Miscellanies 3.8.61
Summary: The libertines cite “you are not under law but under grace,” but Paul himself answers: “Shall we sin because we are under grace? By no means.”
Greek text · Stählin 2:224
Ἐπεὶ δὲ οἱ τὴν ἀδιαφορίαν εἰσάγοντες βιαζόμενοί τινας ὀλίγας γραφὰς συνηγορεῖν αὑτῶν τῇ ἡδυπαθείᾳ οἴονται, ἀτὰρ δὴ κἀκείνην ἁμαρτία γὰρ ὑμῶν οὐ κυριεύσει· οὐ γάρ ἐστε ὑπὸ νόμον, ἀλλʼ ὑπὸ χάριν (καί τινας ἄλλας τοιαύτας, ὧν ἐπὶ τοιούτοις μεμνῆσθαι οὐκ εὔλογον· οὐ γὰρ ἐπισκευάζω ναῦν πειρατικήν), φέρε δὴ διὰ βραχέων διακόψωμεν αὐτῶν τὴν ἐγχείρησιν. αὐτὸς γὰρ ὁ γενναῖος ἀπόστολος τῇ προειρημένῃ λέξει ἐπιφέρων ἀπολύσεται τὸ ἔγκλημα· τί οὖν; ἁμαρτήσωμεν, ὅτι οὐκ ἐσμὲν ὑπὸ νόμον, ἀλλʼ ὑπὸ χάριν; μὴ γένοιτο. οὕτως ἐνθέως καὶ προφητικῶς καταλύει παραχρῆμα τὴν σοφιστικὴν τῆς ἡδονῆς τέχνην.
English · Claude translation
Since those who introduce indifference, forcing a few Scriptures, think that they support their self-indulgence, especially this one, “For sin will not have dominion over you; for you are not under law but under grace” (and some others like it, which it is not reasonable to mention in such a connection, for I am not fitting out a pirate ship), come, let us cut through their attempt briefly. For the noble apostle himself, adding to the saying just quoted, will dispose of the charge: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means.” So, in an inspired and prophetic way, he at once destroys the sophistical art of pleasure.
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The quotations are Rom 6:14–15.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 3.8.61 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/3/8/61/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 3.8.61 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/3/8/61/).
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