Miscellanies 5.1.6
Summary: It is godless to demand proofs from God; some questions need sense, some rebuke, and some, like whether providence exists, deserve punishment; providence is plain from creation; the Word is not a spoken word but God's wisdom, goodness, and power.
Greek text · Stählin 2:329
τίς οὖν οὕτως ἄθεος ὡς ἀπιστεῖν θεῷ καὶ τὰς ἀποδείξεις ὡς παρὰ ἀνθρώπων ἀπαιτεῖν τοῦ θεοῦ; πάλιν τῶν ζητημάτων ἃ μὲν αἰσθήσεως δεῖται, οἷον ἐὰν ζητῇ τις, εἰ τὸ πῦρ θερμὸν ἢ ἡ χιὼν λευκή· τινὰ δὲ νουθεσίας καὶ ἐπιπλήξεως, ὥς φησιν Ἀριστοτέλης, ὡς τὸ ἐρώτημα ἐκεῖνο, εἰ χρὴ γονεῖς τιμᾶν. ἔστιν δὲ ἃ καὶ κολάσεως ἄξια, ὁποῖόν ἐστι τὸ αἰτεῖν ἀποδείξεις, εἰ πρόνοιά ἐστι. προνοίας τοίνυν οὔσης, μὴ κατὰ πρόνοιαν γεγονέναι πᾶσαν τήν τε προφητείαν καὶ τὴν περὶ τὸν σωτῆρα οἰκονομίαν ἡγεῖσθαι ἀνόσιον, καὶ ἴσως οὐδὲ χρὴ τὰ τοιαῦτα πειρᾶσθαι ἀποδεικνύναι, φανερᾶς οὔσης τῆς θείας προνοίας ἔκ τε τῆς ὄψεως τῶν ὁρωμένων πάντων, τεχνικῶν καὶ σοφῶν ποιημάτων, καὶ τῶν μὲν τάξει γινομένων, τῶν δὲ τάξει φανερουμένων· ὁ δὲ μεταδοὺς ἡμῖν τοῦ εἶναί τε καὶ ζῆν μεταδέδωκεν καὶ τοῦ λόγου, λογικῶς τε ἅμα καὶ εὖ ζῆν ἐθέλων ἡμᾶς· ὁ γὰρ τοῦ πατρὸς τῶν ὅλων λόγος οὐχ οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ προφορικός, σοφία δὲ καὶ χρηστότης φανερωτάτη τοῦ θεοῦ δύναμίς τε αὖ παγκρατὴς καὶ τῷ ὄντι θεία, οὐδὲ τοῖς μὴ ὁμολογοῦσιν ἀκατανόητος, θέλημα παντοκρατορικόν.
English · Claude translation
Who, then, is so godless as to disbelieve God and demand proofs from God as from men? Again, of questions, some need sense perception, as if someone asks whether fire is hot or snow white; some need admonition and rebuke, as Aristotle says, like that question whether one should honor one's parents. And there are some that deserve even punishment, such as demanding proofs whether there is providence. Since providence exists, then, it is unholy to think that all prophecy and the arrangement concerning the Savior did not come about according to providence; and perhaps one should not even try to prove such things, since divine providence is plain from the sight of all things seen, works of art and wisdom, some coming about in order, others revealed in order. And the one who gave us a share in being and living has given us a share in reason too, wishing us to live rationally and well. For the Word of the Father of the universe is not the uttered word, but the most manifest wisdom and goodness of God, and his almighty and truly divine power, not incomprehensible even to those who do not confess him, the almighty will.
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The reference is Aristotle, Topics 1.11 (105a). The contrast between the uttered word (λόγος προφορικός) and the Word of God is important for Clement's Christology.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 5.1.6 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/5/1/6/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 5.1.6 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/5/1/6/).
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