear him who after death is able to cast both soul and body into Gehenna.” For what is visible is not purified by fire but dissolves into earth.

### Scripture references

- Matt 10:28: quotation, high confidence
- Luke 12:5: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation combines Matt 10:28 and Luke 12:5.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 14.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/14/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 14.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/14/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:111
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The parable of Lazarus and the rich man, with its fingers and tongue, shows the soul has a kind of body.

### Greek text

ἄντικρυς δὲ ἀπὸ τοῦ Λαζάρου καὶ τοῦ πλουσίου διὰ τῶν σωματικῶν μελῶν σῶμα εἶναι δείκνυται ἡ ψυχή.

### English translation (Claude)

And from Lazarus and the rich man the soul is plainly shown to be a body, through its bodily members.

### Scripture references

- Luke 16:24: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 14.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/14/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 15.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/15/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:111
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Paul's “image of the heavenly” shows that there are spiritual bodies.

### Greek text

»Ὡς δὲ ἐφορέσαμεν τὴν εἰκόνα τοῦ χοϊκοῦ, φορέσωμεν καὶ τὴν εἰκόνα τοῦ ἐπουρανίου« τοῦ πνευματικοῦ, κατὰ προκοπὴν τελειούμενοι. πλὴν πάλιν εἰκόνα λέγει, ὡς εἶναι σώματα πνευματικά.

### English translation (Claude)

“As we have borne the image of the earthy, let us also bear the image of the heavenly,” the spiritual, being perfected by advancement. But again he says “image,” so that there are spiritual bodies.

### Scripture references

- 1 Cor 15:49: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is 1 Cor 15:49 (with the hortatory reading “let us bear”).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 15.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/15/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 15.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/15/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:111–112
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Seeing “face to face” implies form and body, since figure is seen by figure.

### Greek text

καὶ πάλιν· »ἄρτι βλέπομεν διʼ ἐσόπτρου ἐν αἰνίγματι, τότε δὲ πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον.« αὐτίκα γὰρ ἀρχόμεθα γινώσκειν * *. οὗ δὲ πρόσωπον. καὶ ἰδέα καὶ σχῆμα καὶ σῶμα. σχῆμα μὲν οὖν σχήματι θεωρεῖται καὶ πρόσωπον προσώπῳ καὶ ἐπιγινώσκεται τὰ γνωρίσματα τοῖς σχήμασι καὶ ταῖς οὐσίαις.

### English translation (Claude)

And again: “Now we see through a mirror in a riddle, but then face to face.” For immediately we begin to know … And where there is a face, there is also form, figure, and body. Figure is seen by figure, face by face, and distinguishing marks are recognized by figures and substances.

### Scripture references

- 1 Cor 13:12: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The asterisks in the Greek mark a gap in the manuscript. The quotation is 1 Cor 13:12.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 15.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/15/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 16.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/16/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:112
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The dove at Christ's baptism was seen as a body; the church says it was the Holy Spirit, while the Basilideans and Valentinians gave other interpretations.

### Greek text

Καὶ ἡ περιστερὰ δὲ σῶμα ὤφθη, ἣν οἳ μὲν τὸ ἅγιον πνεῦμά φασιν, οἱ δὲ ἀπὸ Βασιλείδου τὸν διάκονον, οἱ δὲ ἀπὸ Οὐαλεντίνου τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἐνθυμήσεως τοῦ πατρός. τὸ τὴν κατέλευσιν πεποιημένον ἐπὶ τὴν τοῦ λόγου σάρκα.

### English translation (Claude)

The dove too was seen as a body; some say it is the Holy Spirit, the followers of Basilides say it is the minister, and the followers of Valentinus the spirit of the Father's thought, which made its descent upon the flesh of the Word.

### Scripture references

- Matt 3:16: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Basilides was a Gnostic teacher at Alexandria in the early second century.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 16.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/16/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 17.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/17/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:112
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Valentinians hold that Jesus, the Church, and Wisdom are completely blended.

### Greek text

Ἔστιν Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἡ Ἐκκλησία καὶ ἡ Σοφία διʼ ὅλων κρᾶσις τῶν σωμάτων δυνατὴ κατὰ τοὺς Οὐαλεντινιανούς.

### English translation (Claude)

According to the Valentinians, Jesus, the Church, and Wisdom are a total mixture of bodies, such mixture being possible.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 17.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/17/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 17.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/17/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:112
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They cite examples of mixture: marriage, burial, water with wine.

### Greek text

ἡ γοῦν ἀνθρωπίνη μῖξις ἡ κατὰ γάμον ἐκ δυεῖν μεμιγμένων σπερμάτων ἑνὸς γένεσιν παιδίου ἀποτελεῖ, καὶ τὸ σῶμα εἰς γῆν ἀναλυθὲν κέκραται τῇ γῇ καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ τῷ οἴνῳ.

### English translation (Claude)

At any rate, human union in marriage produces from two mingled seeds the birth of one child; and the body dissolved into earth is mixed with the earth, and water with wine.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 17.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/17/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 17.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/17/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:112
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Clement objects that spiritual beings are joined by juxtaposition, not mixture; God's power sanctifies the soul by pervading it.

### Greek text

τὰ δὲ κρείττω καὶ διαφορώτερα σώματα ῥᾳδίαν ἴσχει τὴν κρᾶσιν· πνεῦμα γοῦν πνεύματι μίγνυται. ἐμοὶ δὲ δοκεῖ κατὰ παράθεσιν τοῦτο γενέσθαι, ἀλλʼ οὐ κατὰ κρᾶσιν. μή τι οὖν ἡ θεία δύναμις διήκουσα τὴν ψυχὴν ἁγιάζει αὐτὴν κατὰ τὴν τελευταίαν προκοπήν.

### English translation (Claude)

Superior and more excellent bodies have an easy mixture; at any rate spirit is mixed with spirit. But it seems to me that this happens by juxtaposition, not by mixture. Is it, then, that the divine power pervading the soul sanctifies it at the final advancement?

### Translation notes

- “Juxtaposition” and “mixture” are terms of Stoic physics.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 17.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/17/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 17.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/17/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:112
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: God's Spirit pervades by power, not by substance; spirit lies beside spirit.

### Greek text

»ὁ γὰρ θεὸς πνεῦμα, ὅπου θέλει πνεῖ.« ἡ γὰρ δύναμις οὐ κατʼ οὐσίαν διήκει, ἀλλὰ κατὰ δύναμιν καὶ ἰσχύν, παράκειται δὲ τὸ πνεῦμα τῷ πνεύματι, ὡς τὸ πνεῦμα τῇ ψυχῇ.

### English translation (Claude)

“For God is spirit; it blows where it wills.” For the power does not pervade by substance, but by power and strength; and spirit lies beside spirit, as spirit beside soul.

### Scripture references

- John 4:24: quotation, high confidence
- John 3:8: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation combines John 4:24 and John 3:8.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 17.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/17/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 18.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/18/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:112
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The descending Savior was seen by the angels and by Abraham and the righteous at rest, who rejoiced to see his day.

### Greek text

Ὁ σωτὴρ ὤφθη κατιὼν τοῖς ἀγγέλοις, διὸ καὶ εὐηγγελίσαντο αὐτόν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῷ Ἀβραὰμ καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς δικαίοις τοῖς ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει οὖσιν ἐν τοῖς δεξιοῖς ὤφθη· »ἠγαλλιάσατο«, γὰρ φησίν, »ἵνα ἴδῃ τὴν ἡμέραν τὴν ἐμήν«, τὴν ἐν σαρκὶ παρουσίαν.

### English translation (Claude)

The Savior was seen by the angels as he descended, which is why they announced him as good news. But he was also seen by Abraham and the other righteous who are in the place of rest on the right hand; for he says, “He rejoiced that he might see my day,” that is, the coming in the flesh.

### Scripture references

- Luke 2:10: allusion, medium confidence
- John 8:56: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The allusions are Luke 2:10 and John 8:56.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 18.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/18/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 18.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/18/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:112
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: After rising, Christ preached to the righteous at rest and transferred them; his coming on earth was a shadow of his glory, a shadow that illuminates.

### Greek text

ὅθεν ἀναστὰς ὁ κύριος εὐηγγελίσατο τοὺς δικαίους τοὺς ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει καὶ μετέστησεν αὐτοὺς καὶ μετέθηκεν, καὶ πάντες »ἐν τῇ σκιᾷ αὐτοῦ ζήσονται«. σκιὰ γὰρ τῆς δόξης τοῦ σωτῆρος τῆς παρὰ τῷ πατρὶ ἡ παρουσία ἡ ἐνταῦθα· φωτὸς δὲ σκιὰ οὐ σκότος, ἀλλὰ φωτισμός ἐστιν.

### English translation (Claude)

Hence, when he rose, the Lord preached the good news to the righteous who were at rest, and moved and transferred them, and all “will live in his shadow.” For the coming here is a shadow of the Savior's glory that is with the Father; and the shadow of light is not darkness but illumination.

### Scripture references

- Lam 4:20: quotation, high confidence
- 1 Pet 3:19: allusion, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is Lam 4:20 (LXX). The allusion is to Christ's preaching to the dead (1 Pet 3:19).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 18.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/18/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 19.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/19/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:112
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Word became flesh not only at the incarnation, but also, in a sense, when he became Son in the beginning, by limitation, not in substance.

### Greek text

»Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο«, οὐ κατὰ τὴν παρουσίαν μόνον ἄνθρωπος γενόμενος, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν ἀρχῇ ὁ ἐν ταὐτότητι λόγος, κατὰ περιγραφὴν καὶ οὐ κατʼ οὐσίαν γενόμενος [ὁ] υἱός.

### English translation (Claude)

“And the Word became flesh,” not only by becoming man at his coming, but also in the beginning the Word in identity became Son, by circumscription and not by substance.

### Scripture references

- John 1:14: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The bracketed article in the Greek is the editor's deletion.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 19.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/19/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 19.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/19/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:112
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Word also became flesh by working through the prophets; the Savior is called child of the Word.

### Greek text

καὶ πάλιν σὰρξ ἐγένετο διὰ προφητῶν ἐνεργήσας· τέκνον δὲ τοῦ ἐν ταὐτότητι λόγου ὁ σωτὴρ εἴρηται· διὰ τοῦτο »ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν·

### English translation (Claude)

And again he became flesh by acting through the prophets. And the Savior is called the child of the Word in identity. That is why “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God;

### Scripture references

- John 1:1: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 19.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/19/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 19.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/19/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:112–113
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Lord is life; Paul's “new man created according to God” means Christ.

### Greek text

ὃ γέγονεν ἐν αὐτῷ, ζωή ἐστιν«· ζωὴ δὲ ὁ κύριος. καὶ ὁ Παῦλος »ἔνδυσαι τὸν καινὸν ἄνθρωπον τὸν κατὰ θεὸν κτισθέντα«. οἷον εἰς αὐτὸν πίστευσον τὸν ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ »κατὰ θεόν«, τὸν ἐν θεῷ λόγον, κτισθέντα.

### English translation (Claude)

what came into being in him is life”; and the Lord is life. And Paul: “Put on the new man, created according to God,” as if to say, believe in him who was created by God “according to God,” the Word in God.

### Scripture references

- John 1:3: quotation, high confidence
- John 1:4: quotation, high confidence
- Eph 4:24: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotations are John 1:3–4 and Eph 4:24.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 19.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/19/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 19.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/19/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:113
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Son is the image of the invisible God and firstborn of creation, because, begotten without passion, he became the creator of all things.

### Greek text

δύναται δὲ τὸ »κατὰ θεὸν κτισθέντα« τὸ εἰς ὃ μέλλει τέλος προκοπῆς φθάνειν ὁ ἄνθρωπος μηνύειν ἐπʼ ἴσης τῷ »ἀπόλαβε τὸ εἰς ὃ ἐκτίσθης τέλος«· καὶ ἔτι σαφέστερον καὶ διαρρήδην ἐν ἄλλοις λέγει· »ὅς ἐστιν εἰκὼν τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ἀοράτου·« εἶτα ἐπιφέρει· »πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως.« »ἀοράτου« μὲν γὰρ »θεοῦ εἰκόνα« τὸν υἱὸν λέγει τοῦ λόγου τοῦ ἐν ταὐτότητι, »πρωτότοκον δὲ πάσης κτίσεως«, ὅτι γεννηθεὶς ἀπαθῶς, κτίστης καὶ γενεσιάρχης τῆς ὅλης ἐγένετο κτίσεώς τε καὶ οὐσίας. ἐν αὐτῷ γὰρ ὁ πατὴρ τὰ πάντα ἐποίησεν.

### English translation (Claude)

But “created according to God” may also indicate the end of advancement that man will reach, just like “receive the end for which you were created.” And he says it still more clearly and expressly elsewhere: “who is the image of the invisible God”; then he adds, “firstborn of all creation.” For he calls the Son of the Word in identity “image of the invisible God,” and “firstborn of all creation,” because, begotten without passion, he became the creator and originator of all creation and substance. For in him the Father made all things.

### Scripture references

- Col 1:15: quotation, high confidence
- Col 1:16: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotations are Col 1:15 and an unidentified saying (“receive the end for which you were created”); “in him the Father made all things” echoes Col 1:16.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 19.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/19/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 19.5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/19/5/
- Source: Stählin 3:113
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: “The form of a servant” means both his flesh and created substance, which is subject to the sovereign cause.

### Greek text

ὅθεν καὶ »μορφὴν δούλου λαβεῖν« εἴρηται, οὐ μόνον τὴν σάρκα κατὰ τὴν παρουσίαν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν οὐσίαν ἐκ τοῦ ὑποκειμένου, δούλη δὲ ἡ οὐσία, ὡς ἂν παθητὴ καὶ ὑποκειμένη τῇ δραστηρίῳ καὶ κυριωτάτῃ αἰτίᾳ.

### English translation (Claude)

Hence he is also said to have “taken the form of a servant,” not only the flesh at his coming, but also substance from the substrate; and substance is a servant, as passive and subject to the active and most sovereign cause.

### Scripture references

- Phil 2:7: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 19.5 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/19/5/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 20.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/20/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:113
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Psalms' “before the morning star I begot you” refers to the Word, begotten before all creation.

### Greek text

Τὸ γὰρ »πρὸ ἑωσφόρου ἐγέννησά σε« οὕτως ἐξακούομεν ἐπὶ τοῦ πρωτοκτίστου θεοῦ λόγου καὶ »πρὸ ἡλίου« καὶ σελήνης καὶ πρὸ πάσης κτίσεως »τὸ ὄνομά σου«.

### English translation (Claude)

For we understand “Before the morning star I begot you” in this way, of the first-created God the Word, and “Before the sun” and moon and before all creation “your name.”

### Scripture references

- Ps 110:3 (109:3 LXX): quotation, high confidence
- Ps 72:17 (71:17 LXX): quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotations are Ps 110:3 (109:3 LXX) and Ps 72:17 (71:17 LXX). “First-created” is Clement's word here for the Word as first-begotten.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 20.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/20/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 21.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/21/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:113
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Valentinians read Gen 1:27 as the emanation of Wisdom: the male are the angels (the elect), the female themselves (the called).

### Greek text

Τῷ »κατʼ εἰκόνα θεοῦ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς, ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτοὺς« τὴν προβολὴν τὴν ἀρίστην φασὶν οἱ Οὐαλεντινιανοὶ τῆς Σοφίας λέγεσθαι, ἀφʼ ἧς τὰ μὲν ἀρρενικὰ ἡ ἐκλογή. τὰ δὲ θηλυκὰ ἡ κλῆσις, καὶ τὰ μὲν ἀρρενικὰ ἀγγελικὰ καλοῦσι, τὰ θηλυκὰ δὲ ἑαυτούς, τὸ διαφέρον σπέρμα.

### English translation (Claude)

The Valentinians say that “in the image of God he made them, male and female he made them” refers to the finest emanation of Wisdom, of which the male elements are the election, and the female the calling; and they call the male elements angelic, and the female themselves, the superior seed.

### Scripture references

- Gen 1:27: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 21.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/21/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 21.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/21/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:113
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They say Eve was formed from the female seed taken from Adam.

### Greek text

οὕτως καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἀδὰμ τὸ μὲν ἀρρενικὸν ἔμεινεν αὐτῷ, πᾶν δὲ τὸ θηλυκὸν σπέρμα ἀρθὲν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ Εὔα γέγονεν, ἀφʼ ἧς αἱ θήλειαι, ὡς ἀπʼ ἐκείνου οἱ ἄρρενες.

### English translation (Claude)

So too in the case of Adam, the male remained in him, but all the female seed was taken from him and became Eve, from whom come females, as from him males.

### Scripture references

- Gen 2:22: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 21.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/21/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 21.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/21/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:113
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They teach that the female seed, made male, is united with the angels and enters the Pleroma; so the church becomes angels.

### Greek text

τὰ οὖν ἀρρενικὰ μετὰ τοῦ λόγου συνεστάλη, τὰ θηλυκὰ δὲ ἀπανδρωθέντα ἑνοῦται τοῖς ἀγγέλοις καὶ εἰς πλήρωμα χωρεῖ. διὰ τοῦτο ἡ γυνὴ εἰς ἄνδρα μετατίθεσθαι λέγεται καὶ ἡ ἐνταῦθα ἐκκλησία εἰς ἀγγέλους.

### English translation (Claude)

The male elements, then, were drawn together with the Word, but the female, made male, are united to the angels and pass into the Pleroma. That is why the woman is said to be changed into a man, and the church here into angels.

### Translation notes

- Compare the Gospel of Thomas 114, where a woman is “made male” to enter the kingdom.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 21.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/21/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 22.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/22/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:113–114
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Valentinians read “baptized for the dead” as the angels' baptism on our behalf.

### Greek text

Καὶ ὅταν εἴπῃ ὁ ἀπόστολος »ἐπεὶ τί ποιήσουσιν οἱ βαπτιζόμενοι ὑπὲρ τῶν νεκρῶν;« ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν γάρ, φησίν, οἱ ἄγγελοι ἐβαπτίσαντο, ὧν ἐσμεν μέρη.

### English translation (Claude)

And when the apostle says, “Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead?” for the angels, he says, of whom we are parts, were baptized for us.

### Scripture references

- 1 Cor 15:29: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 22.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/22/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 22.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/22/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:114
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: In their reading, we are the dead, the angels are the living.

### Greek text

νεκροὶ δὲ ἡμεῖς οἱ νεκρωθέντες τῇ συστάσει ταύτῃ, ζῶντες δὲ οἱ ἄρρενες οἱ μὴ μεταλαβόντες τῆς συστάσεως ταύτης. »εἰ νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐγείρονται, τί καὶ βαπτιζόμεθα;«

### English translation (Claude)

We are the dead, who have been made dead by this present state; the living are the males, who have not shared in this state. “If the dead are not raised, why are we baptized at all?”

### Scripture references

- 1 Cor 15:29: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 22.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/22/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 22.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/22/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:114
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They say we rise to be reunited with our angelic counterparts.

### Greek text

ἐγειρόμεθα οὖν ἡμεῖς, ἰσάγγελοι τοῖς ἄρρεσιν ἀποκατασταθέντες, τοῖς μέλεσι τὰ μέλη, εἰς ἕνωσιν.

### English translation (Claude)

So we are raised, made equal to the angels, restored to the males, members to members, into union.

### Scripture references

- Luke 20:36: echo, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 22.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/22/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 22.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/22/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:114
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They say the angels were baptized for us so that we, bearing the Name, may pass the Limit into the Pleroma.

### Greek text

»οἱ βαπτιζόμενοι« δέ, φασίν, »ὑπὲρ [ἡμῶν] τῶν νεκρῶν« οἱ ἄγγελοί εἰσιν οἱ ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν βαπτιζόμενοι, ἵνα ἔχοντες καὶ ἡμεῖς τὸ ὄνομα μὴ ἐπισχεθῶμεν κωλυθέντες εἰς τὸ πλήρωμα παρελθεῖν τῷ Ὅρῳ καὶ τῷ Σταυρῷ.

### English translation (Claude)

“Those who are baptized for the dead,” they say, are the angels who are baptized for us, so that we too, having the Name, may not be held back and prevented by the Limit and the Cross from passing into the Pleroma.

### Translation notes

- Limit (Horos) and Cross (Stauros) are names of the Valentinian boundary of the Pleroma. The bracketed word in the Greek is the editor's deletion.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 22.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/22/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 22.5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/22/5/
- Source: Stählin 3:114
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Valentinian rite of laying on hands ends with the words “for angelic redemption,” so that the baptized share the redemption of their angels.

### Greek text

διὸ καὶ ἐν τῇ χειροθεσίᾳ λέγουσιν ἐπὶ τέλους »εἰς λύτρωσιν ἀγγελικήν«, τουτέστιν ἣν καὶ ἄγγελοι ἔχουσιν. ἵνʼ ᾖ ὁ βεβαπτισμένος ὁ τὴν λύτρωσιν κομισάμενος τῷ αὐτῷ ὀνόματι. ᾧ καὶ ὁ ἄγγελος αὐτοῦ προβεβάπτισται.

### English translation (Claude)

That is why at the laying on of hands they say at the end, “for angelic redemption,” that is, the redemption the angels too have, so that the one who has received redemption may be baptized in the same name in which his angel was baptized before him.

### Translation notes

- This is valuable evidence for a Valentinian baptismal rite (“redemption,” ἀπολύτρωσις).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 22.5 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/22/5/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 22.6

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/22/6/
- Source: Stählin 3:114
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They say the angels were baptized in the Name that descended on Jesus as a dove.

### Greek text

ἐβαπτίσαντο δὲ ἐν ἀρχῇ οἱ ἄγγελοι ἐν λυτρώσει τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐν τῇ περιστερᾷ κατελθόντος καὶ λυτρωσαμένου αὐτόν.

### English translation (Claude)

The angels were baptized in the beginning in the redemption of the Name that came down upon Jesus in the dove and redeemed him.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 22.6 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/22/6/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 22.7

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/22/7/
- Source: Stählin 3:114
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Theodotus even says that Jesus himself needed redemption.

### Greek text

ἐδέησεν δὲ λυτρώσεως καὶ τῷ Ἰησοῦ, ἵνα μὴ κατασχεθῇ τῇ Ἐννοίᾳ ᾗ ἐνετέθη τοῦ ὑστερήματος προ[σ]ερχόμενος διὰ τῆς Σοφίας, ὥς φησιν ὁ Θεόδοτος.

### English translation (Claude)

And even Jesus needed redemption, so that he might not be held back by the Thought of the Deficiency in which he had been placed when he came forth through Wisdom, as Theodotus says.

### Translation notes

- The bracketed letter in the Greek is the editor's deletion.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 22.7 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/22/7/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 23.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/23/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:114
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Valentinians call Jesus the Paraclete, full of all the Aeons.

### Greek text

Τὸν Παράκλητον οἱ ἀπὸ Οὐαλεντίνου τὸν Ἰησοῦν λέγουσιν. ὅτι πλήρης τῶν αἰώνων ἐλήλυθεν, ὡς ἀπὸ τοῦ ὅλου προελθών.

### English translation (Claude)

The followers of Valentinus call Jesus the Paraclete, because he has come full of the Aeons, as having come forth from the whole.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 23.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/23/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 23.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/23/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:114
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: In their myth Christ asks the Aeons to help Wisdom, and Jesus is sent forth as her Paraclete; Paul is a type of the Paraclete.

### Greek text

Χριστὸς γὰρ καταλείψας τὴν προβαλοῦσαν αὐτὸν Σοφίαν εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸ πλήρωμα ὑπὲρ τῆς ἔξω καταλειφθείσης Σοφίας ᾐτήσατο τὴν βοήθειαν. καὶ ἐξ εὐδοκίας τῶν αἰώνων Ἰησοῦς προβάλλεται παράκλητος τῷ παρελθόντι αἰῶνι. ἐν τύπῳ δὲ Παρακλήτου ὁ Παῦλος ἀναστάσεως ἀπόστολος γέγονεν.

### English translation (Claude)

For Christ, leaving Wisdom who had put him forth, entered the Pleroma and asked help for Wisdom, who was left outside; and by the good pleasure of the Aeons Jesus is put forth as Paraclete for the Aeon who had transgressed. And Paul became the apostle of the resurrection in the type of the Paraclete.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 23.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/23/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 23.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/23/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:114
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: In the Valentinian reading, Paul preached Christ in two ways: as born and suffering, for the lower beings, and as spiritual, born of the Spirit and a virgin, for the higher.

### Greek text

αὐτίκα μετὰ τὸ πάθος τοῦ κυρίου καὶ αὐτὸς ἀπεστάλη κηρύσσειν· διὸ καὶ καθʼ ἑκάτερον ἐκήρυξε τὸν σωτῆρα, γεννητὸν καὶ παθητὸν διὰ τοὺς ἀριστερούς, ὅτι τοῦτον γνῶναι δυνηθέντες κατὰ τὸν τόπον τοῦτον δεδίασιν, καὶ κατὰ τὸ πνευματικὸν ἐξ ἁγίου πνεύματος καὶ παρθένου, ὡς οἱ δεξιοὶ ἄγγελοι γινώσκουσιν.

### English translation (Claude)

Immediately after the Lord's passion he too was sent to preach. That is why he preached the Savior in both ways: as begotten and able to suffer, for the sake of those on the left, because, being able to know him in this character, they are afraid of him; and according to the spiritual, as from the Holy Spirit and a virgin, as the angels on the right know him.

### Translation notes

- “Those on the left” and “those on the right” are Valentinian terms for the lower (psychic) and higher (angelic) powers.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 23.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/23/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 23.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/23/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:114
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Each knows the Lord in his own way; the angels of the elect see the Father's face.

### Greek text

ἰδίως γὰρ ἕκαστος γνωρίζει τὸν κύριον καὶ οὐχ ὁμοίως πάντες »τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ πατρὸς ὁρῶσιν οἱ ἄγγελοι τούτων· τῶν μικρῶν« τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν. τῶν ἐσομένων ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ κληρονομίᾳ καὶ τελειότητι.

### English translation (Claude)

For each knows the Lord in his own way, and not all alike; “their angels behold the face of the Father,” the angels of the little ones, the elect, who will be in the same inheritance and perfection.

### Scripture references

- Matt 18:10: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 23.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/23/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 23.5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/23/5/
- Source: Stählin 3:114–115
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Father's “face” is the Son and what the Son reveals; the rest of the Father remains unknown.

### Greek text

τάχα δὲ τὸ πρόσωπον ἔστι μὲν καὶ ὁ υἱός, ἔστι δὲ καὶ ὅσον καταληπτὸν τοῦ πατρὸς διʼ υἱοῦ δεδιδαγμένοι θεωροῦσι, τὸ δὲ λοιπὸν ἄγνωστόν ἐστι τοῦ πατρός.

### English translation (Claude)

Perhaps the face is the Son, and also as much of the Father as is comprehensible, which they contemplate, having been taught by the Son; but the rest of the Father is unknown.

### Translation notes

- This may be Clement's own comment.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 23.5 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/23/5/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 24.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/24/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:115
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Valentinians say the prophetic Spirit is now poured out on the whole church, which performs healings and prophecies.

### Greek text

Λέγουσιν οἱ Οὐαλεντινιανοὶ ὅτι ὃ κατὰ εἷς τῶν προφητῶν ἔσχεν πνεῦμα ἐξαίρετον εἰς διακονίαν, τοῦτο ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἐξεχύθη· διὸ καὶ τὰ σημεῖα τοῦ πνεύματος, ἰάσεις καὶ προφητεῖαι, διὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἐπιτελοῦνται.

### English translation (Claude)

The Valentinians say that the special spirit that each of the prophets had for his ministry has been poured out on all the members of the church; that is why the signs of the Spirit, healings and prophecies, are accomplished through the church.

### Scripture references

- Joel 2:28: echo, medium confidence
- 1 Cor 12:9: echo, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 24.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/24/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 24.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/24/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:115
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Clement answers that the Spirit at work in the church is the same Spirit who worked in the old covenant.

### Greek text

ἀγνοοῦσι δὲ ὅτι ὁ Παράκλητος ὁ προσεχῶς ἐνεργῶν νῦν ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τῆς αὐτῆς οὐσίας ἐστὶ καὶ δυνάμεως τῷ προσεχῶς ἐνεργήσαντι κατὰ τὴν παλαιὰν διαθήκην.

### English translation (Claude)

But they do not know that the Paraclete who now works directly in the church is of the same substance and power as the one who worked directly in the old covenant.

### Translation notes

- Against the Valentinian separation of the God of the Old Testament from the God of the New.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 24.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/24/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 25.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/25/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:115
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Valentinians define angels as messages from God and call the Aeons “words.”

### Greek text

Τὸν ἄγγελον ὡρίσαντο οἱ ἀπὸ Οὐαλεντίνου λόγον ἀπαγγελίαν ἔχοντα τοῦ ὄντος. λέγουσι δὲ καὶ τοὺς αἰῶνας ὁμωνύμως τῷ λόγῳ λόγους.

### English translation (Claude)

The followers of Valentinus defined an angel as a word bearing a message from the one who is. And they also call the Aeons “words,” with the same name as the Word.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 25.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/25/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 25.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/25/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:115
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Theodotus says the twelve apostles replace the twelve signs of the zodiac, overseeing rebirth as the signs govern birth.

### Greek text

οἱ ἀπόστολοι, φησί, μετετέθησαν τοῖς δεκαδύο ζῳδίοις. ὡς γὰρ ὑπʼ ἐκείνων ἡ γένεσις διοικεῖται, οὕτως ὑπὸ τῶν ἀποστόλων ἡ ἀναγέννησις ἐφορᾶται.

### English translation (Claude)

The apostles, he says, were put in place of the twelve signs of the zodiac. For as birth is governed by them, so rebirth is overseen by the apostles.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 25.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/25/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 26.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/26/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:115
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Theodotus says the visible Jesus was Wisdom and the Church of the spiritual seeds, the invisible part the only-begotten Son.

### Greek text

Τὸ ὁρατὸν τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἡ Σοφία καὶ ἡ Ἐκκλησία ἦν τῶν σπερμάτων τῶν διαφερόντων, ἣν ἐστολίσατο διὰ τοῦ σαρκίου. ὥς φησιν ὁ Θεόδοτος· τὸ δὲ ἀόρατον τὸ ὄνομα, ὅπερ ἐστὶν ὁ υἱὸς ὁ μονογενής.

### English translation (Claude)

The visible part of Jesus was Wisdom and the Church of the superior seeds, which he put on through the bit of flesh, as Theodotus says; but the invisible part is the Name, which is the only-begotten Son.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 26.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/26/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 26.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/26/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:115
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: “I am the door” means the spiritual seed will come as far as the boundary where Christ is,

### Greek text

ὅθεν ὅταν εἴπῃ »ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ θύρα«, τοῦτο λέγει, ὅτι μέχρι τοῦ ὅρου οὗ εἰμι ἐγὼ ἐλεύσεσθε οἱ τοῦ διαφέροντος σπέρματος·

### English translation (Claude)

Hence when he says, “I am the door,” he means this: that you who are of the superior seed will come as far as the Limit where I am;

### Scripture references

- John 10:9: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 26.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/26/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 26.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/26/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:115
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: and will enter the Pleroma with him through the door.

### Greek text

ὅταν δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς εἰσέρχηται, καὶ τὸ σπέρμα συνεισέρχεται αὐτῷ εἰς τὸ πλήρωμα διὰ τῆς θύρας συναχθὲν καὶ εἰσαχθέν.

### English translation (Claude)

and when he himself enters, the seed too enters with him into the Pleroma, gathered together and brought in through the door.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 26.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/26/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 27.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/27/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:115
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The high priest's laying aside of the golden plate before entering the Holy of Holies signifies the purified soul laying aside its body, having the Name engraved within.

### Greek text

Ὁ ἱερεὺς εἰσιὼν ἐντὸς τοῦ καταπετάσματος τοῦ δευτέρου τό τε πέταλον ἀπετίθει παρὰ τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ τοῦ θυμιάματος, αὐτὸς δὲ ἐν σιγῇ τὸ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ἐγκεχαραγμένον ὄνομα ἔχων εἰσῄει, δεικνὺς τὴν ἀπόθεσιν τοῦ καθάπερ πετάλου χρυσοῦ καθαροῦ γενομένου καὶ κούφου διὰ τὴν κάθαρσιν, τοῦ ὥσπερ σώματος τῆς ψυχῆς [ἀπόθεσιν], ἐν ᾧ ἐγκεχάρακτο τὸ γάνωμα τῆς θεοσεβείας, διʼ οὗ ταῖς ἀρχαῖς καὶ ταῖς ἐξουσίαις ἐγινώσκετο τὸ ὄνομα περικείμενος.

### English translation (Claude)

The priest, entering within the second veil, used to lay aside the plate beside the altar of incense, and himself went in in silence, having the Name engraved on his heart. This showed the laying aside of the body of the soul, as it were, which has become like a plate of pure gold and light because of its purification, on which was engraved the luster of godliness, by which he was known to the principalities and powers as bearing the Name.

### Scripture references

- Exod 28:36: allusion, high confidence
- Lev 16:12: allusion, medium confidence
- Heb 9:3: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- This chapter, probably Clement's own, allegorizes the high priest's entry into the Holy of Holies (Exod 28:36–38; Lev 16). The plate bore the divine Name. The bracketed word in the Greek is the editor's deletion.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 27.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/27/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 27.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/27/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:115–116
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The soul's body is laid aside in the intelligible world, beside the angels who offer up prayers.

### Greek text

ἀποτίθεται δὲ τοῦτο τὸ σῶμα, τὸ πέταλον τὸ ἀβαρὲς γενόμενον, ἐντὸς τοῦ καταπετάσματος τοῦ δευτέρου, ἐν τῷ νοητῷ κόσμῳ, ὅ ἐστι δεύτερον ὁλοσχερὲς καταπέτασμα τοῦ παντός, παρὰ τὸ θυσιαστήριον τοῦ θυμιάματος, παρὰ τοὺς λειτουργοὺς τῶν ἀναφερομένων εὐχῶν ἀγγέλους.

### English translation (Claude)

This body, the plate that has become weightless, is laid aside within the second veil, in the intelligible world, which is the second, complete veil of the universe, beside the altar of incense, beside the angels who are ministers of the prayers offered up.

### Scripture references

- Rev 8:3: echo, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 27.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/27/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 27.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/27/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:116
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The stripped soul passes into the spiritual realm and becomes high-priestly, animated directly by the Word, as the archangels are high priests of the angels.

### Greek text

γυμνὴ δὲ ἡ ψυχὴ ἐν δυνάμει τοῦ συνειδότος, οἷον σῶμα τῆς δυνάμεως γενομένη μεταβαίνει εἰς τὰ πνευματικά. λογικὴ τῷ ὄντι καὶ ἀρχιερατικὴ γενομένη, ὡς ἂν ἐμψυχουμένη ὡς εἰπεῖν ὑπὸ τοῦ λόγου προσεχῶς ἤδη, καθάπερ οἱ ἀρχάγγελοι τῶν ἀγγέλων ἀρχιερεῖς γενόμενοι καὶ τούτων πάλιν οἱ πρωτόκτιστοι.

### English translation (Claude)

And the soul, stripped, in the power of its conscience, having become as it were a body of that power, passes into the spiritual realm, having become truly rational and high-priestly, as if now ensouled, so to speak, directly by the Word, just as the archangels have become high priests of the angels, and the first-created again of them.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 27.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/27/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 27.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/27/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:116
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The purified soul, seeing God face to face, no longer needs Scripture and study.

### Greek text

ποῦ δὲ ἔτι γραφῆς καὶ μαθήσεως κατόρθωμα τῇ ψυχῇ ἐκείνῃ τῇ καθαρᾷ γενομένῃ, ὅπου καὶ ἀξιοῦται »πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον« θεὸν ὁρᾶν;

### English translation (Claude)

Where is there still achievement by Scripture and learning for that soul which has become pure, where it is even counted worthy to see God “face to face”?

### Scripture references

- 1 Cor 13:12: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 27.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/27/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 27.5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/27/5/
- Source: Stählin 3:116
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The perfected soul passes beyond written teaching to direct knowledge, dwelling with the Bridegroom among the first-created as friend, son, and brother.

### Greek text

τὴν γοῦν ἀγγελικὴν διδασκαλίαν ὑπερβᾶσα καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τὸ διδασκόμενον ἐγγράφως ἐπὶ τὴν γνῶσιν καὶ κατάληψιν τῶν πραγμάτων ἔρχεται. οὐκέτι νύμφη. ἀλλʼ ἤδη λόγος γενόμενος καὶ παρὰ τῷ νυμφίῳ καταλύων μετὰ τῶν πρωτοκλήτων καὶ πρωτοκτίστων. φίλων μὲν διʼ ἀγάπην, υἱῶν δὲ διὰ τὴν διδασκαλίαν καὶ ὑπακοήν, ἀδελφῶν δὲ διὰ τὸ τῆς γενέσεως κοινόν.

### English translation (Claude)

At any rate, having passed beyond the teaching of angels and the Name taught in writing, it comes to the knowledge and apprehension of realities. No longer a bride, but having now become word, and lodging with the Bridegroom together with the first-called and first-created: friends through love, sons through teaching and obedience, brothers through their common origin.

### Scripture references

- John 15:15: echo, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 27.5 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/27/5/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 27.6

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/27/6/
- Source: Stählin 3:116
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Wearing the body and learning belong to the present plan; the final gift is to become God-bearing, the Lord's own body.

### Greek text

ὥστε τὸ μὲν τῆς οἰκονομίας ἦν, τὸ πέταλον περικεῖσθαι καὶ μανθάνειν εἰς γνῶσιν, τὸ δὲ δυνάμεως. τὸ θεοφόρον γίνεσθαι τὸν ἄνθρωπον προσεχῶς ἐνεργούμενον ὑπὸ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ καθάπερ σῶμα αὐτοῦ γινόμενον.

### English translation (Claude)

So it belonged to the divine plan to wear the plate and to learn for knowledge; but it belongs to power that man becomes God-bearing, acted on directly by the Lord and becoming as it were his body.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 27.6 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/27/6/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 28.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/28/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:116
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Basilideans read the punishment “to the third and fourth generation” as reincarnation; the Valentinians as the lower powers and their seeds.

### Greek text

Τὸ »θεὸς ἀποδιδοὺς ἐπὶ τρίτην καὶ τετάρτην γενεὰν τοῖς ἀπειθοῦσι« φασὶν οἱ ἀπὸ Βασιλείδου κατὰ τὰς ἐνσωματώσεις, οἱ δὲ ἀπὸ Οὐαλεντίνου τοὺς τρεῖς τόπους δηλοῦσθαι τοὺς ἀριστερούς, τετάρτην δὲ γενεὰν τὰ σπέρματα αὐτῶν, »ἔλεον δὲ ποιῶν εἰς χιλιάδας« ἐπὶ τὰ δεξιά.

### English translation (Claude)

“God, who repays to the third and fourth generation those who disobey”: the followers of Basilides say this refers to reincarnations; the followers of Valentinus, that the three places on the left are meant, and the fourth generation is their seeds; but “showing mercy to thousands” refers to those on the right.

### Scripture references

- Exod 20:5: quotation, high confidence
- Exod 20:6: quotation, high confidence
- Deut 5:9: quotation, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is a form of Exod 20:5–6 (Deut 5:9–10).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 28.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/28/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 29.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/29/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:116
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: In the Valentinian myth, Silence, mother of all the emanations of the Depth, kept silent about the ineffable.

### Greek text

Ἡ Σιγή, φασί, μήτηρ οὖσα πάντων τῶν προβληθέντων ὑπὸ τοῦ Βάθους. ὃ μὲν οὐκ ἔσχεν εἰπεῖν, περὶ τοῦ ἀρρήτου σεσίγηκεν, ὃ δὲ κατέλαβεν, τοῦτο ἀκατάληπτον προσηγόρευσεν.

### English translation (Claude)

Silence, they say, being mother of all that was put forth by the Depth, kept silent about the ineffable, since she could not speak of it; and what she did comprehend, she called incomprehensible.

### Translation notes

- Depth (Bythos) and Silence (Sige) are the first pair of the Valentinian Aeons.
- As printed, the Greek says Silence called “incomprehensible” what she did comprehend; some editors insert a negative.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 29.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/29/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 30.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/30/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:116–117
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Clement: forgetting God's glory, they impiously say that the Father suffered, as Theodotus holds.

### Greek text

Εἶτα ἐκλαθόμενοι τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ παθεῖν αὐτὸν λέγουσιν ἀθέως. ὃ γὰρ συνεπάθησεν ὁ πατήρ, στερεὸς ὢν τῇ φύσει, φησὶν ὁ Θεόδοτος, καὶ ἀνένδοτος, ἐνδόσιμον ἑαυτὸν παρασχών, ἵνα ἡ σιγὴ τοῦτο καταλάβῃ, πάθος ἐστίν.

### English translation (Claude)

Then, forgetting the glory of God, they godlessly say that he suffered. For what the Father suffered with, says Theodotus, though he is firm and unyielding by nature, making himself yielding so that Silence might comprehend it, is suffering.

### Translation notes

- The first sentence is Clement's criticism.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 30.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/30/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 30.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/30/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:117
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Theodotus argues that sympathy is suffering, and that the whole Pleroma suffered with the fallen Aeon.

### Greek text

ἡ γὰρ συμπάθεια πάθος τινὸς διὰ πάθος ἑτέρου. ναὶ μὴν καὶ τοῦ πάθους γενομένου τὸ ὅλον συνεπάθησεν καὶ αὐτὸ εἰς διόρθωσιν τοῦ παθόντος.

### English translation (Claude)

For sympathy is someone's suffering through the suffering of another. Indeed, when the suffering occurred, the whole suffered with it too, for the correction of the one that suffered.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 30.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/30/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 31.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/31/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:117
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They argue that since the fullness dwelt in the Savior who suffered, the whole suffered with him.

### Greek text

Ἀλλὰ καὶ εἰ ὁ κατελθὼν εὐδοκία τοῦ ὅλου ἦν (»ἐν αὐτῷ γὰρ πᾶν τὸ πλήρωμα ἦν σωματικῶς«), ἔπαθεν δὲ οὗτος, δῆλον ὅτι καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτῷ σπέρματα συνέπαθεν, διʼ ὧν τὸ ὅλον καὶ τὸ πᾶν εὑρίσκεται πάσχον.

### English translation (Claude)

But even if the one who came down was the good pleasure of the whole (“for in him the whole Pleroma was bodily”), and he suffered, it is clear that the seeds in him suffered with him, through which the whole and the all are found suffering.

### Scripture references

- Col 2:9: quotation, high confidence
- Col 1:19: quotation, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is a form of Col 2:9 (1:19).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 31.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/31/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 31.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/31/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:117
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Pleroma, they say, learned from the fall of the twelfth Aeon.

### Greek text

ἀλλὰ καὶ διὰ τῆς τοῦ δωδεκάτου αἰῶνος πείσεως τὰ ὅλα παιδευθέντα, ὥς φασι, συνεπάθησεν.

### English translation (Claude)

But also, they say, the whole, instructed by the experience of the twelfth Aeon, suffered with it.

### Translation notes

- The twelfth Aeon is Wisdom (Sophia), whose fall begins the Valentinian drama.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 31.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/31/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 31.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/31/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:117
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Aeons learned that they exist by the Father's grace; Wisdom, grasping beyond knowledge, fell into ignorance.

### Greek text

τότε γὰρ ἐπέγνωσαν ὅτι ὅ εἰσιν, χάριτι τοῦ πατρός εἰσιν, ὄνομα ἀνωνόμαστον, μορφὴ καὶ γνῶσις. ὁ δὲ βουληθεὶς αἰὼν τὸ ὑπὲρ τὴν γνῶσιν λαβεῖν ἐν ἀγνωσίᾳ καὶ ἀμορφίᾳ ἐγένετο.

### English translation (Claude)

For then they recognized that what they are, they are by the grace of the Father: a name without a name, form, and knowledge. But the Aeon who wished to grasp what is beyond knowledge came to be in ignorance and formlessness.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 31.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/31/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 31.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/31/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:117
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Wisdom's fall produced an emptiness, a shadow of the Name, the Son.

### Greek text

ὅθεν καὶ κένωμα γνώσεως εἰργάσατο, ὅπερ ἐστὶ σκιὰ τοῦ ὀνόματος· ὅπερ ἐστὶν υἱός, μορφὴ τῶν αἰώνων. οὕτως τὸ κατὰ μέρος ὄνομα τῶν αἰώνων ἀπώλεια ἐστὶ τοῦ ὀνόματος.

### English translation (Claude)

Hence she produced an emptiness of knowledge, which is a shadow of the Name, which is the Son, the form of the Aeons. So the partial name of the Aeons is the loss of the Name.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 31.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/31/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 32.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/32/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:117
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Each Aeon's fullness is its pair; what comes from a pair is a fullness, from a single Aeon an image.

### Greek text

Ἐν πληρώματι οὖν ἑνότητος οὔσης ἕκαστος τῶν αἰώνων ἴδιον ἔχει πλήρωμα, τὴν συζυγίαν. ὅσα οὖν ἐκ συζυγίας, φασί, προέρχεται, πληρώματά ἐστιν, ὅσα δὲ ἀπὸ ἑνός, εἰκόνες.

### English translation (Claude)

In the Pleroma, then, where there is unity, each of the Aeons has its own fullness, the pair. So, they say, whatever proceeds from a pair is a fullness, but whatever from one alone is an image.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 32.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/32/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 32.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/32/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:117
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Theodotus calls Christ, born of Wisdom's thought, an image of the Pleroma.

### Greek text

ὅθεν ὁ Θεόδοτος τὸν Χριστὸν ἐξ ἐννοίας προελθόντα τῆς Σοφίας εἰκόνα τοῦ πληρώματος ἐκάλεσεν.

### English translation (Claude)

Hence Theodotus called Christ, who came forth from the thought of Wisdom, an image of the Pleroma.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 32.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/32/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 32.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/32/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:117
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christ left his mother Wisdom and ascended to the Pleroma,

### Greek text

οὗτος δὲ καταλείψας τὴν μητέρα ἀνελθὼν εἰς τὸ πλήρωμα

### English translation (Claude)

And he, leaving his mother, went up into the Pleroma

### Translation notes

- The sentence continues in the next section.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 32.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/32/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 33.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/33/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:117
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: where he was joined to the Paraclete; Christ became an adopted son, “firstborn” of the lower world.

### Greek text

ἐκράθη, ὥσπερ τοῖς ὅλοις, οὕτω δὲ καὶ τῷ Παρακλήτῳ. υἱόθετος μέντοι γέγονεν ὁ Χριστὸς ὡς πρὸς τὰ πληρώματα ἐκλεκτὸς γενόμενος καὶ »πρωτότοκος« τῶν ἐνθάδε πραγμάτων.

### English translation (Claude)

and was mingled, as with all, so also with the Paraclete. Christ became an adopted son, as chosen for the fullnesses and “firstborn” of the things here.

### Scripture references

- Col 1:15: allusion, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 33.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/33/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 33.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/33/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:117
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Clement: this is a distortion of the church's teaching that the Savior is the firstborn, our root and head, and the church his fruit.

### Greek text

Ἔστιν οὖν ὁ λόγος οὗτος παράκουσμα τοῦ ἡμετέρου, ἐκ τοῦ ὑποκειμένου »πρωτότοκον« λέγοντος τὸν σωτῆρα, καὶ ἔστιν ὡσπερεὶ ῥίζα καὶ κεφαλὴ ἡμῶν, ἡ δὲ ἐκκλησία καρποὶ αὐτοῦ.

### English translation (Claude)

This teaching, then, is a mishearing of ours, which calls the Savior “firstborn” from the substrate; and he is as it were our root and head, and the church his fruits.

### Scripture references

- Col 1:18: echo, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Clement's own comment.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 33.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/33/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 33.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/33/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:117–118
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They say Wisdom then produced the Demiurge as a copy of Christ, and a type of the Father.

### Greek text

Χριστοῦ, φασί, τὸ ἀνοίκειον φυγόντος καὶ συσταλέντος εἰς τὸ πλήρωμα, ἐκ τῆς μητρῴας γενομένου ἐννοίας, ἡ μήτηρ αὖθις τὸν τῆς οἰκονομίας προηγάγετο ἄρχοντα εἰς τύπον τοῦ φυγόντος αὐτὴν κατʼ ἐπιπόθησιν αὐτοῦ, κρείττονος ὑπάρχοντος, ὃς ἦν τύπος τοῦ πατρὸς τῶν ὅλων.

### English translation (Claude)

When Christ, they say, fled what was alien and withdrew into the Pleroma, having come from his mother's thought, the mother in turn brought forth the Ruler of the plan, as a type of the one who fled her, out of longing for him, since he was superior; and he was a type of the Father of all.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 33.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/33/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 33.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/33/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:118
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Demiurge is inferior, born of desire; Wisdom was disgusted at his harshness.

### Greek text

διὸ καὶ ἥττων γίνεται, ὡς ἂν ἐκ πάθους τῆς ἐπιθυμίας συνεστώς. ἐμυσάχθη μέντοι ἐνιδοῦσα τὴν ἀποτομίαν αὐτοῦ, ὥς φασιν αὐτοί.

### English translation (Claude)

That is why he is inferior, as constituted from the passion of desire. But she was disgusted, they say, when she saw his severity.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 33.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/33/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 34.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/34/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:118
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The lower powers were not formed by the light but left to be formed by the Place.

### Greek text

Ἀλλὰ καὶ αἱ εὐώνυμοι δυνάμεις, πρῶται προβληθεῖσαι τῶν δεξιῶν ὑπʼ αὐτῆς, ὑπὸ τῆς τοῦ φωτὸς παρουσίας οὐ μορφοῦνται, κατελείφθησαν δὲ αἱ ἀριστεραὶ ὑπὸ τοῦ Τόπου μορφωθῆναι.

### English translation (Claude)

But the powers on the left too, put forth by her first, before those on the right, are not formed by the presence of the light; the left ones were left to be formed by the Place.

### Translation notes

- “The Place” (Topos) is a Valentinian name for the Demiurge.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 34.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/34/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 34.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/34/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:118
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: When Wisdom enters the Pleroma with the spiritual seeds, the Demiurge will take her place.

### Greek text

τῆς μητρὸς οὖν μετὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ καὶ τῶν σπερμάτων εἰσελθούσης εἰς τὸ πλήρωμα, τότε ὁ Τόπος τὴν ἐξουσίαν τῆς μητρὸς καὶ τὴν τάξιν ἀπολήψεται, ἣν νῦν ἔχει ἡ μήτηρ.

### English translation (Claude)

When the mother, then, enters the Pleroma with the Son and the seeds, then the Place will receive the mother's authority and rank, which the mother now has.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 34.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/34/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 35.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/35/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:118
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Jesus is our light,

### Greek text

Ὁ Ἰησοῦς »τὸ φῶς« ἡμῶν, ὡς λέγει ὁ ἀπόστολος.

### English translation (Claude)

Jesus is our “light,” as the apostle says,

### Scripture references

- 2 Cor 4:6: allusion, medium confidence
- John 8:12: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The allusion is 2 Cor 4:6 (John 8:12).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 35.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/35/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 35.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/35/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:118
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Theodotus reads Christ's self-emptying as his leaving the Pleroma, bringing with him the angels of the spiritual seed for its correction.

### Greek text

ἑαυτὸν »κενώσας«, τουτέστιν ἐκτὸς τοῦ Ὅρου γενόμενος κατὰ Θεόδοτον, ἐπεὶ ἄγγελος ἦν τοῦ πληρώματος, τοὺς ἀγγέλους τοῦ διαφέροντος σπέρματος συνεξήγαγεν ἑαυτῷ· καὶ αὐτὸς μὲν τὴν λύτρωσιν ὡς ἀπὸ πληρώματος προελθὼν εἶχεν, τοὺς δὲ ἀγγέλους εἰς διόρθωσιν τοῦ σπέρματος ἤγαγεν·

### English translation (Claude)

who “emptied” himself, that is, according to Theodotus, came outside the Limit; since he was the angel of the Pleroma, he brought out with himself the angels of the superior seed. He himself had redemption, as having come forth from the Pleroma, but he led the angels for the correction of the seed.

### Scripture references

- Phil 2:7: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 35.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/35/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 35.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/35/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:118
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The angels plead for us, their counterparts, being held back until we can enter with them,

### Greek text

ὡς γὰρ ὑπὲρ μέρους δέονται καὶ παρακαλοῦσι καὶ διʼ ἡμᾶς κατεχόμενοι, σπεύδοντες εἰσελθεῖν, ἄφεσιν ἡμῖν αἰτοῦνται.

### English translation (Claude)

For they plead and entreat as for a part of themselves, and, held back because of us, eager to enter, they ask forgiveness for us,

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 35.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/35/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 35.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/35/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:118
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: since they cannot enter the Pleroma without us.

### Greek text

ἵνα συνεισέλθωμεν αὐτοῖς· σχεδὸν γὰρ ἡμῶν χρείαν ἔχοντες, ἵνα εἰσέλθωσιν, ἐπεὶ ἄνευ ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐπιτρέπεται αὐτοῖς (διὰ τοῦτο γὰρ οὐδὲ ἡ μήτηρ συνελήλυθεν ἄνευ ἡμῶν, φασίν), εἰκότως ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν δέονται.

### English translation (Claude)

so that we may enter with them. For since they almost need us in order to enter, since without us it is not permitted them (for that is why the mother too has not entered without us, they say), they fittingly plead for us.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 35.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/35/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 36.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/36/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:118
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They say our angels were produced as a unity.

### Greek text

Ἐν ἑνότητι μέντοι γε προεβλήθησαν οἱ ἄγγελοι ἡμῶν, φασίν, εἷς ὄντες, ὡς ἀπὸ ἑνὸς προελθόντες.

### English translation (Claude)

Our angels, they say, were put forth in unity, being one, as having come from one.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 36.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/36/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 36.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/36/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:118
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Jesus was baptized, the undivided being divided, to unite divided humanity with the angels in the Pleroma.

### Greek text

ἐπεὶ δὲ ἡμεῖς ἦμεν, οἱ μεμερισμένοι, διὰ τοῦτο ἐβαπτίσατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς, τὸ ἀμέριστον μερισθῆναι, μέχρις ἡμᾶς ἑνώσῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς τὸ πλήρωμα, ἵνα ἡμεῖς, οἱ πολλοὶ ἓν γενόμενοι, [οἱ] πάντες τῷ ἑνὶ τῷ διʼ ἡμᾶς μερισθέντι ἀνακραθῶμεν.

### English translation (Claude)

But since we were divided, Jesus was baptized for this reason: that the undivided should be divided, until he unites us with them in the Pleroma, so that we, the many, having become one, may all be mingled with the One who was divided for our sake.

### Translation notes

- The bracketed article in the Greek is the editor's deletion.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 36.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/36/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 37.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/37/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:118
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Valentinians say the righteous descendants of Adam are held with the Demiurge, the others in darkness feeling the fire.

### Greek text

Οἱ ἀπὸ Ἀδὰμ ἐξελθόντες οἱ μὲν δίκαιοι διὰ τῶν ἐκτισμένων τὴν ὁδὸν ποιούμενοι παρὰ τῷ Τόπῳ κατείχοντο κατὰ τοὺς Οὐαλεντινιανούς, οἱ δὲ ἕτεροι ἐν τῷ τοῦ σκότου ἐκτισμένῳ ἐν τοῖς ἀριστεροῖς, ἔχοντες συναίσθησιν τοῦ πυρός.

### English translation (Claude)

Of those who came from Adam, according to the Valentinians, the righteous, making their way through the created things, were held back beside the Place, while the others were in the creation of darkness, among those on the left, having consciousness of the fire.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 37.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/37/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 38.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/38/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:118
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: A river of fire flows from the Demiurge's throne into Gehenna; the Demiurge himself is fiery.

### Greek text

Ποταμὸς ἐκπορεύεται πυρὸς ὑποκάτω τοῦ θρόνου τοῦ Τόπου, καὶ ῥεῖ εἰς τὸ κενὸν τοῦ ἐκτισμένου, ὅ ἐστιν ἡ γέεννα, ἀπὸ κτίσεως τοῦ πυρὸς ῥέοντος μὴ πληρουμένη· καὶ αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ Τόπος πύρινός ἐστι.

### English translation (Claude)

A river of fire goes out from beneath the throne of the Place and flows into the void of what was created, which is Gehenna, never filled, though the fire has been flowing into it since creation; and the Place himself is fiery.

### Scripture references

- Dan 7:10: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The image is from Dan 7:10.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 38.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/38/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 38.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/38/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:118–119
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: A veil shields the spirits from him; only the archangel enters, as the high priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year.

### Greek text

διὰ τοῦτο, φησί, καταπέτασμα ἔχει, ἵνα μὴ ἐκ τῆς προσόψεως ἀναλωθῇ τὰ πνεύματα· μόνος δὲ ὁ ἀρχάγγελος εἰσέρχεται πρὸς αὐτόν, οὗ κατʼ εἰκόνα καὶ ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς ἅπαξ τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ εἰς τὰ ἅγια τῶν ἁγίων εἰσῄει.

### English translation (Claude)

That is why, he says, he has a veil, so that the spirits may not be consumed by the sight of him; only the archangel enters to him, in whose image the high priest too entered the Holy of Holies once a year.

### Scripture references

- Lev 16:2: allusion, high confidence
- Heb 9:7: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 38.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/38/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 38.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/38/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:119
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Jesus sat beside the Demiurge to restrain the spirits, tame him, and open a way for the seed into the Pleroma.

### Greek text

ἔνθεν καὶ ὁ Ἰησοῦς παρακληθεὶς συνεκαθέσθη τῷ Τόπῳ, ἵνα μένῃ τὰ πνεύματα καὶ μὴ προαναστῇ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἵνα τὸν Τόπον ἡμερώσῃ καὶ τῷ σπέρματι δίοδον εἰς πλήρωμα παράσχῃ.

### English translation (Claude)

Hence Jesus too, being summoned, sat down with the Place, so that the spirits might remain and not rise before him, and so that he might tame the Place and provide the seed a passage into the Pleroma.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 38.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/38/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 39.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/39/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:119
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Wisdom, abandoned by Christ, produced nothing complete thereafter and keeps the angelic elements of the lower beings.

### Greek text

Ἡ μήτηρ προβαλοῦσα τὸν Χριστὸν ὁλόκληρον καὶ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ καταλειφθεῖσα τοῦ λοιποῦ οὐκέτι οὐδὲν προέβαλεν ὁλόκληρον. ἀλλὰ τὰ δυνατὰ παρʼ αὑτῇ κατέσχεν, ὥστε καὶ τοῦ Τόπου καὶ τῶν κλητῶν [οὖν] τὰ ἀγγελικὰ αὐτὴ προβαλοῦσα παρʼ αὑτῇ κατέχει, τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν τῶν ἀγγελικῶν ὑπὸ τοῦ ἄρρενος ἔτι πρότερον προβεβλημένων.

### English translation (Claude)

The mother, having put forth Christ whole and been abandoned by him, from then on put forth nothing whole, but kept what she could by her; so that she keeps by her the angelic elements both of the Place and of the called, which she put forth herself, while the angelic elements of the elect had been put forth still earlier by the male.

### Translation notes

- The bracketed word in the Greek is the editor's deletion.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 39.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/39/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 40.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/40/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:119
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The right-hand powers were produced before Wisdom asked for light, the church's seeds after.

### Greek text

Τὰ μὲν γὰρ δεξιὰ πρὸ τῆς τοῦ φωτὸς αἰτήσεως προηνέχθη ὑπὸ τῆς μητρός, τὰ δὲ σπέρματα τῆς ἐκκλησίας μετὰ τὴν τοῦ φωτὸς αἴτησιν, ὅτε ὑπὸ τοῦ ἄρρενος τὰ ἀγγελικὰ τῶν σπερμάτων προεβάλλετο.

### English translation (Claude)

For the things on the right were brought forth by the mother before her request for the light, and the seeds of the church after her request for the light, when the angelic elements of the seeds were put forth by the male.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 40.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/40/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 41.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/41/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:119
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Theodotus says the spiritual seeds came forth as children, not as passions or creatures.

### Greek text

Τὰ διαφέροντα σπέρματά φησι μήτε ὡς πάθη, ὧν λυομένων συνελύθη ἂν καὶ τὰ σπέρματα, μήτε ὡς κτίσιν προεληλυθέναι, ἀλλʼ ὡς τέκνα.

### English translation (Claude)

He says that the superior seeds came forth neither as passions, in which case, when these were dissolved, the seeds too would have been dissolved, nor as creation, but as children.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 41.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/41/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 41.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/41/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:119
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The seeds are akin to the light, Jesus; so the church is said to be chosen before the foundation of the world.

### Greek text

ἀπαρτιζομένης γὰρ τῆς κτίσεως συναπηρτίσθη ἂν καὶ τὰ σπέρματα· διὸ καὶ τὴν οἰκειότητα ἔχει πρὸς τὸ φῶς, ὃ πρῶτον προήγαγεν, τουτέστι τὸν Ἰησοῦν, ὁ αἰτησάμενος τοὺς αἰῶνας Χριστός, ἐν ᾧ συνδιυλίσθη κατὰ δύναμιν καὶ τὰ σπέρματα τὰ συνελθόντα αὐτῷ εἰς τὸ πλήρωμα· διὸ[τι] πρὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου εἰκότως λέγεται ἡ ἐκκλησία ἐκλελέχθαι. ἐν ἀρχῇ τοίνυν συνελογίσθημεν, φασί, καὶ ἐφανερώθημεν.

### English translation (Claude)

For when creation was completed, the seeds too would have been completed with it. That is why they also have kinship with the light that Christ, who made request of the Aeons, first brought forth, that is, Jesus, in whom the seeds too that entered with him into the Pleroma were strained through in power. Therefore the church is fittingly said to have been chosen before the foundation of the world. In the beginning, then, we were reckoned together, they say, and made manifest.

### Scripture references

- Eph 1:4: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The allusion is Eph 1:4. The bracketed letters in the Greek are the editor's deletion.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 41.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/41/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 41.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/41/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:119
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They apply “let your light shine” and “the light that enlightens every man” to the spiritual seed alone.

### Greek text

διὰ τοῦτο ὁ σωτὴρ λέγει »λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν«, μηνύων περὶ τοῦ φωτὸς τοῦ φανέντος καὶ μορφώσαντος, περὶ οὗ ὁ ἀπόστολος λέγει· »ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον«, τὸν τοῦ διαφόρου σπέρματος.

### English translation (Claude)

That is why the Savior says, “Let your light shine,” indicating the light that appeared and gave form, about which the apostle says, “which enlightens every man coming into the world,” that is, the man of the superior seed.

### Scripture references

- Matt 5:16: quotation, high confidence
- John 1:9: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotations are Matt 5:16 and John 1:9 (attributed to “the apostle”).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 41.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/41/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 41.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/41/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:119–120
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They read “coming into the world” as the enlightened person ordering himself by casting off the passions.

### Greek text

ὅτε γὰρ ἐφωτίσθη ὁ ἄνθρωπος, τότε εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἦλθεν, τουτέστιν ἑαυτὸν ἐκόσμησεν, χωρίσας αὑτοῦ τὰ ἐπισκοτοῦντα καὶ συναναμεμιγμένα αὐτῷ πάθη. καὶ τὸν Ἀδὰμ ὁ Δημιουργὸς Ἐννοίᾳ προσχὼν ἐπὶ τέλει τῆς δημιουργίας αὐτὸν προήγαγεν.

### English translation (Claude)

For when the man was enlightened, then he came into the world, that is, he set himself in order, separating from himself the passions that darkened him and were mingled with him. And the Demiurge, paying attention to Thought, brought forth Adam at the end of the creation.

### Translation notes

- The Greek plays on κόσμος (“world”) and ἐκόσμησεν (“set in order”).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 41.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/41/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 42.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/42/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:120
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Cross is a sign of the Limit: it separates believers from unbelievers.

### Greek text

Ὁ Σταυρὸς τοῦ ἐν πληρώματι Ὅρου σημεῖόν ἐστιν· χωρίζει γὰρ τοὺς ἀπίστους τῶν πιστῶν ὡς ἐκεῖνος τὸν κόσμον τοῦ πληρώματος·

### English translation (Claude)

The Cross is a sign of the Limit in the Pleroma; for it separates the unbelievers from the believers as that separates the world from the Pleroma.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 42.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/42/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 42.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/42/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:120
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Jesus carries the spiritual seeds on his shoulders into the Pleroma by the sign of the cross.

### Greek text

διὸ καὶ τὰ σπέρματα ὁ Ἰησοῦς διὰ τοῦ σημείου ἐπὶ τῶν ὤμων βαστάσας εἰσάγει εἰς τὸ πλήρωμα. ὦμοι γὰρ τοῦ σπέρματος ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγεται, κεφαλὴ δὲ ὁ Χριστός.

### English translation (Claude)

That is why Jesus, carrying the seeds on his shoulders by means of the sign, brings them into the Pleroma. For Jesus is called the shoulders of the seed, and Christ the head.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 42.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/42/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 42.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/42/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:120
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They read the saying about taking up the cross as Christ's taking up Jesus' body, which shares the church's substance.

### Greek text

ὅθεν εἴρηται· »ὃς οὐκ αἴρει τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθεῖ μοι. οὐκ ἔστι μου ἀδελφός.« ᾖρεν οὖν τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, ὅπερ ὁμοούσιον ἦν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ.

### English translation (Claude)

Hence it is said, “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not my brother.” So he took up the body of Jesus, which was of the same substance as the church.

### Scripture references

- Matt 10:38: quotation, high confidence
- Luke 14:27: quotation, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is a form of Matt 10:38 (Luke 14:27), with “my brother” for “worthy of me.”

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 42.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/42/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 43.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/43/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:120
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They say the higher powers knew Christ's names but not the power of the cross.

### Greek text

Λέγουσιν οὖν ὅτι αἱ δεξιαὶ ᾔδεσαν τοῦ Ἰησοῦ καὶ τοῦ χριστοῦ τὰ ὀνόματα καὶ πρὸ τῆς παρουσίας, ἀλλὰ τοῦ σημείου οὐκ ᾔδεσαν τὴν δύναμιν.

### English translation (Claude)

They say, then, that the powers on the right knew the names of Jesus and of Christ even before the coming, but did not know the power of the sign.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 43.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/43/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 43.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/43/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:120
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: With the Father's authority and the Pleroma's consent, the Savior is sent forth as the “angel of counsel.”

### Greek text

καὶ δόντος πᾶσαν τὴν ἐξουσίαν τοῦ πατρός, συναινέσαντος δὲ καὶ τοῦ πληρώματος. ἐκπέμπεται »ὁ τῆς βουλῆς ἄγγελος«.

### English translation (Claude)

And when the Father had given all authority, and the Pleroma too had consented, “the angel of counsel” is sent forth.

### Scripture references

- Isa 9:6: allusion, medium confidence
- Matt 28:18: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The title recalls Isa 9:6 (9:5 LXX), “angel of great counsel.”

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 43.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/43/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 43.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/43/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:120
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: He becomes head of all things after the Father, in whom all things were created.

### Greek text

καὶ γίνεται κεφαλὴ τῶν ὅλων μετὰ τὸν πατέρα· »πάντα γὰρ ἐν αὐτῷ ἐκτίσθη τὰ ὁρατὰ καὶ τὰ ἀόρατα, θρόνοι, κυριότητες, βασιλεῖαι, θεότητες, λειτουργίαι·«

### English translation (Claude)

And he becomes head of all after the Father; “for in him all things were created, visible and invisible, thrones, lordships, kingdoms, divinities, ministries.”

### Scripture references

- Col 1:16: quotation, high confidence
- Eph 1:22: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is a free form of Col 1:16.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 43.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/43/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 43.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/43/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:120
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: God exalted him above every name; he is the one who descended and ascended.

### Greek text

»διὸ καὶ ὁ θεὸς αὐτὸν ὑπερύψωσεν καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὄνομα τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνομα, ἵνα πᾶν γόνυ κάμψῃ καὶ πᾶσα γλῶσσα ἐξομολογήσηται, ὅτι κύριος τῆς δόξης Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς σωτήρ,« »ἀναβὰς αὐτὸς καὶ καταβάς·

### English translation (Claude)

“Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name above every name, so that every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ the Savior is Lord of glory,” “he who ascended and descended.

### Scripture references

- Phil 2:9: quotation, high confidence
- Phil 2:10: quotation, high confidence
- Phil 2:11: quotation, high confidence
- Eph 4:10: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotations are Phil 2:9–11 (with “Lord of glory” and “Savior”) and Eph 4:9–10.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 43.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/43/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 43.5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/43/5/
- Source: Stählin 3:120
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The one who descended to the depths is the one who ascended above the heavens.

### Greek text

τὸ δὲ ἀνέβη τί ἐστιν, εἰ μὴ ὅτι καὶ κατέβη; ὁ καταβὰς αὐτός ἐστιν εἰς τὰ κατώτατα τῆς γῆς καὶ ἀναβὰς ὑπεράνω τῶν οὐρανῶν.«

### English translation (Claude)

What does ‘he ascended’ mean, except that he also descended? He who descended is the same who ascended far above the heavens.”

### Scripture references

- Eph 4:9: quotation, high confidence
- Eph 4:10: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 43.5 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/43/5/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 44.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/44/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:120–121
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: In the myth, Wisdom recognized the Savior and worshiped him, but veiled herself before his male angels.

### Greek text

Ἰδοῦσα δὲ αὐτὸν ἡ Σοφία ὅμοιον τῷ καταλιπόντι αὐτὴν φωτὶ ἐγνώρισεν καὶ προσέδραμεν καὶ ἠγαλλιάσατο καὶ προσεκύνησεν, τοὺς δὲ ἄρρενας ἀγγέλους τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ ἐκπεμφθέντας θεασαμένη, κατῃδέσθη καὶ κάλυμμα ἐπέθετο.

### English translation (Claude)

When Wisdom saw him, like the light that had left her, she recognized him, ran to him, rejoiced, and worshiped; but seeing the male angels sent forth with him, she was ashamed and put on a veil.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 44.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/44/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 44.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/44/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:121
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They see in Wisdom's veil the reason for Paul's command that women be veiled “because of the angels.”

### Greek text

διὰ τούτου τοῦ μυστηρίου ὁ Παῦλος κελεύει τὰς γυναῖκας »φορεῖν ἐξουσίαν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς διὰ τοὺς ἀγγέλους«. Εὐθὺς οὖν ὁ Σωτὴρ ἐπιφέρει αὐτῇ μόρφωσιν τὴν κατὰ γνῶσιν

### English translation (Claude)

By this mystery Paul commands women “to wear authority on their head because of the angels.” Immediately, then, the Savior brings her the formation according to knowledge

### Scripture references

- 1 Cor 11:10: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 44.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/44/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 45.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/45/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:121
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Savior healed Wisdom, showing her the Pleroma and removing her passions.

### Greek text

καὶ ἴασιν τῶν παθῶν, δείξας ἀπὸ πατρὸς ἀγεννήτου τὰ ἐν πληρώματι καὶ τὰ μέχρι αὐτῆς· ἀποστήσας δὲ τὰ πάθη τῆς πεπονθυίας

### English translation (Claude)

and the healing of her passions, showing her the things in the Pleroma from the unbegotten Father down to herself; and, removing the passions of the one who had suffered,

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 45.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/45/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 45.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/45/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:121
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: He freed her from passion and turned her passions into the substance of the lower world, which was thus created.

### Greek text

αὐτὴν μὲν ἀπαθῆ κατεσκεύασεν, τὰ πάθη δὲ διακρίνας ἐφύλαξεν, καὶ οὐχ ὥσπερ τὰ τῆς ἔνδον διεφορήθη, ἀλλʼ εἰς οὐσίαν ἤγαγεν αὐτά τε καὶ τὰ τῆς δευτέρας διαθέσεως. οὕτως διὰ τῆς τοῦ Σωτῆρος ἐπιφανείας ἡ Σοφία ἀπαθὴς γίνεται καὶ τὰ ἔξω κτίζεται.

### English translation (Claude)

he made her free from passion, but he separated the passions and kept them; and they were not scattered like those of the inner Wisdom, but he brought them and those of the second disposition into substance. So through the Savior's appearing Wisdom becomes free from passion, and the things outside are created.

### Translation notes

- The Valentinians derive the material world from Wisdom's passions (compare Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1.4.5).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 45.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/45/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 45.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/45/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:121
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They cite John 1:3 for the Savior's role in creation.

### Greek text

»πάντα γὰρ διʼ αὐτοῦ γέγονεν καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ γέγονεν οὐδέν.« Πρῶτον οὖν ἐξ ἀσωμάτου πάθους καὶ συμβεβηκότος εἰς ἀσώματον

### English translation (Claude)

“For all things came into being through him, and without him nothing came into being.” First, then, from bodiless passion and accident into bodiless

### Scripture references

- John 1:3: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 45.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/45/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 46.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/46/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:121
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The passions were turned first into matter, then into bodies, gradually.

### Greek text

ἔτι τὴν ὕλην αὐτὰ μετήντλησεν καὶ μετέβαλεν, εἶθʼ οὕτως εἰς συγκρίματα καὶ σώματα· ἀθρόως γὰρ οὐσίαν ποιῆσαι τὰ πάθη οὐκ ἐνῆν· καὶ τοῖς σώμασι κατὰ φύσιν ἐπιτηδειότητα ἐνεποίησεν.

### English translation (Claude)

matter, still bodiless, he transferred and changed them, and then in this way into compounds and bodies; for it was not possible to make the passions into substance all at once. And he implanted in the bodies a natural fitness.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 46.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/46/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 46.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/46/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:121
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Savior is the first creator; Wisdom, second, builds her house on seven pillars.

### Greek text

Πρῶτος μὲν οὖν δημιουργὸς ὁ Σωτὴρ γίνεται καθολικός. »ἡ δὲ Σοφία« δευτέρα »οἰκοδομεῖ οἶκον ἑαυτῇ καὶ ὑπήρεισεν στύλους ἑπτά«.

### English translation (Claude)

The Savior, then, becomes the first, universal Demiurge; and “Wisdom,” second, “builds herself a house and set up seven pillars.”

### Scripture references

- Prov 9:1: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is Prov 9:1. The seven pillars are the seven heavens (compare 47.2).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 46.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/46/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 47.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/47/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:121
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Wisdom first produces the Demiurge, image of the Father,

### Greek text

καὶ πρῶτον πάντων προβάλλεται εἰκόνα τοῦ πατρὸς θεόν, διʼ οὗ

### English translation (Claude)

And first of all she puts forth a god as an image of the Father, through whom

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 47.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/47/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 47.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/47/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:121
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: through whom she made heaven and earth, the right and the left.

### Greek text

ἐποίησεν τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν, τουτέστι »τὰ οὐράνια καὶ τὰ ἐπίγεια«, τὰ δεξιὰ καὶ τὰ ἀριστερά.

### English translation (Claude)

she made heaven and earth, that is, “the heavenly things and the earthly,” the right and the left.

### Scripture references

- Gen 1:1: allusion, high confidence
- Eph 1:10: echo, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 47.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/47/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 47.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/47/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:121–122
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Demiurge produces the psychic Christ, archangels, and angels; “the Spirit borne above the waters” is read as the pure substance above the material.

### Greek text

οὗτος ὡς εἰκὼν πατρὸς πατὴρ γίνεται καὶ προβάλλει πρῶτον τὸν ψυχικὸν Χριστὸν υἱοῦ εἰκόνα, ἔπειτα τοὺς ἀρχαγγέλους αἰώνων εἰκόνας, εἶτα ἀγγέλους ἀρχαγγέλων ἐκ τῆς ψυχικῆς καὶ φωτεινῆς οὐσίας, ἣν φησιν ὁ προφητικὸς λόγος »καὶ πνεῦμα θεοῦ ἐπεφέρετο ἐπάνω τῶν ὑδάτων«, κατὰ τὴν συμπλοκὴν τῶν δύο οὐσιῶν τῶν αὐτῷ πεποιημένων τὸ εἰλικρινὲς »ἐπιφέρεσθαι« εἰπών. τὸ δὲ ἐμβριθὲς καὶ ὑλικὸν ὑποφέρεσθαι, τὸ θολερὸν καὶ παχυμερές.

### English translation (Claude)

He, as image of the Father, becomes a father and first puts forth the psychic Christ, image of the Son; then the archangels, images of the Aeons; then angels of the archangels, from the psychic and luminous substance, of which the prophetic word says, “And the Spirit of God was borne above the waters,” saying that, in the interweaving of the two substances made by him, the pure is “borne above,” while the heavy and material, the muddy and coarse, is borne beneath.

### Scripture references

- Gen 1:2: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is Gen 1:2.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 47.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/47/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 47.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/47/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:122
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: “Invisible” in Gen 1:2 is read as describing formless matter.

### Greek text

ἀσώματον δὲ καὶ ταύτην ἐν ἀρχῇ αἰνίσσεται τῷ φάσκειν »ἀόρατον«· οὔτε γὰρ ἀνθρώπῳ τῷ μηδέπω ὄντι ἀόρατος ἦν οὔτε τῷ θεῷ· ἐδημιούργει γάρ· ἀλλὰ τὸ ἄμορφον καὶ ἀνείδεον καὶ ἀσχημάτιστον αὐτῆς ὧδέ πως ἐξεφώνησεν.

### English translation (Claude)

And he hints that this too was bodiless in the beginning by calling it “invisible”; for it was not invisible to man, who did not yet exist, nor to God, for he was fashioning it; but in some such way he expressed its formlessness, shapelessness, and lack of figure.

### Scripture references

- Gen 1:2: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Gen 1:2 in the Greek reads “the earth was invisible and unformed.”

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 47.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/47/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 48.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/48/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:122
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They read “let there be light” as the Demiurge's separating and revealing the pure substance, the sun's light coming later.

### Greek text

Διακρίνας δὲ ὁ Δημιουργὸς τὰ καθαρὰ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐμβριθοῦς, ὡς ἂν ἐνιδὼν τὴν ἑκατέρου φύσιν, φῶς ἐποίησεν, τουτέστιν ἐφανέρωσεν καὶ εἰς φῶς καὶ ἰδέαν προσήγαγεν, ἐπεὶ τό γε ἡλιακὸν καὶ οὐράνιον φῶς πολλῷ ὕστερον ἐργάζεται·

### English translation (Claude)

The Demiurge, having separated the pure from the heavy, as one who perceived the nature of each, made light, that is, manifested it and brought it into light and form; for the light of the sun and heaven he makes much later.

### Scripture references

- Gen 1:3: allusion, high confidence
- Gen 1:14: allusion, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 48.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/48/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 48.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/48/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:122
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: From Wisdom's grief the Demiurge made the evil spiritual forces.

### Greek text

καὶ ποιεῖ [ἐκ] τῶν ὑλικῶν τὸ μὲν ἐκ τῆς λύπης, οὐσιωδῶς κτίζων »πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας, πρὸς ἃ ἡ πάλη ἡμῖν«· διὸ καὶ λέγει ὁ ἀπόστολος· »καὶ μὴ λυπεῖτε τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον τοῦ θεοῦ, ἐν ᾧ ἐσφραγίσθητε·«

### English translation (Claude)

And of the material things he makes one part from grief, creating in substance “the spiritual forces of wickedness, against which is our struggle”; that is why the apostle also says, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed.”

### Scripture references

- Eph 6:12: quotation, high confidence
- Eph 4:30: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotations are Eph 6:12 and Eph 4:30. The bracketed word in the Greek is the editor's deletion.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 48.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/48/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 48.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/48/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:122
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: From fear came the beasts, from perplexity the elements of the world.

### Greek text

τὸ δὲ ἐκ τοῦ φόβου τὰ θηρία, τὸ δὲ ἐκ τῆς ἐκπλήξεως καὶ ἀπορίας τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου.

### English translation (Claude)

Another part, from fear, the wild beasts; another, from consternation and perplexity, the elements of the world.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 48.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/48/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 48.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/48/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:122–123
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Fire pervades the other three elements, having no place of its own.

### Greek text

ἐν δὲ τοῖς τρισὶ στοιχείοις τὸ πῦρ ἐναιωρεῖται καὶ ἐνέσπαρται καὶ ἐμφωλεύει καὶ ὑπὸ τούτων ἐξάπτεται καὶ τούτοις ἐπαποθνῄσκει, μὴ ἔχον τόπον ἀποτακτὸν ἑαυτοῦ ὡς καὶ τὰ ἄλλα στοιχεῖα. ἐξ ὧν τὰ συγκρίματα δημιουργεῖται.

### English translation (Claude)

Fire hovers in the three elements, is sown in them and lurks in them, is kindled by them and dies away in them, having no place assigned to itself as the other elements do; from these the compounds are fashioned.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 48.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/48/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 49.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/49/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:123
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Demiurge, unaware that Wisdom works through him, thinks he creates by his own power; they apply Rom 8:20–21 to him.

### Greek text

Ἐπεὶ δὲ οὐκ ἐγίνωσκεν τὴν διʼ αὑτοῦ ἐνεργοῦσαν οἰόμενος ἰδίᾳ δυνάμει δημιουργεῖν φιλεργὸς ὢν φύσει, διὰ τοῦτο εἶπεν ὁ ἀπόστολος· »ὑπετάγη τῇ ματαιότητι τοῦ κόσμου, οὐχ ἑκών, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὸν ὑποτάξαντα, ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι, ὅτι καὶ αὐτὸς ἐλευθερωθήσεται«, ὅταν συλλεγῇ τὰ σπέρματα τοῦ θεοῦ.

### English translation (Claude)

Since he did not know her who was working through him, thinking that he created by his own power, being by nature fond of work, the apostle said for this reason: “It was subjected to the vanity of the world, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope, that it too will be set free,” when the seeds of God are gathered.

### Scripture references

- Rom 8:20: quotation, high confidence
- Rom 8:21: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is a free form of Rom 8:20–21.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 49.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/49/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 49.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/49/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:123
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: His blessing of the Sabbath shows that he labored unwillingly.

### Greek text

τεκμήριον δὲ μάλιστα τοῦ ἀκουσίου τὸ εὐλογεῖν τὸ σάββατον καὶ τὴν ἀπὸ τῶν πόνων ἀνάπαυσιν ὑπερασπάζεσθαι.

### English translation (Claude)

The chief evidence of his unwillingness is his blessing the Sabbath and his warm welcome of rest from labors.

### Scripture references

- Gen 2:3: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 49.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/49/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 50.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/50/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:123
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They say the Demiurge formed from matter an earthy, irrational soul, the man “according to the image.”

### Greek text

»Λαβὼν χοῦν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς«, οὐ τῆς ξηρᾶς, ἀλλὰ τῆς πολυμεροῦς καὶ ποικίλης ὕλης μέρος, ψυχὴν γεώδη καὶ [ὑλικὴν ἐτεκτήνατο ἄλογον καὶ τῇ τῶν θηρίων ὁμοούσιον· οὗτος ὁ »κατʼ εἰκόνα« ἄνθρωπος.

### English translation (Claude)

“Taking dust from the earth,” not from the dry land but a part of the manifold and varied matter, he fashioned an earthy and material soul, irrational and of the same substance as that of the beasts. This is the man “according to the image.”

### Scripture references

- Gen 2:7: quotation, high confidence
- Gen 1:26: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotations are Gen 2:7 and Gen 1:26. The Greek has an opening bracket that is not closed.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 50.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/50/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 50.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/50/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:123
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The man “according to the likeness” is what the Demiurge breathed into him, of his own substance.

### Greek text

ὁ δὲ »καθʼ ὁμοίωσιν« τὴν αὐτοῦ τοῦ Δημιουργοῦ ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν, ὃν εἰς τοῦτον »ἐνεφύσησέν« τε καὶ ἐνέσπειρεν, ὁμοούσιόν τι αὐτῷ διʼ ἀγγέλων ἐνθείς·

### English translation (Claude)

But the man “according to the likeness” of the Demiurge himself is the one he “breathed” into this one and sowed in him, placing in him something of the same substance as himself through angels.

### Scripture references

- Gen 1:26: quotation, high confidence
- Gen 2:7: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 50.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/50/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 50.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/50/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:123
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The breath of life, once formed, became a living soul.

### Greek text

καθὸ μὲν ἀόρατός ἐστι καὶ ἀσώματος, τὴν οὐσίαν αὐτοῦ »πνοὴν ζωῆς« προσεῖπεν, μορφωθὲν δὲ »ψυχὴ ζῶσα« ἐγένετο, ὅπερ εἶναι καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν ταῖς προφητικαῖς γραφαῖς ὁμολογεῖ.

### English translation (Claude)

Insofar as he is invisible and bodiless, he called his substance “breath of life”; but when formed it became “a living soul,” which he himself also confesses himself to be in the prophetic Scriptures.

### Scripture references

- Gen 2:7: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 50.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/50/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 51.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/51/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:123
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Within the earthy man is a psychic man, whole within whole, created in paradise, the fourth heaven;

### Greek text

Ἄνθρωπος γοῦν ἐστιν ἐν ἀνθρώπῳ, ψυχικὸς ἐν χοϊκῷ, οὐ μέρει μέρος, ἀλλὰ ὅλῳ ὅλος συνών, ἀρρήτῳ δυνάμει θεοῦ· ὅθεν ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ, τῷ τετάρτῳ οὐρανῷ, δημιουργεῖται·

### English translation (Claude)

At any rate, there is a man within a man, a psychic man within an earthy one, not part with part, but whole with whole, by the ineffable power of God. Hence he is fashioned in paradise, the fourth heaven;

### Scripture references

- 2 Cor 12:2: echo, low confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 51.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/51/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 51.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/51/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:123–124
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They read “bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh” as the divine soul hidden in the material soul.

### Greek text

ἐκεῖ γὰρ χοϊκὴ σὰρξ οὐκ ἀναβαίνει, ἀλλʼ ἦν τῇ ψυχῇ τῇ θείᾳ οἷον σὰρξ ἡ ὑλική. ταῦτα σημαίνει »τοῦτο νῦν ὀστοῦν ἐκ τῶν ὀστῶν μου«, τὴν θείαν ψυχὴν αἰνίσσεται τὴν ἐγκεκρυμμένην τῇ σαρκὶ καὶ στερεὰν καὶ δυσπαθῆ καὶ δυνατωτέραν, »καὶ σὰρξ ἐκ τῆς σαρκός μου«, τὴν ὑλικὴν ψυχὴν σῶμα οὖσαν τῆς θείας ψυχῆς.

### English translation (Claude)

for earthy flesh does not go up there, but the material soul was like flesh to the divine soul. This is what “This now is bone of my bones” signifies: it hints at the divine soul hidden in the flesh, firm, hard to affect, and stronger; and “flesh of my flesh,” the material soul, which is the body of the divine soul.

### Scripture references

- Gen 2:23: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 51.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/51/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 51.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/51/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:124
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christ's warning about destroying soul and body in Gehenna refers to these two.

### Greek text

περὶ τούτων τῶν δυεῖν καὶ ὁ σωτὴρ λέγει φοβεῖσθαι δεῖν τὸν δυνάμενον ταύτην τὴν ψυχὴν καὶ τοῦτο τὸ σῶμα τὸ ψυχικὸν ἐν γεέννῃ ἀπολέσαι«.

### English translation (Claude)

About these two the Savior too says that one must fear him “who is able to destroy” this soul and this psychic body “in Gehenna.”

### Scripture references

- Matt 10:28: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 51.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/51/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 52.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/52/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:124
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The flesh is the “adversary” of the Gospel, Paul's warring law, and the strong man to be bound.

### Greek text

Τοῦτο τὸ σαρκίον »ἀντίδικον« ὁ σωτὴρ εἶπεν καὶ ὁ Παῦλος »νόμον ἀντιστρατευόμενον τῷ νόμῳ τοῦ νοός μου«, καὶ »δῆσαι« παραινεῖ καὶ »ἁρπάσαι ὡς ἰσχυροῦ τὰ σκεύη«, τοῦ ἀντιπολεμοῦντος τῇ οὐρανίῳ ψυχῇ.

### English translation (Claude)

This bit of flesh the Savior called “the adversary,” and Paul “a law warring against the law of my mind”; and he advises us to “bind” it and “plunder the goods as of a strong man,” of the one who wars against the heavenly soul.

### Scripture references

- Matt 5:25: allusion, high confidence
- Rom 7:23: quotation, high confidence
- Matt 12:29: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The allusions are Matt 5:25, Rom 7:23, and Matt 12:29.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 52.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/52/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 52.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/52/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:124
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: We should make peace with this adversary on the way, not feeding it with sin but putting it to death, so that it dissolves rather than enduring in the fire.

### Greek text

ὁ σωτήρ, καὶ »ἀπηλλάχθαι αὐτοῦ« παραινεῖ »κατὰ τὴν ὁδόν, μὴ τῇ φυλακῇ περιπέσωμεν καὶ τῇ κολάσει«· ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ »εὐνοεῖν« αὐτῷ, μὴ τρέφοντας καὶ ῥωννύντας τῇ τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων ἐξουσίᾳ, ἀλλʼ ἐντεῦθεν νεκροῦντας ἤδη καὶ ἐξίτηλον ἀποφαίνοντας ἀποχῇ τῆς πονηρίας, ἵνα ἐν τῇ διαλύσει ταύτῃ διαφορηθὲν καὶ διαπνεῦσαν λάθῃ, ἀλλὰ μὴ καθʼ αὑτό τινος ὑποστάσεως λαβόμενον, τὴν ἰσχὺν ἔχῃ παράμονον ἐν τῇ διὰ πυρὸς διεξόδῳ.

### English translation (Claude)

The Savior also advises us “to be rid of it on the way, lest we fall into prison” and punishment; and likewise to be “well-disposed” to it, not nourishing it and strengthening it by the license of sins, but putting it to death already from now on and making it fade by abstinence from wickedness, so that in this dissolution it may be dispersed and evaporate unnoticed, and not, taking on some substance of its own, have lasting strength in its passage through fire.

### Scripture references

- Luke 12:58: allusion, high confidence
- Matt 5:25: allusion, high confidence
- Col 3:5: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The allusions are Luke 12:58 and Matt 5:25.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 52.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/52/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 53.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/53/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:124
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: This flesh is the tare sown among the good seed, the devil's seed, the serpent that strikes the heel,

### Greek text

Τοῦτο »ζιζάνιον« ὀνομάζεται συμφυὲς τῇ ψυχῇ, τῷ χρηστῷ σπέρματι, τοῦτο καὶ σπέρμα τοῦ διαβόλου ὡς ὁμοούσιον ἐκείνῳ καὶ ὄφις καὶ διαπτερνιστὴς καὶ λῃστὴς ἐπιτιθέμενος κεφαλῇ

### English translation (Claude)

This is called the “tare,” grown together with the soul, the good seed; this is also the seed of the devil, as being of the same substance with him, and the serpent, and the heel-biter, and a robber attacking the head

### Scripture references

- Matt 13:25: allusion, high confidence
- Gen 3:15: allusion, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 53.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/53/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 53.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/53/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:124
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: attacking the king's head.

### Greek text

βασιλέως.

### English translation (Claude)

of a king.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 53.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/53/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 53.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/53/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:124
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Wisdom secretly sowed the spiritual seed in Adam, through angels, as Paul says of the law.

### Greek text

ἔσχεν δὲ ὁ Ἀδὰμ ἀδήλως αὐτῷ ὑπὸ τῆς Σοφίας ἐνσπαρὲν τὸ σπέρμα τὸ πνευματικὸν εἰς τὴν ψυχήν· »διαταγείς«, φησί, »διʼ ἀγγέλων ἐν χειρὶ μεσίτου· ὁ δὲ μεσίτης ἑνὸς οὐκ ἔστιν· ὁ δὲ θεὸς εἶς ἐστιν.« διʼ ἀγγέλων οὖν τῶν ἀρρένων τὰ σπέρματα ὑπηρετεῖται τὰ εἰς γένεσιν προβληθέντα ὑπὸ τῆς Σοφίας, καθὸ ἐγχωρεῖ γίνεσθαι.

### English translation (Claude)

And Adam, without his knowledge, had the spiritual seed sown in his soul by Wisdom; “ordained,” he says, “through angels by the hand of a mediator; but a mediator is not of one; but God is one.” So the seeds put forth by Wisdom for birth are ministered through the male angels, as far as it can happen.

### Scripture references

- Gal 3:19: quotation, high confidence
- Gal 3:20: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is Gal 3:19–20.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 53.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/53/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 53.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/53/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:124
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Like the Demiurge, human beings think they act on their own, unaware of Wisdom's moving them.

### Greek text

ἅτε γὰρ Δημιουργὸς ἀδήλως κινούμενος ὑπὸ τῆς Σοφίας οἴεται αὐτοκίνητος εἶναι ὁμοίως καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι.

### English translation (Claude)

For just as the Demiurge, moved by Wisdom without knowing it, thinks he is self-moved, so too do human beings.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 53.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/53/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 53.5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/53/5/
- Source: Stählin 3:124
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The spiritual seed in Adam is the bone full of marrow; from Adam come three kinds of people: first the irrational,

### Greek text

πρῶτον οὖν σπέρμα πνευματικὸν τὸ ἐν τῷ Ἀδὰμ προέβαλεν ἡ Σοφία, ἵνα ᾖ τὸ ὀστοῦν. ἡ λογικὴ καὶ οὐρανία ψυχή, μὴ κενή, ἀλλὰ μυελοῦ γέμουσα πνευματικοῦ. Ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ Ἀδὰμ τρεῖς φύσεις γεννῶνται, πρώτη μὲν ἡ ἄλογος.

### English translation (Claude)

First, then, Wisdom put forth the spiritual seed that was in Adam, so that it might be the bone, the rational and heavenly soul, not empty but full of spiritual marrow. From Adam three natures are born: first the irrational,

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 53.5 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/53/5/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 54.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/54/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:124–125
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: represented by Cain; second the rational and just, Abel; third the spiritual,

### Greek text

ἧς ἦν Κάιν, δευτέρα δὲ ἡ λογικὴ καὶ ἡ δικαία, ἧς ἦν Ἄβελ· τρίτη δὲ ἡ πνευματική.

### English translation (Claude)

to which Cain belonged; second the rational and just, to which Abel belonged; and third the spiritual,

### Scripture references

- Gen 4:1: allusion, medium confidence
- Gen 4:2: allusion, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 54.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/54/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 54.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/54/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:125
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Seth; the three correspond to image, likeness, and spirit, and “the book of the generation of men” refers to them.

### Greek text

ἧς ἦν Σήθ. καὶ ὁ μὲν χοϊκός ἐστι »κατʼ εἰκόνα«. ὁ δὲ ψυχικὸς »καθʼ ὁμοίωσιν« θεοῦ, ὁ δὲ πνευματικὸς κατʼ ἰδίαν, ἐφʼ οἷς τρισὶν ἄνευ τῶν ἄλλων παίδων τοῦ Ἀδὰμ εἴρηται· »αὕτη ἡ βίβλος γενέσεως ἀνθρώπων.«

### English translation (Claude)

to which Seth belonged. And the earthy is “according to the image,” the psychic “according to the likeness” of God, and the spiritual according to its own nature; about these three, without the other children of Adam, it is said, “This is the book of the generation of men.”

### Scripture references

- Gen 4:25: allusion, high confidence
- Gen 1:26: allusion, high confidence
- Gen 5:1: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 54.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/54/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 54.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/54/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:125
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Seth, neither shepherd nor farmer, is spiritual; his son Enosh, who called on the Lord's name, belongs to heaven.

### Greek text

ὅτι δὲ πνευματικὸς ὁ Σήθ, οὔτε ποιμαίνει οὔτε γεωργεῖ, ἀλλὰ παῖδα καρποφορεῖ, ὡς τὰ πνευματικά· καὶ τοῦτον, ὃς »ἤλπισεν ἐπικαλεῖσθαι τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου«, ἄνω βλέποντα. οὗ »τὸ πολίτευμα ἐν οὐρανῷ«, τοῦτον ὁ κόσμος οὐ χωρεῖ.

### English translation (Claude)

That Seth is spiritual is shown because he neither herds nor farms, but bears a child as fruit, as spiritual beings do; and this child, who “hoped to call on the name of the Lord,” looking upward, whose “citizenship is in heaven,” the world does not contain.

### Scripture references

- Gen 4:26: quotation, high confidence
- Phil 3:20: quotation, high confidence
- Heb 11:38: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The allusions are Gen 4:26 (LXX), Phil 3:20, and Heb 11:38.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 54.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/54/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 55.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/55/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:125
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The earthy body is the fourth nature, the “garments of skin.”

### Greek text

Τοῖς τρισὶν ἀσωμάτοις ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἀδὰμ τέταρτον ἐπενδύεται ὁ χοϊκὸς τοὺς »δερματίνους χιτῶνας«.

### English translation (Claude)

Over the three bodiless natures in Adam, a fourth, the earthy, is put on: the “garments of skin.”

### Scripture references

- Gen 3:21: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 55.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/55/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 55.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/55/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:125
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Adam does not transmit the divine spirit or breath by begetting,

### Greek text

οὔτʼ οὖν ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματος οὔτʼ οὖν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐμφυσήματος σπείρει ὁ Ἀδάμ· θεῖα γὰρ ἄμφω.

### English translation (Claude)

So Adam does not beget from the spirit, nor from what was breathed into him; for both are divine.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 55.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/55/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 55.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/55/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:125
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: but only his material part; in this sense he is our father, the earthy first man.

### Greek text

καὶ διʼ αὐτοῦ μέν, οὐχ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ δέ, προβάλλεται ἄμφω· τὸ δὲ ὑλικὸν αὐτοῦ ἐνεργὸν εἰς σπέρμα καὶ γένεσιν, ὡς ἂν τῷ σπέρματι συγκεκραμένον καὶ ταύτης ἐν ζωῇ τῆς ἁρμονίας ἀποστῆναι μὴ δυνάμενον. κατὰ τοῦτο πατὴρ ἡμῶν ὁ Ἀδάμ. »ὁ πρῶτος[δ᾿] ἄνθρωπος ἐκ γῆς χοϊκός«.

### English translation (Claude)

Both are put forth through him, but not by him; but his material part is active for seed and generation, as being mingled with the seed and unable to withdraw from this harmony while in life. In this sense Adam is our father: “the first man from the earth, earthy.”

### Scripture references

- 1 Cor 15:47: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is 1 Cor 15:47. The bracketed letters in the Greek are the editor's deletion.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 55.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/55/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 56.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/56/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:125
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Hence the material people are many, the psychic fewer, and the spiritual rare.

### Greek text

εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐκ ψυχικοῦ ἔσπειρεν καὶ ἐκ πνευματικοῦ καθάπερ ἐξ ὑλικοῦ, πάντες ἂν ἴσοι καὶ δίκαιοι ἐγεγόνεισαν καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν ἂν ἡ διδαχὴ ἦν. διὰ τοῦτο πολλοὶ μὲν οἱ ὑλικοί, οὐ πολλοὶ δὲ οἱ ψυχικοί· σπάνιοι δὲ οἱ πνευματικοί.

### English translation (Claude)

If he had begotten from the psychic and the spiritual, as from the material, all would have become equal and righteous, and the teaching would be in all. That is why the material are many, the psychic not many, and the spiritual rare.

### Scripture references

- Matt 22:14: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- In the digital text chapter 56 begins with section 2.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 56.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/56/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 56.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/56/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:125
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Valentinian doctrine of three natures: the spiritual saved by nature, the psychic free to choose, the material lost by nature.

### Greek text

τὸ μὲν οὖν πνευματικὸν φύσει σῳζόμενον. τὸ δὲ ψυχικὸν αὐτεξούσιον ὂν ἐπιτηδειότητα ἔχει πρός τε πίστιν καὶ ἀφθαρσίαν καὶ πρὸς ἀπιστίαν καὶ φθορὰν κατὰ τὴν οἰκείαν αἵρεσιν, τὸ δὲ ὑλικὸν φύσει ἀπόλλυται.

### English translation (Claude)

The spiritual is saved by nature; the psychic, having free will, has a capacity both for faith and incorruption and for unbelief and corruption, according to its own choice; but the material perishes by nature.

### Extrabiblical texts

- Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 1.6.31 (The Instructor): echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- This passage states the Valentinian determinism that Clement opposes elsewhere (for example Paed. 1.6.31).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 56.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/56/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 56.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/56/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:125–126
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: When the psychic are grafted into the olive tree and the Gentiles come in, all Israel will be saved.

### Greek text

ὅταν οὖν τὰ ψυχικὰ »ἐγκεντρισθῇ τῇ καλλιελαίῳ« εἰς πίστιν καὶ ἀφθαρσίαν καὶ μετάσχῃ »τῆς πιότητος τῆς ἐλαίας«. καὶ ὅταν »εἰσέλθῃ τὰ ἔθνη«. τότε »οὕτω πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ σωθήσεται«.

### English translation (Claude)

So when the psychic are “grafted into the good olive tree” for faith and incorruption and share in “the richness of the olive,” and when “the Gentiles come in,” then “so all Israel will be saved.”

### Scripture references

- Rom 11:24: quotation, high confidence
- Rom 11:17: quotation, high confidence
- Rom 11:25: quotation, high confidence
- Rom 11:26: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 56.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/56/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 56.5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/56/5/
- Source: Stählin 3:126
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Israel means the spiritual man who sees God, son of the free woman, not of Hagar.

### Greek text

Ἰσραὴλ δὲ ἀλληγορεῖται ὁ πνευματικὸς ὁ ὀψόμενος τὸν θεὸν ὁ τοῦ πιστοῦ Ἀβραὰμ υἱὸς γνήσιος ὁ »ἐκ τῆς ἐλευθέρας«. οὐχ ὁ »κατὰ σάρκα«, ὁ ἐκ τῆς δούλης τῆς Αἰγυπτίας.

### English translation (Claude)

Israel is allegorized as the spiritual man who will see God, the true son of faithful Abraham, the one “from the free woman,” not the one “according to the flesh,” from the Egyptian slave woman.

### Scripture references

- Gal 4:22: allusion, high confidence
- Gal 4:23: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The allusion is Gal 4:22–23. “Israel” was interpreted as “one who sees God.”

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 56.5 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/56/5/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 57.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/57/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:126
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The spiritual are formed; the psychic are transferred from slavery to freedom.

### Greek text

Γίνεται οὖν ἐκ τῶν γενῶν τῶν τριῶν τοῦ μὲν μόρφωσις τοῦ πνευματικοῦ, τοῦ δὲ μετάθεσις τοῦ ψυχικοῦ ἐκ δουλείας εἰς ἐλευθερίαν.

### English translation (Claude)

From the three kinds, then, there comes the formation of the spiritual, and the transfer of the psychic from slavery to freedom.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 57.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/57/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 58.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/58/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:126
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: After the reign of death, Jesus the great champion took up the church, both spiritual and psychic, and saved them and all like them.

### Greek text

Μετὰ τὴν τοῦ θανάτου τοίνυν βασιλείαν μεγάλην μὲν καὶ εὐπρόσωπον τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν πεποιημένην. οὐδὲν δὲ ἧττον διακονίαν θανάτου γεγενημένην. πάσης ἀπειπούσης ἀρχῆς καὶ θεότητος ὁ μέγας ἀγωνιστὴς Ἰησοῦς [Χριστὸς] ἐν ἑαυτῷ δυνάμει τὴν ἐκκλησίαν ἀναλαβών. τὸ ἐκλεκτὸν καὶ τὸ κλητόν, τὸ μὲν παρὰ τῆς τεκούσης τὸ πνευματικόν, τὸ δὲ ἐκ τῆς οἰκονομίας τὸ ψυχικόν. [ὃ] ἀνέσωσεν καὶ ἀνήνεγκεν ἅπερ ἀνέλαβεν, καὶ διʼ αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ τούτοις ὁμοούσια.

### English translation (Claude)

After the reign of death, then, which had made a great and attractive promise but had become no less a ministry of death, when every principality and divinity had given up, Jesus, the great champion, taking up the church into himself in power, the elect and the called, the spiritual from the one who bore it, the psychic from the divine plan, saved and bore up what he had taken up, and through them what is of the same substance with them.

### Scripture references

- Rom 5:14: allusion, high confidence
- 2 Cor 3:7: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The allusions are Rom 5:14, 17 (the reign of death) and 2 Cor 3:7 (the ministry of death). The bracketed words in the Greek are the editor's deletions.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 58.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/58/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 58.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/58/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:126
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: If the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole.

### Greek text

»εἰ γὰρ ἡ ἀπαρχὴ ἁγία, καὶ τὸ φύραμα· εἰ ἡ ῥίζα ἁγία. καὶ οἱ κλάδοι.«

### English translation (Claude)

“For if the firstfruits are holy, so is the lump; if the root is holy, so are the branches.”

### Scripture references

- Rom 11:16: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 58.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/58/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 59.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/59/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:126
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Savior first put on the spiritual seed from Wisdom, containing it by his power,

### Greek text

Σπέρμα μὲν οὖν πρῶτον τὸ παρὰ τῆς τεκούσης ἐνεδύσατο, οὐ χωρηθείς. ἀλλὰ χωρήσας αὐτὸ δυνάμει.

### English translation (Claude)

First, then, he put on the seed from the one who bore him, not being contained by it but containing it in power;

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 59.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/59/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 59.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/59/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:126
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: At the Demiurge's realm he put on the psychic Christ foretold by the prophets and the law.

### Greek text

ὃ κατὰ μικρὸν μορφοῦται διὰ γνώσεως· κατὰ δὲ τὸν Τόπον γενόμενος εὗρεν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸν ἐνδύσασθαι τὸν προκεκηρυγμένον, ὃν κατήγγελλον οἱ προφῆται καὶ ὁ νόμος. ὄντα εἰκόνα τοῦ Σωτῆρος.

### English translation (Claude)

and it is gradually formed through knowledge. And when he came to the Place, Jesus found Christ to put on, the one proclaimed beforehand, whom the prophets and the law announced, being an image of the Savior.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 59.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/59/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 59.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/59/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:126
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The psychic Christ was invisible, but the one coming into the world had to be seen, touched, and have a perceptible body.

### Greek text

ἀλλὰ καὶ οὗτος ὁ ψυχικὸς Χριστός. ὃν ἐνεδύσατο, ἀόρατος ἦν. ἔδει δὲ τὸν εἰς κόσμον ἀφικνούμενον. ἐφʼ ᾧτε ὀφθῆναι, κρατηθῆναι, πολιτεύσασθαι, καὶ αἰσθητοῦ σώματος ἀνέχεσθαι.

### English translation (Claude)

But this psychic Christ too, whom he put on, was invisible. And the one arriving in the world had to be seen, held, live among people, and bear a sensible body.

### Scripture references

- 1 John 1:1: echo, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 59.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/59/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 59.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/59/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:126–127
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: So a body was woven for him from psychic substance, made perceptible by divine power.

### Greek text

σῶμα τοίνυν αὐτῷ ὑφαίνεται ἐκ τῆς ἀφανοῦς ψυχικῆς οὐσίας, δυνάμει δὲ θείας ἐκγατασκευῆς εἰς αἰσθητὸν κόσμον ἀφιγμένον.

### English translation (Claude)

So a body is woven for him from the invisible psychic substance, and by the power of divine construction it has come into the sensible world.

### Translation notes

- This is the Valentinian view that Christ's body was not made of ordinary matter. The Greek word for “construction” is garbled in the digital text.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 59.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/59/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 60.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/60/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:127
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They read Luke 1:35 as the Spirit forming Christ's body and God's power shaping it; and they hold the Savior was distinct from what he assumed.

### Greek text

Τὸ οὖν »πνεῦμα ἅγιον ἐπελεύσεται ἐπὶ σὲ« τὴν τοῦ σώματος τοῦ κυρίου γένεσιν λέγει, »δύναμις δὲ ὑψίστου ἐπισκιάσει σοι« τὴν μόρφωσιν δηλοῖ τοῦ θεοῦ, ἣν ἐνετύπωσεν τῷ σώματι ἐν τῇ παρθένῳ. Ὅτι μὲν οὖν αὐτὸς ἕτερος ἦν ὧν ἀνείληφεν. δῆλον ἐξ ὧν ὁμολογεῖ·

### English translation (Claude)

So “the Holy Spirit will come upon you” speaks of the origin of the Lord's body, and “the power of the Most High will overshadow you” shows the formation by God, which he impressed on the body in the Virgin. That he himself was other than what he assumed is clear from what he confesses:

### Scripture references

- Luke 1:35: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 60.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/60/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 61.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/61/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:127
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christ's own claims about himself are cited.

### Greek text

»ἐγὼ ἡ ζωή, ἐγὼ ἡ ἀλήθεια, ἐγὼ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ἕν ἐσμεν.«

### English translation (Claude)

“I am the life, I am the truth, I and the Father are one.”

### Scripture references

- John 14:6: quotation, high confidence
- John 10:30: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 61.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/61/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 61.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/61/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:127
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christ's growth in wisdom and stature refers to the spiritual and psychic elements he assumed.

### Greek text

τὸ δὲ πνευματικόν, ὃ ἀνείληφεν, καὶ τὸ ψυχικὸν οὕτως ἐμφαίνει· »τὸ δὲ παιδίον ηὔξανεν καὶ προέκοπτεν ἐν σοφίᾳ.« σοφίας μὲν γὰρ τὸ πνευματικὸν δεῖται, μεγέθους δὲ τὸ ψυχικόν.

### English translation (Claude)

And he shows the spiritual that he assumed, and the psychic, in this way: “And the child grew and advanced in wisdom.” For the spiritual needs wisdom, the psychic size.

### Scripture references

- Luke 2:40: quotation, high confidence
- Luke 2:52: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 61.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/61/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 61.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/61/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:127
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The blood and water from Christ's side signify the saved substances freed from passion.

### Greek text

διὰ δὲ τῶν ἐκρυέντων ἐκ τῆς πλευρᾶς ἐδήλου ταῖς ἐκρύσεσι τῶν παθῶν ἀπὸ τῶν ἐμπαθῶν ἀπαθεῖς γενομένας τὰς οὐσίας σεσῶσθαι.

### English translation (Claude)

And by what flowed from his side he showed that, by the outflowing of the passions, the substances have been saved, having become free of passion instead of passionate.

### Scripture references

- John 19:34: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 61.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/61/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 61.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/61/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:127
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They read Christ's predictions of his passion as referring to another, the passible element.

### Greek text

καὶ ὅταν λέγῃ »δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀποδοκιμασθῆναι, ὑβρισθῆναι, σταυρωθῆναι«, ὡς περὶ ἄλλου φαίνεται λέγων, δηλονότι τοῦ ἐμπαθοῦς.

### English translation (Claude)

And when he says, “The Son of Man must be rejected, insulted, crucified,” he appears to speak as of another, that is, of the one subject to passion.

### Scripture references

- Mark 8:31: allusion, high confidence
- Luke 9:22: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 61.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/61/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 61.5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/61/5/
- Source: Stählin 3:127
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: “I will go before you into Galilee” hints at the raising of the soul.

### Greek text

καὶ »προάξω ὑμᾶς« λέγει »τῇ τρίτῃ τῶν ἡμερῶν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν«· αὐτὸς γὰρ προάγει πάντα. καὶ τὴν ἀφανῶς σῳζομένην ψυχὴν ἀναστήσειν ᾐνίσσετο καὶ ἀποκαταστήσειν οὗ νῦν προάγει.

### English translation (Claude)

And he says, “I will go before you on the third day into Galilee”; for he goes before all things. And he hinted that he would raise the soul that is invisibly being saved and restore it where he now goes before.

### Scripture references

- Matt 26:32: quotation, high confidence
- Mark 14:28: quotation, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is a form of Matt 26:32 (Mark 14:28).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 61.5 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/61/5/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 61.6

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/61/6/
- Source: Stählin 3:127
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They say Christ's body died when the Spirit from his baptism withdrew; otherwise death would have overpowered the Savior.

### Greek text

ἀπέθανεν δὲ ἀποστάντος τοῦ καταβάντος ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ πνεύματος, οὐκ ἰδίᾳ γενομένου, ἀλλὰ συσταλέντος, ἵνα καὶ ἐνεργήσῃ ὁ θάνατος, ἐπεὶ πῶς τῆς ζωῆς παρούσης ἐν αὐτῷ ἀπέθανεν τὸ σῶμα; οὕτω γὰρ ἂν καὶ αὐτοῦ τοῦ σωτῆρος ὁ θάνατος ἐκράτησεν ἄν, ὅπερ ἄτοπον.

### English translation (Claude)

He died when the Spirit that had come down on him at the Jordan withdrew, not separating itself but drawing itself in, so that death too might act; for how, while life was present in him, did the body die? For in that way death would have overpowered the Savior himself, which is absurd.

### Scripture references

- Matt 3:16: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 61.6 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/61/6/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 61.7

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/61/7/
- Source: Stählin 3:127
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Death was tricked: when it seized the body, the Savior destroyed death and raised the body, freed from passions.

### Greek text

δόλῳ δὲ ὁ θάνατος κατεστρατηγήθη· ἀποθανόντος γὰρ τοῦ σώματος καὶ κρατήσαντος αὐτὸ τοῦ θανάτου, ἀναστείλας τὴν ἐπελθοῦσαν ἀκτῖνα τῆς δυνάμεως ὁ σωτὴρ ἀπώλεσε μὲν τὸν θάνατον. τὸ δὲ θνητὸν σῶμα ἀποβαλὼν πάθη ἀνέστησεν.

### English translation (Claude)

But death was outgeneraled by a stratagem. For when the body had died and death had taken hold of it, the Savior, drawing back the ray of power that had come upon it, destroyed death, and raised the mortal body, having cast off the passions.

### Scripture references

- 2 Tim 1:10: echo, medium confidence

### Extrabiblical texts

- Ign. Eph. 19.1 (To the Ephesians): echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- The motif of death deceived is widespread in early Christian writing (compare Ign. Eph. 19.1).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 61.7 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/61/7/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 61.8

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/61/8/
- Source: Stählin 3:127–128
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The psychic are raised; the believing spiritual are saved beyond them, their souls being wedding garments. The psychic Christ sits at the Demiurge's right hand,

### Greek text

τὰ ψυχικὰ μὲν οὖν οὕτως ἀνίσταται καὶ ἀνασῴζεται. πιστεύσαντα δὲ τὰ πνευματικὰ ὑπὲρ ἐκεῖνα σῴζεται. »ἐνδύματα γάμων« τὰς ψυχὰς λαβόντα. Κάθηται μὲν οὖν ὁ ψυχικὸς Χριστὸς ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ Δημιουργοῦ.

### English translation (Claude)

The psychic, then, are raised and saved in this way; but the spiritual who have believed are saved beyond them, having received their souls as “wedding garments.” The psychic Christ, then, sits at the right hand of the Demiurge,

### Scripture references

- Matt 22:11: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 61.8 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/61/8/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 62.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/62/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:128
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: as Ps 110 says.

### Greek text

καθὸ καὶ ὁ Δαβὶδ λέγει »κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου« καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς.

### English translation (Claude)

as David also says, “Sit at my right hand,” and what follows.

### Scripture references

- Ps 110:1 (109:1 LXX): quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 62.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/62/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 62.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/62/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:128
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: He sits until the end, when they will look on him whom they pierced; they pierced only the psychic flesh, and his “bone,” the soul, was not broken.

### Greek text

κάθηται δὲ μέχρι συντελείας. »ἵνα ἴδωσιν εἰς ὃν ἐξεκέντησαν«. ἐξεκέντησαν δὲ τὸ φαινόμενον, ὃ ἦν σὰρξ τοῦ ψυχικοῦ. »ὀστοῦν γὰρ αὐτοῦ οὐ συντριβήσεται« φησί· καθάπερ ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἀδὰμ τὴν ψυχὴν ὀστοῦν ἠλληγόρησεν ἡ προφητεία.

### English translation (Claude)

And he sits until the consummation, “so that they may see him whom they pierced.” But they pierced what appeared, which was the flesh of the psychic. “For not a bone of him shall be broken,” it says; just as in the case of Adam the prophecy allegorized the soul as bone.

### Scripture references

- John 19:37: quotation, high confidence
- Zech 12:10: quotation, medium confidence
- John 19:36: quotation, high confidence
- Exod 12:46: quotation, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotations are John 19:37 (Zech 12:10) and John 19:36 (Exod 12:46).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 62.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/62/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 62.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/62/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:128
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christ's soul committed itself to the Father at his death; the spiritual element he saves himself.

### Greek text

αὐτὴ γὰρ ἡ ψυχὴ τοῦ Χριστοῦ πάσχοντος τοῦ σώματος ἑαυτὴν εἰς τὰς χεῖρας τοῦ πατρὸς παρακατέθετο. τὸ δʼ ἐν τῷ ὀστέῳ πνευματικὸν οὐκέτι παρακατατίθεται, ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς σῴζει.

### English translation (Claude)

For the soul of Christ itself, while the body suffered, committed itself into the hands of the Father. But the spiritual in the bone is no longer committed, but he himself saves it.

### Scripture references

- Luke 23:46: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 62.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/62/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 63.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/63/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:128
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The spiritual rest with Wisdom in the Ogdoad; other faithful souls are with the Demiurge until the end, when they too enter the Ogdoad.

### Greek text

Ἡ μὲν οὖν τῶν πνευματικῶν ἀνάπαυσις ἐν κυριακῇ, ἐν ὀγδοάδι, ἣ κυριακὴ ὀνομάζεται, παρὰ τῇ μητρί, ἐχόντων τὰς ψυχάς, τὰ ἐνδύματα. ἄχρι συντελείας. αἱ δὲ ἄλλαι πισταὶ ψυχαὶ παρὰ τῷ Δημιουργῷ, περὶ δὲ τὴν συντέλειαν ἀναχωροῦσι καὶ αὗται εἰς ὀγδοάδα.

### English translation (Claude)

The rest of the spiritual, then, is in the Lord's place, in the Ogdoad, which is called the Lord's, with the mother, having their souls as garments, until the consummation. The other faithful souls are with the Demiurge, but at the consummation they too withdraw into the Ogdoad.

### Translation notes

- The Ogdoad (“eighth”) is the region above the seven heavens.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 63.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/63/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 63.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/63/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:128
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Then all the saved share the wedding feast; afterward the spiritual put off their souls,

### Greek text

εἶτα τὸ δεῖπνον τῶν γάμων κοινὸν πάντων τῶν σῳζομένων, ἄχρις ἂν ἀπισωθῇ πάντα καὶ ἄλληλα γνωρίσῃ. Τὸ δὲ ἐντεῦθεν ἀποθέμενα τὰ πνευματικὰ τὰς ψυχὰς ἅμα τῇ

### English translation (Claude)

Then comes the wedding supper, common to all the saved, until all are made equal and know one another. After that the spiritual, having put off their souls, together with the

### Scripture references

- Rev 19:9: echo, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 63.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/63/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 64.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/64/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:128
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: and, with Wisdom and their angel bridegrooms, enter the bridal chamber and see the Father, becoming Aeons in eternal union.

### Greek text

μητρὶ κομιζομένῃ τὸν νυμφίον. κομιζόμενα καὶ αὐτὰ τοὺς νυμφίους τοὺς ἀγγέλους ἑαυτῶν. εἰς τὸν νυμφῶνα ἐντὸς τοῦ Ὅρου εἰσίασι καὶ πρὸς τὴν τοῦ πατρὸς ὄψιν ἔρχονται, αἰῶνες νοεροὶ γενόμενα. εἰς τοὺς νοεροὺς καὶ αἰωνίους γάμους τῆς συζυγίας.

### English translation (Claude)

mother, who receives the Bridegroom, themselves receiving their bridegrooms, their angels, enter the bridal chamber within the Limit and come to the vision of the Father, having become intellectual Aeons, into the intellectual and eternal marriages of the pair.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 64.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/64/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 65.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/65/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:128
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Demiurge is like the friend of the bridegroom who stands outside and rejoices at his voice.

### Greek text

Ὁ δὲ τοῦ δείπνου μὲν »ἀρχιτρίκλινος«, τῶν γάμων δὲ παράνυμφος, »τοῦ νυμφίου δὲ φίλος, ἑστὼς ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ νυμφῶνος, ἀκούων τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ νυμφίου, χαρᾷ χαίρει«.

### English translation (Claude)

And the “master of the feast” of the supper and groomsman of the wedding, “the friend of the Bridegroom, standing before the bridal chamber, hearing the Bridegroom's voice, rejoices greatly.”

### Scripture references

- John 2:8: allusion, high confidence
- John 3:29: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The allusions are John 2:8 and John 3:29.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 65.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/65/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 65.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/65/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:128
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: That is his fullness of joy.

### Greek text

τοῦτο αὐτοῦ »τὸ πλήρωμα τῆς χαρᾶς« καὶ τῆς ἀναπαύσεως.

### English translation (Claude)

This is his “fullness of joy” and of rest.

### Scripture references

- John 3:29: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 65.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/65/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 66.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/66/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:128–129
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christ taught the apostles first through types, then parables, and finally plainly in private.

### Greek text

Ὁ σωτὴρ τοὺς ἀποστόλους ἐδίδασκεν, τὰ μὲν πρῶτα τυπικῶς καὶ μυστικῶς, τὰ δὲ ὕστερα παραβολικῶς καὶ ᾐνιγμένως, τὰ δὲ τρίτα σαφῶς καὶ γυμνῶς κατὰ μόνας.

### English translation (Claude)

The Savior taught the apostles, first in types and mysteries, later in parables and riddles, and third clearly and plainly when they were alone.

### Scripture references

- Mark 4:34: echo, high confidence
- John 16:25: echo, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 66.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/66/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 67.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/67/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:129
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They read Paul's “when we were in the flesh” as referring to the weakness produced by Wisdom.

### Greek text

»Ὅτε ἦμεν ἐν τῇ σαρκί«, φησὶν ὁ ἀπόστολος, ὥσπερ ἔξω τοῦ σώματος ἤδη λαλῶν. σάρκα οὖν λέγειν αὐτόν φησιν ἐκείνην τὴν ἀσθένειαν, τὴν ἀπὸ τῆς ἄνω γυναικὸς προβολήν.

### English translation (Claude)

“When we were in the flesh,” says the apostle, as if already speaking outside the body. He says, then, that by flesh he means that weakness, the emanation from the woman above.

### Scripture references

- Rom 7:5: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 67.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/67/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 67.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/67/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:129
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christ's saying to Salome, that death lasts as long as women bear children, does not condemn birth,

### Greek text

καὶ ὅταν ὁ σωτὴρ πρὸς Σαλώμην λέγῃ μέχρι τότε εἶναι θάνατον, ἄχρις ἂν αἱ γυναῖκες τίκτωσιν, οὐ τὴν γένεσιν κακίζων ἔλεγεν, ἀναγκαίαν οὖσαν διὰ τὴν σωτηρίαν τῶν πιστευόντων·

### English translation (Claude)

And when the Savior says to Salome that there will be death as long as women bear children, he did not say it condemning birth, which is necessary for the salvation of believers;

### Translation notes

- The saying is from the Gospel according to the Egyptians, which Clement also discusses in Strom. 3.45, 63–64.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 67.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/67/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 67.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/67/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:129
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: which must go on until the seed

### Greek text

δεῖ γὰρ εἶναι τὴν γένεσιν ταύτην, ἄχρις ἂν τὸ σπέρμα προ[σ]ενεχθῇ

### English translation (Claude)

for this birth must continue until the seed

### Translation notes

- The bracketed letter in the Greek is the editor's deletion.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 67.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/67/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 67.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/67/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:129
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: is complete; they say it refers to Wisdom, whose passions became creation, and from whose passion the Lord came to rescue us.

### Greek text

τὸ προλελογισμένον· ἀλλὰ περὶ τῆς ἄνω θηλείας αἰνίττεται, ἧς τὰ πάθη κτίσις γέγονεν τῆς καὶ τὰς ἀμόρφους οὐσίας προβαλ[λ]ούσης, διʼ ἣν καὶ ὁ κύριος κατῆλθεν, ἀπὸ μὲν τοῦ πάθους ἡμᾶς ἀποσπάσων, ἑαυτῷ δὲ εἰσποιησόμενος.

### English translation (Claude)

that was reckoned beforehand has been brought forth; but he hints at the female above, whose passions became creation, who also put forth the formless substances, because of whom the Lord too came down, to draw us away from the passion and adopt us to himself.

### Translation notes

- The bracketed letter in the Greek is the editor's deletion.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 67.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/67/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 68.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/68/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:129
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Children of Wisdom alone, we were formless, like miscarriages; formed by the Savior, we have become children of the bridal chamber.

### Greek text

Ἄχρι μὲν γὰρ ἦμεν τῆς θηλείας μόνης τέκνα, ὡς ἂν αἰσχρᾶς συζυγίας, ἀτελῆ καὶ νήπια καὶ ἄφρονα καὶ ἀσθενῆ καὶ ἄμορφα, οἷον ἐκτρώματα προ[σ]ενεχθέντα, τῆς γυναικὸς ἦμεν τέκνα, ὑπὸ δὲ τοῦ σωτῆρος μορφωθέντες ἀνδρὸς καὶ νυμφῶνος γεγόναμεν τέκνα.

### English translation (Claude)

For as long as we were children of the female only, as of a shameful union, incomplete, infants, senseless, weak, and formless, brought forth like miscarriages, we were children of the woman; but formed by the Savior, we have become children of a husband and of a bridal chamber.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 68.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/68/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 69.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/69/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:129
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Fate is the combined action of invisible, conflicting powers that govern the stars.

### Greek text

Ἡ Εἱμαρμένη ἐστὶ σύνοδος πολλῶν καὶ ἐναντίων δυνάμεων, αὗται δέ εἰσιν ἀόρατοι καὶ ἀφανεῖς, ἐπιτροπεύουσαι τὴν τῶν ἄστρων φορὰν καὶ διʼ ἐκείνων πολιτευόμεναι.

### English translation (Claude)

Fate is a meeting of many opposing powers; these are invisible and unseen, governing the course of the stars and ruling through them.

### Translation notes

- Chapters 69–86 turn to fate, the powers, and baptism; they may reflect Theodotus's school, Clement's own teaching, or both.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 69.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/69/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 69.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/69/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:129
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Each power rules those born when it is ascendant.

### Greek text

καθὸ γὰρ ἕκαστον αὐτῶν ἔφθακεν τῇ τοῦ κόσμου κινήσει συναναφερόμενον, τῶν κατʼ αὐτὴν τὴν ῥοπὴν γεννωμένων εἴληχεν τὴν ἐπικράτειαν, ὡς αὑτοῦ τέκνων.

### English translation (Claude)

For according as each of them has arrived, carried round with the movement of the world, it has obtained dominion over those born at that very moment, as its own children.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 69.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/69/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 70.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/70/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:129
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The powers riding on the stars control births;

### Greek text

Διὰ τῶν ἀπλανῶν τοίνυν καὶ πλανωμένων ἄστρων αἱ ἐπὶ τούτων ἀόρατοι δυνάμεις ἐποχούμεναι ταμιεύουσι τὰς γενέσεις καὶ ἐπισκοποῦσι·

### English translation (Claude)

Through the fixed and the wandering stars, then, the invisible powers riding on them dispense and oversee births;

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 70.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/70/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 70.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/70/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:129
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: the stars themselves only signify their activity, as birds' flight signifies without causing.

### Greek text

τὰ δὲ ἄστρα αὐτὰ μὲν οὐδὲν ποιεῖ, δείκνυσι δὲ τὴν ἐνέργειαν τῶν κυρίων δυνάμεων, ὥσπερ καὶ ἡ τῶν ὀρνίθων πτῆσις σημαίνει τι, οὐχὶ ποιεῖ.

### English translation (Claude)

but the stars themselves do nothing; they show the activity of the ruling powers, just as the flight of birds signifies something, but does not do it.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 70.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/70/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 71.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/71/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:129
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The zodiac and planets, moved by the powers, indicate births and changes of fortune.

### Greek text

Τὰ τοίνυν δεκαδύο ζῴδια καὶ οἱ ταῦτα ἐπιόντες ἑπτὰ ἀστέρες τοτὲ μὲν συνοδεύοντες, τοτὲ δὲ ὑπαπαντῶντες, ἀνατέλλοντες δύνοντες * *. οὗτοι, πρὸς τῶν δυνάμεων κινούμενοι, κίνησιν τῆς οὐσίας δηλοῦσιν εἰς γένεσιν τῶν ζῴων καὶ τὴν τῶν περιστάσεων τροπήν.

### English translation (Claude)

The twelve signs of the zodiac, then, and the seven planets that pass through them, now traveling together, now opposing one another, rising and setting … These, moved by the powers, indicate the movement of substance toward the birth of living beings and the change of circumstances.

### Translation notes

- The asterisks in the Greek mark a gap in the manuscript.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 71.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/71/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 71.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/71/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:129–130
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The powers differ, good and evil, right and left, and each birth falls under them at its own time.

### Greek text

διάφοροι δʼ εἰσὶν καὶ οἱ ἀστέρες καὶ αἱ δυνάμεις, ἀγαθοποιοὶ κακοποιοί, δεξιοὶ ἀριστεροί, ὧν κοινὸν τὸ τικτόμενον· ἕκαστον δὲ διʼ αὐτῶν γίνεται κατὰ καιρὸν τὸν ἴδιον, τοῦ δυναστεύοντος τὰ κατὰ φύσιν ἀποτελοῦντος, τὸ μὲν ἐν ἀρχῇ, τὸ δὲ ἐπὶ τέλει.

### English translation (Claude)

The stars and the powers are different: beneficent and maleficent, right and left; what is born is common to them; and each thing comes to be through them at its own time, the one in power bringing about what is according to nature, at the beginning or at the end.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 71.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/71/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 72.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/72/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:130
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Lord rescues us from the war of the powers, some for us and some against us, and gives us peace.

### Greek text

Ἀπὸ ταύτης τῆς στάσεως καὶ μάχης τῶν δυνάμεων ὁ κύριος ἡμᾶς ῥύεται καὶ παρέχει τὴν εἰρήνην ἀπὸ τῆς τῶν δυνάμεων καὶ τῆς τῶν ἀγγέλων παρατάξεως, ἣν οἳ μὲν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, οἳ δὲ καθʼ ἡμῶν παρατάσσονται.

### English translation (Claude)

From this strife and battle of the powers the Lord rescues us and grants us peace from the battle line of powers and angels, some drawn up for us and some against us.

### Scripture references

- John 14:27: echo, medium confidence
- Eph 6:12: echo, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 72.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/72/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 72.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/72/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:130
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Good powers are like the king's soldiers; evil ones like robbers who seized their swords.

### Greek text

οἳ μὲν γὰρ στρατιώταις ἐοίκασι, συμμαχοῦντες ἡμῖν, ὡς ἂν ὑπηρέται θεοῦ, οἳ δὲ λῃσταῖς· ὁ γὰρ πονηρὸς οὐ παρὰ βασιλέως ἐζώσατο λαβὼν τὴν μάχαιραν, ἑαυτῷ δὲ ἐξ ἀπονοίας ἁρπάσας.

### English translation (Claude)

For some are like soldiers, fighting on our side as God's servants; others like robbers; for the evil one did not gird himself with a sword received from the king, but seized it for himself in his madness.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 72.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/72/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 73.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/73/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:130
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Because of the hostile powers, the good ones cannot fully protect us.

### Greek text

Διὰ δὴ τοὺς ἀντικειμένους, οἳ διὰ τοῦ σώματος καὶ τῶν ἐκτὸς ἐπιβατεύουσι τῆς ψυχῆς καὶ ἐνεχυράζουσιν εἰς δουλείαν, οἱ [δὲ] δεξιοὶ οὔκ εἰσιν ἱκανοὶ παρακολουθοῦντες σῴζειν καὶ φυλάσσειν ἡμᾶς.

### English translation (Claude)

Because of the adversaries, who through the body and external things mount upon the soul and seize it as a pledge for slavery, those on the right are not able, as they follow along, to save and guard us.

### Translation notes

- The bracketed word in the Greek is the editor's deletion.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 73.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/73/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 73.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/73/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:130
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They are like hirelings, not like the good shepherd who lays down his life.

### Greek text

οὐ γάρ εἰσι τέλεον προνοητικοί, ὥσπερ ὁ ἀγαθὸς ποιμήν, ἀλλὰ μισθωτῷ παραπλήσιος ἕκαστος, τὸν λύκον ὁρῶντι προσιόντα καὶ φεύγοντι καὶ οὐ προθύμῳ τὴν ψυχὴν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἰδίων προβάτων ἐπιδιδόναι.

### English translation (Claude)

For they are not perfectly provident like the good shepherd, but each is like a hireling, who sees the wolf coming and flees and is not eager to give his life for his own sheep.

### Scripture references

- John 10:11: allusion, high confidence
- John 10:12: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 73.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/73/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 73.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/73/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:130
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Man, weak and inclined to evil, sides with his enemies, and so suffers more.

### Greek text

προσέτι δὲ καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ὑπὲρ οὗ ἡ μάχη, ἀσθενὲς ὂν ζῷον, εὐεπίφορόν ἐστι πρὸς τὸ χεῖρον καὶ τοῖς μισοῦσι συλλαμβανόμενον· ὅθεν καὶ πλείω τὰ κακὰ ὑπάρχει αὐτῷ.

### English translation (Claude)

And besides, man, for whom the battle is fought, being a weak creature, is easily inclined to the worse and takes the side of those who hate him; hence the evils that befall him are more.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 73.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/73/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 74.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/74/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:130
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Lord came down to bring heavenly peace to those on earth,

### Greek text

Διὰ τοῦτο ὁ κύριος κατῆλθεν εἰρήνην ποιήσων τὴν ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ τοῖς ἐπὶ γῆς, ὥς φησιν ὁ ἀπόστολος·

### English translation (Claude)

That is why the Lord came down, to make peace from heaven for those on earth, as the apostle says:

### Translation notes

- The words quoted in the next section are from Luke 2:14, attributed to “the apostle” (Luke).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 74.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/74/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 74.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/74/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:130
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The new star at Christ's birth abolished the old order of the stars; Christ moves believers from Fate to his providence.

### Greek text

»εἰρήνη ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις.« διὰ τοῦτο ἀνέτειλεν ξένος ἀστὴρ καὶ καινὸς καταλύων τὴν παλαιὰν ἀστροθεσίαν, καινῷ φωτί, οὐ κοσμικῷ λαμπόμενος, ὁ καινὰς ὁδοὺς καὶ σωτηρίους τρεπόμενος, ὡς αὐτὸς ὁ κύριος ἀνθρώπων ὁδηγὸς ὁ κατελθὼν εἰς γῆν, ἵνα μεταθῇ τοὺς εἰς τὸν Χριστὸν πιστεύσαντας ἀπὸ τῆς Εἱμαρμένης εἰς τὴν ἐκείνου πρόνοιαν.

### English translation (Claude)

“Peace on earth and glory in the highest.” That is why a strange and new star rose, abolishing the old arrangement of the stars, shining with a new light, not of this world, turning to new and saving paths, as the Lord himself, the guide of men, who came down to earth to transfer those who believed in Christ from Fate to his providence.

### Scripture references

- Luke 2:14: quotation, high confidence
- Matt 2:2: allusion, high confidence

### Extrabiblical texts

- Ign. Eph. 19.2 (To the Ephesians): echo, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Compare Ign. Eph. 19.2–3, where the star's appearance ends magic and the old order.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 74.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/74/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 75.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/75/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:130
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They say Fate is real for others, as fulfilled predictions and astronomy show.

### Greek text

Ὅτι δέ ἐστι, φασίν, Εἱμαρμένη τοῖς ἄλλοις, τὰ ἀποτελέσματα προλεγόμενα δείκνυσιν, ἐναργὴς δὲ ἀπόδειξις καὶ ἡ τῶν μαθημάτων θεωρία.

### English translation (Claude)

That Fate exists for the others, they say, is shown by the predictions that come true; and the study of astrology is a clear proof.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 75.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/75/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 75.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/75/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:130
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The Magi recognized from the star that a king of the God-fearing was born; then only the Jews were famous for piety.

### Greek text

αὐτίκα οἱ μάγοι οὐ μόνον εἶδον τὸν ἀστέρα τοῦ κυρίου, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ ἀληθὲς ἔγνωσαν ὅτι βασιλεὺς ἐτέχθη καὶ ὧν βασιλεύς, ὅτι θεοσεβῶν· τότε Ἰουδαῖοι μόνοι διαβόητοι ἦσαν ἐπὶ θεοσεβείᾳ.

### English translation (Claude)

For instance, the Magi not only saw the Lord's star but recognized the truth, that a king was born, and of whom he was king: of the God-fearing. At that time the Jews alone were renowned for piety.

### Scripture references

- Matt 2:2: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 75.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/75/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 75.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/75/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:130
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: So the Savior came first to the Jews, then renowned for piety.

### Greek text

διὰ τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ ὁ σωτήρ, πρὸς θεοσεβεῖς κατιών, ἐπὶ τούτους ἦλθεν πρώτους τοὺς τότε ἐπὶ θεοσεβείᾳ δόξαν ἀποφερομένους.

### English translation (Claude)

That is why the Savior, coming down to the God-fearing, came first to those who at that time had the reputation for piety.

### Scripture references

- Matt 15:24: echo, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 75.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/75/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 76.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/76/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:130–131
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christ's birth frees us from Fate, his baptism from fire, his passion from passion, so that we may follow him in everything.

### Greek text

Ὡς οὖν ἡ γέννησις τοῦ σωτῆρος γενέσεως ἡμᾶς καὶ Εἱμαρμένης ἐξέβαλεν, οὕτως καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα αὐτοῦ πυρὸς ἡμᾶς ἐξείλετο καὶ τὸ πάθος πάθους, ἵνα κατὰ πάντα ἀκολουθήσωμεν αὐτῷ.

### English translation (Claude)

As, then, the birth of the Savior cast us out of birth and Fate, so too his baptism took us out of fire, and his passion out of passion, so that we might follow him in all things.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 76.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/76/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 76.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/76/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:131
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The baptized have gone into God and received authority over the evil powers.

### Greek text

ὁ γὰρ εἰς θεὸν βαπτισθεὶς εἰς θεὸν ἐχώρησεν καὶ εἴληφεν »ἐξουσίαν ἐπάνω σκορπίων καὶ ὄφεων περιπατεῖν«, τῶν δυνάμεων τῶν πονηρῶν.

### English translation (Claude)

For the one baptized into God has gone into God and has received “authority to walk on scorpions and snakes,” the evil powers.

### Scripture references

- Luke 10:19: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 76.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/76/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 76.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/76/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:131
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christ commands the apostles to preach and to baptize believers in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

### Greek text

καὶ τοῖς ἀποστόλοις ἐντέλλεται· »περιιόντες κηρύσσετε καὶ τοὺς πιστεύοντας βαπτίζετε εἰς ὄνομα πατρὸς καὶ υἱοῦ καὶ ἁγίου πνεύματος.«

### English translation (Claude)

And he commands the apostles: “Go about and preach, and baptize those who believe in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

### Scripture references

- Matt 28:19: quotation, high confidence
- Mark 16:15: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is a free form of Matt 28:19 (compare Mark 16:15–16).

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 76.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/76/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 76.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/76/4/
- Source: Stählin 3:131
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: into whom we are reborn, raised above all the powers.

### Greek text

εἰς οὓς ἀναγεννώμεθα τῶν λοιπῶν δυνάμεων ἁπασῶν ὑπεράνω γινόμενοι.

### English translation (Claude)

into whom we are reborn, becoming high above all the other powers.

### Scripture references

- Eph 1:21: echo, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 76.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/76/4/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 77.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/77/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:131
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Baptism is death to the old life, in which we renounce the evil powers, and life in Christ.

### Greek text

Ταύτῃ θάνατος καὶ τέλος λέγεται τοῦ παλαιοῦ βίου τὸ βάπτισμα ἀποτασσομένων ἡμῶν ταῖς πονηραῖς ἀρχαῖς, ζωὴ δὲ κατὰ Χριστόν, ἧς μόνος αὐτὸς κυριεύει.

### English translation (Claude)

In this way baptism is called death and the end of the old life, as we renounce the evil principalities, and life according to Christ, of which he alone is Lord.

### Scripture references

- Rom 6:3: allusion, high confidence
- Rom 6:4: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- “Renounce” (ἀποτασσομένων) is the word used for the baptismal renunciation of the devil. The allusion is Rom 6:3–4.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 77.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/77/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 77.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/77/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:131
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Baptism changes the soul, not the body.

### Greek text

ἡ δύναμις δὲ τῆς μεταβολῆς τοῦ βαπτισθέντος οὐ περὶ τὸ σῶμα (ὁ αὐτὸς γὰρ ἀναβαίνει), ἀλλὰ περὶ ψυχήν.

### English translation (Claude)

The power of the change in the one baptized does not concern the body (for the same person comes up), but the soul.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 77.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/77/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 77.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/77/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:131
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The newly baptized is God's servant and master of the unclean spirits, who now tremble before him.

### Greek text

αὐτίκα δοῦλος θεοῦ ἅμα τῷ ἀνελθεῖν τοῦ βαπτίσματος καὶ κύριος τῶν ἀκαθάρτων λέγεται πνευμάτων, καὶ εἰς ὃν πρὸ ὀλίγου ἐνήργουν, τοῦτον ἤδη »φρίσσουσιν«.

### English translation (Claude)

At once, as he comes up from baptism, he is called a servant of God and lord of the unclean spirits, and the one in whom they were active a little before they now “tremble” at.

### Scripture references

- Jas 2:19: allusion, medium confidence
- Luke 10:17: echo, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 77.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/77/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 78.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/78/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:131
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: They say Fate holds until baptism; after it astrology is no longer true.

### Greek text

Μέχρι τοῦ βαπτίσματος οὖν ἡ Εἱμαρμένη, φασίν, ἀληθής, μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο οὐκέτι ἀληθεύουσιν οἱ ἀστρολόγοι.

### English translation (Claude)

Until baptism, then, Fate is real, they say; but after it the astrologers no longer speak the truth.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 78.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/78/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 78.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/78/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:131
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Not only the washing frees, but the knowledge of who we were and have become, where we came from and where we go, what birth and rebirth are.

### Greek text

ἔστιν δὲ οὐ τὸ λουτρὸν μόνον τὸ ἐλευθεροῦν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡ γνῶσις, τίνες ἦμεν, τί γεγόναμεν· ποῦ ἦμεν, [ἢ] ποῦ ἐνεβλήθημεν· ποῦ σπεύδομεν, πόθεν λυτρούμεθα· τί γέννησις, τί ἀναγέννησις. Ἕως οὖν ἀμόρφωτον, φασίν, ἔτι τὸ σπέρμα, θηλείας ἐστὶ τέκνον·

### English translation (Claude)

But it is not only the washing that sets free, but also the knowledge: who we were, what we have become; where we were, or where we have been thrown; where we are hastening, from what we are redeemed; what birth is, and what rebirth. As long, then, as the seed is still unformed, they say, it is a child of the female;

### Translation notes

- This famous summary of Gnostic knowledge is attributed to Theodotus. The bracketed word in the Greek is the editor's deletion.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 78.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/78/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 79.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/79/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:131
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Once formed, the seed becomes a son of the bridegroom, freed from the cosmic powers.

### Greek text

μορφωθὲν δὲ μετετέθη εἰς ἄνδρα καὶ υἱὸς νυμφίου γίνεται, οὐκέτι ἀσθενὴς καὶ τοῖς κοσμικοῖς ὑποκείμενος ὁρατοῖς τε καὶ ἀοράτοις, ἀλλʼ ἀνδρωθεὶς ἄρρην γίνεται καρπός.

### English translation (Claude)

but when formed, it has been changed into a man and becomes a son of the bridegroom, no longer weak and subject to the cosmic powers, visible and invisible, but, made a man, it becomes male fruit.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 79.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/79/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 80.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/80/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:131
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The one born of the mother goes to death; the one reborn by Christ passes to life.

### Greek text

Ὃν γεννᾷ ἡ μήτηρ, εἰς θάνατον ἄγεται καὶ εἰς κόσμον, ὃν δὲ ἀναγεννᾷ Χριστός, εἰς ζωὴν μετατίθεται, εἰς ὀγδοάδα·

### English translation (Claude)

The one whom the mother bears is led to death and into the world; but the one whom Christ bears again is transferred to life, into the Ogdoad.

### Scripture references

- John 3:5: echo, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 80.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/80/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 80.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/80/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:131
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The reborn die to the world and live to God; death is undone by death and corruption by resurrection.

### Greek text

καὶ ἀποθνῄσκουσιν μὲν τῷ κόσμῳ, ζῶσι δὲ τῷ θεῷ, ἵνα θάνατος θανάτῳ λυθῇ, ἀναστάσει δὲ ἡ φθορά.

### English translation (Claude)

And they die to the world but live to God, so that death may be undone by death, and corruption by resurrection.

### Scripture references

- Rom 6:10: echo, high confidence
- Rom 6:11: echo, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 80.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/80/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 80.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/80/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:131
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Sealed in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the baptized is beyond all hostile powers and bears the heavenly image.

### Greek text

διὰ γὰρ πατρὸς καὶ υἱοῦ καὶ ἁγίου πνεύματος σφραγισθεὶς ἀνεπίληπτός ἐστι πάσῃ τῇ ἄλλῃ δυνάμει καὶ διὰ τριῶν ὀνομάτων πάσης τῆς ἐν φθορᾷ τριάδος ἀπηλλάγη· »φορέσας τὴν εἰκόνα τοῦ χοϊκοῦ, τότε φορεῖ τὴν εἰκόνα τοῦ ἐπουρανίου.«

### English translation (Claude)

For the one sealed through Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is beyond the reach of every other power, and through three names he has been set free from the whole triad in corruption. “Having borne the image of the earthy, he then bears the image of the heavenly.”

### Scripture references

- 1 Cor 15:49: quotation, high confidence
- Matt 28:19: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is a free form of 1 Cor 15:49.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 80.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/80/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 81.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/81/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:131–132
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Fire is of two kinds: bodily fire for bodies, and a pure, bodiless fire that touches demons and the devil.

### Greek text

Τοῦ πυρὸς τὸ μὲν σωματικὸν σωμάτων ἅπτεται πάντων, τὸ δὲ καθαρὸν καὶ ἀσώματον ἀσωμάτων φασὶν ἅπτεσθαι, οἷον δαιμόνων, ἀγγέλων τῆς πονηρίας, αὐτοῦ τοῦ διαβόλου. οὕτως ἐστὶ τὸ ἐπουράνιον καὶ τὸ ἐπίγειον πῦρ δισσὸν τὴν φύσιν, τὸ μὲν νοητόν, τὸ δὲ αἰσθητόν.

### English translation (Claude)

Of fire, the bodily kind touches all bodies, but the pure and bodiless kind, they say, touches bodiless things, such as demons, angels of wickedness, and the devil himself. So the heavenly and earthly fire is twofold in nature, the one intelligible, the other sensible.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 81.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/81/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 81.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/81/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:132
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Baptism is double: water quenches the visible fire, the Spirit protects against the spiritual fire.

### Greek text

καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα οὖν διπλοῦν ἀναλόγως, τὸ μὲν αἰσθητὸν διʼ ὕδατος, τοῦ αἰσθητοῦ πυρὸς σβεστήριον, τὸ δὲ νοητὸν διὰ πνεύματος, τοῦ νοητοῦ πυρὸς ἀλεξητήριον.

### English translation (Claude)

And baptism is correspondingly double: the sensible, through water, quenching the sensible fire; and the intelligible, through the Spirit, a defense against the intelligible fire.

### Scripture references

- Matt 3:11: echo, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 81.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/81/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 81.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/81/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:132
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Air feeds or quenches fire, but the Spirit from above rules even the evil powers.

### Greek text

καὶ τὸ σωματικὸν πνεῦμα τοῦ αἰσθητοῦ πυρὸς τροφὴ καὶ ὑπέκκαυμα γίνεται ὀλίγον ὄν, πλεῖον δὲ γενόμενον σβεστήριον πέφυκεν, τὸ δὲ ἄνωθεν δοθὲν ἡμῖν πνεῦμα ἀσώματον ὂν οὐ στοιχείων μόνων, ἀλλὰ καὶ δυνάμεων κρατεῖ καὶ ἀρχῶν πονηρῶν.

### English translation (Claude)

And bodily air, when little, becomes food and kindling for the sensible fire, but when there is more of it, its nature is to extinguish it; but the Spirit given us from above, being bodiless, rules not only the elements but also the powers and evil principalities.

### Translation notes

- The word πνεῦμα means both “air, breath” and “Spirit”; the argument plays on the two senses.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 81.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/81/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 82.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/82/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:132
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The bread and the oil are sanctified by God's name: outwardly unchanged, they are changed in power into spiritual power.

### Greek text

Καὶ ὁ ἄρτος καὶ τὸ ἔλαιον ἁγιάζεται τῇ δυνάμει τοῦ ὀνόματος θεοῦ, τὰ αὐτὰ ὄντα κατὰ τὸ φαινόμενον οἷα ἐλήφθη· ἀλλὰ δυνάμει εἰς δύναμιν πνευματικὴν μεταβέβληται.

### English translation (Claude)

And the bread and the oil are sanctified by the power of God's name; they are the same in appearance as when they were taken, but by power they have been changed into spiritual power.

### Translation notes

- An early witness to the consecration of the eucharistic bread and of oil.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 82.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/82/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 82.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/82/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:132
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Likewise the exorcised baptismal water both drives away evil and receives holiness.

### Greek text

οὕτως καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ, καὶ τὸ ἐξορκιζόμενον καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα γινόμενον, οὐ μόνον χωρίζει τὸ χεῖρον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἁγιασμὸν προσλαμβάνει.

### English translation (Claude)

So too the water, both that which is exorcised and that which becomes baptism, not only separates what is worse but also takes on sanctification.

### Translation notes

- An early witness to the exorcism of baptismal water.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 82.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/82/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 83.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/83/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:132
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: One should come to baptism with joy, but also fear, since unclean spirits may go down with the candidate and receive the seal with him.

### Greek text

Ἐπὶ τὸ βάπτισμα χαίροντας ἔρχεσθαι προσῆκεν, ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ πολλάκις συγκαταβαίνει τισὶ καὶ ἀκάθαρτα πνεύματα, ἃ παρακολουθοῦντα καὶ τυχόντα μετὰ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τῆς σφραγῖδος ἀνίατα τοῦ λοιποῦ γίνεται, [ἃ] τῇ χαρᾷ συμπλέκεται φόβος, ἵνα τις μόνος καθαρὸς αὐτὸς κατέλθῃ.

### English translation (Claude)

It is fitting to come to baptism rejoicing; but since unclean spirits often go down with some people, which, following along and obtaining the seal together with the person, become incurable from then on, fear is mingled with joy, so that one may go down alone and pure.

### Translation notes

- The digital text repeats a phrase (“with the person of the seal incurable”), which is corrected; the bracketed word in the Greek is the editor's deletion.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 83.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/83/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 84.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/84/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:132
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Hence the fasts, prayers, raised hands, and kneeling before baptism: a soul is rescued from the lions' mouth, and temptations follow from the angry powers.

### Greek text

Διὰ τοῦτο νηστεῖαι, δεήσεις, εὐχαί, ἐπάρσεις χειρῶν, γονυκλισίαι, ὅτι ψυχὴ ἐκ κόσμου καὶ »ἐκ στόματος λεόντων« ἀνασῴζεται, διὸ καὶ πειρασμοὶ εὐθέως ἀγανακτούντων τῶν ἀφʼ ὧν ἀφῃρέθη, κἄν τις φέρῃ προειδώς, τά γε ἔξω σαλεύουσιν.

### English translation (Claude)

That is why there are fasts, supplications, prayers, raising of hands, and kneeling: because a soul is being rescued from the world and “from the mouth of lions.” That is why temptations come at once too, as those from whom it was taken away are angry; and even if one bears them knowing in advance, they at least shake the outward things.

### Scripture references

- Ps 22:21 (21:22 LXX): quotation, high confidence
- 2 Tim 4:17: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- An early description of the preparation for baptism. The quotation is Ps 22:21 (21:22 LXX); compare 2 Tim 4:17.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 84.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/84/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 85.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/85/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:132
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: After his baptism Christ was tempted among the wild beasts, as a pattern for us; having overcome, he was served by angels.

### Greek text

Αὐτίκα ὁ κύριος μετὰ τὸ βάπτισμα σαλεύεται εἰς ἡμέτερον τύπον καὶ γίνεται πρῶτον »μετὰ θηρίων« ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, εἶτα κρατήσας τούτων καὶ τοῦ ἄρχοντος αὐτῶν, ὡς ἂν ἤδη βασιλεὺς ἀληθής, ὑπʼ ἀγγέλων ἤδη διακονεῖται.

### English translation (Claude)

At once after baptism the Lord was shaken, as a type for us, and was first “with the wild beasts” in the desert; then, having overcome them and their ruler, as now a true king, he is at once served by angels.

### Scripture references

- Mark 1:13: quotation, high confidence
- Matt 4:11: allusion, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 85.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/85/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 85.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/85/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:132
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Having conquered the evil angels in the flesh, he is served by angels.

### Greek text

ὁ γὰρ ἀγγέλων ἐν σαρκὶ κρατήσας εὐλόγως ὑπʼ ἀγγέλων ἤδη δουλεύεται.

### English translation (Claude)

For the one who in the flesh overcame angels is fittingly served by angels.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 85.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/85/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 85.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/85/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:132–133
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: We must put on the Lord's armor, which quenches the devil's darts.

### Greek text

δεῖ οὖν ὡπλίσθαι τοῖς κυριακοῖς ὅπλοις ἔχοντας τὸ σῶμα καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν ἄτρωτον, »ὅπλοις σβέσαι τὰ βέλη τοῦ διαβόλου δυναμένοις«, ὥς φησιν ὁ ἀπόστολος.

### English translation (Claude)

So we must be armed with the Lord's weapons, keeping body and soul unwounded, with “weapons able to quench the darts of the devil,” as the apostle says.

### Scripture references

- Eph 6:16: quotation, high confidence
- Eph 6:11: allusion, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation is a free form of Eph 6:16.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 85.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/85/3/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 86.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/86/1/
- Source: Stählin 3:133
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Christ asked whose image was on the coin, so that each should be given to its owner.

### Greek text

Ἐπὶ τοῦ προσκομισθέντος νομίσματος ὁ κύριος εἶπεν οὐ τίνος τὸ κτῆμα, ἀλλά· »τίνος ἡ εἰκὼν καὶ ἡ ἐπιγραφή; Καίσαρος·« ἵνα οὗ ἐστιν, ἐκείνῳ δοθῇ.

### English translation (Claude)

About the coin that was brought, the Lord said not “Whose property is it?” but “Whose image and inscription? Caesar's,” so that it might be given to the one to whom it belongs.

### Scripture references

- Matt 22:20: quotation, high confidence
- Matt 22:21: quotation, high confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 86.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/86/1/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 86.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/86/2/
- Source: Stählin 3:133
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The believer bears God's name as inscription and the Spirit as image; sealed like marked livestock, the faithful soul bears the marks of Christ.

### Greek text

οὕτως καὶ ὁ πιστός· ἐπιγραφὴν μὲν ἔχει διὰ Χριστοῦ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ θεοῦ, τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα ὡς εἰκόνα. καὶ τὰ ἄλογα ζῷα διὰ σφραγῖδος δείκνυσι τίνος ἐστὶν ἕκαστον, καὶ ἐκ τῆς σφραγῖδος ἐκδικεῖται· οὕτως καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ ἡ πιστὴ τὸ τῆς ἀληθείας λαβοῦσα σφράγισμα »τὰ στίγματα τοῦ Χριστοῦ« περιφέρει.

### English translation (Claude)

So too the believer: through Christ he has the name of God as an inscription, and the Spirit as an image. Even irrational animals show by a seal whose each one is, and are claimed by the seal; so too the faithful soul, having received the seal of truth, carries “the marks of Christ.”

### Scripture references

- Gal 6:17: quotation, high confidence
- 2 Cor 1:22: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The seal is baptism. The quotation is Gal 6:17.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 86.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/86/2/).

## Excerpts from Theodotus 86.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/86/3/
- Source: Stählin 3:133
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The sealed are the children already in bed and the wise virgins who enter the prepared good things, while the others are shut out.

### Greek text

οὗτοί εἰσιν »τὰ παιδία τὰ ἤδη ἐν τῇ κοίτῃ συναναπαυόμενα« καὶ »αἱ παρθένοι αἱ φρόνιμοι«, αἷς αἱ λοιπαὶ αἱ μέλλουσαι οὐ συνεισῆλθον εἰς τὰ »ἡτοιμασμένα ἀγαθά, εἰς ἃ ἐπιθυμοῦσιν ἄγγελοι παρακύψαι«.

### English translation (Claude)

These are “the children already resting together in bed” and “the wise virgins,” with whom the others, who delayed, did not enter into “the good things prepared, into which angels long to look.”

### Scripture references

- Luke 11:7: allusion, high confidence
- Matt 25:2: allusion, high confidence
- Matt 25:10: allusion, high confidence
- 1 Cor 2:9: allusion, medium confidence
- 1 Pet 1:12: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The allusions are Luke 11:7, Matt 25:1–12, 1 Cor 2:9, and 1 Pet 1:12.

### Citation (SBL)

Clement of Alexandria, Exc. 86.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-excerpta/86/3/).