Miscellanies 6.13.106
Summary: Anyone who lives the gospel perfectly can be counted among the apostles; he is a true presbyter and deacon, made so by righteousness rather than ordination, and will sit on the twenty-four thrones; there is one saving covenant for Jews and Greeks.
Greek text · Stählin 2:485
ἔξεστιν οὖν καὶ νῦν ταῖς κυριακαῖς ἐνασκήσαντας ἐντολαῖς, κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τελείως βιώσαντας καὶ γνωστικῶς, εἰς τὴν ἐκλογὴν τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐγγραφῆναι. οὗτος πρεσβύτερός ἐστι τῷ ὄντι τῆς ἐκκλησίας καὶ διάκονος ἀληθὴς τῆς τοῦ θεοῦ βουλήσεως, ἐὰν ποιῇ καὶ διδάσκῃ τὰ τοῦ κυρίου, οὐχ ὑπʼ ἀνθρώπων χειροτονούμενος οὐδʼ, ὅτι πρεσβύτερος, δίκαιος νομιζόμενος, ἀλλʼ, ὅτι δίκαιος, ἐν πρεσβυτερίῳ καταλεγόμενος· κἂν ἐνταῦθα ἐπὶ γῆς πρωτοκαθεδρίᾳ μὴ τιμηθῇ, ἐν τοῖς εἴκοσι καὶ τέσσαρσι καθεδεῖται θρόνοις τὸν λαὸν κρίνων, ὥς φησιν ἐν τῇ ἀποκαλύψει Ἰωάννης. μία μὲν γὰρ τῷ ὄντι διαθήκη ἡ σωτήριος ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου εἰς ἡμᾶς διήκουσα, κατὰ διαφόρους γενεάς τε καὶ χρόνους διάφορος εἶναι τὴν δόσιν ὑποληφθεῖσα. ἀκόλουθον γὰρ εἶναι μίαν ἀμετάθετον σωτηρίας δόσιν παρʼ ἑνὸς θεοῦ διʼ ἑνὸς κυρίου πολυτρόπως ὠφελοῦσαν, διʼ ἣν αἰτίαν τὸ μεσότοιχον αἴρεται τὸ διορίζον τοῦ Ἰουδαίου τὸν Ἕλληνα εἰς περιούσιον λαόν.
English · Claude translation
It is possible, then, even now for those who have trained themselves in the Lord's commandments and lived perfectly and as knowers according to the gospel to be enrolled in the election of the apostles. Such a man is in truth a presbyter of the church and a true deacon of God's will, if he does and teaches the things of the Lord: not ordained by men, nor regarded as righteous because he is a presbyter, but enrolled in the presbyterate because he is righteous. And even if here on earth he is not honored with the chief seat, he will sit on the twenty-four thrones, judging the people, as John says in the Revelation. For in truth there is one saving covenant, reaching from the foundation of the world to us, though it is supposed to differ in its giving according to different generations and times. For it follows that there is one unchangeable gift of salvation, from one God through one Lord, benefiting in many ways; and for this reason the dividing wall that separates the Greek from the Jew is taken away, to make a people for his own possession.
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The allusions are Matt 5:19 (“does and teaches”), Matt 23:6 (the chief seat), Rev 4:4 and 11:16 (the twenty-four thrones), Matt 19:28, Eph 2:14 (the dividing wall), and Titus 2:14 (a people for his own possession). Clement contrasts true worth with ordination; he does not reject the church's offices (see 6.13.107).
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 6.13.106 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/6/13/106/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 6.13.106 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/6/13/106/).
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